Blue Mountains International Day of Peace 2026

Lineup

• More details about Tilman Ruff, co-founder of the Nobel Prize awarded, International Campaign Against Nuclear Weapons

  Tilman Ruff, co-founder of the Nobel Prize awarded, International Campaign Against Nuclear Weapons

  Born in Adelaide to German Christians expelled from their homes in Palestine in 1939 and interned in military camps till 1947, Tilman, a public health and infectious diseases physician, was Co-President of International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW, Nobel Peace Prize 1985) from 2012 to 2023, has been active in the Medical Association for Prevention of War (Australia) (MAPW) and from 2005 was a co-founder of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN). In 2017, ICAN became the first Australian-born Nobel Peace Laureate "for its work to draw attention to the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of any use of nuclear weapons and for its ground-breaking efforts to achieve a treaty-based prohibition of such weapons". Tilman will be interviewed by Blue Mountains school students on his pathway to peace activism at 1.30 on Sept 12th. He will then speak - at 2pm - on 'ending nuclear weapons'. Tilman notes: "The Doomsday Clock stands at 85 seconds to midnight, closer than it has ever been, as the danger of nuclear war grows. Australia claims to support disarmament, but in fact is a growing part of the problem. This most acute existential threat we face is entirely preventable, by eliminating nuclear weapons. This talk will consider how all of us can play our part to ensure we end nuclear weapons before they end us."

• More details about Frank Stilwell

  Frank Stilwell

  Frank Stilwell is a political economist, peace activist, and contributor to many progressive, social and environmental movements. He has been vice-president of the Centre for Peace with Justice and is currently the president of the Evatt Foundation. Frank will speak in the Foundations for Peace session from 2pm Sat. 12th Sept in the dining room. His section is on ‘'overcoming obstacles to peace by reducing economic and social inequalities'

• More details about Rising Tide, June Norman, Jess Fordyce, Tom Colley (1pm-2.30 Community Room

  Rising Tide, June Norman, Jess Fordyce, Tom Colley (1pm-2.30 Community Room

  Rising Tide's brilliantly thought out and co-ordinated Actions demand attention. Rising Tide is a 'diverse movement demanding Australia honours our commitment to the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement.' Rising Tide will be presenting in the afternoon sessions. Workshop presenter, June Norman stepped into activism at the age of 65 and has since been awarded by the United Nations for her peace work in East Timor, been a Climate Guardian Angel at COP21, and founder of Oldies Rising. June has protested military exercises on the Great Barrier Reef, campaigned against uranium mining, walked 10,000 kilometres with Footprints for Peace, and was the first person in Australia arrested for protesting coal seam gas development in Qld. June is driven by a commitment to her great-grandchildren and future generations. Jess Fordyce is an envirnmentalist who was named the 2021 ACT Young Environmentalist of the Year. Jess is passionate about building resilient communities and strengthening connections between environmental action and social justice. She also has a cat named Romeo. Tom Colley In the early 2000s, Tom Colley worked for Blue Mountains City Council in environmental management and sustainability. In the 2010s, he researched and taught eco-social capacity-building at Western Sydney University. In recent years, he has focused on building community capacity for nonviolent direct action on climate change, taking action with Extinction Rebellion and Rising Tide. June, Jess and Tom will present a workshop in the community room from 1pm=2.30 on the 12th- see schedule.

• More details about Melanie Morrison

  Melanie Morrison

  Melanie is the Executive Director of the Sydney Peace Foundation. She is a longtime human rights, peace and climate justice advocate with extensive leadership experience in partnerships, strategy, communications and program development. She is an award-winning journalist, researcher and producer for her work in Australia and overseas. Melanie will join Tilman Ruff and Frank Stilwell to explore foundations of peace in the 'dining room'. See schedule below.

• More details about Nigel Foote

  Nigel Foote

  Nigel Foote is a highly respected, award winning Blue Mountains singer-songwriter. Nigel will be in the community room from 10.30am, offering inspiration, sharing the skills that underlie his song writing practice. Bring your creativity, (sorry, not your guitars. )(Registration recommended)

• More details about Luciana Carusi

  Luciana Carusi

  Luciana is the Blue Mountains Greens State candidate, a health scientist, an ex-corporate slave, ethics teacher, climate, human rights and BDS activist. Above all, she is a proud rebel mama. Luciana will join Luke Hocking from Wollongong Against War and Nuclear Weapons and the highly effective Blue Mountains East Timor Sisters to talk effective protest and action from 12-1pm on Sat 12th in the dining room. See schedule below.

• More details about Blue Mountains East Timor Sisters

  Blue Mountains East Timor Sisters

  BM East Timor Sisters / Supporters are an unruly committed group of women who have been raising funds and developing projects in Timor-Leste for over 20 years. Thousands of women and their children have gained scholarships and graduated from university; attended a BMETs supported senior secondary school or primary school or preschool in the remote area of Hatobuilico; participated in 8 active and gutsy women's groups endeavouring to build economic independence; gathered as marginalised LGBTQI+ young people and gained rights and opportunity; collaborated as young activists championing safety for women in the public domain; advocated for rights for people with disabilities; BMETS has built women's centres, schools, preschools, a library, a safe house. We’ve made films, published a book on women in the resistance,. BMETS has stuck to its dream, continuing to appeal to our community to contribute just a little bit to our nearest neighbor who, 20 plus years after independence, are still doing it tough! Join us!

• More details about Blue Mountains Youth Panel

  Blue Mountains Youth Panel

  Blue Mountains high school students will kickstart the speakers sessions at 11.30am on Sept 12th in the dining room. These students have already interviewed Susan Templeman (Federal MP for Macquarie) and Trish Doyle (state MP for the Blue Mountains) on the subject of peace. Now it is their turn to share their thoughts for peace in and for the future.

• More details about Rowe Morrow: non-violent communication

  Rowe Morrow: non-violent communication

  Rowe will facilitate a 1.5 hour workshop from 2.45 on Sat 12th in the community room. Rowe is well known for her teaching and writing about permaculture. Less known is her commitment - as an individual and Quaker - to Peace. There are so many types of peace from personal to systemic and Rowe is very engaged in how we can live with each other more gently and respectfully. So she incorporates non-violence into all her courses. In this workshop she will offer you a taste of what non-violent body behaviour and language means for yourself and others.

• More details about Luke Hocking - WAWAN

  Luke Hocking - WAWAN

  WAWAN - In just 5 years, Wollongong Against War and Nukes has become a highly effective grassroots campaigner against AUKUS, Nukes, war and conflict and its causes. We can all learn from their strategies. Luke Hocking with speak on Building the Anti-war movement in the Illawarra, in the session starting midday in the Dining Room, alongside Luciana Carusi and BM East Timor Sister. Luke has been a socialist and anti-war activist for over a decade, first in Melbourne and for the last five years in Wollongong. He have been involved in organising with Wollongong Against War and Nukes since it was set up in late 2021.