Nanoose Conversion Campaign

2150 Maple Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6J 3T3 (604)739-0432 Tel/Fax e-mail: iabbey@alternatives.com

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N E W S R E L E A S E

November 12, 1996

PEACEFUL CIVIL ACTION BEGINS AT NANOOSE BAY

On Tuesday, Nov. 12, 1996, at 7:00 a.m. the Nanoose Conversion Campaign will launch a peaceful civil action campaign at the Canadian Forces Maritime Experimental and Test Ranges (CFMETR) at Nanoose Bay, BC. NCC is taking this step to halt US nuclear submarine activities at CFMETR which are part of the threat or use of nuclear weapons, a threat which the International Court of Justice ruled on July 8, 1996 is "contrary to the rules of international law."

"U.S. Navy operations at CFMETR are part and parcel of that threat. These operations are therefore illegal according to the decision of the International Court of Justice which is binding on Canada," said Victoria Lawyer Robert Moore-Stewart.

The Government of British Columbia, and the leaders of all parties in the Legislature, moreover, have repeatedly asked the Government of Canada to conduct a full public review of all aspects of CFMETR before it considers renewing the recently-expired Canada-US agreement allowing US nuclear submarines to use CFMETR. These requests have fallen on deaf ears.

The Nanoose Conversion Campaign, therefore, is asking the Government of Canada to:

a) Immediately suspend the visits of all nuclear-powered and nuclear-weapons capable warships from British Columbia waters;

b) Implement a full public review of all aspects of CFMETR;

c) Comply with the July 8, 1996 decision of the International Court of Justice by cancelling the joint Canada-US Nanoose Agreement; and

d) Guarantee the jobs of the 50 civilian workers at CFMETR when the facility is converted to peaceful uses.

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Further information: Norman Abbey (604)351-1416

Robert Moore-Stewart: (250) 380-1887