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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Advisory of Press Conference

October 23, 1997

NANOOSE WAR GAMES ANOTHER OTTAWA

INSULT TO BRITISH COLUMBIANS

VANCOUVER - The landing of troops from the US Navy assault ship Anchorage during multi-national war games at Nanoose Bay on Fri., Oct. 24 is an insult to the majority of British Columbians who support the closure of the Nanoose Bay weapons test range.

The Department of National Defence calls the war games which include warships, nuclear attack submarines and aircraft from the US, Chile, Australia and Britain, a peacekeeping exercise. Peace activists, environmentalists and the Nanoose First Nation aboriginal people say the war games contribute little to real peacekeeping and should not be held at Nanoose.

Vancouver-East New Democratic MP Libby Davies, Snaw-Naw-As Nanoose first nation spokesperson Natasha Bob and UBC political scientist Dr. Mike Wallace will hold a Press Conference at 10: a.m. on Fri., Oct. 24, 1997 at SPEC House 2150 Maple St., Vancouver to point out why Canada should not be participating in US dominated war games at Nanoose Bay.

Libby Davies has long been concerned about peace issues and participated in a 1980s campaign that rid Vancouver of US nuclear warships. Davies and other NDP members of Parliament are critical that Liberal Defence Minister Art Eggleton is ignoring Somalia Inquiry recommendations that new guidelines be established for Canadian peacekeeping missions. The war games at Nanoose are just a replay of the discredited methods and attitudes that led to Somalia, Rwanda, Haiti and Bosnia.

Snaw-naw-as spokesperson Natasha Bob is the granddaughter of hereditary chief Wilson bob, chief land claims negotiator for five Vancouver Island First Nations. The Nanoose First Nation, which claims the land and waters of the Nanoose test range, say their traditional territory should not be used as a battlefield.

Dr. Mike Wallace is an expert on Canada's military and nuclear policy. He is particularly concerned that C warships are now in Canadian waters as part of the war games. The last Chilean warship to test weapons at Nanoose Bay in 1994 sank a Canadian sailboat and despite two BC Supreme Court orders, Chile refuses to recognize Canadian law and won't compensate the unfortunate BC sailor.

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Information: Ivan Bulic (604)736-7732