Should City Of Vancouver Host A World Peace Forum

Do you think U.S. militarism is threatening people around the world? The illegal invasion and occupation of Iraq has unleashed untold suffering and weakened international controls over aggression. The deployment of National Missile Defence (Star Wars) threatens us with a new arms race; and the U.S.-led world arms trade is once again on the rise. Militarism not only threatens ours and our childrens' safety, it is putting our environment at risk. Military expenditures are robbing cities and other levels of government of the funds necessary for social programs and sustainable human development. Do we need a time and place to talk directly to one another? People and whole cities across the globe have mobilized--the spring demonstrations against the invasion of Iraq were the largest in world history. The internet was an indispensable tool in organizing efforts but can the Internet replace face-to-face, people-to-people dialogue? Is it not time to take stock, to bring together representatives of the "other superpower" the world's peoples, to tell their stories, to sing, to dance, to strategize and to march for peace together? Is Vancouver City the place to do this? It does have a progressive city council that has a mandate until November 2005. And the city has a tradition of peace activism. But perhaps such an event should be held elsewhere? Can we together gather the resources necessary to put on such an event and to help peoples of developing countries, or the South, come to Vancouver? On November 24, the City's Peace and Justice committee will be making its recommendation to city council. Let us know before then what you think. Please send your views to . Sincerely Ellen Woodsworth City Councillor and Vice-chair Vancouver City Peace and Justice Committee clrwoodsworth@city.vancouver.bc.ca