NATIONAL LETTER WRITING CAMPAIGN

Anonymous — March 1984

Since the first letter-writing suggestion appeared in last month’s edition of The Peace Calendar the campaign has grown immensely. Forty-three groups from St. John’s to Vancouver, have now endorsed the letter-writing campaign. In’ the period of one month the National Letter-Writing Campaign (NWLC) has become one of Canada’s largest lobbying groups.

In order that the NLWC and the Peace Petition Caravan Campaign (PPCC) can both have greater impact over the next several months the NWLC will dovetail its suggestions with the efforts of the PPCC. To this end, this month’s suggestion is to write to Brian Mulroney, leader of the Progressive Conservative party. In writing him please ask that he support and work towards the objectives of the Peace Petition Caravan Campaign. The objectives are as follows: 1) We ask that the Parliament of Canada act to refuse the testing of the cruise missile in Canada and to reject research, production, testing and transport of any nuclear weapons, their delivery systems or components in Canada. 2) We ask that Canada be declared a Nuclear Weapons Free Zone in accord with similar initiatives by other nations and become actively involved in working for the multilateral de-escalation of the arms race. 3) We further ask that wasteful spending on the arms race be diverted to fund human needs so as to ensure prosperity through peace. 4) Finally, we ask that the above stated objectives be subject to ratification through a ‘free vote’ in the Parliament of Canada.

In writing to Brian Mulroney be sure to ask that your letter be replied to. You can expect a form letter in return. It is important to follow-up at that point with a second letter showing your deep concern over Canada’s involvement in the arms race and once’ again. asking that Brian Mulroney come out in support of the Peace Petition Caravan objectives. No postage is required in writing the Progressive Conservative leader, and letters should be addressed to the House of Commons, Ottawa, On., K1A OA6.

Finally, if your group is interested in becoming part of the NLWC could you please write me and let me know that your group endorses the concept and is willing to encourage peace activists in your community to write letters. Also, please send suggestions of individuals you would like to see targeted for letters.

In peace,
Doug Mohr
301-103 Church St.
Kitchener, On.
N2G 283

To date, the following groups have endorsed the letter-writing campaign. We hope to be able to add the name of your group to the list.

Arts for Peace; Brampton and area Peace Council; Chatham-Kent Association for Peace and Disarmament: Cruise Missile Conversion Project; East End Peace Action; East York Peace Committee; Educators for Nuclear Disarmament; Guelph Disarmament Group; Hamilton Disarmament Coalition; Inter-Church Disarmament Project; Killarney Nuclear Disarmament Group; lakeshore Committee for Disarmament; lawyers Alliance for Judicial Action on Nuclear Disarmament; Manitoba Peace Council; Mount Arrowsmith Disarmament Coalition; Niagara Disarmament Coalition; North York Action for Disarmament; Operation Dismantle; Parkdale for Peace; Peace Education Network; Peace Resource Centre; Performing Artists for Nuclear Disarmament; Ploughshares London; Ploughshares . St. John’s; Ploughshares . Saskatoon; Ploughshares . Sudbury; Ploughshares – Waterloo Region; Port Alberni Nuclear Disarmament Coalition; Psychologists for Social Responsibility. Toronto; Psychologists for Social Responsibility . Waterloo; Safe Mosquito Abatement Committee; Spadina Peace Group; Status of Women . Newfoundland; Thunder Bay Coalition for Peace and Nuclear Disarmament; Toronto Disarmament Network; Toronto Quakers Peace and Social Action Committee; Trinity Peace Association; United Jewish People’s Order, Vernon World Disarmament Coalition; Voice of Women; Waterloo Region Peace Network; and the Winnipeg Co-ordinating Committee for Disarmament.

The Peace Calendar

Canadian Disarmament Information Service, 1983-1984

NATIONAL LETTER WRITING CAMPAIGN