Peace Network News

Anonymous — April 1984

May 4-13 is “National Week for Pursuing Peace with Justice” in the US. It will unite groups working against militarism and for jobs, human rights and equality. Canadian peace groups wishing to promote joint actions with neighbouring American groups can find out more through the Fellowship of Reconciliation, Box 271, Nyack, NY 10960.
Costa Rica has invited representatives of Operation Dismantle to the UN to help lobby for about 25 days. Jim Stark will speak to a mission chaired by its Ambassador, Emilia Barish, in support of its resolution calling for the International Year of Peace, which includes a proposal for a world referendum on disarmament. This resolution will be introduced in December, and it would be very gratifying for Canada to be one of the cosponsors of the resolution. People wishing to urge this can do so by contacting the Prime Minister’s office at 613/xxx-xxxx.
Edith Adamson of the Peace Tax Fund is planning to be in Ontario on a speaking tour in mid-April. Groups interested in organizing talks for her or in offering support should phone her as soon as possible. 502-620 View St., Victoria B.C. V8W 1T6_._ Phone: (604) xxx-xxxx or xxx-xxxx.
The Labour Council of Metropolitan Toronto has won the endorsement of its delegates for t he Peace Petition Caravan Campaign. The affiliates and locals have agreed to contribute funds to that drive, to promote its educational forums and to organize other meetings for study of its proposals. They have also agreed to recruit members to work on the campaign canvass, to affiliate with the Toronto Disarmament Network, and to contribute to the funding of a labour co-ordinator for the campaign. A search is underway for a person to fill that position, and by about April I, the coordinator will probably be hired and starting the job that will last until October, when the PPCC effort will be complete.
New group: Lawyers for Social Responsibility. This organization is open to all persons working within the legal profession. Its goal is to educate the legal profession, policy makers, and the general public about the dangers of war. It will examine government policies affecting peace, encourage legal research into security, and promote peaceful strategies for conflict resolution among nations. For further information, contact David W. Wright, Q.C., Box 80, I First Canadian Place, Toronto M5X 1B1.
Syracuse University will offer a summer institute on conflict management, consisting of 3 separate 3-credit courses: Communication and Problem Solving Skills (May 22-June I), Negotiation and Mediation Skills (June 415), and Conflict Management for Leaders (June 23-27). Each course is offered for undergraduate or graduate credit. Contact Prof. Neil Katz, 249 Physics Bldg., Syracuse University, Syracuse NY 13210. 315/xxx-xxxx.
The European Convention on Disarmament and the Bertrand Russell Peace Foundation will hold a conference in Perugia, Italy, between July 17 and 22. Write Disarmament Campaigns, Anna Paulownaplein 3, 2302 The Hague, The Netherlands. Tel: 7xxx-xxxx.
“Economic Conversion: Transforming the Economy for Jobs, Peace and Justice” is a conference to be held at Boston College, June 22-24. Panels of specialists will discuss conversion with “Nonviolence in Education and Action: A National Networking Conference” will take place in the Black Hills of S. Dakota between August 5 and 9. For details, contact “Nonviolence Conference,” 802 11th Avenue, Brookings, SD 57005. 605/xxx-xxxx.
The Peace Petition Caravan Campaign is well underway in Antigonish, Sydney and Halifax, Nova Scotia. Local committees are being struck, volunteer canvass organizers are coming forward, and education throughout the campaign is being planned.
On March 23, Olga Medvedkova, a member of the Moscow Group to Establish Trust, was found guilty of assaulting a police officer. However, she was given a suspended sentence a disposition that is remarkably lenient for such cases in her country. Moreover, her associates were not, as they had expected to be, charged with perjury for testifying as witnesses on her behalf. This outcome was welcomed with satisfaction by several Canadian peace activists who had written letters of support for Medvedkova. They called it a favourable sign of Soviet responsiveness to Western concerns, and a major gesture that is certain to help improve relations between the Soviet and Western movements.

The Peace Calendar

Canadian Disarmament Information Service, 1983-1984

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