Notes

By Valerie Osborne, Seth Klein | 1988-12-01 12:00:00

Atlantic

THE WEST GERMAN FIRM, Thyssen Industries, whose previous efforts to build tanks in Nova Scotia to be sold to the Middle East, drew protests from the peace movement. The result: withdrawal of the project re-emerged last September 28 to announce plans for building a $58-million plant in Port Hawkesbury, Cape Breton to be completed in the fall of 1990. The plant will become the company's major North American base.

Bear Head Industries, a wholly- owned subsidiary of Thyssen, plans to produce environmental plants and processes, such as fluidized bed combustion metal scrappers, water-waste recycling and industrial conveyor and transport systems. Along with these apparently squeaky clean products, they'll also manufacture light military vehicles for Canadian and American markets, if the contracts can be won. In light of Thyssen's previous plans, this raises questions about where such vehicles, so useful for civilian control by the world's numerous military governments, will be deployed.

In the Peace Pledge Campaign's special drive last October, almost 70 per cent of those polled were in favor of the Peace Pledge. The coordinator, Peter Davison, reports that supporters of the CPPC are working with other local organizations on the Election Priorities Campaign.

Valerie Osborne. Donald Craig (634-8619) is taking over as Atlantic Correspondent from Valerie Osborne, whom we fondly thank!

Youth

THE CANADIAN YOUTH peace movement is slowly but surely shifting into an organized national network. Youth peace groups from coast to coast are exchanging ideas, planning national activities and trying to strengthen our national political voice. Successful efforts over the last six months have brought Canada's youth peace groups closer.

Paper Crane, Canada's national youth peace newsletter has distributed two issues so far. Paper Crane is circulated to hundreds of students across the country, and allows for the exchange of information and ideas on peace issues and what young people can do. The paper is an effort to fight the alienation felt by many youth groups, and also offers a sense of the size and scope of the national youth peace movement.

At the Annual Canadian Peace Alliance convention last June, the CPA Youth Caucus met for the first time. Young people representing youth groups from across the country shared common experiences and exchanged advice. The Youth Caucus called on the support of the CPA and was given a permanent seat on the CPA steering committe. Meetings will be held on a yearly basis, and efforts are underway to increase membership of youth groups in the CPA.

The first representative to the CPA steering committee chosen by the CPA Youth Caucus is Kelly McDowell of SAGE (Students Against Global Extermination) in Montréal. McDowell is the editor of the Paper Crane, and was recently hired by the CPA as a Youth Liaison staff person. She now works at the Toronto office where she is coordinating and expanding the national youth network.

Another national project worth mention was the 1988 Hiroshima Day International Youth Conference Call. As the bells chimed at 8.15 a.m. Hiroshima time, young people from youth peace groups in 19 cities from 11 countries including Canada, gathered around their phones to exchange messages for peace, ideas for action and plans for networking. Every province and territory in Canada was represented. The event was by the United Nations Association in Canada, SAGE in Montréal, and STOP (Students Together On Peace) in Vancouver. Later editions of Youth Notes will focus on the successes of local peace groups.)

* For subscriptions to Paper Crane ($10 per year) write Kelly McDowell, CPA, 555 Bloor Street W., Toronto.

Seth Klein