a

At 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Sep-
tember 23, men and women from
all walks of life will come together
in the first session of the World
Parliament of Peoples for Peace,
in Sofia, Bulgaria, to ‘‘legislate’’
on behalf of millions, for dis-
armament and peace.
The members of this parlia-
ment will be representatives of a
multitude of organizations in
some 135 countries. They will sit
for five, work-filled days, in a
concerted effort to reach agree-
ments to prevent war and ensure
peace.

The MPs, who will be drawn
from trade unions; churches;
municipal, provincial, state and
federal governments; fraternal
organizations, peace councils and
committees; women’s and youth
organizations, and other such
bodies, will face a full schedule.
» Under the general heading —
Global arms build-up and threat
of war: Worldwide struggle for
disarmament and détente — eight
forums are envisaged. They in-
clude: the threat of new nuclear
missiles in Europe; arms build-up
in the Caribbean and Latin
America; the Indian Ocean and

Persian Gulf; Mediterranean;
military alliances and pacts; nu-
clear and mass destruction
weapons; peace zones and
nuclear-free zones; economic and
social consequences of the arms
race and disarmament.

In addition to forums, eight
commissions are proposed, which
cover: the struggle for economic
independence, the New Inter-
national Economic Order, and
transnational corporations;
energy-environment-peace-inde-
pendence; non-aligned move-
ment versus destabilization;
European security and coopera-
tion; peace and justice in the Mid-
dle. East’ African independence
struggles; Latin America and the
Caribbean.

Human Rights Violations

There will also be eight round
table discussions by: trade
unionists; women; cultural, edu-
cational and scientific workers;
journalists; religious organiza-
tions; elected representatives
from various levels of govern-
ment; youth and students; men
and women in sports.

Six workshops are suggested,
covering cooperation among

Parliament

iE

non-governmental organizations,
and support for UN and other
peace and independence efforts;
broadening, publicizing,
financing and establishing locally
the peace movement.
The People’s parliamentarians
will be able to participate in seven
proposed hearings on violations
of human rights, crimes against
humanity and racism. These
range over the crimes of the
Chinese aggressors in Vietnam,
and the Pol Pot regime in Kam-
puchea; violations in southern Af-
rica; by Israel in the occupied
Arab territories; and in El Sal-
vador, Guatemala, Chile,
Uruguay, Paraguay; and dis-
crimination against migrant and

” peace

immigrant workers.

The World Peace Council, tak-
ing part in preparations, has
stated solemnly that ‘‘neither
ideology nor difference in opinion
or belief must impede open
dialogue and concerted action by
all those who are concerned by
the fast-deteriorating inter-
national situation. -

“‘Put aside that which divides
us;”’ urges the peace body, ‘‘st-
rive for that which unites us. We
call for joint action to avoid a new
world war!’’

_The World Parliament of
Peoples for Peace is being called
into session on the authority of its
Preparatory Committee of inter-
nationally representative men and

women. The United Nations and
its agencies and other inter-
governmental bodies have been
invited to take part. Participation |
by Canadians will be through the
Canadian Peace Congress, with
Le Conseil Québécois de la Paix
making arrangements in Quebec.
A Bulgarian preparatory commit-
tee will be host.

In the words of the World
Peace Council: ‘‘The peoples of
the world have been challenged:
détente is in jeopardy, the arms
race is accelerating, and this leads
to opening the way to war. This
challenge must be rebuffed. Let
us renew the dialogue at all levels
to restore mutual confidence for
common action.”

United Nations.

dy,
This challe

appeal: ‘

To all peoples and

War is ‘not ine

new world war!
Name

The appeal — Attention: War Danger! — which see
in its contents the reality of the threat to humanity
Committee of the World Peace Council, w

must be rebuffed. Let
confidence for common action. Today,
and of the end of the Second World

To all who on ruins and ashes
To all who denounce the madness of the arms race, —
To all who are deeply concerned

recourse to force in international relations, ;

: Vitable. It is not yet too late
unbridled accumulation of armaments. It is
the establishment of new nuclear arsenals, especially in the heart of
Europe; but it is high time to finish with the policy of violence and the
threats of blockades, embargos, boycotts and military provocation. |

It behooves each and every one of us to save détente, to struggle for |

the resumption of disarmament negotiations, and to bring about a just
and reasonable reshaping of international economic relations. tees ees. a
Neither ideology nor differences in opinion or belief must impede open dialogue and concerted ~
action by all those who are concerned by the fast-deteriorating international situations
Put aside that which divides us; strive for that which unites us. We call for joint action to avoida —

Signature —

~~ ATTENTION: War danger —
This sobering appeal was issued in May by one of the world’s largest and most prestigeous
non-governmental organizations, the World Peace Council

To young people who claim the right to live in a better world,
governments of the world, .
Attention! War danger! :

Position ©

, which has consultative status with the a

ks, with urgency, the signatures of all who see —
— was issued on the authority of the Presidéntial
hose headquarters is in Helsinki, Finland. ~
The Presidential Committee consists of representatives from all continents, including Romesh
Chandra of India, president, some 20 vice-presidents from as many a P : '
countries, and eight presidents of honor, including Rev. Ralph Aber-
nathy, USA, and Rev. Martin Niemoller, Federal Republic of Ger- |
many. Represented on the Presidential Committee as well are more _
than 100 peace activists and prominent persons from many countries _
and organizations, among them Dr. John Morgan, president of the.
Because the appeal has a bearing on the life of each and every one of
us, the Tribune publishes it in full, with the recommendation that it be
circulated as widely as possible in Canada. The call to put aside what
divides us, and unite to prevent a ne
while that option is still open. — aa
The peoples of the world have been challenged:

w world war — must be heeded

détente is in jeopar-
the arms race is accelerating, and this leads to opening the way.to war. ~~
>t us renew the dialogue at all levels to resi
the 35th anniversary of the victory over Hitlerite fascism
War in Europe, the World Peace Council makes a solemn ~~

ledes 1 to do their utmost to prevent a new holocaust,
frequent

to put an end to the
not yet too late to outlaw ©

a

ROMESH CHANDRA.

restore mutual

PACIFIC TRIBUNE—SEPT. 5, 1980—Page 6

— hiya es tI ty