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Anti-War Activities in Ottawa



Anti-War Activities in Ottawa:
Coalition to Stop the War Against Yugoslavia (C-SWAY)

This email contains information about:
(1) C-SWAY: a new coalition to oppose the war in Yugoslavia,
(2) Major Rally/March in Ottawa on Saturday, May 29, 1999,
(3) (a) NATO warplanes "performing" in Ottawa,
    (b) Military Trade Show in Ottawa,
(4) Meetings of C-SWAY and its two work groups,
(5) Reminder: Talk by Doug Roche, Wed. April 28.

(1)
Coalition to Stop the War Against Yugoslavia (C-SWAY):

On April 21, a group of activists came together in Ottawa to plan 
opposition to Canada's participation in NATO's war in the Balkans.  
Members of peace, labour, religious, human rights, environmental and 
students' organizations formed the Coalition to Stop the War Against 
Yugoslavia (C-SWAY).  A program of educational activities, such as 
public talks and leafletting, was initiated.  

(2) 
Protest Rally and Peace March in Ottawa (Saturday, May 29):

C-SWAY's educational activities will build towards a large Rally/March 
in Ottawa on Saturday, May 29.  We are inviting as many people as 
possible to attend this event.  Please help in anyway that you can to 
begin spreading the word to those who oppose Canada's participation in 
NATO's precedent-setting war.  The plan is to rally on Parliament Hill 
between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. for a program of music and speeches by 
prominent opponents to the war.  We will then proceed past the U.S. 
embassy, the War Memorial, and the British High Commission in a peace 
march to the Canada's Department of "National Defence" (i.e. war).  The 
main entrance to this department is at the MacKenzie Street bridge which 
spans the Rideau Canal.  The symbolism of walking to this bridge not 
only directs our attention towards the headquarters of Canada's military 
establishment, it also demonstrates our solidarity with the citizens of 
Yugoslavia who have occupied city bridges to protect them from NATO's 
daily bombing attacks.

(3)
NATO warplanes "performing" in Ottawa:

(a) Saturday, May 29 was chosen as our rallying day because it is the 
weekend of the National Capital Air Show.  This year, the Ottawa war/air 
show is "A Celebration of Excellence Honouring the 75th Anniversary of 
the Royal Canadian Air Force."  Canadian military aircraft, of the 
variety now bombing Yugoslavia, will be roaring through the skies over 
Ottawa on that weekend!  Also "performing" in Ottawa skies and displayed 
on the tarmac at the air show, will be numerous U.S. and other NATO 
warplanes which are bombing Yugoslavia and/or are designed to carry 
nuclear weapons.  This year, Ottawa's war/air show will feature at least 
the following war planes: 

Tornado IDS
T-1A Jayhawk
E-2C Hawkeye
P-3 Orion
F-4 Phantom II
AV-8B Harrier II
A-10 Thunderbolt II
F/A-18 Hornet
T-45 Goshawk
B-52 Stratofortress
F-117A Nighthawk
C-130 Hercules
KC-135 Stratotanker
C-141 Starlifter
CT-114 Tutor
B-1B Lancer
F-16 Fighting Falcon
CF-18

(b) Military Trade Show in Ottawa (May 28-30):

Besides using Ottawa skies to promote and advertise military aircraft, 
the National Capital Air Show is also organizing a trade exposition to 
showcase the products of many military-related aerospace and high 
technology companies.  Military attaches, ambassadors and trade 
commissioners from the embassies of dozens of countries will be invited 
to browse the exhibits.  (Last year, air forces chiefs from most of the 
countries in North, South and Central America attended the trade show.)

For more information on these war planes visit the web sites of the 
Coalition to Oppose the Arms Trade (COAT) <www.ncf.carleton.ca/coat> or 
the National Capital Air Show <ncas.ottawa.com>

(4)
Upcoming Planning Meetings:

(Please note: The purpose of these planning meetings is to organize 
efforts, activities and events to oppose Canada's participation in 
NATO's war.  These meetings are NOT meant to provide opportunities to 
discuss detailed news, information or analyses regarding the war.  Such 
public discussions are however essential.  Indeed, one of the goals of 
these meetings is to plan and organize public events and activities 
where such discussions and information sharing can take place.)

(a) General Meeting of C-SWAY:
    Wednesday, May 5, 7:30 p.m.
    University of Ottawa
    Building and Room (to be announced)

(b) Protest Rally workgroup:
    Monday, April 26, 7:30 p.m.
    Ottawa and District Labour Council
    280 Metcalfe, 5th floor, Ottawa
    (office of Ottawa and District Labour Council)
Contact: Len Bush 
(Ottawa-Carleton CUPE District Council)  
Tel: 613-231-4270   Email: <lbush@cyberus.ca>

(c) Public Education workgroup:
    Thursday, April 29, 1999   (7:30 p.m.)
    St. John's Anglican Church
    154 Somerset St. West  
    (the entrance is just east of Elgin St.)
Contact: Richard Sanders 
(Coalition to Oppose the Arms Trade)
Tel: 613-231-3076   Email: <ad207@freenet.carleton.ca>

(5) 
Reminder:

Senator DOUG ROCHE will speak on:
"Kosovo and Canada: NATO or the UN?" 

on Wednesday, April 28, 1999   (7:30 p.m.) 
at the First Unitarian Congregation of Ottawa 
30 Cleary Ave. 
(off Richmond Road, just east of Woodroffe) 

There will also be a showing of COAT's documentary:
"Mothers' Day at the War Show" 
  This documentary exposes the use of war planes as 
  sources of family fun and entertainment at air 
  shows and reveals the human face of the air war in 
  against Iraq.

The Doug Roche talk is organised by 
the Coalition to Oppose the Arms Trade (COAT) 
and the First Unitarian Congregation of Ottawa 
Contact: Richard Sanders (COAT) 231-3076.

Please circulate this notice as widely as possible.


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