EDITORIAL

Our role in Star Wars

There are many reasons why Canada should reject in no uncertain terms U.S. President Reagan’s Star Wars program. :

Star Wars is an escalation of the arms build-up, despite the attempt to palm it off as a peacemaker. It threatens humanity with the same agonies and annihi- lation as a “conventional” nuclear war — one not fought in space — would inflict. The claim that Star Wars means the destruction of nuclear weapons is the presentation of a nuclear-war scenario in disguise. Against its outcome — exploded nuclear weapons and the “nuclear winter” aftermath — there is no protection.

Reagan’s dream of Star Wars — in big screen and ultracolor — will end life on earth unless he and his

warped crew are stopped.

It is in this context that Canada’s Tory government agonizes over how to announce its support of the plan. Of course, they want to support it: it’s imperialist policy. It’s the same imperialism that bullies the U.S.’ unwilling allies”. It’s the same imperialism trying to crush national liberation movements. It promises — a promise it cannot keep — to purge the planet of socialism.

This is the myth for which the Reaganites and their counterparts in Canada ask you to pay: first with your dollars and living standards, and then with your lives and the lives of future generations.

The Reagan administration initially gave its “allies”, such as Canada, 60 days to join the program. But that caused an uproar in Canada and in western Europe. Now, External Affairs Minister Joe Clark announces that we have three to four months before U.S. imperialism comes to foreclose on our mort- gaged lives.

It’s time to put an end to this monstrous plot.

Joe Clark says he wants input. He should receive input such as he has never imagined, until the Mulro- ney government understands that Canadians are say- ing “No” to Star Wars.

The other side of the coin — if a plot against humanity can be so termed — is the compounded interest to be realized from the suffocation of Star Wars.

The U.S. — aside from its puppets, and the ques- tion of weapons research beyond Star Wars — proposes to spend $26 billion to get the program started. That’s $26 billion.

Imagine what $26 billion would do for the waterless wastes, the thirsty, the starving, the dying infants, the polluted waters and atmosphere, and yes, even the sorely deprived milions who live in squalor in the U.S. itself.

Can the government of Canada dare for a moment to consider commiting the Canadian people to partic- ipation in this horror? ;

Give Joe Clark his input.

Spar Aerospace Ltd., which does work for the U.S. space pro- gram and, ipso facto, for the U.S. military, had a first quarter — after-tax profit of $5,182,000. In the same three months (ended — Mar. 31) in 1984, the figure was $3,098,000.

~_IRIBUNE |

Editor — SEAN GRIFFIN Assistant Editor — DAN KEETON Business & Circulation Manager — PAT O'CONNOR Graphics — ANGELA KENYON

Published weekly at 2681 East Hastings Street Vancouver, B.C. V5K 125

Join Antonov defence

because of imperialist intrigue. We don’t want to mourn Antonov; we must free him.

The trial in Rome of Bulgarian air line agent Sergei Antonov has begun — and seldom has there been a more disgusting example of an attempt to frame a representative of a socialist country.

The entire case against Antonov rests on the “‘evi- dence” provided by the man who attempted to assas- sinate Pope John Paul II two years ago — a men whose mental competence is, to put it mildly, highly questionable.

Those who follow world politics in detail know that imperialism and its extreme form, fascism, never cease efforts to assault the reputation of the world’s socialist countries. In this they hope to manipulate the public’s perspective on socialism, and the Antonov trial gives them what they hope is a potent weapon.

But the fight for justice, the need to defend the

Antonov is clearly being used by the CIA, the unprincipled daily media, the ultra-rightist elements in the Vatican and other enemies of human progress in an open attempt to portray one man and the socialist system he represents as villains.

Antonov’s life and reputation are threatened solely

victims of the CIA and its collaborators has always sparked the formation of massive support groups. In Canada, a committee for the defence of Antonov has been established, and it deserves the support of all progressive Canadians.

Phone (604) 251-1186

Subscription Rate: Canada — $14 one year; $8 six months

Foreign — $20 one year;

Second class mail registration number 1560

ne can’t fault the writer of the Economic Review for lack of optim- ism.

In the midst of rhyming off a list of gloomy statistics on job openings — which, needless to say, are few and far between in B.C. — the author of the monthly bulletin for employees of the B.C.-Yukon division of Employment and Immigration Canada has this to say:

“The start of Expo (86) amid great ceremony and flashes of fireworks is one indication of what seems to be renewed optimism and enthusiasm, and there are other indications in tourism and construc- tion that some recovery might be occur-

In fairness, the rest of the Review is devoted to articles that outline, with the bulletin’s characteristic frankness — it is, after all, an internal document for government workers — the dismal eco- nomic and employment situation for the province and territory. So perhaps the wri- ter can’t be faulted for indulging in a little wishful thinking.

In presenting the depressing economic picture — despite some blithe assurance that “just about all prospects seem to indi- cate a fairly healthy economy and even relatively good prospects for employment” — the bulletin notes that forecasters pre- dict a decline in the growth of Canada’s Gross National Product (GNP) this year: three to 3.5 per cent compared with four per cent in 1984. For the United States, on which Canada’s branch-plant economy ultimately depends, the GNP growth rate in the first quarter of 1984 was only 1.3 per

People and issues

cent, contrasting with initial estimates of two per cent. Turning to B.C. industries, the Review

~ notes the recent report on forestry from

the University of B.C. which warns that, due to lack of investment by the forestry corporations and other factors, some 7,000 jobs could be lost by the year 2000. For energy, it reports that B.C. Hydro plans to layoff several hundred more workers after cutting 3,000 jobs since 1982.-

For construction, the Review tells us that “residential construction is not a par- ticularly bright spot in the B.C./Yukon economy right now.” Initial plans for expanding the Vancouver General and St. Paul’s hospital now appear to be on hold.

The bulletin acknowledges it no longer runs the section; ““Where the Jobs Are,” since “content for such a column has become rather thin.” It goes on to note that “factory employment or indeed the production of any goods industries are threatened both in British Columbia and in Canada as a whole.”

Trying to strike an upbeat note, the Review author reports that B.C. business bankruptcies “have actually started to declines.” Recovery may be imminent, the author suggests, since the 350 bankruptcy figure recorded by March in down from the 379 reported in March, 1984.

Striving to be optimistic with such a

gloomy tableau may be difficult, but the provincial Socred government appears to be up to it, as Vancouver Sun columnist Marjorie Nichols notes. The same crew who brought us Expo fireworks as a pana- cea for the unemployemnt exacerbated by their unpopular “restraint” program also have a special training program for Expo manager. During the seminars, Nichols reports, the managers are taught, among other things, to leap up and shout “Have a terrific day.” ‘ ot

As for us — and B.C.’s thousands of jobless — we'll have a “terrific day,” when the Socreds and their money-losing megaprojects are only a bad memory.

* * *

ome folks who aren’t indulging in wishful thinking, but who are actually

working to make things better for B.C.’s_ .

jobless, are the volunteer staff at Nanai- mo’s Unemployed Workers Centre. Now the centre plans to expand its activities with the public of a new tabloid news- paper, centre manager Deborah Mac- Donald reports.

The centre feels the ground is fertile for a locally produced tabloid, Deborah tells us, since they distributed 4,000 copies of a special paper, End Legislated. Poverty, which was well received. She also notes, and we blush with modesty, that “by the

signs of the way the Trib has been distrib-

uted here and accepted we feel that our paper also will contribute much needed information.on the facts and issues that

. are not being printed in traditional pap-

”

ers

She requested from us, and we pass this note on to our readers and fellow trade union papers, some aid. They need items such as a good, second-hand waxing machine, “lots of letraset,” and typewriter elements for an IBM Selectric.

We wish them every success in their effort... *

* * *

heir dedication, hard work and com- mitment to socialism helped found and gave lasting legacy to British Colum- bia. And, although the ranks of the Fin- nish pioneers have been depleted by time, that legacy will be mai‘ ed by their des- cendants at a special ceremony at Webs- ter’s Corners in Maple Ridge June 23. The occasion will be at the mounting of a memorial stone in honor of the Sammon Takojat — the “Forgers of the Sampo”

_ — at the cultural centre they founded in

the early part of this century, the Sampo Hall

This year marks an important series of anniversaries for the Finnish-Canadian community. It’s the 150th anniversary of

_ the first printing of the ancient epic poem,

the Kalevala,and the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Sammon Takojat. The ceremony begina at | p.m. at the hall, 25470 Dewdney Trunk Rd. in Maple Ridge. t

4 e PACIFIC TRIBUNE, MAY 29, 1985