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Boycott USA

Get Out of My Space! Stopping the Next Arms Race

Thursday, June 22
7:30-9:30 p.m.

UVic David Strong C103

Bruce Gagnon (Global Network Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space) and Richard Sanders (Campaign to Oppose the Arms Trade) will present both the US and Canadian roles in the militarization of space. While Canada, the "peacemaker", publicly opposes weapons in space and has said "no" to missile defence, Canada's hidden involvement in US missile defence is supported by both corporate and taxpayer funding. It's time to take back space. Bruce and Richard will lead an interactive discussion of activism and effective organizing.

Admission: Free

Co-sponsors: Vancouver Island Public Interest Research Group (VIPIRG) and Council of Canadians, Victoria Chapter.

SAVE OUR TROOPS. BRING THEM HOME.

Over half of Canadians don't support Stephen Harper's war in
Afghanistan. Many soldiers are also asking what they're doing there.
This is not what they signed up for and they're scared.

With shaky support for changing Canada's role from peacekeeper to
aggressor, Harper has called a debate in parliament this Wednesday on
whether to extend the commitment of troops for an additional two
years past February 2007.

Read the news story.


http://www.cbc.ca/story/world/national/2006/05/15/debate05152006.html

Support the troops and bring them home. Support our MPs with a letter
and any information you have that will help them argue TO BRING OUR
TROOPS HOME.

This is a very serious situation. We need to defeat the Harper
government on this.

If you are opposed to Harper's agenda, passionately plead with your
MP NOW to vote againt Harper's motion!

Email addresses of your MPs:

Keith Martin (LIB)
250) 474-6505
(250) 474-5322
MartiK1@parl.gc.ca

Denise Savoie(NDP)
 E-mail: savoid1@parl.gc.ca
  Constituency Office
  Phone: 250-363-3600
  Fax: 250-363-8422

Gary Lunn (CONS)
Constituency Office
Tel (250) 656-2320
Fax (250) 656-1675
lunng1@parl.gc.ca
lunng@parl.gc.ca

MONDAY MAY 15

OPPOSE EXERCISE TRIDENT FURY

RALLY AND DIE IN

Monday, May 15

4 pm rally
5 pm die in (optional)

Meet at the Canadian Forces Recruiting Centre
827 Fort Street

Bring you banners, placards, noisemakers, family, and friends

Exercise Trident Fury is the largest military exercise ever conducted on the BC Coast.
Ships, planes and troops from Canada, the US and other NATO countries have converged
on Victoria and Vancouver Island for this joint operation, which runs until May 19.

TAKE A STAND FOR PEACE
OPPOSE CANADA'S DEEP INTEGRATION INTO THE US MILITARY
ALL OUT ON MAY 15

Sponsored by the Campaign Opposing Exercise Trident Fury
For more information, contact Susan (478-6906), Larry (388-3847) or Joan (294-1339)

What is Trident Fury?

Exercise TRIDENT FURY is a two-week joint, coalition based exercise hosted by Joint Task Force Pacific Headquarters (JTFP) and executed by the Pacific Fleet Commander. The exercise will run from 8-19 May and incorporates Naval, Air and Land Force elements from Canada, the United States, Great Britain and NATO. It will be an assembly of the largest and most diverse list of exercise participants ever seen on the West Coast.

TRIDENT FURY will see participation from four Canadian Navy warships (HMCS Algonquin, Winnipeg, Vancouver and Yellowknife), auxiliaries (HMCS Oriole and Fleet Diving Unit vessels) and two United States Naval vessels (USS Ingraham and Usns Bridge).
Operations will include live surface-to-air and air-to-air missile
firings and the employment of air-to-surface Precision Guided
Munitions.

Approximately 20 aircraft will be operating out of Victoria International Airport. They will include F-15 and F-16 fighters, E2 Hawkeyes from the United States, an AWACS from the United Kingdom, Canadian SeaKing Helicopters and AlphaJets from Top Aces.

Approximately 20 other aircraft will be operating out of 19 Wing Comox, including CF-18 Hornets, CP-140 Auroras and a NATO AWACS. Due to space constraints the base could not accommodate all participating aircraft. Some aircraft will also be flying back to their home bases in the United States at the end of each mission such as the B-52 Stratofortress, bringing the total number of aircraft participating in the exercise to approximately 60.

The exercise is expected to result in over $2 million being spent on Vancouver Island during the two-week period. There will be over 2000 participants, 1000 of which will be coming to the local area specifically for the exercise.

The aircraft will primarily have two take off times each day. They will take off as a group at around 9:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. The missions will take about 2 1/2 hours so the majority of the aircraft will return around 11:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. daily. The public is welcome to come out and watch the flying from the public viewing areas around Victoria International airport.

To try to reduce noise disruptions, there will be no exercise flying at night or on the weekend of 13-14 May.

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Victorians oppose Exercise Trident Fury

Press Advisory
Date: May 8 2006
Time: 5 pm
Place: CFB ESQUIMALT corner of Esquimalt Road and Canteen Road

Esquimalt, BC-Victoria citizens will gather at CFB Esquimalt at 5 p.m. Monday to express their concern about Exercise Trident Fury, a joint military air and sea maneuvre involving Canada, US and NATO . The Citizens are assembling at the corner of Esquimalt Road and Canteen Road, at the entrance to the base.

Opposition to Exercise Trident Fury has already been communicated to the Hon Gordon O'Connor, Minister of Defence, and a written question has been formally submitted to Parliament by MP Denise Savoie. Concern has also been communicated to the US Department of Defense, and to Lord Robertson, Secretary General of NATO.

For further information, please contact:
Campaign Opposed to the Exercise Trident Fury
Joan Russow, 250-294-1339
Ben Isitt 1 250 382-8494

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PETITION OPPOSING THE EXERCISE TRIDENT FURY

We the undersigned citizens draw the attention of the House to the following:

Recalling that under Article 20 SS 1 of the International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights, the following obligation was incurred:

Any propaganda for war shall be prohibited by law.

Convinced that a display of militarism like Exercise Trident Fury by states that are involved in offensive military actions constitutes propaganda for war

Concerned that the Exercise Trident Fury is a flaunting of militarism that in a time when Canada is playing an offensive role in the US- led invasion and occupation of Afghanistan, a deep military integration display in Victoria could increasingly create the risk of the area being targeted and thus would seriously jeopardize the security of the citizens of Victoria, British Columbia and Canada

Aware that the Exercise Trident Fury involves participation of US military hardware with nuclear arms capability at a time when the US is becoming increasing willing to not rule out the use nuclear weapons

Concerned that Canada's participation along with nuclear arms capable US arsenal would thus demonstrate Canada's willingness to condone the US threat to use or potential use nuclear weapons in contravention of the 1996 decision of the International Court of Justice that the threat to use nuclear weapons is contrary to international human rights law

Recognizing that in 1992, the BC legislature declared BC to be a nuclear arms free zone, and also in 1992 eight out of the ten municipalities in the Greater Victoria Area supported motions calling for an environmental review assessment of visits of nuclear powered and nuclear arms capable vessels in the port of Greater Victoria

Noting with serious concern the potential short-term and long-term environmental, psychological and health consequences of Exercise Trident Fury

Affirming that the Exercise Trident fury violates the precautionary principle and displays blatant dereliction of duty and gross negligence on the part of the government

THEREFORE, your petitioners request that Parliament
CALL upon the Department of Defence to cancel the present and any future Exercise Trident Fury

Name
City
Email

Send copy to j.russow@shawlink.ca

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The Victoria Peace Coalition helped sponsor Marie Campbell's recent trip to Palestine.
Read Marie's Palestine Journal inside.