“Freedom of religion cited About 10 percent of your in- come tax is spent by the federal government for military pur- poses every year, according to Conscience Canada, and as far’ as their members are concerned, that’s 10 percent too much. For the 1986/87 tax year, they will be deducting 9.1 percent from their Balance Due later this month and depositing it into a Peace Tax Fund, held in trust for the government until Ottawa . guarantees it won’t be used for military purposes. Terrace resident and Con- science Canada member Keith Gosse does not have this alter- native open to him as his taxes are deducted at source, but he indicates on his tax form his wishes to have the amount di- rected towards peace research. The grade seven teacher said,‘‘I don’t remember ever talking to my friends, as a child, about not being able to live out my whole life. But the kids in my class- room are worried. Only about half believe they'll live out their whole lives without nuclear war. Rather than jumping up and down and screaming, Con- science Canada members look ‘for alternatives to resolving the problems of nuclear war.”’ Conscience Canada began in 1978 at a meeting of Quakers in Victoria, where a Peace Fund was established. When the 1982 Charter of Rights and Freedoms guaranteed freedom of con- science and religion, 60 people set up the private trust fund for a portion of members’ tax money.‘‘We've been writing to the federal government for four years, asking them to set up an official fund by making provi- sion for it in the Income Tax Act, ’’ Edith Adamson, one of the founders, said. Until then members will use the privately established fund set up through the federally incorporated, non- profit group. Currently over 30 countries have some form of peace tax Streat, at 635-9090. The Happy Gang Centre for Seniors offers the following activities: Tuesdays: 10 am., sewing and quilting; 7:30 p.m., cribbage. Wednesdays: 1 p.m., carpet bowling. Fridays: 2 p.m., bingo; 7:30 p.m., bridge. First Saturday of every month: 68 a.m. to "1 &.m., pancake breakfast. Monday through Friday every week: 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m lunch. Second Thursday of every month: 2 p.m., general meeting. For further Information, contact the Happy Gang Centre, 3226 alum funds. In the U.S., where the movement was started by Friends in Ann Arbor in the late 1960s, a bill for an official peace tax fund has been introduced in- to Congress every two ‘years since 1972. With 55 members of | Congress now supporting the bill, it moves to their Ways and Means Committee. In Italy, where freedom of conscience has been guaranteed in ther constitution since the end of World War Two, citizens have been diverting a portion of their taxes into a peace fund. A number of them were charged, and acquitted; the case was ap- pealed and they were again ac- quitted; finally the courts said they would hear no more such cases. ‘‘While the Italian government does not include the peace fund in their tax system, people are free to direct some of their taxes towards peace, know- ing they will not be prosecuted.” Adamson said these peace trusters meet every December to determine how that year’s funds CANCER CAN BE BEATEN “ _At n nu al Nee ating _ ATTENTION | MEMBERS “Terrace Co- -operative Association will hold its ~ Annual General Meeting _ Tuesday, May 3, 1988 in the Elks Hall at 2822 Tetrault Street, Terrace. | Pei patra 7:30 p.m. _ Meeting: 8:00 p.m. Annual Report “Election of Officers ~ Refreshments & Door Prizes Guest Speaker: Elmer Wiebe Plan now to attend! Terrace Review — Wednesday, April 27, 1988 13 Group puts military taxes in trust fund will be spent for peaceful means. Gosse said he would prefer his military-linked taxes to be spent on peace research, particularly on helping world leaders find peaceful alternatives to military conflicts, including research into conflict resolution, cultural dif- ferences, and the reduction of - . nuclear weapons, Although he admits such a process will take a long time, in the meantime they ‘applaud the activities that go towards it, one step at a time.”’ He said the recent treaty reducing nuclear arms, signed by Reagan and Gorbachev, goes a long way towards peace. ‘‘Be- cause of this treaty, a scientific journal, the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, just set back their symbolic ‘‘doomsday clock”’ for the first time in 16 years.. The clock had been set at three minutes before nuclear war (midnight), and has now had its Frank Donahue j Mutual Group since 1868 . ' minute hand set back to 11:54 p.m While this clock ticks, the Canadian government has not agreed to an official peace fund, but neither has Revenue Canada brought anyone to court for using Conscience Canada’s fund. ‘“‘We wanted a legal definition of ‘freedom of religion’’, so we launched our own court case,’’ Adamson said.‘‘It’s now in appeal to the Federal Court of Canada.” They’re optimistic about the case should it reach the Supreme Court of Canada, as an unrelated case (dealing. with Sunday shopping) resulted in a favorable and ‘‘useful’’ defini- tion of freedom of religion. Conscience Canada estimates the total spent for military purposes in the fiscal year ending March 31,1987 at $10,563,854,314, Skeena Mall, Terrace 633-2387 or drop by: ~~ Mon. to Sat. 9:30 to 6:00 Fri. til 9:00 * Net Worth * Estate -% Retirement % Cash Flow * Life Insurance — * Deposits — * Tax Plans — * Group Benefits — We Provide an overview of Financial Needs: * Financial Goals * Disability Needs * Tax Planning * Objectives Fee: $35. Estate Plans and Financial Blueprints from $85. We Offer competitive financial instruments Term & Cash Accumulation General & Designed Plans 30 day through 5 years Pension & Education Dental, Health & RRSP Diversifund & Stock * Investment Funds — YOU BET WE'RE COMPETITIVE SKEENA MALL TAKAMINE 12 STRING ELECTRIC GUITAR EF 400C $89995 TERRACE