Network News - Connexions Digest #48
(Winter 1989)

Actions and Campaigns

Help Save Carmanah Valley
Carmanah Valley, an old growth forest on Vancouver Island, is threatened with destruction by MacMillan Bloedel, B.C.’s largest logging company. Environmentalists want the whole 6,730 ha Carmanah watershed protected as a logical addition to Pacific Rim National Park. The Sitka spruces growing there are the tallest known in the world. MacMillan Bloedel plans to clearcut all but two per cent of the valley. To help save the valley, send your tax deductible donation to Western Canada Wilderness Committee, and mail it to: WCWC, 103 – 1520 West 6th Ave., Vancouver, B.C. V6J 1R2.

Agricultural Land Disappearing
The Association of Peel People Evaluating Agricultural Land (APPEAL) has produced a report outlining a project to produce a new pattern of sustainable development designed to save the dwindling agricultural lands in the Peel and Toronto region. The goal of the project is to produce a design of a prototype or demonstration model of a development within the urban boundary on undeveloped farmland, which involves combining housing with ecological food production, with an emphasis on functional landscaping, reduction of waste and energy efficiency. To find out how you can help this project call Ken Schnell, Project Coordinator of the Agri–City Project, at (416) 821–3413 or 977–3783.

Boycott Apartheid
Despite repeated calls for sanctions, many big companies still do business in South Africa — in fact, Canadian corporations’ trade with South Africa has grown substantially in the past year. A leaflet by the Canadian Union of Public Employees lists some of these, such as Coke, Shell Canada, IBM, Price Waterhouse, and Touche Ross and Co. People are encouraged to write to these companies objecting to their continued business in South Africa, and demand total sanctions against South Africa by also writing to: Joe Clark, Minister of External Affairs, House of Commons, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6 (no postage needed).

Free Leonard Peltier
On December 18, 1976, American Indian Movement leader Leonard Peltier, who is today recognized worldwide as a political prisoner, was extradited on charges of murdering two FBI agents. The extradition was fraudulently obtained by the presentation of perjured affidavits to a British Columbia Supreme Court Judge. Even though evidence that the affidavits were false surfaced almost immediately, the extradition was upheld by the Federal Court of Appeal. Despite an admission by the U.S. government in 1985 that it did not conclusively know who killed the agents, the U.S. Supreme Court denied Peltier’s request for a new trial. A week of prayer and protest by Native people is planned in Ottawa, April 15–21. The Peltier Defence Committee needs funds to secure travel arrangements for their elders and lawyers and to improve communications. As well they need office equipment and money for a fax and a computer printer. If you would like to contribute, send your cheque to: Leonard Peltier Canadian Defense Committee, 43 Chandler Dr., Scarborough, Ontario M1G 1Z1, or phone, (416) 439–1893.

Walk for World Survival ’89
Walk for World Survival is an international group of people who are going to walk from the four directions to Regina, Saskatchewan, arriving for a rally at the Saskatchewan parliament on August 13, 1989. The purpose is to awaken the need of all people to become involved in the issues of peace by focusing on a number of specific issues: the mining of uranium from the world’s largest deposit at Cigar Lake, Saskatchewan; global environment issues such as acid rain, ozone and the decline of animal life; Native rights, child poverty, women’s rights; networking grass roots peace organizations. You can walk an hour or the whole way, or help to organize, or give a donation. To find out schedules and how you can become involved, write to Walk for World Survival, 128 Vanauley Walk, Toronto, Ontario, M5T 2H7, or call (416) 363–2411. A bibliography is also available.

LOON: Lake Ontario Organizing Network
LOON is a joint project of citizens’ and environmental groups in Ontario and New York State who live and work in the Lake Ontario Basin. The LOON Project advocates economic, lifestyle, and government practices which can help to achieve immediate reduction in the discharge of toxic chemicals into the environment. In Canada, contact LOON c/o Pollution Probe, (416) 926–1907.

Canadian Electric Shop on Wheels for Nicaragua
This project is organizing Canadians to go down and do electrical work in Nicaragua, and runs workshops in electrical wiring for Nicaraguans. For more information, contact CESOWN, c/o TDN, 555 Bloor St. W., Toronto, Ontario M5G 1Y6.

Jesuit Communication Project
The influence of mass media, especially television, on our children today is phenomenal. They are constantly surrounded by images that influence their lives. If the role of traditional educators is not to be displaced by mass media, children must be given the knowledge necessary to understand and evaluate media. The Jesuit Communication Project seeks to promote the teaching of Media Education in our schools to ensure students learn how to critically interpret media messages. Although started by the Jesuits, their concerns are not restricted to any one faith. The Project seeks your financial contribution so that they can convince educators how important understanding media is in today’s world. Send your contribution to: Jesuit Communication Project, 10 Saint Mary Street, Suite 500, Toronto.

Unions Denied Access to Information
Trade unions who subscribe to the Dialog computer data base are being denied access to part of the information it contains, the Dun & Bradstreet Financial Records data base, which contains extensive information about some 700,000 corporations. This data base has helped a variety of unions to sharpen their organizing and collective bargaining strategies. Recently, however, some Dialog customers, notably unions, have been denied access. Pressured to explain, Dialog finally admitted that it had been instructed by Dun & Bradstreet to deny 240 users access to the data. Aside from the unions, it is not clear who else is on the ‘hit list’, because Dialog and Dun & Bradstreet refuse to say. In the U.S., legal challenges are now being mounted to this action under the Freedom on Information Act. Dialog subscribers are asked to try to log onto files 516 and 519, and to contact the magazine Reset if they receive an "unauthorized file" message. Reset is at 90 E 7th St., #3A, New York, N.Y. 10009, U.S.A. Union librarians who can be contacted directly include Ruby Tyson at AFL–CIO (202) 637–5000 and Art Levine at the Communication Workers (202) 728–2300.

Imagine
Imagine is an initiative of the Canadian Centre for Philanthropy aimed at increasing the level of private support for charitable activity in Canada. Imagine was seen as necessary because individual and corporate donations, relative to income, have declined by about one–third in Canada in the last 20 years. Imagine is also seen as a program which non–profit organizations can tie into in developing their own fundraising plans, although Imagine itself will not raise funds for any particular organization. For more information contact Imagine, 74 Victoria St., Suite 920, Toronto, Ontario M5C 2A5, (416) 368–1138.

Meetings and Conferences

The Green and Red Movements in Canada
Green socialists in Canada believe that a new kind of politics is emerging in this country which is first and foremost "green" but which needs a socialist component. Unlike other capitalist countries, the Left in Canada has so far paid little attention to the developing green movement. The Green and Red Movements in Canada will be the subject of a bilingual session at the Learned Societies Conference at Laval University in Quebec City (June 1 – 4, 1989). Papers are particularly encouraged from socialists who are active, at a practical level, in the green/environmental movement. Call or write Nick Ternette, #4 – 280 River Ave., Winnipeg, MB, R3L 0B8, (204) 475–7251

Towards a National Recycling Agenda
Canada’s First National Exhibition and Symposium on Recycling and the Environment, March 19–21, 1989. The Canadian Alliance for Recycling and the Environment is presenting this conference whose objective is to work towards a consensus on a national recycling agenda by bringing forward the results of discussions on the main subject areas. In addition to sessions, over 100 exhibits about recycling products and services will be present. Call or write, CARE, c/o Exhibition and Conference Mgmt. Ltd., 300 Leo–Pariseau, Suite 202, P.O. Box 1119, Place du Parc, Montreal, Quebec, H2W 2P4, (514) 288–8811

National Conference on Multicultural Health
The Canadian Council on Multicultural Health will sponsor the first national conference to examine issues of health in a culturally diverse society, Marc 30 – April 1, 1989. The conference will discuss successful approaches, discover existing programs and services which have developed across Canada, obtain information on specific issues, and network with other groups across Canada. It is expected that the gathering will provide an exciting opportunity to develop awareness and practical solutions. For a registration form and further information write or call: CCMH/CCSM, Suite 407, 1017 Wilson Avenue, Downsview, Ontario M3K 1Z1, (416) 630–8835

Fourth World Congress on the Conservation of the Built and Natural Environments
Organised by the Heritage Trust, and sponsored by various national and international government ministries, this congress, on May 23 – 27, 1989, will explore the theme of "Conservation and Industrial Development". The congress will provide a forum for the exchange of information and experiences on priority industrial environmental problems, and expects to make a contribution to the promotion of sustainable industrial development. In addition, an international exhibition, "Industry and the Environment" will be on display. For a program, write to: Heritage Trust, 79 Cambridge Street, London SW1V 4PS, England. Or, Dimension Travel Incentives Limited, 2 St. Clair Ave. W., Suite 1108, Toronto, Ont. M4V 1L5, (416) 963–8900.

Making Connections: Workers and Communities
A conference at York University, Toronto, May 26 – 28, 1989. Write: Workers and Communities Conference, c/o Labour Studies Programme, Division of Social Science, York University, 4700 Keele St., North York, Ontario M3J 1P3.

Women, Addiction and Identity
Community Resources and Initiatives is an organization which produces local, regional and national conferences on progressive issues. On March 31, and April 1, 2, and 3, the organization will hold a national conference, Beyond Survival: Women Addiction and Identity, to explore the intersecting dimensions of early childhood trauma, violence against women and addictive coping mechanisms. Conference presenters include dynamic therapists, researchers and community organizers. For registration information, contact Ani Arnott, Registration Co–ordinator, Community Resources and Initiatives, 150A Winona Drive, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 3S9, (416) 658–1752.

Appeals for Support

Freedom Under Attack
On November 2, three people were forcibly removed from a publicly advertised Conservative rally in Nanaimo, searched, arrested, jailed for about two hours, then released with no charges. The Conservatives and the RCMP cooperated to make it a decidedly Tory–only meeting, effectively barring anyone who might have protested or asked embarrassing questions. The three had stood quietly, holding a small pennant protesting the presence of nuclear ships in Canadian harbours, which they were planning to display when Mulroney arrived. This seems to be part of a pattern of "detainments". The three are suing the RCMP officers and Tory workers involved for false arrest, assault and battery, false imprisonment and breach of their rights under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. If you would like to contribute to the fundraising effort, make cheques payable to: Nanaimo Civil Liberties Suit. Send cheques to Nanaimo Civil Liberties Suit, P.O. Box 122, Gabriola Island, B.C. V0R 1X0, (604) 247–8670

East Timor
In 1975, following the departure of the Portuguese colonial authorities, Indonesia invaded the formerly Portuguese–controlled colony of East Timor, which had declared independence. In the incredibly brutal Indonesian invasion and the occupation which followed, about one third of the entire East Timorese population of 700,000 was killed. East Timor continues to be occupied by the Indonesian military and an insurgency continues to be waged. Western countries, including Canada, have consistently ignored Indonesia’s disregard for international law and human rights, placing their trade and political interests in Indonesia above the lives and rights of the Timorese people. Groups around the world have persisted in a call for justice for the East Timorese. Although the Indonesian invasion was condemned by the United Nations, Canada has distinguished itself by selling military equipment to the Indonesian and by giving aid to the Indonesian government. Canadians are urged to write to External Affairs Minister Joe Clark (House of Commons, Ottawa K1A 0A6) to demand that Canada cease supporting Indonesia, and to talk to their MPs, local newspapers, friends, and organizations to which they belong about this issue. For more information contact Canada–Asia Working Group, 11 Madison Ave., Toronto, Ontario M5R 2S2, (416) 921–5626 or the East Timor Alert Network, Box 354, Ladysmith, B.C. V0R 2E0, (604) 245–3068.

Movement for Action With Sugarcane Cutters
Sugar is the most important industry in the Dominican Republic. For many years Haitian migrants, largely treated as slaves, have been responsible for the cutting of sugarcane. The are trapped in their jobs by low wages, killing hours and working conditions. Their identification is taken from them upon entering the country and if they leave they are either sent back or put in jail. For information on how you can help call either Audrey (416) 537–2694 or Sue (416) 763–0276.

The Dr. Negail R. Riley Memorial Scholarship Fund
The Interreligious Foundation for Community Organization is seeking donations to a fund to provide low–income community organizers with the financial support necessary to visit and study community organizing efforts in other countries. This would provide the international experience needed to establish global networks among organizers and communities in several continents. They have set a goal of $75,000 to support annual sabbatical experiences for organizers selected by the fund’s National Advisory Board. If you would like to contribute to the fund, send your donation to: The Dr. Negail R. Riley Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o IFCO, 402 West 145th Street, New York, NY 10031, (212) 926–5757

Help for Nicaragua
Tools for Peace is appealing to the public for donations to help Nicaraguans rebuild their homes after the devastating hurricane that his their country in the fall. Donations may be sent to Tools for Peace, P.O. Box 829, Station P, Toronto, Ontario M5S 2Z1. For more information contact (416) 922–0852.

Comings and Goings

Phyllis Clarke Prize
The Society for Socialist Studies and the Department of Politics of Ryerson Polytechnical Institute are establishing an essay award in honour of the late activist Phyllis Clarke. The prize will be awarded annually for the best essay on the subject selected for the annual thematic issues of Socialist Studies, published by the Society for Socialist Studies. Financial donations should be made to: Ryerson Polytechnical Institute (Phyllis Clarke Prize), Office of Development and Alumni Affairs, c/o Mr. David Bultler, Assistant Director, Ryerson Polytechnical Institute, 350 Victoria St., Toronto, Ontario.

Participatory Research Newsletter
The Participatory Research Group has stopped publishing its newsletter, but is now co–operating in the production of a new newsletter, called Network Notes, which deals with participatory research across North America. Contact the PRG at 229 College St., Toronto, Ontario M5T 1R4.

Working Committee for Social Solidarity
The Working Committee for Social Solidarity has been formed by a coalition of unions, church, women’s and other popular organizations. Its purpose is to present "a vision of a society based not on market values, but on equality and social solidarity", in response to what it sees as a deepening social crisis in Canada. The Working Committee has issued a statement, "A Time to Stand Together ... A Time for Social Solidarity". The Working Committee is calling on "popular sector groups to unite to put forward alternative economic and social policies based on social solidarity." Its statement is available for $4 for a single copy, $3.50 each for two to 25 copies, $3.25 each for 25 copies or more, from The Working Committee for Social Solidarity, 21 Florence St., Ottawa, Ontario K2P 0W6.

Trip to Peru
The Toronto School of Theology and St. Michael’s College is organizing an ‘exposure trip’ to Peru, May 25 to June 15, 1989. The program is directed to students of theology interested in the general area of the Church in Latin American and liberation theology. It will involve meeting with church workers and Canadian church associates, as well as exposure to urban and rural areas where the church is working at the grassroots level. The maximum cost is $2,500; it is expected that some financial aid will be available. For information contact Peru Program, Attention Joe Mihevc, St. Michael’s College, 81 St. Mary St., Toronto M5S 1J4, (416) 926–1300 ext 3252 or (416) 924–9351.

Church, Farm and Town Ceases Publication
The Church, Farm and Town, a newsletter published by Archdeacon John Peacock since 1943, ceased publication with the December 1988 issue. The newsletter started with 17 readers in 1945, and grew to 410. It addressed issues of ecology, rural life, ethics, work, and other social concerns.

Publications and Resources

Images for a Peaceful Planet
Peace educators working with the National Film Board, have created a one day workshop "Images for a Peaceful Planet", which raises new questions about the relationship between media literacy and peace education, as a means of strengthening the expanding network of Canadian peace educators. These workshops contain materials, skills and strategies for educators working with grade six students all the way up to adults. They can be sponsored as professional development programs by school boards or teachers’ unions, and included in community outreach programs by community groups. The NFB will provide partial funding for at least five workshops, and are actively seeking co–sponsors for workshops during the school year. If you are interested arranging an all day workshop of this kind in your community, call Stephanie Merrin, Interhelp Ontario, (416) 461–1992.

Peace and Security Publications
The Canadian Institute for International Peace and Security was founded to increase knowledge and understanding of international peace and security issues. Anyone can obtain, for free, a range of publications produced by the Institute. Among these are Peace & Security Magazine, Occasional Papers, Conference Reports, Background Papers, Points of View, Working Papers, the Annual Review, and Factsheets. For a directory to the Institute’s publications, write to: Canadian Institute for International Peace and Security, 360 Albert, Suite 900, Ottawa, Ontario, K1R 7X7, or phone (613) 990–1593.

Nuclear Awareness Project Publications
Nuclear Awareness Project has produced a 70 page booklet that looks at food irradiation from a Canadian perspective. The booklet questions claims irradiation is a safe answer to world hunger. The cost is $3 plus $1 postage and handling. The Project has also produced a slide show and a video called The Nuclear Power Show offering a straightforward introduction to the problems associated with nuclear power. Another publication, the Nuclear Power Booklet, is a 48–page booklet covering in greater depth many of the issues addressed by the Show. It is suitable for high school students and the general public. For more information, write to: Nuclear Awareness Project, Box 2331, Oshawa, Ontario M1H 7V4, or call (416) 725–1565.

Green Teacher
Green Teacher is a British–based magazine for teachers, teachers educators, and curriculum developers. Each issue provides materials directly usable with teaching groups, and surveys of other resources. Articles in recent issues have included Tropical Forest Roleplay, Learning with Environments, Non–Hierarchical Teaching, and Conservation Education. A one–year subscription (6 issues) is $25, available from Green Teacher, 95 Robert St., Toronto, Ontario M5S 2K5.

Compiled by Ulli Diemer. Connexions Collective members and volunteers for Issue #48 (Winter 1989): Ulli Diemer, Karl Amdur, Elaine Farragher, Darlene Fleming, Ethel Mead, Maureen Fleury, Rosalie Smith, Elizabeth Wall.