Send notices of events, reports, brief reviews and letters to the editor: Ed Barbeau, University College, University of Toronto, Toronto M5S 1A1 (phone: 978-8601). We thank Ms. Doreen Morton for typing this Bulletin.
81.37. Chemical Warfare Workshop, January 9, 1982
On Saturday, January 9 from 9:40 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., there will be a workshop on Chemical Warfare held in the Upper Library of Massey College at the corner of Devonshire Place and Hoskin Avenue on the University of Toronto campus. While admission is free, tickets are required. These and background material can be obtained from Derek Paul of the Physics Department (U. of T.) (416-978-2971).
The topic “Current preparations for chemical warfare: can chemical weapons be subject to arms control?” will be examined by J. Perry Robinson (Science Policy Research Unit, Sussex University, England), J. Norman (Defence Research Establishment, Shirley Bay, Ottawa), M.C. Hamblin (Defence Research Establishment, Suffield, Alberta) and R. Cleminson (Dept. of External Affairs, Div. of Arms Control and Disarmament).
81.38. Medical consequences of Nuclear Weapons and Nuclear War
On Saturday, December 5, 1981, the Continuing Education Department of the University of Toronto sponsored a session on the Medical Effects of Nuclear Weapons with Dr. Fallis, Dr. Geiger, Dr. Feld, Rear Admiral Carroll, Dr. Chivan and Dr. Sommers, and a session on the Medical Profession and Nuclear War with Prof. Ignatieff, Dr. Lown, Dr. Kuzin, Dr. Carr and Prof. Epstein.
81.39. Special issue of “The New Internationalist” on Armaments
The March, 1981 (#97) issue of the New Internationalist focussed on problems of the current level or armaments. Apart from articles by Edward Thompson, Sandy Merritt, Lawrence Freedman, Bob Hawkins, Mark Gerzon and Bruce Kent, there were a few horrifying pictures of nuclear devastation and a chilling tabulation of nuclear close calls over the last three decades. “Our country is behind — we’re losing ground” is the theme of an interview by Mark Gerzon with Hank Shumacher, a conservative, and Morris Downing, a liberal, on the U.S, need for “preparedness”. For subscriptions: New Internationalist, 113 Atlantic Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11201.
81.40 Canadian Peace Congress Petition
The Canadian Peace Congress is circulating a national petition entitled Peace is everybody’s business to which it hopes to secure one million signatories.
The text of the petition which essentially calls on the Canadian government to actively promote peace talks and disarmament in the international community reads as follows:
“The nuclear arms race is growing at an alarmingly dangerous pace. Unless stopped, it could end in a nuclear holocaust that would destroy us all. The right to live is a sacred right of every person. Therefore to help make world peace secure, we the undersigned petition the government of Canada to
urgently press the United States for early signing of a Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (SALT) and to start talks on limitations of medium range nuclear weagons;
work for simultaneous dissolving of military alliances, dismantling of all foreign-based military bases and banning of chemical and germ warfare;
actively support the convening of a European conference on military detente and disarmament in Europe, since it is the world’s most heavily armed area”.
Copies of the petition are available for those who wish to sign or circulate it from the office of the Canadian Peace Congress, 671 Danforth Avenue, Room 301, Toronto, Ontario. M4J 1L3 (416-469-3422).
81.41. Peace and Conflict Research in Germany
On Monday, November 23, at the University of Toronto, Dr. Carl-Christoph Schweitzer, a professor of Political Science at Bonn University, a founding member of the German Council on Peace and Conflict Research, a Federal German HP and currently a visitor at the Department of Political Economy and the Centre for International Studies, discussed the problems of Peace Research in West Germany, with special reference to the resurgent Peace Movement in Europe.
81.42. Centre for International Studies Bulletin
This Bulletin is published each Wednesday at the University of Toronto. The deadline for copy is the previous Monday; appropriate events, other than those sponsored by the Centre, can be listed. Copies are available at Hart House, the School of Graduate Studies and the Canadian Institute for International Affairs. Address: Room 208, Trinity College, Hoskin Avenue, Toronto M5S 1118 (416-978.- 3350/6498).
81.43. Articles
Dr. D.G. Oreopoulos of the Toronto Western Hospital draws our attention to an excellent article, Swords not plowshares by Norman Webster in the Globe and Mail, October 31, 1981. He quotes a number of perspectives on the costs of armaments from the Brandt Commission Report, such as the fact that 40,000 village pharmacies could be set up in the Third World for the cost of a jet fighter.
U.C. seeks Peace Chair by David H. Martin. The Varsity, Nov., 4, 1981.
European Anti-nuclear groups gather momentum by William Tuohy. Toronto Star, November 2, 1981.
Nuclear war would be a war without winners. Centrefold in the Varsity, Nov. 11, 1981 by Pam Tames, which highlights Science for Peace.
Toronto would vaporize in nuclear blast (Doctors outline end-of-the-world scenario); Civil defence based on false assumptions: Globe and Mail, Monday December 7, 1981. Reports on the meeting organized by Physicians for Social Responsibility and sponsored by U. of T. (see 81.38). Details of remarks by H.J. Geiger, professor of community medecine, City College of N.Y. and E. Chivian of M.I.T.
Doug Gres operated a highly successful literature table at the conference on December 5. Thanks, Doug! (LTG)
Preventive medicine for Nuclear War, by Philip M. Boffey, New York Times, December 6, 1981 (p.E.9) On the rise of antinuclear-weapons sentiment and the role of scientists.
Cruise missiles: a risk, by Alan B. Sherr. New York Times, December 6, 1981 (p.EY.25).
81.44. Report on The Peace Chair Project
0) On 9 November, the University College Council resolved to establish in the College a Chair of Peace Studies, funded by an endowment to be sought.
1) The Committee for a Chair of Peace Studies in the University of Toronto, since January a committee of Science for Peace, is now become (or becoming) a committee of Science for Peace and of University College. Professor A.M, (Sandy) Leggatt, Vice Principal and Programme Director for U.C. is appointed to the Committee, ex officio, and we welcome also Professors Peter Morgan, David Rayside, and Ben Shek, appointed by the college.
2) In order to revise the proposal lately before President Ham and his Private Support Project Review Committee (PSPRC), so that it will reflect the changes noted in 0) and 1), as well as the strong support we are enjoying elsewhre in the university community, we have withdrawn the proposal from the PSPRC temporarily. We hope to submit the revised proposal in a few weeks.
3) It follows from 2) that, if you have not written to President Ham in support of the project, but wish to do so, there is time.
Terry Gardner for the Committee
81.45. Nuclear Weapons Free Zone
The campaign by Project Ploughshares to make Canada a NWFZ was discussed at the Science for Peace Board meeting on Wednesday, November 25. It was suggested that the proposal should be considered in the context of an overall review of Canada’s defense posture. However we feel that Science for Peace could and should make a contribution to the study of technical aspects of this proposal. Accordingly we enclose the Project Ploughshares leaflet and a copy of Ploughshares Monitor which, together with subsequent issues, will describe in more detail various elements of the proposal. We hope you will consider the implications of the proposed NWFZ and we encourage you to let us know your views, or even better your proposals for action by Science for Peace.
81.46. Kennan Proposal
We enclose a copy of the Kennan Proposal for international disarmament (supplementary comments entitled “Two views of the Soviet problem” can be found in an article Two views of the Soviet problem by George F. Kennon in the New Yorker for November 2, 1981). We are considering the adoption of the Kennan Proposal as an element of a Science for Peace policy statement that is being prepared. We encourage members to study the proposal and to let us know their views about it, and to make suggestions for other documents to include in the Science for Peace policy statement.
81.47. Open Letter to the American People
You are invited to sign this open letter, which will be made public at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in Washington January 5-8, 1982. Science for Peace has a special bond with AAAS, since we grew out of an ad hoc committee formed in response to the series of sessions on the theme Directing Science Toward Peace at the AAAS meeting in Toronto in January 1981.
81.48. Enclosures
Kennan Proposal
Membership list (amended)
Open Letter to the American People
NWFZ
Ploughshares Monitor
Brochure
Envelope
Comments