Vancouver

We know that nuclear war could mean
the death of all of us and the destruction of
the planet. And we know that more than
once the world has been on the verge of a
nuclear war. But how many people know
how close we have been to nuclear annihila-
tion by accident? Greenpeace in a recent
document, “Naval Accidents 1945-1988”
produced some figures on naval accidents.
Many of them involved ships carrying
nuclear weapons. The figures are scary.

@ The major navies of the world suffered
1,276 accidents between 1945 and 1988.

@ The accidents involved 359 submarines
and 228 aircraft carriers.

© Half of them occurred in the Atlantic
Ocean; over 2,800 people were killed, 799 of
them on U.S. ships.

© The main types of accidents were colli-
sions, fires, explosions, groundings, equip-
ment failures and sinkings.

@ Today, there are 48 nuclear warheads
and seven nuclear-power reactors on the
bottom of the oceans.

@ In the 33-year period, 212 confirmed
accidents involved nuclear-powered vessels,
including 149 ballistic missile submarines,
146 attack and cruise missile submarines
and 13 aircraft carriers.

Greenpeace has produced another doc-

ument, “Nuclear Free Seas,” as part of its

campaign to stop the nuclear arms race at

sea, which should cause all of us to think.
Here are a few excerpts:

“Almost 550 nuclear reactors are at sea,
propelling many vessels of the three major

radioactive damage from these accidents is
mounting.”

“Accidents will always happen. As long
as naval vessels carry nuclear weapons and
nuclear reactors, they will further contami-
nate the seas. Only by eliminating both
nuclear weapons and nuclear prepulsion
can the oceans be protected.”

“‘Sea-based nuclear weapons are brought
into over 110 countries each year, many of
which are otherwise nuclear-free and have
no desire to be drawn into the nuclear arms
race, or to face the consequences of a
nuclear accident.”

Vancouver city council has passed a
motion opposing the entry into our harbour
of naval ships with nuclear weapons. But we
can’t enforce it; Ottawa has control of our
harbours, and Ottawa continues to allow

U.S. nuclear-armed naval weapons in Van- ~
couver waters. According to press reports _
(Globe and Mail, Dec.5, 1989), the Soviet —
Union at the recent Malta Bush-Gorbachey E
summit meeting proposed that the two 3
countries begin negotiations to reduce naval

forces, but was turned down by Bush.
Greenpeace calls for:

e A ban on all tactical nuclear weapons
at sea, including sea-launched cruise mis-

siles.

: @ A ban on newstrategic naval weapons, q
including the US.and British Trident II, the 3

Soviet SS-N-23 and the French MS.

2d Complete naval nuclear disarmament _
including the elimination of all strategic

nuclear weapons at sea.

This is a campaign that deserves the sup-

port of all Canadians.

Season’s Greetings from COPE

Nuclear-free seas campaign backed

nuclear powers. These reactors help the
navies carry out offensive military strategies
and present environmental dangers to the
oceans.”

“Since World War II there has been an
average of one major naval accident every
two weeks. With some 15,000 nuclear wea-
pons and 550 nuclear reactors at sea, the

... continuing to work for
progressive civic government.

#206, 33 East 8th Avenue, Vancouver, B.C. V5P 1R5. 879-1447

[OPE

Season's Greetings
from the

Tenants Rights
Coalition

SEASON’S GREETINGS

VANCOUVER AND
DISTRICT |

PUBLIC HOUSING
TENANTS ASSOC.

#12, 246 E. Broadway
Vancouver, B.C.

Our Motto:
HOUSING
NOT
HOLOCAUST

’ Ukrainian Canadian tradition.

Celebrate the New Year in the

Sunday, Jan. 21, 1990/5 p.m.

Traditional feast and
concert program

For reservations phone:

2 e Pacific Tribune, December 18, 1989

Holiday Greetings

We will continue to work for
progressive change, fair taxation
for peace in the New Year.

M

i

{ ASSOCIATION OF COQUITLAM ELECTORS
ASSOCIATION COQUITLAMAISE DES ELECTEURS

See Bata 2S

OP eset cians caamll

536-4045 or

594-0539
eM AST SETS Gordon Campbell
: MAYOR

g On behalf of the Vancouver City Council,
may I offer our best wishes to you and
your families. In this season of peace,
goodwill and hope, let us renew our
dedication to creating a better world
for our children.

O NS
Pek Gis

~ City of Vancouver