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Canada Threatened by Missile Defence - action to take -excellent references KEEP UP THE PRESSURE--SEND A LETTER TO OTTAWA--NO TO MISSILE DEFENSE! Bea Bernhausen, May 07, 2003 Dear Friends, As we have been taken totally off-guard on this turn-around in Canada's position regarding the Missile Defense System we must make sure we take advantage of every opportunity to tell Ottawa how we feel. Sorry if some info is doubled up. Also if anybody wants to connect and strategize--or if you have any info and or action plans organizations etc...e-mail me. I know it's really hard to stay focused --especially with e-mails--and the short attention span they create with such easy accessibility to mountains of information---but we must stay focused on this one. The pressure is only beginning--and our access to input is severely restricted. Also in terms of action---print letters and faxes speak volumes more than e-mails--and jamming phone lines is not a bad idea either. Can anybody put together a phone campaign where we phone in waves--much like they did in the US? This plan is the last nail in the coffin of our freedom--we cannot allow it to go down! For myself--I gathered letters at events I went to over the weekend--got close to 200, which I sent off to Prime Minister Chretien by Purolator, sending photocopies to Foreign Minister Bill Graham, NDP MPs Alexa McDonough, Libby Davies, Svend Robinson and Bill Blaikey. Each package was the size of a thick book, with cover letters for each. Cost a bundle--but well worth it. Letter to Chretien: May 5, 2003 Dear Prime Minister Chretien I am forwarding you letters of concern signed by Canadians, which we have collected over the past couple of days, regarding the proposal that Canada join the Missile Defense System. Included are also letters urging Canada to hold a Space Treaty conference, regarding which a petition had been introduced in Parliament by Svend Robinson on Feb. 17 of this year. We have also handed out many more letters, which will hopefully find their way to your office over the next few days. Due to limited time for any input-I wanted to make sure that at least some voices of concern got heard, so I am sending these by the fastest method possible. I'm hoping that you will see your way clear to holding a much broader debate in which ordinary Canadians can voice their opinions on this extremely important issue. I also forwarded copies of the letters to Hon. Foreign Minister Bill Graham, as well as to my MP Libby Davies, Svend Robinson, Bill Blaikie and Alexa McDonough. I would like to thank you for your stand against the war on Iraq, which by all present accounts has been a groundless and heartbreakingly tragic waste of life, as well as being illegal and unspeakably immoral. To go along with the US in the Missile Defense System would place us in the same moral category, besides all the other reasons against it that have been voiced by more knowledgeable people than myself. Since you are leaving office in less than a year, in my opinion, there is no greater legacy you could leave than to keep this country on course in helping to provide peaceful resolutions to world problems. I would ask you to give this issue far more time for debate and consultation with the public, as the seriousness of such a decision requires. Sincerely, *************** If the letter is published
tomorrow it will be out at the same time the packages of letters get
there. I'm hoping it will cause a wave of energy--along with all the
hundreds of letters and e-mails that are being sent to the government
from all over the country. Below there is information that the website
of Foreign Policy Dialogue Letter to the Editor: Canada's position, until now, has been to keep Canada out of the Missile Defense System, and to keep space weapons-free. It seems, however, that in the last few days that stand has been called into question, and debate on the issue will be held as early as next week. Foreign Minister Bill Graham is leaning towards cooperating with the US at this point. The media tells us that Paul Martin, the corporate choice for next P.M., is in favour of the Missile Defense System. But Paul Martin does not speak for Canadians, no matter how much he, and vested interests, envision him to be the next Prime Minister. Chretien is not stepping down until February 2004, and next election is in 2005. Judging by the events of the last few months---that is a very long time from now. We have a chance--an obligation--to keep Canada not only out of the Missile Defense System---but to lead the world in standing against the weaponization of space, as Canada has always pledged. Joining the US in the Missile Defense System will be an irreversible step in giving up our sovereignty. Simply put, the Missile Defense
System is the exportation of the US' concept of "war without end" into
space--humanity's common heritage. This Vision is clearly spelled out
in the US Space Command's Vision for 2020 Think down the road a ways--what sort of legacy are we leaving our children? This spiraling use of force and fear has no end. Safety is NEVER achieved. There are always more threats that need to be overcome by greater and greater force and domination--until we are completely controlled both on a collective and personal level. This, in the mind of the present US administration is what is considered 'being safe'. All it requires is that we give up any sense of humanity that we have. And I'm not even touching on what it does to the planet. With weapons technology expanding exponentially, in a world that is already able to destroy itself thousands of times over, what sort of future do we have? What sort of future do our children and their children have? Native tradition requires that the effect of actions be considered seven generations down the road. If we are to follow this course of action--what do you see seven generations down the road? Canada is crucial to the US Missile Defense--and pressure is being applied to us across the board by the United States. Question is--are we going to fall for it? Is that the stuff we're made of? This world will not survive unless we change our thinking drastically. We on this planet must make a choice between following blindly into a spiral of fear and destruction or standing firm for a vision of a new peaceful world. The tide HAS to be turned. The time is NOW. Sincerely, ************************************************************************************************************************* And from south of the 49 Dear Canada: YOU MUST SAY NO TO SUPPORTING NWD. I am a resident of the United States. I no longer prefer to use the word "citizen" for obvious reasons. I know how hard it is for your to walk that tight rope, but you must not give in now, for you will have surrendered yourself to be devoured by the fanatical right-wing American war machine. Many of us anti-war have watched Canada with admiration as you refused to send troops, as you refused to back the war. Took real "balls" with the raging elephant to the south. You do not have a large standing army which is basically a good thing. You can't be called upon to supply massive numbers of troops to support the American war machine. At the same time it prevented you from becoming focused on militarism. Your lack of militarism is what makes you such a peaceful country. You have also been able to put that money toward universal health care, etc. In 1783 at the end of the "Revolutionary War," I always say that the Americans won the battle, but the Canadians won the war. I would like to see the United States emulate Canada. Then I would feel proud and not ashamed of what my country has become. Why doesn't Canada become part of the EU; that might offer you some protection. I am unable to email to any of your PM's because I don't have a Canadian mail code. I hope that you can forward this message on to them. If your government agrees, then you have sold your soul to the Evil One in the White House. Sincerely yours, truth for reconciliation unitetoendwar@yahoo.com wrote: To: vancouver-activist@yahoogroups.com If Canada agrees to this it will betray the world, including the American people who know and can feel enough to resist giving the fanatical US rightwing first-strike impunity (Missile "Defence", my ass!) and a foot in the door to full weaponization of space, full US colonization of space, which should be the global commons. The nuclear weapons industry, like any other, is growth dependent and the most unsustainable and volatile of any industry. American use of Depleted
Uranium (highly and eternally toxic, "depleted" my ass!) has lulled
us back across the nuclear threshold we committed not to cross after
the atrocity of incinerating the two exclusively civilian population
centers after Japan's threat was neutralized and after they had, in
fact, surrendered. But since there are many more instances than are
commonly known Nixon pushed to use nukes on Vietnam, evidence archived
on here somewhere: At a time when the world must change its globally suicidal course, if we're to hold together enough biodiversity and fertility for posterity, we must not let the US give an open-ended future for military-inflected capitalist growth. We can all know this spells global suicide/genocide, depending on your perspective. The whole conscious world would support us undercutting these sinister plans. It is time we start sacrificing petty narrow short term gains for the whole world and our common future. Postage is free to these who will either support the retaining what self-determination of Canada and the world's peoples still have or will happily sell their soles and step off into the abyss as they turn to spit on the grave that Canada is becoming, that our Earth is becoming, that the potential to restore democracy to the world is becoming. Lace into them. It will buoy the people's allies as it will do what we can against the foes of life, which include Paul Martin and the so called, "Canadian Alliance". Let's slap up an alternative popular choice to these two right wing nuts. For Life, Nick
Dimitri , Vancouver Fwd: Ottawa to support NMD!? FA deadline extended Dear Friends and friends of friends, Please treat this as critical and high priority. Canada's role in the World MUST be as a peacemaking nation. What we have in enclosed is an integral part of war planning by the US. The only defence and security for peoples and nations of the world is human security and not weaponry by military industrialists. We need to be alerted to the push to involve Canada in the US Missile Defense System. Recently some of us had the opportunity to hear Dr. Helen Caldicott. Her assessment and the linkages between the expansion in nuclear weapons and the MDS alerts us to act as diligently as we have been in the war against Iraq. (perhaps even more so..)Take time to become informed and inform others. Forward this message to your network. It is imperative for us to respond. There are several options listed below. Emails, phone calls, etc. We must be apprised of the government's thinking and plans on MDS Input into the Dialogue has been extended to May 7th, ( Ed. Note when I checked this it had been cut off at May 1) Please act and forward your views, I hope the Light for Peace coalition has a good turnout on Tues. May 6. 4;30 HEW Everyone is welcome. This must be our priority at the mtg. Also later that evening is the United Nations mtg. in Castlegar and I will bring this forward as well. Please call if you need further discussion or info. I too am trying to inform myself and weed through the technical aspects of this. In peace and solidarity From Darrell Rankin Dear Friends, Ottawa seems poised to support the U.S.' expensive and unworkable "Missile Defence" project, which aims to create a protective umbrella for North America using anti-ballistic missiles. You may recall that the U.S. abrogated the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty (1972) so that it could proceed with this present version of "Star Wars." Visit http://scienceforpeace.sa.utoronto.ca/New_NOOS/Presentations/visbook.pdf especially p. 3, for the mandate of the U.S. Space Command: "dominating the space dimension of military operations to protect U.S. interests and investment.") The Foreign Policy Dialogue deadline for submissions has been expended to May 7, so this seems like a good moment for individuals or groups to make a submission on this point - or make it a family project! Here is some background on the issue, originally sent from Bev Delong, president of Lawyers for Social Responsibility and an expert in arms control and disarmament issues. Darrell Rankin * * * * ** * * * ** * * * ** * * * ** * * * ** * * * ** * * * ** * * * ** * * * ** * * * ** * * * ** * * * ** * * * * Write a letter and send to:
Also please send to: Jack Layton, leader of the NDP, jack@fed.ndp.ca or Phone (613) 236-3613 Fax (613) 230-9950 Bill Blaikie--NDP Foreign Affairs Critic: Phone: (204) 984-2499 Fax: (204) 984-2502 email: bill@billblaikie.ca Libby Davies:-- Phone: (604) 775-5800 Fax: (604) 775-5811 email : daviel@parl.gc.ca Svend Robinson:-- Phone: 613.996.5597 Fax: 613.992.5501, email : robins@parl.gc.ca and other NDP members: Or--find your Member of Parliament: Or by Postal Code at: More Links: Hon. Bill Graham Fax: (613) 996-9607 Email: Graham.B@parl.gc.ca Hon. Jean Chretien, Fax: (613) 941-6900 and e-mail pm@pm.gc.ca Hon. Sheila Copps, Copps.S@parl.gc.ca Hon. Paul Martin, Martin.P@parl.gc.ca Hon. John Manley, Manley.J@parl.gc.ca 2 - You can also call the toll-free number 1-866-599-4999. You can call and ask for any MP and/or the PM at this number. We are urging people to call and leave messages for Defense Minister McCallum and for Foreign Minister Graham in particular. Also call DFAIT at 1-800-267-8376 3 - Also, write a letter to the editor of the local paper. For info on the issue check out these resources: Visit: Read Lloyd Axworthy's critique of the
missile defense plan at: This was sent by Mike Wallace, ALL of this debate presumes something that is completely false, namely, that the Americans have a BMD system that is nearly ready to work. IT ISN'T!! IT"S A FRAUD! But don't take my word for it, read the analysis and reports of REAL American rocket scientists, those NOT paid by the US Administration! You can find this at: [Dr. Nira] Schwartz, a scientist and
computer expert, was hired in 1995 by TRW to test the key component
of the missile defense system: the ability of our missiles (charmingly
known as "kill vehicles") to discriminate between incoming enemy warheads
and harmless decoys. She soon discovered that the technology being
used was fatally flawed. http://www.ucsusa.org/global_security/missile_defense/page.cfm?pageID=1001 Also read Theodore Postol, MIT, on this
--- and his lovely trashing of Patriot Missiles last time around.
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