Below you will find information with regard to Canada's involvement in the US' missile defence plan which is happening as you read...
Fri, 09 Dec 2005 11:23:09 -0500
Open
letter from the Coalition to Oppose the Arms Trade (COAT) coordinator...
Re: Election Issue: Canada DID Join
Missile Defense
For a year now, my peace/anti-war activities have centred on opposing what
is euphemistically called America's "missile defense shield." And,
since February 23, 2005, when Paul Martin cleverly pretended to oppose so called
"missile defense," I've focused my efforts on conducting and
publishing original research to reveal Canada's hidden role in this massive,
weapons-creation and -development program.
What I found is that for years now, Canadian corporate and scientific
communities, as well as government departments, agencies and crown corporations,
have been busily participating in the creation, development, maintenance,
operation, financing and planned deployment of "missile defense"
weapons systems.
However, because Canadians are generally unaware of their country's
involvement in "missile defense," many immediately praised the Liberal
government for its supposed refusal to join this offensive weapons
scheme. Now, nine months later, although the Liberal government is credited on a
daily basis with having kept Canada out of U.S. "missile
defense" plans, the Liberal's have yet to substantiate their hollow
pronouncement with even a single, concrete action. And, many Canadians --
including some key activists who oppose "missile defense" -- continue
their unfounded applause for the Liberal government's phoney "no" to
involvement in the U.S. weapons-development scheme.
This federal election is an opportune time to draw attention to Canada's
participation in so called "missile defense" and to hold the Liberals
accountable for pretending that they prevented Canada from "joining."
I continue to hope that my efforts to unveil Canada's actual complicity in
"missile defense" preparations will help in some small way to
resuscitate Canada's nearly-defunct -- but once vibrant -- anti-Ballistic
Missile Defense (BMD) movement. The peace/antiwar movement can indeed be proud
that prior to the government's much-ballyhooed, but totally hypocritical and
duplicitous, "no to missile defense," we built a strong opposition to
this offensive, U.S. weapons program. It is tragic, however, that as soon as the
government made its fake pronouncement, grassroots opposition acquiesced and
protests disappeared.
By pulling the wool over our eyes on "missile defense," the Liberal
government also managed to pull the rug right out from under our feet! This is
the kind of manoeuvre that typifies Liberal governments. They talk from the left
side of their mouths, while governing from the right.
Original Research in Press for Conversion!
The results of my research on "missile defense" is contained
in three lengthy issues of the Coalition to Oppose the Arms Trade (COAT)
magazine, Press for Conversion! The full text of these issues (totalling
about 100,000 words!) is now available online:
Issue #57: "Canada's Role in so called 'Missile Defense,'
Part II: Sea-based, Theatre Ballistic Missile Defense"
Issue #56: "Canada's Role in so called 'Missile Defense,'
Part I: NORAD, Government Largesse & the ABC's of Corporate Complicity."
http://coat.ncf.ca/missiledefense
Issue #55: "Missile Defense": Trojan Horse for the Weaponization of Space
COAT's
next issue, to be published early in the new year, will deal with Canadian
complicity in the militarisation of space, the role of Canadian space technology
in U.S. warfighting and implications for "missile defense" weapons
systems.
Making "Missile Defense" an issue again!
I'm writing to encourage you to join COAT's ongoing efforts to make Canada's
role in "missile defense" an issue, not only in this federal election
but after it as well. Regardless of whether the Liberals or Conservatives win,
Canada will no doubt remain deeply engaged in various "missile
defense" weapons programs. Here are some ways that you can help COAT to
raise awareness about this important subject:
Order Press for Conversion!, subscribe and/or renew
 |
Here's a generic, COAT coupon that you can use: http://coat.ncf.ca/coupon
| Please order extra copies of our "missile defense" issues for friends, colleagues, political candidates, the media and anyone else you can think of.
| If you haven't already subscribed, please do so now and we'll include a free copy of the current issue, and then start your subscription with the next one. (To get the free, extra copy, please refer to this email offer when you make your payment.)
| If your subscription to Press for Conversion! has expired, I hope you take this opportunity to renew.
| If you're not sure of your subscription status, just drop me an email: mailto:overcoat@rogers.com |
Buy
gift subscriptions
A subscription to our magazine
can make a great present for friends, relatives, fellow activists or even
your dearest, political adversaries.
Challenge the myth of Canada's "no" to "missile defense"
You can use the wealth of information published in our latest issues when
you:
|
write letters to newspaper editors
| phone radio call-in shows and talk-back lines
| raise the issue with peace groups, riding associations, unions, etc.
| ask questions at all-candidates meetings and other public events
| debate these issues online with friends and adversaries alike
| make a presentation, prepare a lecture, write an essay, etc. |
Promote
COAT's original research online
Here are some ways to stimulate
debate and discussion, and spread the word online:
|
Circulate this email to your list of email contacts
| Post this information to list serves
| Link websites to COAT <http://coat.ncf.ca >
| Refer the media, politicians, researchers and others to Press for Conversion! issues (#55-57) on "missile defense." |
Make
a donation to COAT
It's been a real struggle over
the past year trying to debunk the overwhelming illusion that "we won on
missile defense." Please contribute to COAT's ongoing efforts to raise
awareness about Canadian complicity in this offensive, U.S.-led weapons
development program. Keep in mind that COAT does not receive any funding from
foundations, unions, corporations or government agencies. (We are thankful
however for photocopying from several national unions.)
COAT relies entirely on the support of subscribers and supporters. Please
give whatever you can to help us out. Any amount you can afford would be greatly
appreciated!
Don't give up!
As peace/anti-war activists, it often seems that we're fighting a loosing
battle. Canadian industry (and its allies in government) are so closely
integrated into the U.S. war economy, and our military is so deeply embedded
into American institutions of war, that they fall readily in line, by default.
Our government, which has long been among the world's top military spenders,
will now -- thanks to the latest Liberal budget -- be even better
equipped to join in whatever wars, invasions or regime changes that the U.S.
power elite claims are necessary in order to protect world peace and to fight
terrorism. And, of course, Canadian war industries, being among the world's most
successful, weapons producers and exporters, always play a major part in U.S.
wars.
It's easy then to get disheartened and discouraged but, of course, we can't give
up these important struggles.
The biggest obstacle that we face in challenging Canadian complicity in war is
the widely-pervasive myth that Canada is a benevolent global force for peace,
justice and democracy. While most Canadians embrace this myth and feel good
about the positive self-image it engenders, I have long argued that our main
work as peace/anti-war activists is to expose and debunk the many corollaries of
this national delusion. For instance:
|
IRAQ: How can we oppose Canada's current role in training the Iraqi police and Iraqi armed forces, let alone our Navy's part in protecting and escorting fleets of U.S. warships through the Persian Gulf on their way to Iraq since 2003, when Canadians are still proudly thinking that our government said no to any involvement in that illegal war?
| HAITI: How can we protest against Canada's support for the right-wing, CIA-backed coup that ousted the democratically-elected government of Haiti, when Canadians still think our "peacekeepers" are there to protect democracy?
| BMD: How can we counter Canada's ongoing role in so called "missile defense," when Canadians have accepted at face value the Liberal government's puff that it "said no" to participation in this offensive, U.S.-led weapons development program? |
Our
efforts to counter the behemoth of government propaganda are overshadowed by
disinformation that is churned out daily through the mainstream, corporate
media.
In spite of all this, we just can't give up our efforts to raise public
awareness and to radicalise ourselves and others in the peace/anti-war movement.
We must persist even though there seems little hope that we will achieve all of
the successes that we long for. This struggle has been going on for literally
thousands of years, and it will continue for as long as there are wars and
injustice. Each era of activists builds upon the struggles and gains of all
those who came before.
I do believe that our efforts are useful and worthwhile. If I really thought
this work was futile, I wouldn't have devoted the past 22 years -- with little
remuneration -- to full-time activism, organising, research, writing and
publishing.
As my hero, anthropologist Margaret Mead famously said: "Never doubt that a
small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world; indeed it's
the only thing that ever has."
Thanks for anything you can do to help COAT make "missile defense" an
issue again, and particularly for whatever you can do to alert Canadian
activists to the fact that we did not (yet) "win" the struggle
to stop Canada's participation in "missile defense," or the war
against Iraq.
Yours sincerely for peace,
Richard Sanders
Coordinator, COAT
Editor, Press for Conversion!
mailto:overcoat@rogers.com
P.S. Thanks to all those who've recently made a donation to COAT, ordered extra
copies, and otherwise supported our efforts to renew Canadian opposition to
"missile defense." Your help is very much appreciated!
P.P.S. Here again is a generic, COAT coupon that you can use to order magazines,
subscribe, renew or donate to COAT. Thanks!!
http://coat.ncf.ca/coupon
Thursday, November 24, 2005
This week the corporate and defence lobbies launched their campaign to bring back missile defence for the upcoming federal election. They are paving the way for Stephen Harper’s Conservatives to include joining Bush’s Star Wars program in their platform. Former Canadian Ambassador to the United States Derek H. Burney told a government committee this week that Canada should contact the Bush administration and “signal our willingness to re-engage on Ballistic Missile Defence.” His comments were carried on the front page of the Ottawa Citizen and in other news media. I think we need to form an Election Rapid Response strategy right away to counter any push by the corporate and defence lobbies, or by the Conservative Party, to restart missile defence talks.
That’s why I am writing you today – we need your support in a very critical way. Please consider making a special contribution to our Election Rapid Response strategy by visiting ceasefire.ca. Make your donation now.
There is evidence that the Conservative Party is preparing to make missile defence part of its platform. Earlier this month at a conference in Ottawa on “deep integration” with the United States, Conservative Party trade critic Ted Menzies said he thought Canada should restart missile defence talks as a way to get the Americans moving on softwood lumber (Derek H. Burney was the moderator of the panel).
Derek H. Burney is leading this Star Wars campaign. He is an influential corporate lobbyist for Tom d’Aquino’s CEO group, the Canadian Council of Chief Executives. He’s also the former CEO of Canada’s largest defence contractor, CAE Inc., which is helping to build the missile defence system. But he is best known as a chief architect of the Free Trade Agreement when he was Brian Mulroney’s Chief of Staff.
Clearly, this is all part of a well–orchestrated and well-funded campaign to get Canada to join missile defence and achieve even further military integration with the United States.
Burney’s presentation to the government committee was on behalf of the Calgary-based defence lobby group, the Canadian Defence and Foreign Affairs Institute (CDFAI).
The CDFAI receives funding from weapons corporations, including General Dynamics, the fifth largest defence contractor in the United States. The CDFAI also receives funding from Tom d’Aquino’s Canadian Council of Chief Executives.
We need to act now to ensure that our victory on missile defence holds firm and to push Canada away from Bush’s war machine – but I need your support. I ask that you consider making a special election campaign gift right now. Make your donation now.
Here is my three-point plan for the upcoming election:
We will organize an Election Rapid Response Team of experts and activists. This team will monitor the election and speak directly to journalists, candidates, and especially voters about the dangers of Canadian involvement in missile defence and U.S. war fighting.
We will produce information flyers and talking points for citizens to take to candidates meetings and to distribute to their organizations.
We will use our newly redesigned web site, ceasefire.ca, so that people can press the political parties to make commitments against missile defence, and to promote Canada’s role in promoting international peace and security – especially through UN peacekeeping.
But we won’t be able to do this work without your support. We need $10,000 to pay for new research, conference calls, press releases, and information flyers for voters. Please visit ceasefire.ca and make your donation right away.
I will report back on any developments and keep you informed about the campaign.
Thank you so much for your commitment to Canada’s real security.
Sincerely,
Steve Staples
Polaris Institute and founder of ceasefire.ca
Donations by mail and inquiries may be directed to:
Polaris Institute
Attn. Karen Craine , Program Assistant
180 Metcalfe Street, Ottawa ON K2P 1P5 Canada
Tel. 613 237-1717 Fax 613 237-3359
www.ceasefire.ca/ www.polarisinstitute.org
The Polaris Institute is a public interest research organization federally incorporated as a not-for-profit organization with Industry Canada under the Canada Corporations Act. Unfortunately, donations to the Polaris Institute are not tax deductible.
| |
|