Peace Network News

Anonymous — August 1984

Toronto Peace Tag Day – September 22, 1984. The Toronto Disarmament Network and the Peace Petition Caravan are sponsoring a Metro Wide Blitz. The aim is to increase the peace movement’s profile and fundraise. The money raised will be shared on a percentage basis with any group helping out. The success of the day depends on the number of participants. Contact TDN now at xxx-xxxx or write c/o 736 Bathurst Street, Toronto.
Jim Garrison, author of the new book, The Russian Threat: Its Myths and Realities will be speaking in Toronto October 17th. The talk and panel discussion will be held at the St. Lawrence Centre Forum. He’ll also be speaking in Hamilton and Guelph the same week. Details to follow. The tour will go westward through the Prairies and end on the coast in November.
Here’s the right First Choice – a valuable bibliography has been compiled by Library and Information Workers for Peace. It’s called First Choice Essential Reading on Peace and Disarmament. The group is new so members are welcome. For the bibliography, write to John Marshall 22 Braeside .Rd., Toronto, Ont. M4N lX7.
B.C. Engineers for Peace are quite active. They are planning to present a motion at the annual general meeting of Professional Engineers in Kelbwna, B.C. in mid-October. It’ll be similar to the one passed by B.C. doctors in June. They’re asking for a large contingent of peaceminded engineers to be on hand to support the motion. Yes, engineers are as concerned as doctors are about the future of our planet.
Against Cruise Testing (ACT) will open a new Peace Centre bookstore and gallery “The Fallout Shelter” in September (in addition to holding a weekly coffee house). Art submissions are welcome! Call Alison Harvey at xxx-xxxx or drop by at 370 Queen E. at Parliament. xxx-xxxx.
Unbelievable as it may seem, TPC reported an incorrect fact in Peace Network News in our June issue. William H. Epstein was not the first recipient of an honourary doctorate for his activities in peace and disarmament. Drs. Hannah and Alan Newcombe of the Dundas Peace Institute received honourary doctorates on November 12, 1982 from McMaster U., in recognition of and appreciation for their tireless effort to promote world peace and disarmament. Congrats to all concerned, apologies to the Newcombes and our thanks to Bette Hillmer for drawing the mistake to our attention.
Kathleen Leslie of Magog, PQ writes us about the Townships Peace Group Fashion Show held in Georgeville on July 1st. They raised $786 and had a lot of fun. The TPG has a membership of 160 – 170 people. They are working on the PPCC and have made a project out of giving out the booklet What about the Children? which was produced by the Parents and Teachers for Social Responsibility in Vermont. They have given the booklet to clergy, school principles, Scout and Guide commissioners etc. They are also concerned about Canada’s export of uranium and have written to Turner, Mulroney and Broadbent expressing their concern, asking several papers to print copies of the letters.
The Peace Calendar, as usual, is absolutely desperate for your help. Our events listings are free publicity for your activities and an enormous morale boost for the Canadian peace movement, but we also want your article suggestions, photos of your events and any other assistance you can offer. Please help us to reach every comer of this country and make sure we cover your area in the process. Our address is The Peace Calendar, c/o CANDIS, 736 Bathurst St., Toronto, ON, MSS 2R4. 416-xxx-xxxx. Our deadlines for events listings, photos and articles are usually the 13 15 of each month. Our paid advertising deadline is usually around the 18-20th. Thanks.
For the past 10 months, a group has been active within the West German Bundeswehr (army) trying to stir up discussion on peace and security issues. Professional soldiers and civilian employees, all committed to their work in the army, have come out vs. NATO security policies and vs. the deployment of Pershing II and cruise missiles. Since last September, more than 140 Bundeswehr soldiers and employees have signed the DarmstMter Signal appeal which demands; stop the arms race, resume efforts at easing political tensions, concrete steps towards real disarmament, creation of NWFZs in Europe, clear interpretation of the Bundeswehr’s defensive mandate, and reduction of and an end to arms exports. The group is working on generating more media attention. They feel that they would attract more signers for the appeal, but that people are worried about possible retribution.
For those who have contact with the Japanese peace group The Japan Council against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs (Gensuikyo), we have been receiving fascinating and conflicting letters from them. This item would be of particular interest to those who plan to attend the 1984 World Conference against A & H Bombs. We have a letter from the Secretary General Koichi AKAMATSU reporting the revision of the group’s constitution and what seems to be a major change in elected officers. We also have a letter (dated two days later) sadly informing us of an “illegally established” takeover of Gensuikyo by the Communist Party of Japan using such means as forgery and violation of Gensuikyo’s constitution. It is very difficult to say what the true state of affairs is, but it appears that this takeover may be a reality.
Calling on participants for the Conference for a North Atlantic Network of Peace Movements Building an Alternative Alliance. It’ll be held in Reykjavik, Iceland, from August 2426: Representatives of peace movements in Canada, the U.S., Greenland and the Farces are expected to attend this event which is being sponsored by the Campaign Against Military Bases in Iceland.
The objective of the conference will be to examine the dangers of military build-up in the North Atlantic, the ecological consequences of nuclear pollution, and to develop direct working relations between interested individuals, local groups and national campaigns. There’ll also be discussion on Nordic NFWZ’s. Write to CAMB, Frakkastigur 14, Box 314, 121 Reykjavik, Iceland, or telephone xxx-xxxx. Copies of the registration form are also available through CANDIS in Toronto.
According to the July newsletter of the B.C. Engineers for Peace, the Vancouver City Council has passed Mayor Harcourt’s proposal to have B.C. declared a Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone. It has now been passed on to B.C. Premier Bill Bennett.
In Ottawa, help make Centretown a Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone. The Centretown Citizen’s Community Association has made an application to amend a city zoning by-law to declare it nuclear weapon-free. Write your support of the idea to the City Clerk, City Hall, III Sussex, Ottawa, Ont., KIN 5A1. For more information on the group, call Craig Layng, xxx-xxxx .
The Peace Petition Caravan Campaign is clipping along in Newfoundland. Petitions are in the hands of 60 branches of the Women’s Institute and 8 Status of Women groups. The Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Labour has been in touch with all of their unions in the province. Complete-Rent-All has been donating a full-size billboard in downtown St. John’s for a week supporting the PPCC.
Sudbury’s Peace Petition Caravan Campaign is another thriving enterprise. By early July, 8000 signatures had been collected by more than 300 people carrying petitions. All the political parties have been contacted and made aware of the issue. An allcandidates meeting and a cultural event are in the planning stage.
Need some help making peace an election issue? Check out the Election Priorities Project. It’s sponsored by the Canadian Council for International Co-operation (an umbrella group for 100 Canadian development and international aid agencies). They’ve prepared a kit of well-researched background information on 13 questions concerning Canadian policy on disarmament and development. Contact Gwen Shuarte, 32 Maynard Ave, No. 805, Toronto, Onto or phone xxx-xxxx or Dwight Burkhardt, 31 Dorval Rd., Toronto, xxx-xxxx.

The Peace Calendar

Canadian Disarmament Information Service, 1983-1984

Peace Network News