>>---------- Forwarded message ----------
>>Date: Thu, 4 Apr 1996 01:26:50 GMT
>>From: 72067.1525@compuserve.com
>>To: Multiple recipients of list ACTIV-L
>>Subject: Progressive Review On-Line Report >>

>>From: "Smith, Sam" <72067.1525@compuserve.com> >>

>>The Progressive Review >>

>> The Progressive Review
>>On-Line Report >>

>>WASHINGTON'S MOST
>>UNOFFICIAL SOURCE >>

>> A service of the Progressive Review: 1739 Conn. >>Ave. NW Washington DC 20009 202-232-5544 Fax: 202- >>234-6222. Editor: Sam Smith For a free trial subscription >>send your postal address with zipcode to >>The Progressive Review (Sorry, US addresses >>only) >>

>>The Progressive Review On-Line Report is found on the >>Web at: http://emporium.turnpike.net/P/ProRev >>

>>LAND OF THE FREE >>

>>The Navy and the Coast Guard are continuing to cover up the >>dumping of radioactive material from decommissioned >>nuclear subs into the Puget Sound. A group called SEARCH >>has discover traces of radioactive material in shellfish and >>other marine life at levels 50 times that permitted by >>government safety standards. About a year and a half ago, the >>Navy and the Coast Guard even arrested the scientist involved >>in the study for trespassing on "military property." The Coast >>Guard had seized the vessel carrying the scientist and towed >>it into restricted waters. A federal judge pointed out to the >>Coast Guard that Puget Sound was not "military property." >>Then last June the CG issued an emergency rule aimed solely >>at preventing further sampling of the bay and threatening to >>arrest the whistleblower again. The Government >>Accountability Project is representing the scientist. >Next Thursday, Apr 18 'CHERNOBYL 10 YEARS AFTER' conference.

Thanks for cc'ing us with this notice! I can't attend but have a couple thoughts, which I hope someone will articulate at the meeting:

1) It's pretty shocking to look at Chernobyl a mere ten years after (not to mention the 200,000 years that Chernobly, Chelabyinsk, Mururoa etc will need to be islolated from the bio-sphere) - What if we were to look at Chernobyl ten years BEFORE it blew up ?! Would it not look remarkably similar to "Area Whiskey Golf" at Nanoose Bay? Wouldn't the officials be saying the same things? The point is that if we've learned anything, it must be that no one reads the future. No one knows if Esquimalt or Lantzville will not at some time be added to the list that includes Chernobyl, Bhopal, Prince William sound etc...

Just to let you know that the NanooseNet listserv is up and running, brought to you by the Nanoose Conversion Campaign (NCC) and dedicated to:

• cancellation of the Canada-US agreement which allows the US Navy to use the Canadian Forces Maritime Experimental and Test Ranges (CFMETR) at Nanoose Bay on Vancouver Island, BC for submarine weapons testing;
• the prohibition of all weapons testing in the Strait of Georgia;
• conversion of CFMETR to peaceful, environmentally sound and economically productive uses.

The NanooseNet mailing list is your forum for discussion of all aspects of the demilitarization and conversion of CFMETR, including:

• risks associated with nuclear-powered and nuclear-armed warship visits;
• hazardous wastes associated with weapons testing in Georgia Strait;
• CFMETR's Nuclear Emergency Response Plan;
• warship visit alerts
• termination of the Canada-US agreement in 1996;
• military base conversion
• NCC events and actions

  NOTE that there are two separate list addresses, one for administrative commands such as SUBSCRIBE and UNSUBSCRIBE, and the other for distribution of messages to everybody subscribed to the list.

  Use NanooseNet-Request for administrative commands and NanooseNet to broadcast a message to all subscribers.

  For example:

  To subscribe to the list, send SUBSCRIBE NANOOSENET in e-mail to:
  NanooseNet-Request@Island.Net

  To post a message to everybody on the list, send your e-mail to:
  NanooseNet@Island.Net

  To unsubscribe from this list, send UNSUBSCRIBE NANOOSENET to:
  NanooseNet-Request@Island.Net

  To receive a file containing a complete set of Majordomo listserver commands that you can use to customize your subscription to the NanooseNet list, send the word HELP in the body of an e-mail message to NanooseNet-Request@Island.Net

  If you have problems using the NanooseNet list, please contact Howard Stiff at hstiff@island.net (604-247-8258).
  ...........................................................................
  Nanoose Conversion Campaign
  Address: 2-85 Commercial Street, Nanaimo, BC V9R 5G3
  Phone/fax: 604-741-1662
  Email: convert@nanaimo.ark.com

  ---

  Norm Abbey from Nanoose Conversion Campaign has translated the following talk of Commander Dalzell, first in command at Cdn Forces Maritime Test Range (CFMTR) in Nanoose Bay. >

  > PS: let me know if you can join us on the WGYC Sail-In and Barbeque on >May 25. So far Leonard Krog, the MLA for 'area WG' has confirmed - we're >still waiting for Lloyd Axworthy... >

  >****************************************** >

  >Commander Dalzell (of CFMETR - Nanoose) speaks to Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce >Luncheon. May 8, 1996, at the Nanaimo Golf Club. >

  >After lunch, Commander Dalzell gave a slide-show, (which 'countered myths' >about CFMETR such as 1: that CFMETR is an American facility for testing >nuclear submarines. 2: That NPV's are unsafe 3: Operations at CFMETR are >unsafe 4: US can do as they please without consulting Canada 5: Canadian >taxpayers subsidize US use of the range) Dalzell said CFMETR emplyees are >very active in community organiziations, spend money in the area, and help >with the bathtub race. Then he showed a new 13-minute video, and took >questions. Transcribed by Norm Abbey. Note: the tape is almost inaudible >in spots; I've indicated this with (?) or "can't hear..." >

  >QUESTIONS: >

  >REFORM CANDIDATE from Nanaimo (who is also a commissioned officer in the >Navy): >

  >"One of the concerns that I hear expressed quite frequently about the base >is the possibility of a Chernobyl-type accident. And, uh, maybe not so much >from the weapons there, but from the nuclear fission that's in the American >nuclear submarines that visit the base. Could you uh, explain that if possible? >

  >DALZELL: "Sure, um I guess the best response that I could give to that >question, which I get quite often, is uh, a number of years ago, uh, there >was a New Zealand Inquiry into nuclear submarines which visited their >country, and uh, in 1992, they had 3 very senior professors and a supreme >court judge who did an independant study of the nuclear issue. And uh, it >was a very good, a very lengthy report, .... (can't hear), .. and they >published their findings on one page, and they - I'll just mention a couple >items that ..... One of the findings was that the operational record of >nuclear-powered vessels of the United States or United Kingdom navies ... >there had been no release either to the atmosphere or to the sea, ..... (?) >.. is such that there had never been an accident involving the reactor and >releasing radiation. No one had been endangered by a radiation release and >neither had there been a release which had endangered the environment. .... >in addition to the above findings there is a huge lack of understanding and >knowledge and much misinformation in the minds of the public about >nuclear-powered bvessels. >

  >Canada also, has not just permitted the nuclear submarines to enter >Canadian waters without doing a review. They've done extensive reviews as >far as the actual (?), ..... They've gone through a number of, uh, hoops >before the government of Canada decided, by order-in-council, that it was >safe to permit these vessels to come into Canadian waters. .... The issue is >not one of CFMETR (?) but of Canadian policy, ...(?) There is also quite an >exchange between the different nations, on the sort of, collective sort of, >security .... I mean Canada as a country, ...we share, uh, a lot of our >knowledge, and our resources and that, with other countries like Britain, >the US, New Zealand, Australia, and when we go to another country, like say, >the United States, I mean, we go to the East Coast, to use their ranges >where we have no test-ranges and, uh, you >know, we go into their ports, and uh, what we visit them for, in a foreign >ccountry of course, you're required to follow the rules and regulations of >that port also, so my answer I think, is that we have a very long >track-record : 37 or 38 years of these submarines operating. Millions of >miles have been seen, and their track-record has been safe and the >individuals that serve in these submarines are very, very highly trained, >they live literally 5 feet away >from where this nuclear reactor is, and the other thing is that, the reactor >itself is often confused with like, as you say, the Chernobyl or >power-reactor. That isn't accurate .... only 1 percent of the output (?) >..of a power-reactor , and the whole submarine is designed to operate in an >environment where um, there could be fire, collision, flood, uh, .... you >know, uh, it's been designed to withstand that. So with a nuclear submarine, >the difference with the safety systems and precautions are there, and are >very very extensive; much more so >than what you find in a commercial power reactor ashore." >

  >QUESTION: "What about the batteries that are (?) dumped? what about ... >(can't hear). >

  >DALZELL: "....question. We have been operating there for 30 years, uh, we >try to put uh, very little on the bottom, we try to recover everything we >put on the bottom; but over a period of time, of all the torpedoes we fired >.... there are one or two OK, where we couldn't find them, ... (?) of all >the ... we fired on the range. Uh, with the type of operation we do there, >....(?) (can't hear) ... typically the kind of training we do with the >Canadian Forces, where we conduct exercises with aircraft dropping >sonobuoys, and so on and so forth, >there are certain things, OK, we can't recover. And, uh, generally, OK, they >go to the bottom. Uh, the area is very large: it's about 75 square miles, >uh, the bottom is about, uh, 10 meters of Fraser River silt. It's, the whole >of the Strait is covered with that. And so the ..... (?) ..on the bottom is >gone down into this very very heavy, sort of silt. Uh, the things are, such >things as lead weights dropped from torpedoes, and uh, copper wire, which is >uh, very very fine, and covered with plastic coating. The contractor that >did this study, >basically did a number of tests, and said, because of the nature of the >situation and... (?) ..going down into the mud, OK, it's protected from, uh, >interaction, OK, with the environment, OK, and is not having any effect on >the environment. That doesn't mean to say we're not making efforts all the >time to reduce that, and the newer weapons, we now have a different system >of ballasting, so we don't have any lead weights that are discharged. These >lead weights on the torpedo are equivalent to, if you're a fisheman, one of >these about 3-pound, uh, lead fishing balls, which are dropped off, and the >torpedo comes to the surface. So, uh, yes, OK, we are leaving some things on >the bottom, and uh, .... (?) ... unfortunately out there you ....(?) .. the >whole of the Strait, .. but we're certainly trying to reduce that, and uh, >um, we're confidant I think, OK, that in coming years we can do that. But I >think the bottom line here is that ...its not much (?) .. >

  >QUESTION: What about the money part? >

  >DALZELL: Um under this international agreement - what happens is there's, >um, the agreement itself lays out who will be responsible for what portion >of the expenses. OK, Canada looks after the infrastructure: like roads, >buildings, security and that nature. And the Americans look after the actual >very costly arrays, and the t....(?) .. involved with the range. So it's a >very good split there in terms of the financial responsibilities. And of >course as you're aware, um, the arrangement, or you may not be aware, the >arrangement is such that if the Americans use more than 50% of the time on >the range, they reimburse Canada for that cost. Canada could never operate a >range like this, OK, on its own. And, uh, I can't over-emphasize the, the >uh, importance of this role for the Canadian fleet. Uh, there's 200 billion >(?) .... can't hear... you've seen the Calgary, Regina, maritime ....(?) .. >Comox, and a couple of helicopters out there uh, doing work, uh, they're out >there going through their combat - this is a drill ... (?) .. prior to >major Rim-pac excercises, multinational excercises, ... and uh, ... the >Pacific fleet is able to do that in a controlled >environment. I gave you the example of the Argentine submarine. Uh, that >should never have happened, uh, .... to do with the alignment of their fire >control (?) system, and the operation of torpedoes. We're ....(?), OK, they >... don't happen if we have do do something in some difficult situation." >

  >NORM ABBEY: "Thank-you, Commander. On behalf of the Whiskey Golf Yacht Club, >(showing photo:) um, this is one of our boats, and your video explains quite >well what area Whiskey Golf um, was). > I'd like to follow up on the first question, from the Reform candidate, and >I guess that everybody here that reads the Nanaimo papers is quite well >aware that Bob Ringma, uh, our member of parliament for this area, has asked >for a FULL, PUBLIC review of the operations at CFMETR, uh, whether it's >renewed or not renewed, and in the spirit of being non-partisan, as we are >here, uh, ..that public review has been requested by the leader of every >political party in BC: Gordon Wilson, uh, the Reform Party of BC, the NDP >government of course, and the Green Party, and so on. Now, the study that >you referred to, was of course an 'in-house' deal, ...(interuption)... The >question I have is: IF the operation is as safe as presented in your video, >why not have a full public review? What is >there to be afraid of in that?

  >And my question with respect to the lead out there is: Some people are >speculating that one reason for renewing the agreement was because then you >wouldn't have to clean up the stuff - the million kilograms of lead that's >been dumped on the bottom out there. If that agreement is NOT renewed, then >there might be an obligation on DND to clean up what they've left behind. So >could you put a dollar figure on what it would cost to clean up the million >kilograms of lead; the thousands of kilometers of copper wire; the lithium >batteries; and the other stuff that we don't know WHAT it is; and the >disused ammunition dump which is out there?" >

  >DALZELL: "To answer your question, OK, your question is, OK: 'What is the >cost of all the clean-up out there?' >

  >NORM: "Yeah" >

  >DALZELL: "Well that's very difficult to estimate, OK? Um, as you just said, >OK, there are a number of things out there in the Strait. The strait itself >has been a dumping ground for years. There's a very large area out there >(it's not DND) where dry-wall... a dry-wall dumping area, there is an >ammunition uh, dumping area out there, ...from the second world war. Uh, the >straits, the oceans have always been used as a dumping area. Uh, as far as >the actual range itself is concerned, uh, when you look at 50 years of usage >and the fact that, OK, you're covering about a 75 square mile area there's >not a lot of waste down there, it's probably equal to, uh, about one of >those destroyers that are uh, being used for the, uh, reef societies that >are cleaned up to give an opportunity for divers to go down and see these >vessels. And thats not, uh, that's over a 75 square-mile area. So, uh, you >know, uh, its hard, OK, uh, with these sort of things... If you have things >that are down in the mud, uh, very deep in the mud, uh, in many cases OK I'm >sure your environmentalists will say the best thing to do is leave it where >they are; not to stir them up."

  >MICHAEL CANDLER: "I have a question." (Dalzell: 'go ahead') "Yes, thank-you, >Commander. Um, just a couple of things, um, you pointed out that Canadian >Sovreignty - of course this is a Canadian, um, facility of which you're the >commander of, uh, however I think that, uh, one thing you left out was, uh, >that 75% of everything that happens, is done, that takes place at CFMETR, >uh, is done by and for the US navy, and that was, uh, confirmed just >recently, uh, in the Times Colonist by, uh, Lois Garneau who is the, uh, the >spokesperson for CFB Esquimalt. Um, so, it's, it's Canadian, however it's >Canadian, uh, in.. in a nominal sense since 75% of everything that happens >there is done by the US. The >question about money: uh, the agreement actually specifies that the United >States shall have the right to use the facility without charge. Uh, now we >know from 1992, um, that the US has, pays about 1 million dollars for that >extra useage of the range. Um, we also know from the assistant secretary of >the US navy, um, and this is a letter from the assistant secretary of the US >Navy to California senator Dianne Feinstein. Um, in where he says that "Over >the years, use of Nanoose has saved the US Navy over $2 billion." So what we >have is basically, a facility with Canadian taxpayers paying millions of >dollars each year to subsidize a facility that is used 75% of the time: 75% >of the time, by the US, while all the time the US is saving over $2 billion >by using the facility. >

  >DALZELL: "Can I have your question there Mike, please?" >

  >MICHAEL: "Yeah, um, well, actually, you brought up the nuclear emergency >response plan. Um, I think it's important just to point out to people - to >go home and check your insurance policy, your home-owner's insurance policy >- it's not, it doesn't cover a nuclear accident, it specifically takes that >out. Um, also, my.. my question basically comes down to, um, um... first... >two things: one is your, the previous video that CFMETR put out cost about >$50 thousand dollars - it would be interesting to find out how much this one >cost, and Nanoose Conversion Campaign has a video out, narrated by Dr. David >Suzuki that we did for about a thousand dollars, and we hope that the, uh, >Chamber of Commerce, in the interest of equal time would invite us back to >show this very short video.... and the question is: you said there was about >a hundred employees, uh, at CFMETR. Um, now, we know that traditionally >there have been a hundred Canadian civilians. However, uh, we have been >getting rumours of cutbacks and in January, in February of last year, um, >your base administration officer told me that there's a 15% cutback and we >have been told by workers there that the figure is closer to 70. Could you >give us an idea how many civilian Canadians are actually working there full >time now?" >

  >DALZELL: "Yeah, I can give you an idea, but there is about a hundred, the >CFB .... the armed forces has suffered extremes and cutbacks, uh, right >now OK, I'm operating with 35 % less employees OK than I was two and a half >years ago, a reduced number of vessels and the employees. Uh, the work-load, >the work-load has gone down somewhat, um, but uh, still we're providing a >very worthwhile function..." >

  >MICHAEL: "...so, if you had a hundred employees before, and a 35% reduction ... >(Dalzell: 'No I didn't say that..') .. in previous published reports you >said that." >

  >DALZELL: "Well, the new video showed you, OK, that we have a hundred employees, >that I have .... a hundred employees .... that's about 135." >

  >MICHAEL: "OK." >

  >QUESTION: (Hard to hear) " Given that the base in Chilliwack has been closed and >there's not much left in BC, is there any kind of a mandate...b my >understanding is that with the closing of Chilliwack, BC doesn't have a >ground (?) attempt any more, .... natural disasters could that be part of >your mandate - to help clean up natural disasters...? " >

  >DALZELL: "Uh, the comment is very valid, uh, with the closure of Chilliwack >there's, uh, not any large contingent of army forces .... to help with >clean-up .... there's something like 3,000 employees.... " (end of tape)

  ---

  >Return-Path:
  >Date: Wed, 22 May 1996 14:12:54 -0700

  >WHISKEY GOLF YACHT CLUB
  >Suite #2, 85 Commercial St., Nanaimo, BC, V9R 5G3, (604)741-1662 ph/fax
  >____________________________________________________________

  >P R E S S A D V I S O R Y >

  >Wednesday: May 22, 1996 NANOOSE BAY "SAIL-IN" >

  >NANOOSE: The islands and islets of the Ballenas Archipelago off Nanoose >Bay have been called the "Jewel of the Gulf". On Saturday, May 25, at 10 >am, at the Snaw-Naw-As Marina (209 Mallard: Lantzville) Whiskey Golf Yacht >Club director Dr. Robin Ridington will present Parksville-Qualicum MLA >Leonard Krog with a significant plan to preserve these important islands as >part of BC's Pacific Marine Heritage Legacy Program. "The unique >vegetation on these islands is perhaps the most at-risk natural environment >in Canada" said Dr. Ridington, who hopes the provincial government will >add the area to Jedediah Island, Galiano Island's Bodega ridge and other >areas which have already been protected.

  >The islands lie within "AREA WG", presently used as a torpedo test range >by nuclear submarines of the US Navy. However Premier Glen Clark recently >asked Prime Minister Chretien to revoke those privileges, and all BC >political leaders want a "full public review" of the agreement - which >expires in June.

  >Dr. Ridington says much of the area is already crown land, so there would >be no cost to the public. "We already own them. It's just a matter of >getting back access to public property." The islands and waters are also >the traditional home of the Nanoose First Nation - which should be a central >participant in planning.

  >Following the presentation, the yacht club will offer visitors and guests >a "sail-through" tour of the area, followed by a pot-luck barbeque. >

  > - 30 - >

  >Information:
  > Dr. Robin Ridington: (604)539-3095 ( S.V. Starswan - Galiano Island)
  > Norm Abbey: (604) 741-1662 (WGYC - Nanaimo)

  ---

  >Return-Path:
  >Date: Fri, 24 May 1996 22:00:02 PST
  >From: bgaertner@bbs.sd68.nanaimo.bc.ca
  >To: nanoosenet@island.net
  >Subject: NanooseNet: U.S. Nuclear tests upcoming

  >Date: Thu, 9 May 1996 21:10:30 GMT
  >Reply-To: Economists Allied for Arms Reduction

  >NUCLEAR TESTS PLANNED IN NEVADA THIS JUNE >

  >The Clinton Administration recently announced plans to conduct six > "sub-critical" nuclear tests at the Nevada test site. The first >two are scheduled to be detonated on June 18, 1996 and September 12, >1996, nearly 1000 feet below the desert floor. >

  >The tests are part of the so-called plan for a $30 billion > "science based stockpile stewardship program" designed by rusty >cold warriors to "keep the design team together", as they work on new >nuclear weapons for space and earth penetrators. The weaponeers >contend that their work is merely to insure the "safety and >reliability" of the aging arsenal. But it would be far easier to just >build the same old weapons again from blueprints if we doubt their >safety and reliability, instead of actually testing new nuclear designs >in underground explosions. The active "stockpile stewardship" program >is part of a Faustian bargain made by the Administration with the >weaponeers in return for their agreement to support a Comprehensive >Test Ban Treaty (CTB). >

  >Rather than passively monitoring the nuclear arsenal while it > awaits dismantlement, the US has begun a whole new panoply of >nuclear experiments, including the $1.5 billion contract with Bechtel >for "sub-critical" tests, and plans to equip the labs with technology >for virtual reality computer simulations of new weapons, ie, the >National Ignition Facility at Livermore, the Dual Axis Radiographic >Hydrotest Facility at Los Alamos, the Jupiter Facility at Sandia, and >other diabolical technologies with a price tag of more than $5.5 >billion of which $1.5 billion is budgeted in 1996. >

  >Thus while negotiations continue in Geneva on the CTB for > Clinton's announced goal of a "zero-yield" CTB, nuclear testing, >on megacomputers, is going forward at Livermore, Los Alamos and Sandia >national labs making a mockery of the original intention of the CTB to >end the development of new weapons. The "sub-critical tests", >scheduled to begin on June 18th, in which the Dr. Strangeloves plan to >detonate high explosives in proximity to plutonium underground at the >Nevada test site, without quite setting off a critical chain reaction, >will cost $20 million dollars each. >

  >Citizens opposed to the further development of nuclear weapons > are needed to make their voices heard. Write to President >Clinton or email him at: president@whitehouse.gov and ask him to end the development of new nuclear weapons, >including the planned underground tests this June, and to close down >the Nevada test site. Support Congressman Joseph Kennedy's bill to >cancel funding for the NIF (HR 3143) and Congressman Peter DeFazio's >bill to decrease military spending (HR 3202) by asking your >Congressperson to sign on to those bills. Then work with us to call on >the nuclear powers to begin negotiations on a treaty to eliminate >nuclear weapons, just as the world has done for chemical and biological >weapons. The Cold War is over. When will they ever learn? >

  >Alice Slater
  >Economists Allied for Arms Reduction
  >May 9, 1996
  >ecaaras@igc.apc.org
  >~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
  >Nanoose Conversion Campaign
  >Submissions: NanooseNet@mail.island.net
  >Subscriptions: NanooseNet-Request@mail.island.net
  >World-Wide Web: http://nanaimo.ark.com/~convert/

  ---

  >STOP NUCLEAR SUBMARINE TESTS IN GEORGIA STRAIT
  NANOOSE QUOTES...

  As the dust settles on the BC election, where do our political representatives stand on the Canada-US "Nanoose Agreement" (which expires or may be renewed on June 17)? Here are some quotes from recent correspondence, compiled by Norm Abbey. (Call 741- 1662 ph/fax for more information)

  GORDON CAMPBELL, Leader of the Opposition: "BC Liberals are in favour of a full public review of all aspects of this (CFMETR) issue. Clearly this would be in the best interests of everyone concerned."

  STUART PARKER, leader of the Green Party: "The Green Pary supports a public review of the Nanoose Testing Range. Until such a review is carried out, the BC government should demand an immediate shutdown of the range until the review is complete."

  DALE LOVICK, MLA for Nanaimo: "I'd like to see CFMETR converted to peaceful uses. I recognize it should not be done too dramatically, nobody should be displaced."

  BOB RINGMA, MP for Nanaimo-Cowichan: "In the interests of my constituents, I encourage any formal discussions on renewal or cancelation of this (CFMETR) agreement be subject to full public participation and review."

  JACK WEISGERBER, leader, BC Reform Party: "Reform BC supports a full public review of CFMETR. Given the proximity of this potentially hazardous testintg to Vncouver Island, our party advocates an extensive process of public consultation with local residents."

  GORDON WILSON, leader, PDA: "CFMETR must be brought before the public for review. Such a review must take place immediately, with no excuses that 'an internal review' would be sufficient."

  PREMIER GLEN CLARK: "If the Americans won't cooperate on protecting our salmon, if they aren't respecting our sovereignty, we should not continue with the Nanoose Bay testing range agreement."

  (note: NDP policy passed at 1990 Provincial Convention leaves out the 'ifs' - "Be it resloved that the New Democratic Pary work to make the lands, seas and skies of British Columbia an effective nuclear weapons and nuclear free zone, and, be it resolved that the New Democratic Pary work to prevent the next renewal of the Nanoose Agreement." Currently, the BC government is leasing the sea-bed at Nanoose to the DND for ten cents per year.)

  +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

  And (representing DND), we have:

  CFMETR COMMANDER MICHAEL DALZELL: "The (Georgia) Strait has been a dumping ground for years. The oceans have always been used as a dumping area." (May 8, 1996), and: "Canada's constitution does not provide for formal public consultation on military matters."

  DEPARTMENT OF NATIONAL DEFENCE (Randall McCauley, on behalf of Defence Minister David Collenette): "While the provincial government may have declared your area a nuclear-weapons-free-zone, the Canadian Constitution provides that ...national defence falls within the exclusive legislative authority of the Parliament of Canada. Visits of nuclear-powered and nuclear capable vessels were authorized by Order-In-Council... It would be inappropriate to name individuals who, in the course of their duties, are carrying out negotiations on this subject." and ... "The decision for renewal falls outside the jurisdiction of the Nanoose First Nation and the Province of British Columbia."

  PRIME MINISTER JEAN CHRETIEN: "The Liberal Party understands your concern. We believe that a further assessment (of nuclear ship-visits) - with a full opportunity for public input - would be a useful complement (to the DND assessment)" Jean Chretien: September 1993, during the federal election campaign.

  JOHN DOUGLASS (Assistant Secretary of the US Navy): "CFMETR continues to be a vital asset to the United States. Nanoose has saved the U.S. Navy over $2 billion." (letter to US Senator Dianne Feinstein: January 3, 1996)

  VANCOUVER SUN (AP): "The cleanup of radioactive waste left over from decades of nuclear weapons production will take longer than the Cold War itself and cost beween $230 billion and $350 billion, the U.S. government estimated Monday." (Vancouver Sun: April 4, 1995)

  Excellent material. If you have not already done so, consider writing a letter to the Prime Minister and Glen Clark urging a cancellation of the testing agreement and/or a full public review of the facility's present use.

  ---

  DEEP WATER DANGER
  New Video with DAVID SUZUKI

  "Anyone who sees this video will know that now is the time to act," says David Suzuki of the just released video.

  "Deep Water Danger" summarises CFMETR operations and how that fits into US first-strike strategy. The dangers at CFMETR and how the madness can be stopped are discussed. Reaction to the video has been positive and it has been entered in an Edmonton film festival.

  Jointly produced by NCC and End the Arms Race, this timely expose represents an important tool in NCC strategy. The challenge now is to get it on community and mainstream TV stations, and into schools along with an available teachers guide.

  Order copies of Deep Water Danger for a minimum of $15 from NCC.

  Excerpted from the Nanoose Update May 1996.
  For more information, contact NCC at:
  2-85 Commercial St., Nanaimo, BC, Canada V9R 5G3.
  Phone/fax: 604-741-1662
  E-mail: convert@nanaimo.ark.com

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
  Nanoose Conversion Campaign
  Submissions: NanooseNet@mail.island.net
  Subscriptions: NanooseNet-Request@mail.island.net
  World-Wide Web: http://nanaimo.ark.com/~convert/
  STOP NUCLEAR SUBMARINE TESTS IN GEORGIA STRAIT
  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  ---

  First Nation/First Choice

  "They are rightfully ours," said Nanoose Hereditary Chief Wilson Bob, referring to CFMETR crown lands on the Nanoose Peninsula.

  Wilson Bob is the chief negotiator for the Te'mexw Treaty Association (five Vancouver Island First Nations) and told federal and provincial governments on March 14 that "Our people lived there, and we have every right for the first rights to the land".

  Wilson Bob's son Brian Bob was the official representative of the Nanoose First Nations on the M/V. Dove last summer when she was rammed by a DND military zodiac. A recent letter from Defence Minister Collenette stated that "The decision (for renewal of the Nanoose agreement) falls outside the jurisdiction of the Nanoose First Nation and the Province of British Columbia."

  During a visit by Ovide Mercredi to Nanaimo on April 2, NCC gave him information on the legal status of CFMETR. The Grand Chief spoke to the issue then and there saying he would link this with the Innu cause in Labrador/Nitassinan and urged us to build ties with the Sna'nawas First Nation.

  Excerpted from the Nanoose Update May 1996.
  For more information, contact NCC at:
  2-85 Commercial St., Nanaimo, BC, Canada V9R 5G3.
  Phone/fax: 604-741-1662
  E-mail: convert@nanaimo.ark.com

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
  Nanoose Conversion Campaign
  Submissions: NanooseNet@mail.island.net
  Subscriptions: NanooseNet-Request@mail.island.net
  World-Wide Web: http://nanaimo.ark.com/~convert/
  STOP NUCLEAR SUBMARINE TESTS IN GEORGIA STRAIT
  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  ---

  Chilean Navy "Stands on Guard for Thee"

  On April 7 CTV's "Dale Goldhawk Fights Back" went to bat for Jory Lord, whose yacht Moonglow was sunk in Juan de Fuca Strait near Victoria by a Chilean submarine returning from tests at Nanoose Bay, near Nanaimo. Goldhawk and a CTV camera crew visited the submarine weapons testing facility at Canadian Forces Maritime Experimental Test Range (CFMETR) where military police mistook them for a spin-doctor PR unit hired by the military. Goldhawk managed to film at CFMETR and was able to get the message on national TV.

  "How could a $600 million vessel equipped with three state-of- the-art radar sets -- specially designed to pinpoint enemy targets -- fail to notice a sailboat the size of a school bus?" asked Goldhawk on his spot which follows the CTV national news on weekends. The shocking answer? Prior to steaming at eight knots into the fog and darkness of Juan de Fuca Strait on the evening of Sept. 11, 1994, the sailors had each consumed at least five pints of beer at Victoria's Spinnaker Pub -- as well as attending a private party near Nanoose.

  Canadian Foreign Affairs minister Lloyd Axworthy told millions of Canadians that he'd "take a look" at the case and that "I'll get back to you." Now's the time to remind him about that promise and also of Goldhawk's advice that perhaps certain politicians should consider the price we pay by having these sort of military machines doing war exercises in relatively enclosed waters.

  The Chilean Navy, meanwhile, is conducting joint naval exercises off the B.C. coast. Despite their role as Canada's newest NAFTA partner, Chile has no intention of negotiating compensation with Lord. "Your system works for you," said a senior Chilean naval officer. "We have our own way of doing things."

  Excerpted from the Nanoose Update May 1996.
  For more information, contact NCC at:
  2-85 Commercial St., Nanaimo, BC, Canada V9R 5G3.
  Phone/fax: 604-741-1662
  E-mail: convert@nanaimo.ark.com

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
  Nanoose Conversion Campaign
  Submissions: NanooseNet@mail.island.net
  Subscriptions: NanooseNet-Request@mail.island.net
  World-Wide Web: http://nanaimo.ark.com/~convert/
  STOP NUCLEAR SUBMARINE TESTS IN GEORGIA STRAIT
  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  ---

  Last fall a group of kayakers set out from Schooner Cove, north of Nanoose Bay, and started paddling to a small high-tide island off Wallis Point on the tip of the Nanoose Peninsula. The small island has long been a favourite destination for kayakers and boaters.

  When they arrived at the island they found big "No Trespassing by order Dept. of National Defence" signs and CFMETR military police ordered them off the scrub and grass-covered island. The kayakers' subsequent complaints were ignored by defence officials. So they went to their local MLA, Leonard Krog. Krog then asked for a meeting with the military. They ignored the MLA as well.

  "The incredible arrogance of the Department of National Defence was brought home to me recently," said Krog, "when they simply refused to meet with me and the kayaking community in Lantzville who wished to have access to one of the islands which they had regularly accessed in the past but which has now been sealed off by the DND."

  Excerpted from the Nanoose Update May 1996.
  For more information, contact NCC at:
  2-85 Commercial St., Nanaimo, BC, Canada V9R 5G3.
  Phone/fax: 604-741-1662
  E-mail: convert@nanaimo.ark.com

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
  Nanoose Conversion Campaign
  Submissions: NanooseNet@mail.island.net
  Subscriptions: NanooseNet-Request@mail.island.net
  World-Wide Web: http://nanaimo.ark.com/~convert/
  STOP NUCLEAR SUBMARINE TESTS IN GEORGIA STRAIT
  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  ---

  A real breakthrough came when Reform Party MP Bob Ringma agreed that "FULL PUBLIC PARTICIPATION" regarding renewal or cancellation of the Nanoose agreement is needed. Like the Suzuki video, this was the result of working together and keeping at it. A quick recap:

  October: At a town-hall meeting on Gabriola, Jean McLaren and Ivan Bulic asked Ringma to support a public environmental review of CFMETR, as has been requested by the BC government. Ringma agreed at the meeting, but later said his comments were "taken out of context."

  December: Hendrik DeWilde and Norm Abbey met with Ringma at his Nanaimo office. Ringma agreed to express our concerns to Liberal Defence Minister David Collennette, and to participate in a public forum on Nanoose.

  February: Ringma wrote to Collenette demanding " full public participation and review" of the agreement. This story made front-page headlines in the Nanaimo and Parksville papers. Ivan also met with Parksville-Qualicum MLA Leonard Krog, whose riding includes Nanoose. Krog supported Ringma's efforts and took it even further, asking whether "we should even renew the agreement at all."

  March: We have also received replies from Jack Weisgerber (BC Reform Party), Gordon Campbell (BC Liberal Party), Gordon Wilson (Progressive Democratic Alliance), and Stuart Parker (Green Party): the leaders of every BC Political Party agree on the need for full public review before any deal is made on Nanoose.

  April: Premier Glen Clark put the issue on the front page of the Vancouver Sun as well as television and radio when he told Prime Minister Jean Chretien to terminate the Nanoose agreement with the USA (which recently challenged Canadian sovereignty in Georgia Strait and is refusing to sign a salmon treaty).

  Excerpted from the Nanoose Update May 1996.
  For more information, contact NCC at:
  2-85 Commercial St., Nanaimo, BC, Canada V9R 5G3.
  Phone/fax: 604-741-1662
  E-mail: convert@nanaimo.ark.com

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
  Nanoose Conversion Campaign
  Submissions: NanooseNet@mail.island.net
  Subscriptions: NanooseNet-Request@mail.island.net
  World-Wide Web: http://nanaimo.ark.com/~convert/
  STOP NUCLEAR SUBMARINE TESTS IN GEORGIA STRAIT
  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  A loaning copy of the following video is available from the Victoria Peace Centre. Email or call to request it.

  Al Rycroft

  ---

  >Return-Path:
  >Sender: owner-nanoosenet@mail.island.net
  >X-Sender: hstiff@island.net (Unverified)
  >Date: Wed, 5 Jun 1996 00:23:17 -0700
  >To: NanooseNet@Island.net
  >From: hstiff@island.net
  >Subject: NanooseNet: Canada saves US Navy $2 billion >

  >US NAVY SAVES BIG BUCKS AT CFMETR >

  >According to John Douglass, the Assistant Secretary of the US >Navy, the US has saved over $2 billion (some $65 million annually >for 30 years) by using CFMETR. >

  >Douglass, in a January 3, 1996 letter forwarded to NCC by >California Senator Dianne Feinstein, states that "Over the years, >use of Nanoose has saved the US Navy over $2 billion." Mr. >Douglass also claims that, "CFMETR continues to be a vital asset to >the United States." >

  >Isn't it nice of Canadians to be pouring millions of our taxpayer >dollars ($47 million according to DND) into maintaining and >upgrading CFMETR's facilities all while the US uses the base 75% of >the time and saves itself billions of dollars in the process? >

  >Ironically, at most NCC presentations on CFMETR, someone will >insist that Canada must be making a bundle of money off the US >at CFMETR. However, virtually no money is exchanged, and the >agreement specifically says, "...the United States shall have the >right to use the facility without charge." >

  >Well, now it turns out that big bucks are indeed involved, and that >CFMETR is of economic value... but to the United States! >

  >Excerpted from the Nanoose Update May 1996.
  >For more information, contact NCC at:
  >2-85 Commercial St., Nanaimo, BC, Canada V9R 5G3.
  >Phone/fax: 604-741-1662
  >E-mail: convert@nanaimo.ark.com > >

  >~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
  >Nanoose Conversion Campaign
  >Submissions: NanooseNet@mail.island.net
  >Subscriptions: NanooseNet-Request@mail.island.net
  >World-Wide Web: http://nanaimo.ark.com/~convert/
  >STOP NUCLEAR SUBMARINE TESTS IN GEORGIA STRAIT
  >~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  ---

  Attached is my recent Nanaimo Times column. Several people have been suggesting that it be mailed en masse to Glen Clark. This is fine with me. (Just snip off this message from me first ;} ). Regarding the question of copyright which Norm raised, I continue to hold the copyright, but I am granting advance permission for anyone to redistribute this item in cyberspace (listservs, Usenet, etc.). No permission is required for personal use such as e-mailing or snail mailing a copy of it to someone. Permission _is_ required for anyone wishing to republish it in a newsletter, newspaper, magazine or e-zine, regardless of whether the venture is for-profit.

  Kim
  -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  
  Originally published in the Nanaimo Times
  Nanaimo, British Columbia
  Tuesday, June 4, 1996, page A7
  All rights reserved by author
  Permission granted to retransmit in cyberspace only
  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
  (Author's Note: Paragraphs contained in square brackets were edited out of the published version.)
  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Mr. Clark, what are you waiting for? Time has come to end American use of naval test range at Nanoose

  (c) Kim Goldberg, 1996

  Dear Glen,

  Congratulations on achieving what this lowly scribe had declared impossible just a few months earlier: a second-term NDP government with a leader chosen from within Mike Harcourt's cabinet.

  With your party squeaking to victory last week on some 36,000 fewer votes than the Liberals garnered, it's not hard to understand why you spent so much of your victory night telling reporters that your re-elected government would be "inclusive," would listen to everyone, and would represent the people who didn't vote NDP as well as those who did.

  Nice concept. Just don't go too far in trying to appease the masses who didn't vote for schools, health care and environmental protection.

  One easy way to do the populist thing without offending anyone other than a few dottering Cold Warhorses is to just say "No" to U.S. nuke ships at Nanoose Bay until a full public hearing is held into the Canada-U.S. agreement that allows the U.S. Navy to use the Nanoose facility for weapons testing.

  [(As for questions of jurisdiction, I believe you already know what you will find if you get one of your aides to check into who leases the seabed to the Department of National Defense at Nanoose.)]

  I know you took a shot at this in April when you told the federal government at that nifty photo op in front of the Canadian Fishing Co. plant in Vancouver that "If the Americans won't cooperate on protecting our salmon, if they aren't respecting our sovereignty, our resources, or our treaties, we should not continue with the (Nanoose) agreement."

  But let's face it, Glen, you muddied the fish-free waters by linking nuke ships to the west coast salmon dispute.

  You and I both know that your party passed a policy six years earlier at its 1990 convention to "work to prevent the renewal of the Nanoose Agreement" irrespective of the current status of any other Canada-U.S. arrangements. And the Nanoose agreement comes up for its 10-year renewal this month.

  I don't know where you learned to play poker, Glen. But someone should have told you that you can't use something as a bargaining chip if you're not prepared to live with the consequences of your bid. And keeping the U.S. Navy's nuclear submarines at Nanoose Bay in exchange for a salmon treaty is a consequence that many British Columbians as well as your own party are not prepared to live with.

  You'll have every relevant party on your side in demanding a full public review into the U.S. Navy's use of Nanoose and in wielding whatever clout you need to achieve that end.

  [The leaders of the BC Liberals, BC Reform Party, Progressive Democratic Alliance and BC Greens (as well as Nanaimo's federal Reform Party MP) have all stated in writing that they support a full public review of the Nanoose agreement.]

  Nor does Canada need to fear U.S. retaliation for terminating the Nanoose agreement, according to a retired U.S. Navy captain with many years service aboard U.S. nuclear submarines.

  "There is no military threat to the U.S. today," Capt. James Bush told a Nanaimo audience last month. "So this (Nanoose) lease isn't necessary for military reasons. The consequences of not renewing the lease...should not be significant to Canada-U.S. relations."

  [We were all pretty bummed out when Capt. Bush told us about the Navy's practice of dumping primary reactor coolant directly into harbours (including Nanoose) for their first six years of nuclear submarine operation until they learned in 1972 that primary coolant contained radiation.]

  [But we perked up when he told us that three other allied countries (France, Spain and Japan) don't allow nuclear-powered vessels in their ports, and the U.S. has respected their wishes. (How could it not since the U.S. won't even allow its nuke ships into some of its own ports due to the possibility of a nuclear accident.)]

  In fact, Nanoose is now the only foreign port in the entire world where the U.S. Navy's nuclear-powered vessels still conduct military operations on a regular basis. So what are we waiting for?

  I know you've got the huevos for the job, Glen. After all, you told the timber companies where they can stick it if they don't create 21,000 new jobs by the year 2000. (Please don't disappoint us on that one.)

  So when you visit Jean in Ottawa later this month for the first ministers conference, do the right thing by B.C. and come back with a date for a public review of the Nanoose agreement and an interim moratorium on nuclear ship visits.

  Ta,
  Kim

  - 30 -

  Kim Goldberg is a Nanaimo Times columnist and author of _Submarine Dead Ahead! Waging Peace in America's Nuclear Colony_.
  E-mail: at491@freenet.carleton.ca.

  ---

  >Date: Thu, 13 Jun 1996 19:43:27 -0700
  >From: convert@nanaimo.ark.com (Nanoose Conversion Campaign)
  >Subject: NanooseNet: CFMETR EDITORIAL (Nanaimo Times)

  >The Nanaimo Times editorial for Thursday, June 13, 1996, reads as follows: >

  >CFMETR PARK PLAN REQUIRES FURTHER STUDY >

  > "The Nanoose Conversion Campaign and it related branches talk a lot about >'converting' the Canadian Forces Maritime Test Range and ending weapons >testing in the Strait of Georgia.

  > "The campaign is slowly building momentum, with politicians like Bob Ringma >and Leonard Krog joining the fray in asking Ottawa to review the existing >agreement that allows American military vessels to conduct tests in the Strait.

  > "Yet for all the talk, there's been few practical, researched suggestions >about how CFMETR might be converted to proposed 'peaceful' uses.

  > "The latest - raised by the Whiskey Golf Yacht Club, an offshoot of the NCC >- takes the simplistic appreaoch that the entire area be designated a >coastal marine park.

  > "What it does not consider are the many concerns sure to be raised about >such a plan, primarily the potential job loss and economic impacts >associated with the suggested closure of CFMETR.

  > "Instead, we're given sketchy ideas such as using the existing North >Winchelsea Island command centre as a park headquarters or interpretive centre.

  > "Hardly the kind of suggestions needed to sell the provincial government or >Ottawa on the idea of closing the test range.

  > "Yet by presenting a more concrete proposal instead of the usually hollow >protests, conversion proponents are on the right track. The findings of an >environmental study conducted for the base that has yet to be released could >lend further credence to the cause.

  > "The park proposal most recently proposed is not out of the question. >After all, who thought a large portion of Neck Point would become protected >from develompment and designated a park?

  > "That agreement demonstrated the need for compromise and a little >ingenuity. The same will be needed for CFMETR, if it's to become a coastal >park and free from American military vessels." >

  >-30- >

  >For those of you who wish to respond - to this editorial, or the recent >posting: "Kim's Column / Letter to Glen Clark" - the Nanaimo Times Fax >number is 753-9104, and their e-mail is >

  >Cheers - Norm (WGYC, etc...) >

  >PS: today's Nanaimo Times also ran a big photo of Robin Ridington presenting >our proposal to Leonard Krog. Also a news story : "Park proposed for waters >now home to naval testing", and a another (seperate) news story: "Release of >CFMETR study stalled by military." (That news release was posted on >Nanoosenet on June 6: called "Navy Keeps Report Secret") >

  >~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
  >Nanoose Conversion Campaign
  >Submissions: NanooseNet@mail.island.net
  >Subscriptions: NanooseNet-Request@mail.island.net
  >World-Wide Web: http://nanaimo.ark.com/~convert/
  >STOP NUCLEAR SUBMARINE TESTS IN GEORGIA STRAIT

  ---

  >Date: Tue, 18 Jun 1996 12:56:42 -0700 (PDT)
  >From: ernie yacub
  >Subject: wonder where the spent fuel goes?

  >---------- Forwarded message ----------
  >Date: Tue, 11 Jun 1996 15:03:13 -0700 (PDT)
  >From: R. Goforth
  >To: "undisclosed.recipients": ;
  >Subject: Social Justice E-Zine #21
  > SOCIAL JUSTICE #21
  > June 12, 1996
  > Ray Goforth
  > Kim Goforth >

  > EXPLOSION AND FIRE AT POINT BEACH NUCLEAR PLANT >

  >Loading of spent nuclear fuel into dry storage containers was >suspended at the Point Beach, Wisconsin, USA Nuclear Plant >following an explosion during a welding procedure May 28, 1996. >According to the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission >(NRC) initial report, at 2:45 am on May 28th, an unidentified gas >ignited inside a fully-loaded cask of nuclear waste containing 14 >tons of spent fuel rods, causing an explosion. The explosion >occurred just prior to the welding of the 9 inch thick cask lid >that weighs about 4,400 pounds. The explosion inside the cask >lifted the 2 ton lid, leaving it tipped at an angle with one edge >1 inch higher than normal. There were no injuries. >

  >The NRC has suspended further loading of nuclear waste casks >until it can determine the cause of the accident and whether any >spent fuel rods were damaged by the explosion. Each 18 foot high >cask is loaded with 14 tons of radioactive waste, including 170 >pounds of plutonium. Each loaded silo contains the equivalent >radioactivity of 240 Hiroshima-type explosions. According to >U.S. guidelines, the waste must be kept safe for 10,000 years. >

  >The explosion confirms environmental groups' concerns that the >VSC-24 dry cask storage system has not been sufficiently reviewed >to protect public health and the environment. This radioactive >waste storage explosion demonstrates the real threat to the Great >Lakes ecosystem. >

  >For more information contact:
  >Eleanor Roemer, Lake Michigan Federation, (312) 939-0838. >

  >Reposted from GREAT LAKES UNITED Little Zeros Watch #2 Week of >May 31, 1996. Little Zeros Watch is a bi-weekly publication of >Great Lakes United's Clean Production Task Force. The Task Force >is committed to encouraging and promoting citizen-initiated >efforts to achieve zero discharge of persistent toxic chemicals. >Contact Scott Sederstrom at(313) 998-0760, or fax him at (313) >998-0821 to get your issue covered. The CBC radio program "Sunday Morning" (9-12 on SUNDAY: JUNE 23), will be an in-depth look at NUCLEAR SUBMARINES in BC, and the problems they cause. In particular - the sinking of Jory Lord's yacht "Moonglow" and the refusal of all three governments involved (Chile, USA, and Canada) to offer compensation.

  PASS IT ON! LISTEN! (TAPE IT!) (And stay tuned: some interesting related news is scheduled for June 25 - watch your newspaper... ) :) - Norm

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
  Nanoose Conversion Campaign
  Submissions: NanooseNet@mail.island.net
  Subscriptions: NanooseNet-Request@mail.island.net
  World-Wide Web: http://nanaimo.ark.com/~convert/
  STOP NUCLEAR SUBMARINE TESTS IN GEORGIA STRAIT
  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  ---

  >To: NanooseNet@Mail.Island.Net
  >From: convert@nanaimo.ark.com (Nanoose Conversion Campaign)
  >Subject: NanooseNet: Sunday Morning!

  >The CBC radio "Sunday Morning" program on nuclear submarines in BC will NOT >be broadcast on June 23, since the producer is getting the run-around from >Lloyd Axworthy and the Chilean Embassy. Instead, it is now scheduled for >SUNDAY, JUNE 30, between 9 and 10 am. (IE: a one-week delay. Please mark >your calendar accordingly... - Norm

  >PASS IT ON! LISTEN! (TAPE IT!) (And stay tuned: some interesting >related news is scheduled for June 25 - watch your newspaper... ) :) - Norm >

  >~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
  >Nanoose Conversion Campaign
  >Submissions: NanooseNet@mail.island.net
  >Subscriptions: NanooseNet-Request@mail.island.net
  >World-Wide Web: http://nanaimo.ark.com/~convert/
  >STOP NUCLEAR SUBMARINE TESTS IN GEORGIA STRAIT
  >~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  ---

  >We do not wish to compete with existing organisations but we do feel that >we could provide something special and contribute toward at least one of >our key common goals. We feel there is a broad concensus in the general >public on the issue of nuclear arms and nuclear ships in the Strait.

  My experience here in Victoria is that there are too many weak groups working on peace. They would be much stronger if they banded together because at the present time the number of volunteers and their energy level is so small. At a time when the peace movement is shrinking i think it is a better strategy to consolidate, rather than further divide the tiny amount of energy. Don't know if this applies to your situation in the Sunshine Coast...

  >Before we launch this group, we would like your feedback and suggestions. >Please email your response.

  Regards,
  Al Rycroft

  ---

  >Date: Sat, 22 Jun 1996 04:07:34 -0700
  >From: Betty Brightwell

  >The US Elliot (DD 967) is an American destroyer which is capable of carrying Tomahawk >nuclear cruise missiles. Probably it doesn't carry any, given Pres. Kennedy's recent >edict. HOWEVER, if the captain was asked he would probably refuse "to confirm or deny" >the presence of nuclear weapons on his ship and it is therefore not welcome in Canada. >THEREFORE the Victoria Raging Grannies have activated the Victoria phone tree and every >person contacted will be asked to put up their sign reading: "Warning Nuclear Ship Now >in Port". >The "Elliot" will hold Open House tomorrow.

  -----------------------------------------------------
  Box 8307, Victoria, BC V8W 3R9, CANADA
  (604) 592-8307 Alan, 595-7955 Kealey, fax available
  http://www.islandnet.com/~emerald
  The above named ship has left Victoria.

  ---

  >Date: Mon, 24 Jun 1996 16:37:03 -0700
  >From: convert@nanaimo.ark.com (Nanoose Conversion Campaign)
  >Subject:LEGAL CHALLENGE

  >Press Advisory
  > June 24, 1994 >

  >NAVY FACING CHARGES >

  > VANCOUVER: The Nanoose Conversion Campaign (NCC) and Greenpeace >Canada, with the assistance of the Sierra Legal Defence Fund will hold a >Press Conference at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, June 25, 1996 at SFU Harbour >Centre, Room 1425 - 515 W. Hastings Street. NCC is filing a request with >B.C. Attorney-General Ujjal Dosanjh for an official investigation of >criminal violations of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act and >Fisheries Act. Named in the investigation are the DND and two US Naval >Officers. NCC alleges violations occur every time a US nuclear sub fires a >torpedo on the Canadian forces Experimental and Test Ranges (CFMETR) at >Nanoose Bay, 10 miles north of Nanaimo.

  > Under Canadian law ship masters are responsible for legal infractions. >Cmdr. Stephen L.Connors, USN, of the nuclear-powered attack sub USS Pasadena >and Cmdr. William M.Smith, USN, of the USS Jefferson City captained the last >subs which tested at CFMETR and could be named in criminal proceedings.

  > CFMETR's "Area Whiskey Golf" test range in Georgia Strait is a >sophisticated underwater weapons testing facility used mainly by the US and >where at least 750 torpedoes are fired annually. During testing lead, copper >and lithium sulphate is dumped into an "area of CFMETR (which) are quite >rich... in the presence of maturing chum and coho salmon," according to DND >studies which admit that tests "may have a negative impact on the marine >food chain."

  > "Dumping substances deleterious to fish" and "altering fish habitat" are >criminal offences under federal laws. DND may also be violating terms of a >little known 1989 provincial Aquatic Lands licence. The province owns the >seabed under CFMETR and Victoria can prohibit "wilful or voluntary waste, >spoil or destruction" of the area.

  > In April Premier Glen Clark raised the issue of CFMETR in >relation to US Salmon Treaty talks. He followed with a June 10 letter saying >"the Government of British Columbia shares your concerns about the potential >risk to human and environmental health posed by the passage of >nuclear-powered and nuclear-armed vessels through the Province's coastal >waters and the exercises in the area of Whiskey Golf." Premier Clark also >called for a public review before Ottawa renews the 10-year contract >allowing the US Navy to use CFMETR. The Defence Department, however, says >CFMETR is a matter of "national security" and refuses to hold public hearings. >

  >-30- >

  >For information: Ivan Bulic 741-1662 or 736-3194 (NCC)
  > Norman Abbey 741-1662 (NCC)
  > Dr. Mike Wallace: 822-4550 (UBC)
  > John Mate: 327-0943 (Greenpeace) > >

  >~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
  >Nanoose Conversion Campaign
  >Submissions: NanooseNet@mail.island.net
  >Subscriptions: NanooseNet-Request@mail.island.net
  >World-Wide Web: http://nanaimo.ark.com/~convert/
  >STOP NUCLEAR SUBMARINE TESTS IN GEORGIA STRAIT
  >~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  ---

  fyi. Note that "Jim Bush" is Captain James Bush (ret'd), US Navy, former nuclear submarine commander, and now a central player in the Center for Defense Information (akin to Ploughshares in Canada)...

  >>Date: Sat, 22 Jun 1996 20:46:52 -0700
  >>To: convert@nanaimo.ark.com
  >>From: info@peacewire.org (END the ARMS RACE)
  >>Subject: Final Thoughts from Jim Bush >>

  >>To: Steven Staples
  >>From: Jim Bush >>

  >>Dear Steve,

  >> Thank you so much for the check for my expenses. I derived a great >>deal of pleasure from both legs of that visit. I only wish that I had been >>successful in determining an effective method of stopping the renewal of >>the lease. Let me say some final words. >>

  >> Alfred Thayer Mahan convinced the U.S. Navy at about the turn of the >>century of the importance of sea power. Since then the U.S. has never >>willingly given up a naval facility overseas unless they needed the money. >>As our operations in the Georgia Strait cost us no money you cannot expect >>the U. S. to willingly depart with the use of this facility.

  >> Therefore, the only possible way to stop the lease is through the >>Canadian government. Are they fully aware of what this facility means to >>Canadian sovereignty? They were going to build a fleet of nuclear >>submarines a few years ago to protect their sovereignty but now are >>unwilling to take a simple small step to achieve the same goal.

  >> Here are the facts:

  >> The United States government operates its nuclear submarines in the >>waters of Georgia Strait based on a determination that operations in those >>waters do not involve an undue risk in the event of a nuclear accident. >>This determination is made solely by the United States government. No one >>in Canada knows what criteria is used to make this determination. No one >>in Canada knows what possible accident is considered by the U.S. >>government. Is it a worst case accident? Is it the most likely accident? >>And if anyone in Canada trys to find out this information their request >>will be denied. No one knows whether the survey that was presumably made >>by the U. S. in order to make the determination that a nuclear accident >>would not have a catastrophic impact was made 10 years ago and never >>updated or is it updated annually. In short no one knows anything about >>the criteria used by the U.S. government to determine safe nuclear >>operating areas or ports. What is known is that there are areas and ports >>that are considered unsafe and in which no U.S. nuclear submarine operate >>or visit.

  >> The Canadian government also seems to think their NATO treaty >>obligations require them to accept any U.S. demand. Are they not aware >>that France and Spain have at various times denied nuclear powered ships >>entry to their ports? Are they not aware that the United States is not >>allowed to send nuclear powered ships into Japanese ports and yet the U.S. >>has treaties with Japan.

  >> The above considerations are civil considerations involving the >>safety of nuclear operations and it seems clear that at a minimum the >>Canadian government should take some time to determine on their own whether >>nuclear operations are desirable and safe in their waters.

  >> When it comes to military questions there is room for debate, however, >>it seems clear that now that the cold war is over this facility has >>outlived its usefulness. >>

  >> If you want to quote these words pleae feel free to do so. >>

  >>Sincerely,
  >>Jim >>

  >>PEACEWIRE
  >>www.peacewire.org/pw
  >>A project of END the ARMS RACE and the Public Education for Peace Society,
  >>405-825 Granville Street, Vancouver, B.C. V6Z 1K9 CANADA
  >>ph: (604) 687-3223 fax: (604) 687-3277

  ---

  The NCC press release below was covered by Canadian Press and a short version ran in the Vanocuver Sun, Globe and Mail, Nanaimo Daily Free Press, CKWX, and the Times Colonist. As well we were contacted by both the Rafe Mair show (CKNW) and CBC's "Almanac", who are thinking about focussing on Nanoose in the near future. When Ivan Bulic raised the topic at a 'town-hall' meeting with Hedy Fry (Liberal MP for Vancouver Center) she said that the Nanoose Agreement hasn't been renewed yet (technically it expired on June 17) and that they are getting "pressure from the environment department." Perhaps now is a good time to keep up - and increase - the political lobbying effort on federal Liberals! Please copy your letters and the response you get to NCC.

  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

  June 25, 1996

  US NAVY UNDER LEGAL GUN

  VANCOUVER: A crime is committed every time a US nuclear submarine fires a torpedo on the Canadian Forces Experimental and Test Ranges (CFMETR) at Nanoose Bay. The Nanoose Conversion Campaign, with the assistance of Greenpeace and the Sierra Legal Defence Fund, is formally requesting B.C. Attorney-General Dosanjh to investigate criminal violations of the the Fisheries and Environmental Protection Acts. Named in the investigation are the Department of National Defence and two US naval officers.

  Under Canadian law ship masters are responsible for legal violations. Cmdr. Stephen L. Connors, USN, of the accident-plagued nuclear attack sub USS Pasadena and Cmdr. William M. Smith, USN, of the "LA Class" USS Jefferson City, could be named as defendants in criminal proceedings. They are the most recent subs to test at Nanoose.

  CFMETR is a sophisticated Canadian funded underwater weapons testing facility where at least 750 torpedoes are fired annually. The tests result in the dumping of tons of lead, miles of copper wire and lithium sulphate batteries into "the area of CFMETR (which) are quite rich ... in the presence of maturing chum and coho salmon, " according to DND studies which admit the tests "may have a negative impact on the marine food chain".

  "Dumping substances deleterious to fish," "altering fish habitat" and "jettisoning human-made structures " are criminal offences under Fisheries and Environmental Protection Act regulations. CFMETR may also be violating terms of a little-known 1989 provincial Aquatic Lands License. B.C. owns the seabed under CFMETR and issued the license with the proviso that there be no " willful or voluntary waste, spoil or destruction."

  Premier Glen Clark first raised the issue of CFMETR this April during US Salmon Treaty talks. He followed up with a June 10 letter stating that " the Government of British Columbia shares your concerns about the potential risk to human and environmental health posed by the passage of nuclear-powered and nuclear-armed vessels through the Province's coastal waters and the exercises in the area of the Whiskey Golf."

  US naval vessels come to Nanoose Bay under the provisions of a joint 10-year Canada-US Agreement that is up for renewal this year. The expiry of the agreement has prompted demands for a full public review before US subs sail into B.C. waters for another decade. Premier Clark " has consistently urged the federal government to conduct an environmental assessment of the facility, including public hearings."

  CFMETR's Cmdr. Michael Dalzell, however, rejects public hearings."Questions of national security fall within the legislative authority of the Parliament of Canada," he said, "and does not provide for formal consultation on matters such as CFMETR."

  -30-

  For information: Ivan Bulic, NCC: (604) 741-1662 or 736-3194
  Norman Abbey, NCC: (604) 741-1662
  Dr. Mike Wallace, UBC: 822-4550
  John Mate, Greenpeace: 327-0943

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
  Nanoose Conversion Campaign
  Submissions: NanooseNet@mail.island.net
  Subscriptions: NanooseNet-Request@mail.island.net
  World-Wide Web: http://nanaimo.ark.com/~convert/
  STOP NUCLEAR SUBMARINE TESTS IN GEORGIA STRAIT
  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  ---

  If you are interested in getting a "Warning: Nuclear Ship Now In Port" sign, to put in your window when a nuclear ship is in town, please be in touch.

  >Return-Path:
  >Date: Thu, 27 Jun 1996 04:23:20 -0700
  >From: Betty Brightwell

  >The above nuclear weapon capable ship is in Victoria. It carries 2 >CH-46 transport helicopters to transport/service nuclear bombs, depth >bombs, Tomahawks. >It probably does not carry any N-weapons. HOWEVER, if asked, the >captain would "neither confirm or deny" their presence. The Victoria >Raging Grannies have THEREFORE again activated the "N-ship in port" >phone tree and yellow signs in windows are all about Victoria. The ship >will be here until Friday, we are told.

  -----------------------------------------------------
  Box 8307, Victoria, BC V8W 3R9, CANADA
  (604) 592-8307 Alan, 595-7955 Kealey, fax available
  http://www.islandnet.com/~emerald

  ---

  What is the Peace, Earth & Justice News?

  This free email news service provides news, opinion and analysis of peace, environment (earth) and justice issues. Stay ahead with informative postings often days, weeks and months ahead of the mainstream media, and often never covered in the mass market. You choose the amount of email you want, by selecting your issue(s) and region(s).

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