Following is a letter regarding conscientious objection and noncooperation:

Anita McKone

Sacred Earth Nonviolence Community

19 McLachlan St

Northcote VIC 3070

21 February 1997

David Kerr

The Australian Superannuation Group Pty Ltd

PO Box 7497 St Kilda Rd

Melbourne VIC 3004

Dear David

I recently received an Application for Payment of Benefit and Leaving Service Advice regarding the superannuation which is currently held in trust for me by your company.

On reading your letter, I was made aware that, according to what I presume are legal stipulations, I have no right to claim my benefit in cash, as none of the categories which would allow me to do so apply to me. The one alternative I have been given is to rollover the total of the benefit into another fund.

I am writing to inform you that, as a matter of conscience, I am unable to comply with your company's directions: I will not give my authority for you to rollover my benefit into another fund of your or my choosing, and I do not give my authority for your company to retain my benefit for any purpose.

My reasons are as follows:

I have a conscientious objection to having my money used within the capitalist economic system for the purpose of investment for profit. It is clear to me that capitalism is only able to meet the physical needs of a small proportion of the world's population, and that it does so at the expense of the needs of the majority of women, indigenous peoples, the third world and workers, and at the expense of the environment. It is also clear to me that capitalism works directly against all people being able to meet their emotional and spiritual needs. I believe that investment, and any returns gained from it, is a primary element of this unjust system, and so I am bound by my conscience not to cooperate with it.

As an example of my commitment to these principles, I have decided not to work in exchange for money, since I believe that human relationships should be based on love, and should not be a case of 'doing deals'. Also, money which has been given to me and my community as a gift for our nonviolence work is held in a local credit co-operative, with no interest being earned on the account.

I have no intention of ever receiving government benefits, including the old-age pension, as I believe that the security offered by government structures masks their true nature: that they are fundamentally unable to meet people's need for physical, emotional, spiritual and intellectual well-being. I take full responsibility for having my own needs met throughout my life, and so will not cooperate with legal requirements which compel me to do this within the government's preferred economic framework.

I would greatly appreciate it, therefore, if you would return my superannuation benefit to me. I look forward to your reply.

Yours sincerely

Anita McKone