Peace Magazine Jan-Feb 1995, page 15. Some rights reserved.
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As of September 1, Canadian Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (CPPNW) changed its name and mandate.
As the Canadian affiliate of International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW), CPPNW emphasized ridding the world of nuclear war.
CPPNW is now called Physicians for Global Survival (Canada).
The group will continue to work toward a ban on land mines and support the World Court Project, which seeks a ruling by the International Court Justice declaring the use of nuclear weapons illegal under international law.
For information contact Debbie Grisdale, Executive Director, Physicians for Global Survival (Canada), 170A Booth Street, Ottawa, ON K1R 7W1, (613) 233-1982
Source: Physicians for Global Survival (Canada)
A priest and a rural mayor, both from Iowa, are serving federal sentences for protests at the Strategic Nuclear Command (StratCom) at Offutt Air Force Base near Omaha.
Fr. Frank Cordaro and Maloy Mayor Brian Terrell are veteran nuclear resisters, with arrests over the last two decades at nuclear and military facilities across the United States. They were charged with trespassing at Offutt May 29.
Mayor Terrell was sentenced to four months beginning Nov. 1. In a 12-minute trial on Oct. 20, Fr. Cordaro said he had already spent 26 months in jail, but if set free he would return to the base to demand that it cease coordinating all U.S. strategic nuclear weapons systems. He was sentenced to six months.
Cordaro and Terrell will be sending out a newsletter from prison. Send contributions to Fr. Frank and Brian's Support Fund, St. Patrick's Church, 223 Harmony St., Council Bluffs, IA 51503.
Terrell requests prayers, letters, and visits to himself and his family, and donations to compensate for his lost income. Letters should be sent to Terrell, his partner Betsy, and children Clara and Elijah, care of Strangers and Guests Catholic Worker, P.O. Box 264, Maloy, IA 50852.
Source: the Nuclear Resister
Starting soon you will see something new when you buy a Sega or Nintendo video game: ratings and warnings about sex, violence, and foul language, and a rating as to who should play the game.
The ratings and warning systems have already started on 185 games and may be on the shelves by Christmas.
There are five ratings classifications:
For example, Mortal Kombat II, in which the player rips out his opponent's heart or spine, would receive a mature rating. And the Street-Fighter games would get a ranking of teen.
A U.S. survey found 75 per cent of 1000 adults favored the ratings system. A Canadian survey found that most people preferred that the electronic games industry regulate itself rather than the government getting involved.
Harvey Nightingale, the executive director of the Canadian Interactive Digital Software Association in Toronto, said the ratings are "a major leap forward for the video game industry."
Rose Dyson, the chairperson for Canadians Concerned About Violence In Entertainment, located in Hamilton, said the ratings are a modest start and a step in the right direction. "But it falls short of its real goals because it is unlikely to keep these games out of the hands of young people," said Dyson. "They will still get it in other homes or from older siblings or even parents."
Dyson said these games are harmful to anyone, no matter what age. She also feels that games such as Mortal Kombat II should be banned. But Nightingale said banning games is not his job.
Shawn Lardner, who works at the Video Game Store in the Oshawa Centre said the ratings are a great idea and will help the store in the long run. He doesn't think the ratings will affect sales.
By André Emond, Durham College Chronicle
Peace Magazine Jan-Feb 1995, page 15. Some rights reserved.
Search for other articles by PMag staff here