Notes
By Deborah Ferens, Bob Fink, Saul Chernos | 1991-03-01 12:00:00
British Columbia
- Conscientious objector blocked! In February, 1990 Jerilynn Prior was denied leave to appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada. In August, Thomas Berger, Jerilynn's lawyer, filed an Application for Reconsideration by the Supreme Court, but this, too, was refused. Now, as all avenues for pursuing this case through the Canadian Judicial System have been closed, Thomas Berger has agreed to make a submission to the United Nations Human Rights Committee.
- The Alliance Against Low Level Flights (AALLF) in B.C. has collected about 12,500 signatures on a petition calling on the federal government to "cancel all further low-level military flights in B.C." In the spring of 1991 AALLF's legal challenge will demand the Department of Defence ask the Ministry of the Environment to conduct a full public review of these flights. On October 2, Vancouver City Council passed a resolution calling on the Minister of National Defence and the Federal government to dismantle the flight corridor and to refer it to a full public impact review.
- Stopping Nuke ships! Five Greater Victoria municipalities have unanimously passed resolutions calling for public review by the Federal Environmental Assessment Review Office (FEARO) of the environmental risks posed to Greater Victoria by the berthing of nuclear-armed and nuclear-
- powered ships in Victoria and Esquimalt harbors.
- A successful B.C. Peace Conference was held in Vancouver in early November.
- B.C. has established a B.C. wide Middle East Alert Network to mobilize opposition to the Gulf War.
- Many B.C. activists joined protests at the Nevada Test site this January.
Deborah Ferens
601/247-8335
Saskatchewan
In Saskatoon 1000 marched against the war, from City Hall to a meeting in a downtown ballroom. Demands were; that the war be stopped, the troops be replaced with aid and humanitarian assistance, funds from the war be used to relieve poverty, and that the best way to support our troops is to bring them home. Several other marches have followed. Events have been coordinated by the Saskatoon Coalition Against the War.
Bob Fink 306/244-0679
Ontario
- The official declaration of war in the Persian Gulf has been the focus of the Peace movement's attention in Ontario. Thousands of people are attending demonstrations and blocking streets and buildings. There have also been nondenominational prayer services, vigils, petitions and letter-writing campaigns. Individual and group efforts are far too numerous to list here.
- The Gulf Peace Team, which had a peace camp in Jordan, has opened its Canadian bureau in Toronto at ACT for Disarmament at 736 Bathurst St., (416) 531-6154. The team is looking for volunteers.
- If you want to get involved in the movement to stop the war contact one or more of the following for information:
- ACT for Disarmament/Gulf Peace Team: (416) 531-6154
- Alliance for Non-Violent Action: (416) 461-2274, (416) 466-8282 or (613) 236-5077.
- Ottawa Disarmament Coalition: (613) 228-1693, (819) 771-1450.
- Canadian Peace Alliance: (416)588-5555. ( Toronto Disarmament Network Hotline: 535-8673).
- The Nuclear Awareness Project in Oshawa continues its campaign against nuclear power. The NDP government has announced an indefinite moratorium on the further nuclear power plants but has decided to allow the completion of Darlington. NAP calls this a qualified victory but warns that Ontario Hydro could interpret the moratorium as only a two-or three-year delay of nuclear expansion while an environmental assessment is conducted. For more information call (416) 725-1565.
- With Tomahawk sea-launched cruise missiles being deployed in the Gulf, ACT for Disarmament is coordinating a national day of action on March 2 to protest air-launched cruise tests over Alberta. ACT is also gearing up for its ninth annual Spring Peace Protest May 11. The theme will be Abolishing the Military Worldwide. For more information, call ACT at (416) 531-6154.
- In Huntsville, the Program for Peace and Justice completed its second annual roster of events. The five-week series started September 18.
- If the activities of your peace group are not mentioned here, it's because we have not heard from you.
Saul Chernos, P0 Box 611 Orillia, Oat. 13V 6K5 705/327-7809