Photo: Pacific Pilgrimage in Canberra. Credit: Jessie Boylan

In June/July, our Program Coordinator Dimity Hawkins joined a special delegation for a Pacific Peace Pilgrimage.

This initiative was supported and represented by Quakers Australia, ICAN Australia, the Nuclear Truth Project, Pacific Conference of Churches, the Marshall Islands Students Association, and the Fijian Nuclear Veterans and Families Association.

We supported the First Nations and Pacific led delegation within the Australian Federal Parliament in Canberra with social media collaborations, briefings and materials, including sharing our Protocols.

Many of the meetings, motions and events with Members of Parliament and Senators were profound and moving.

[from left to right] Francis Namoumou, Pacific Conference of Churches; Merewalesi Tuilau, Director of Fiji Nuclear Veterans and Families; Rev James Bhagwan, Secretary General of the Pacific Conference of Churches; Karina Lester, Yankunytjatjara Anangu second generation nuclear test survivor and ICAN Ambassador, Karina Lester; and Samuel Barton, President, Marshall Islands Students Association in Fiji. Canberra, July 2026. Credit: Dimity Hawkins

On the 80th anniversary of the first nuclear test by the United States on the Marshall Islands, we held a vigil outside of Parliament, which many members of parliament and staffers attended. Led again by Pacific and First Nations delegates, it was a profound moment of reflection. 

The following day marked 60 years since the first French test in Mā’ohi Nui, and with a generous collaboration from our friends there, we were honoured to bring a powerful video message to share with Parliamentarians in a special session of the Parliamentary Friendship Group for the TPNW.

[from left to right] Merewalesi Tuilau, Director of Fiji Nuclear Veterans and Families; Uncle Winiata Puru, Beyond Uranium Collective Canberra; Samuel Barton, President, Marshall Islands Students Association in Fiji; Karina Lester, Yankunytjatjara Anangu second generation nuclear test survivor and ICAN Ambassador, Karina Lester; Rev James Bhagwan, Secretary General of the Pacific Conference of Churches; and Francis Namoumou, Pacific Conference of Churches. Canberra, July 2026. Credit: Dimity Hawkins

Events that followed in Sydney and Melbourne brought community together to hear the powerful testimonies and share in feasts generously coordinated by the Quakers. Sharing music, poetry, stories and knowledge created a rich exchange, even in the heart of winter in Australia. 

Dimity reflected,

“This project was brought together with the deep care, sponsorship and strategic knowledge of the entire team from each organisation. It was an example of true partnership, solidarity, First Nations leadership and collaborative spirit that upholds our founding principles of Rights, Respect and Reciprocity, and it was an honour to be there.”

Nuclear Trith Project's Protocols Posters at the Pacific Ilgrimage event in Naarm (Melbourne). Credit: Dimity Hawkins.