Like previous years it will be a carnival of liberation, comprising a rally, a drum and dance parade and a speak out in which a conflagration of cardboard art will draw forth prophecies of a Burning Bush.

Like previous years we will be occupying public place, exercising our freedoms of speech and assembly, standing together truly in the defence of our rights and liberties, proudly and publicly, public liability insurance free.

This year freedom loving Australians are celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Eureka Stockade, the rebellion on the gold fields of Ballarat, Victoria, which lit the fires of liberal democratic reform in this land, rolled back the tyrannous colonial government of the British Empire and established the 'fair go' as the quintessential ethos of Australian nationhood.

With that remembrance we see how the wheel has turned and, how from the ashes of the British Empire, another tyranny of the super rich, the super greedy and the super cruel has arisen - a new fascism - corporate militaristic USA.

Backed by the propaganda power of corporate media barons, democracy has been hijacked, liars, puppets and corporate courtiers hold public office and, rolling back the liberal reforms of our forbears, jailers have returned and torture, as the porn torture videos of Abu Ghraib have so clearly demonstrated, is once again a State craft.

What will we do, what will we do, what will we do?

Be like our ancestors, I say. Turn off the TV, turn towards kindness, speak truth, stand tall, show courage in the face of tyranny and organise, organise, organise.

If you are a friend interested to help with the preparations, call me on 0415 843 751.

May our peacemaking bear fruit for many generations to come.

Graeme Dunstan
Peacebus.com

Downloadable flyer as a pdf at www.peacebus.com/FourthJuly/040609IndependDay.pdf

Independence from America Day will be celebrated in Byron Bay this coming Sunday 4 July with a peace rally, a carnival parade, a Speak Out adjacent to the Byron Markets, a Burning Bush and the judging of a '"Better Bush" competition.

The rally will assemble from at Apex Park, Main Beach Byron Bay. First speaker at 11 am. At about noon carnival parade led by Byron drummers Chinta and Cheze will take participants through the streets of Byron to the Byron Markets where adjacent the open mike SpeakOut will take place, a Bush effigy burned and the better Bush identified.

The fourth annual Independence from America Day celebration in Byron Bay, organiser and long time peace activist, Graeme Dunstan, said that 500 participated in last year's event and that he is expecting a much bigger crowd this year, "being a Sunday Byron Market Day, an election coming up and the US Alliance being more on the nose than ever before".

New addition to the program this year is the Better Bush competition which will be compered by Byron comedian and Byron Echo (02 6684 1777) columnist, Mandy Nolan.

"We are inviting people, particularly the ladies of Byron, to think artfully about good bushes and bad bushes", said Mandy. "We are looking for the best decorated bush."

Judges will be selected by raffle. All proceeds to Rural Australians for Refugees.

Independence from America Day is proudly and publicly a public liability insurance free event.

Further information
Graeme Dunstan 02 6684 7778 / 0415 843 751
Mandy Nolan 02 6688 4045

Please understand that as an events organiser I have the means of a mendicant monk.

The kindness of friends sustains me and in producing witness events I welcome every kindness that comes my way, especially that of the Echo for giving me voice in these columns to promote the celebration of Independence from America Day, on Sunday 4 July.

We friends of freedom will be assembling in Apex Park Main Beach for a warm up rally, first speaker 11 am. At about noon a drum parade will lead us dancing through Byron streets finishing at the Byron Market where adjacent, we will have a Speak Out and a Burning Bush.

"Detach from tyranny!" will be our theme; public joy in public place will be our means.

Dear friends, please help with this. Help me make it artful, colourful, joyful. Let us build a community of sustainable resistance to tyranny.

Let us bear witness to the war crimes and human rights abuse that our Australian governments have become complicit because of the US Alliance.

Let our hearts cry out for the suffering. Let compassion unbounded strengthen our determination for change. And let us touch the Earth and dance for life.

In my mind, truth and beauty are inseparable. So please make a costume, bring a percussion instrument (or a brass band), prepare a placard, or carry a flag or banner. Bring smiles, happy hearts, goodwill. Make it the manifestation of an artful peace that we would wish for all to share.

Some feedback tells me that my graphic style is too grim and confrontational. Eye catching is what is intended. A visual inversion of the fairy floss carnival of patriotism conjured by July 4.

My truth is that I do not think we can ever be independent from the US anymore than we can be independent of New Zealand, Canberra, Belongil swamp or little green frogs.

Interdependence Day it will be. Tell your friends about it.

For peace. For justice. For the Earth!

Graeme Dunstan