Peace Network News

Anonymous — September 1984

Edited by Mary Vrantsidls

About 45 peace petition signatures were obtained at a Peace Information and Bake sale booth at the Elmvale Flea Market in late July. The Barrie Ploughshares group put it on. Passersby were lured by a delicious display of muffins and cookies and found their attention being drawn to pamphlets, buttons and the Petition. Signers were from Toronto, Hamilton, London and from as far away as Montreal and Rochester, New York.
Physicians for Social Responsibility has begun to organize in Barrie, Ontario, led by Drs. Brian Morris, Fred Smith and Peter Dalziel. So far, their main concern has been educating themselves on peace issues and helping Ploughshares Barrie with the Peace Petition Caravan Campaign. For information call Peter Dalziel at 416-xxx-xxxx.
On September 12th, 250 women leaders from across the U.S. will meet on Capitol Hill in Washington for the first National Women’s Conference to Prevent Nuclear War. Actress Joanne Woodward is the chairperson for the conference. She and her husband Paul Newman have worked for the anti-nuke and peace issue for over a decade. The purpose of the all-female conference is to gain visibility for women and underscore their role iri ending the nuclear arms race and to create a strong conviction among all U.S. women that this is a top priority on their personal agendas. For more information write to the conference organizers at 600 Maryland Ave. S.W., 303 Capitol Gallery West, Washington, D.C., 20024.
Here’s a great little Christmas gift idea: … the Lakeland Coalition for Nuclear Awareness (that’s in Alberta) will once again be putting out their Calendar for Peace. It’ll be available Oct. 1. Wendy Tredger and her husband (the editors) say it takes a lot of time and creative energy, but the warm response makes it all worthwhile. They hope this year to beef up their contacts with Eastern Canadian small peace towns. Write for your copy to Lakeland Coalition for Nuclear Awareness, c/o Wendy Tredger, La Corey, AB., TOA 2EO.
About 350 names have been. stitched for the Rainbow Banner Peace Project. It’s been designed to produce a strong, visible statement for Peace and Disarmament. People’s names are embroidered on patches and sewn together to form a huge cloth petition banner. You can participate by either sending in the names of people you care about or you can help with the embroidery. Contact Judith Wolfe, McDonald’s Corners, ON., KOG 1MO. Rainbow buttons are available for $2.
The dream of a cross Canada Peace Petition Caravan Campaign has become reality. Over 40 communities nationwide have committed themselves to celebrating the arrival of the Caravan with media attention and an event. Please keep the central organizing committee informed of your activities for the Caravan. The kick off date is Saturday, September 29 from Victoria and St. John’s. It’s due to arrive in Ottawa, Friday October 19th. Cross Canada support rallies will take place October 20th. Billets, food, vehicles, funds, are all needed. ThePPCC Schedule can be found beside ‘Peace Network News’ in this issue of The Peace Calendar and will be continued in October. Keep in touch by contacting Lynn Connell, for the Caravan Committee, 342 Queen St. W., Toronto, ON., M5V 2A2, xxx-xxxx.
The Toronto Disarmament Network is developing a mass phone tree which is hoped to reach thousands of people each month with information on major peace activities and emergency responses. You can help by making 5 calls a month or simply including yourself on the list to be called. Contact TDN if interested at xxx-xxxx or write c/o 736 Bathurst St., Toronto, M5S 2R4.
Women and Peace will be one of the 14 workshops at the Ontario NDP Caucus’s “Women’s Equality” Conference. It’ll be held Saturday, October 27 from 9 am to 4 pm at the University of Toronto Medical Sciences Auditorium. Daycare and a lunch are provided with the $15 registration fee. Single parents and the unemployed can get a reduced rate. Sister Rosalie Bertell, Margaret Hancock and Laura Pascoe will speak.
Betty Mardiros of the Edmonton Voice of Women reports their Nagasaki Day event was very successful. Close to 200 people were on hand at Knox United Church. A two-minute silence was observed and a woman spoke of her experiences in Japan during the war. The group proceeded down to the River carrying lit candles. Flowers and peace cranes were thrown into the river.
The Nanoose Peace Camp in B.C. at the Nanoose Bay Naval Base is still open, hopefully until the end of September. Spirits are high and some of the participants feel hopeful about the possibility of shutting down the Naval Base by 1986 when the agreement expires. ‘
More and more rural communities across Canada are forming peace groups. The southwestern Ontario town of Bolton has just formed a ‘Citizens for Peace’ group.
September 29th will be the first annual national Children’s Anti-War Day. Activities in cities and, towns across Canada will focus on a fund-raising walk-a-thon. To find out what’s involved, and how you can raise money for your group or project with this event, write to War Toys Boycott Campaign, 730 Bathurst St., Toronto, ON., M5R 2S4, or call 416-xxx-xxxx.
The Election Priorities Project of CCIC has committees polling candidates in 150 ridings.
Planning Committees have begun to organize events for Oct. 20 in several cities. Edmonton is forming a coordinating committee. In Montreal the PPCC, the Quebec Coalition and several other groups have formed a 9 person committee to organize a human chain demonstration and march on Oct. 20. The various member groups will have plenty of freedom to express thdr special concerns in this pluralistic coordinating system.
The Cruise Missile Conversion Project is hiring someone to work on the Military Toys Boycott Campaign in Metro Toronto. $1200 for 4 – 6 weeks, late September to November. We hope that the person will continue to work on the campaign as a volunteer until Christmas. Hiring decision will be made on September 13. For a copy of the job description call CMCP, xxx-xxxx or xxx-xxxx.

The Peace Calendar

Canadian Disarmament Information Service, 1983-1984

Peace Network News