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Spring 2010 Number 98 Issn 1196-9970 Resisting War, Learning By Jan Slakov the problem of violence, the modera- s Canada some “kind of com- tor of the World Council of Church- Imune where conventional norms es’ Central Committee was quoted in - like the definition of conscientious the March 2001 issue of the Angli- objector set out by the UN High can Journal: ‘We do not judge those Commission of - do not for whom, in extreme situations, apply”? This is what author Terry when hope for justice and dignity Glavin suggests, in expressing his has disappeared, the use of force as outrage that politicians would sup- a last resort may become necessary.’ port the right of US war resisters to No! force must be used immediate- seek refuge in Canada. ly, not as a last resort, when we are Many members of Conscience confronted with serious injustice: the Canada (CC) would fit the traditional soul force of nonviolent resistance, Jeremy Hinzman definition of “conscientious objec- with its many powerful tools.” tor” but most of us, certainly those of tion from a younger age? Desroches then recounts a won- us on the board, want to support war One of the things I have always derful story which illustrates viv- resisters even if they are not complete valued about the leadership of CC, idly how beautiful and inspiring this including back when Edith Adamson “force more powerful” can be. He pacifists. Indeed, Jeremy has given us permission to share it was president, was its commitment to Hinzman has accepted our invitation so contact us if you would like us to speak at our AGM on March 27 go beyond merely opposing war, to to mail or e-mail you a copy and we in Toronto (see page 2 in this news- insist that nonviolence is not merely hope to get it posted on our website letter) and we look forward to seeing the absence of violence, but a power (www.consciencecanada.ca) soon. we can cultivate. Len Desroches de- a good number of CC members and Continued on page 6 other peace activists there. scribed this notion very well in his We want to support anyone who book, Love of Enemy: The cross and C O N T E N T S decides they can no longer partici- sword trial (Dunamis, 2002): Resisting War, pate in the violence of war, even if “It is crucial that we stop trivializ- Learning Nonviolence...... pp.1 & 6 they were not drafted. After all, if ing nonviolence and refuse the false CC AGM...... p.2 someone grows into such a convic- choice of ‘nonviolence or force’. The Books...... pp.3 & 4 tion, does that make their conviction true choice is between the force of Resisting Military Recruitment....p.5 Introductions...... p.6 any less valid than that of someone hatred/violence and the force of love PTR...... INSERT who may have held a similar convic- we call ‘nonviolence’. Addressing C O N S C I E N C E C A N A D A P.2 CONSCIENCE CANADA “Anything worth 2010 ANNUAL GENERAL doing is worth doing MEETING (AGM) badly. If I’d waited until OFFICIAL NOTICE I knew what I was doing, I Date and time: Saturday, 27 March, 2010 at 3 pm wouldn’t have gotten Place: Toronto School of Theology, 47 Queen’s Park Cres. E., Toronto Speaker: Jeremy Hinzman, US war resister anything done.”

Agenda: ~ Muriel Duckworth I. Approval of the Minutes of the 2009 AGM (available upon request) II. Review of the work done by Conscience Canada during the year; III. Election or confirmation of board members. The four officer posi- tions required by our by-laws are: President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary, in addition there can be Board members at large. Standing for A B O U T election are: Murray Lumley, Anna Kirkpatrick, Jan Slakov, Don Wood- side, Benno Barg, Jonathan Seiling and Mary Groh. This newsletter is produced by IV. Presentation and Approval of the 2009 financial statements - (avail- Conscience Canada, a non- able upon request) governmental organization which has worked since 1978 to: V. Appointment of auditors for 2010.

VI. Other business • increase Canadians’ awareness of the connection between taxes VII Talk by Jeremy Hinzman, beginning at approximately 4 pm. and war • divert taxes away from war All CC members and friends are warmly invited to attend the AGM. • support creative nonviolent conflict prevention and resolution The present AGM Notice, included in the newsletter and sent to all the • promote conscientious members’ addresses on record, constitutes the official notice, as required objection legislation by the Conscience Canada Inc. by-laws. Please let us know if you want to The views expressed in this receive a copy of the by-laws electronically or by mail. newsletter are those of the authors and do not necessarily If you cannot attend the meeting in person, do not forget to send your reflect the positions of Con- proxy below for your vote, either by post or by e-mail to: science Canada. [email protected] An electronic version of this I, (please print) ______, a member in newsletter is available at www. good standing of Conscience Canada, do hereby grant my proxy vote ConscienceCanada.ca. Please for the 27 March, 2010 Annual General Meeting of Conscience Canada let us know your preference. to: ______or in their absence to any Board Member of Conscience Canada. B O A R D Benno Barg, Mary Groh, Anna Signature: ______Kirkpatrick, Murray Lumley, Jonathan Seiling, Jan Slakov, Don Woodside C O N S C I E N C E C A N A D A P.3 An Inspiring Historical Perspective War and Taxes, essays by 6 supporters of NCPTF. An appendix includes an historical timeline on the devel- on Peace Tax Work in the US opment of Peace Tax Fund legislation, and 2 of the bills which have been brought to the Congress. A Persistent Voice: Marian Franz and Conscientious Objection to Military Taxation. Edited by David R. Bas- Muriel Duckworth died on Aug. 22, after more sett, Steve Ratzlaff & Tim Godshall. Cascadia Publish- years than most of us have lived, of inspiring ing House, Telford, PA. 21 pages. $22.94 Canadian. To peace and justice activism. One of her favourite order, Call: 1 (800) 631-6535 or Fax: 1 (519) 747-5721 quotes follows:

or 23 years Marian Franz was Executive Direc- “My heart is moved by all tor at the National Campaign for a Peace Tax I cannot save FFund (NCPTF) in Washington, D.C. She lobbied So much has been destroyed congress men and women and headed up initiatives for peace tax legislation. Marian died in 2006, before she I have to cast my lot with those could publish a collection of the columns she wrote who age after age, perversely, every few months for the NCPTF newsletter. With no extraordinary power, These varied and inspiring short essays (47 of reconstitute the world.” them, each about two pages in length) have now been ~ Adrienne Rich published as the main focus of this book. They are from The Dream of a Common Language preceded by Contemporary Voices on Conscience, Conscience Canada

Membership Application / Renewal Member: Open to any person committed to supporting Conscience Canada’s objectives and who pays an annual mem- bership fee of $10. This entitles you to receive CC’s newsletters and to vote on all issues at the Annual General Meeting. All “life memberships” dating from an earlier system are honoured. Conscientious Objectors to Military Taxation (COMT): Member who, in addition to the membership fee has deposited funds into the Peace Tax Trust account maintained by Conscience Canada.

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Mail to: Conscience Canada, 901-70 Mill St. Toronto ON M5A 4R1 Visit: www.consciencecanada.ca C O N S C I E N C E C A N A D A P.4 Malalai got the grudging consent age was being attacked by some Worth Reading of the Health Ministry but without armed fundamentalists she instructed any guarantee of security. Besides her security people not to kill anyone. by Mary Groh the clinic she started up an orphan- In the turmoil, some of the attackers A Woman Among Warlords by Mala- age, and both provided such needed were injured, but her team transport- lai Joya. Simon and Schuster, Cana- services that Malalai became well ed them to the hospital in the clinic’s da, October 2009. 229 pages. $32.99 known in Farah province as a person ambulance. Some of these men be- who genuinely worked for the good came her supporters. She has refused t a time when there is of the people. She was elected as a volunteers wishing to take up arms so much hand-wringing delegate to the Loya Jirga (council) to kill her enemies, saying guns are about our role in Af- which was to approve a new consti- only for self-defence, and war and ghanistan, it is a gift tution for Afghanistan. violence is not the way to achieve toA hear from Malalai Joya. She is a Her first speech at the assembly peace and democracy. But she still young Afghan woman (31) dedicated lasted about 90 seconds before her claims to have been inspired by Pal- to the well-being of her people and tirade against the criminal warlords estinian rock-throwing children! putting her life at risk as she pushes was cut off. Such up- Malalai’s dream for her country for democracy. She calls un- roar ensued that she includes the disarming of warlords equivocally for the withdraw- was forced to leave un- and all fundamentalist groups, and al of all foreign troops. der guard. Her popular- an end (by the UN) to the inflow The picture of Afghani- ity has remained strong of weapons from other countries. stan she paints in her recent though, and in the first She calls for real humanitarian aid book with the above title is parliamentary elections that reaches the grassroots, express- grim indeed. The war to oust (in 2005) she easily ing impatience with the plethora the Soviets in the 1980’s was won a seat, becoming of NGO’s presently in the country. followed by the war amongst the youngest member She acknowledges the possibility of the warlords for control of in what she calls The more civil war following the with- the country, followed by the House of Warlords. drawal of NATO troops, but has faith takeover of the Taliban in It didn't take long for her to be sus- in the people’s genuine desire for 1995, followed by the U.S. led war pended from parliament, as a result education and a progressive secular on terror after 9/11 which continues of her unvarnished criticism of other government. Several times she says up to the present. The vast majority members (whom she sees as war “The power of the people is the pow- of the people have been reduced to criminals). Despite several assassi- er of God.” It will take time for the living in extreme poverty and inse- nation attempts against her, Malalai warlords, the drug lords, the Taliban curity, and are ruled by a government continues to speak out both at home to lose their hold in the country; she controlled by the same bad actors of and abroad. In Toronto in November knows she may be killed before her the 90’s civil war. she sounded the same angry young dreams for her country can be real- Malalai had the opportunity for woman that comes through in the ized. schooling while growing up in a refu- book—loud and hard-hitting in her This book is written as autobiog- gee camp in Pakistan. As a teenager prepared speech. When speaking raphy in excellent idiomatic English, she began teaching women in the refu- person to person, however, or greet- thanks to Daniel O’Keefe, a Canadi- gee camp to read. Her father, a free- ing the audience, she speaks gently, an peace activist. It is a book for any- dom fighter against the Soviet occupa- smiles, and is beautiful. one wanting to be informed about tion, inspired her to become an activist. What are her convictions on non- the present sorry state of Afghani- She joined an organization to help im- prove the lot of women, and undertook violence? Martin Luther King is one stan, especially the shocking plight the dangerous “underground” life of of her heroes and she quotes him of the women and children. And it is a teacher of girls in Herat, which was several times in the book. In life she a book for all working to make a bet- under Taliban control. is a caring person, sought out by the ter world and needing inspiration for When her organization wanted abused and suffering. When she re- what can be done by one courageous to open a medical clinic in Herat, ceived a phone call that her orphan- person. C O N S C I E N C E C A N A D A P.5 Resisting Military Recruitment

CBC Radio's "The Current" read and then die in the wars. out (on Nov. 3 '09) most of the first If I had my way military paragraph of the letter below, writ- recruitment could not be ten by CC board member Murray done on anyone younger Lumley*. It was in response to an than thirty years of age. interview with special counsel to If this were the case there Quebec's CSQ union organization, would be very few armies. Alain Pelissier. Police forces came up in "I agree with Mr. Pelissier. Mili- your interview and I agree tary recruiters have no place in high again. Police are charged Photo on the cover of the CFSC brochure with defending our written laws. As soon as a war starts between armies, ments/Consideringjoiningthemili- any law is disregarded - even hu- tary.pdfor call (416) 920-6213. For man natural law - and I am refer- more information look up "Opera- ring to "rape" being used as a tool tion Objection Canada" on the web. of war by soldiers. I also have read There are special programs for "Human Smoke" and it is clear that recruiting and training First Na- there was no high ground among tions youth, including: CF Aborigi- any of the combatants of World nal Entry Program, Bold Eagle and War II. Churchill was quite willing Raven. Some First Nations people to bomb civilians and did so even are proud of how many members Logo of the Campagne d’opposition au recrutement militaire before the Luftwaffe bombed Lon- of their community participated in don. Churchill approved the use of previous wars and welcome recruit- schools, nor colleges and universi- poison gases on Iraqi villages in the ing efforts but others see military ties either. The students are just too twenties. The wars of the twentieth recruiting and gang activity as ex- young and have no life experience century should have taught us that ploiting an indigenous warrior tra- to see through the lies recruiters war and recruiting for war should be dition of resistance to colonization present. Most soldiers in armies outlawed." and injustice. More information is around the world including Canada “I agree with Mr. Pelissier. available on the internet. One useful and the U.S. are made up of eigh- site is: http://warriorpublications. teen to twenty year olds. I watched Military recruiters have com/?q=node/24 . the documentary "Standard Oper- no place in high schools” ating Procedure" and have listened *Note: Members of the board asked to young U.S. "war resisters" who Quebec has an active coalition Murray how he manages to get so fled to Canada speak about being of student groups and unions work- many of his letters into the media. told one thing and then being sent to ing to keep military recruiters out of He had two suggestions: 1) Write Iraq. They told about young soldiers schools (see: www.antirecrutement. as soon as you are moved to write, being placed in situations where info/?q=fr/node/179 ) and the Ca- even if the grammar is not perfect. they were required to make terrible nadian Friends Service Committee 2) Share your letters with others. life and death decisions. It just re- has produced an excellent brochure This may inspire others to write too minds me that it is old men who for young people thinking of join- and it makes sure that even if your decide on wars and it is young men ing the military. You can find it at: letter isn't printed, it can still have and women who are trained to kill http://cfsc.quaker.ca/pages/docu- an effect. C O N S C I E N C E C A N A D A P.6 Continued from page 1 2005 issue of our newsletter. We have so addicted to militarism is surely Our website has other resources also helped distribute 2 excellent that most people have no real sense for those interested in finding out books which delve into this question of how powerful nonviolence or the more about nonviolent options for in depth: Canada @ Peace: Coact- force of love can be. We learn about promoting security, including the ive security by David E. Hubert and Vimy Ridge or D-Day, but how Report on Nonviolent Alternatives Allow the Water: Anger, fear, power, many of us are familiar with stories to Canadian Defence and Security work, sexuality, community - and the of nonviolent resistance, such as of 2004 and Deanna Douglas’ ar- spirituality and practice of nonvio- how thousands of potential victims ticle, Expanding our Toolbox: Non- lence by Leonard Desroches. of the Holocaust were saved thanks violence in the real world” in the Fall One of the reasons our society is to courageous, nonviolent assis- tance, or closer to home, how groups INTRODUCING have organized successfully to gain Two new board members: the right to vote, or put an end to Jonathan Seiling, who has a degree in Peace and Conflict Studies from discriminatory laws, or save natural Conrad Grebel U.C., recently completed his PhD in History. He teaches in the areas and local communities from area of Christian history and one area of focus concerns violence and non- mines, dumps and other potentially resistance in the Reformation period. He is currently working on a collection of texts, translated from German and Latin, that indicate the lively debate in disastrous projects? Certainly, not Europe during the 1500s concerning religion, government and nonviolence. all nonviolent struggles are success- His teaching and research take him from the University of Waterloo to the ful but there is one form of “success” University of Toronto, Brock University, the First Mennonite Church in Vineland, that all nonviolent struggles share: ON (and other places too, no doubt!) and he has also found time to focus on insofar as people use the tools of questions of particular interest to Conscience Canada. But guess what? He says, "My real full time job is husband/new dad, one for which I'm constantly nonviolence, and eschew violence, uncertain if I have the right qualifications, although it's lots of fun most of the they do not end up doing precise- time." He hopes to help raise the profile of CC within the arena of academia. ly that which they are supposedly fighting against. I know of no war Mary Groh joined the board just this past fall, but where any side succeeded in fight- she has been active with CC since the 1970's, when she first heard about it from Edith Adamson. She ing without committing atrocities; no longer has taxes to redirect, but her support has we are poignantly reminded of this continued over the years, in particular in helping danger now, as news surfaces of how with newsletter mail outs. Besides being involved in the Canadian government violated church and community activities, she is a gardener, the Geneva conventions by turning preserver, reader, hand-crafter and cyclist (like other much younger members of the board!) Mary would prisoners over to Afghan jails where be happy to continue as a "behind the scenes" CC they were tortured. supporter, but sees the need for CC to have more We are compiling a list of resourc- support on the board, and has accepted to become Recent photo of Mary Groh es for those who want to learn more our president in order to ensure that CC can continue to about the power of nonviolence, provide assistance to conscientious objectors to military taxation. in time for our AGM. If you would Our new layout person: Din Yalonen like a copy of the list, or if you have Finding someone to do the formatting of the Peace suggestions for it, please contact us Tax Return and our newsletters has not always been at consciencecanada@conscience- easy. Din Yalonen is supportive of CC's goals and has canada.ca or call Jan Slakov at (250) been willing to do this layout work for a reduced rate, for which we are grateful. Din is the singer for The 537-5251. Soles band, whose music has made it onto quite a few radio stations across North America, with very positive Jan Slakov has been editing the reviews. Interestingly, one of their songs was inspired CC newsletter for some 7 years. by a uranium mining blockade in eastern which She thanks all those who contrib- some CC board members have supported as well. To Din Yalonen ute to its creation and distribu- view some of Din's art and hear some Soles music, go tion, and those who take the time to: www.dinarts.com to read it.