i. ~~ = wm ) EDITORIAL bors to the south. The myth that Canadians enjoy a “special relationship” with Washington that protects us from the more rapacious dynamics of U.S. imperialism is precisely that: a myth. It can last only so long as we have servile governments in _ Ottawa who give the U.S. just what it wants* without question or challenge. But let us chal- lenge Washington’s self-interest, even in rela- tively small ways, such as the matter of Arctic sovereignty, generic drugs, FIRA, NEP, or even shakes and shingles, and the myth col- lapses. We are regarded as an outpost of empire, not a “partner.” Now consider the situation in Central Amer- ica. The people of Nicarauga are fighting for their right to survive and to construct the social system of their choice. More broadly, however, the outcome of their struggle will decide whether it is possible for a nation in this hemis- phere to achieve true self-determination with- out being isolated, blockaded and invaded by _ Nicaragua and Canada i __ have plenty incommon ¢& As the Reagan administration moves ever closer to an outright invasion of Nicaragua, Canadians need to face up to a stark and pain- ful reality. We have far more interests in com- mon with the Nicaraguan peasants and workers who are fighting, rifles in hand, for their national independence, than we have with our cultural, linguistic and geographical neigh- its actions in Nicaragua. ” gua. the great imperial power that regards all of the Americas as its own “backyard.” The basic principle at stake is nothing less _ than the right of nations to live in security, and - to choose their own political, economic and social institutions free from outside interfer- _ ence. There is no longer any question that the U.S. has grossly violated this principle through Last month’s ruling from the International Court of Justice in the Hague left no room for ambiguity: “The court finds it clearly estab- lished,” said the judges, “‘that the United States intended, by its support of the contras, to coerce Nicaragua in respect of matters in which each state is permitted to decide freely and that: the intention of the contras themselves was to overthrow the present government of Nicara- This is of critical importance to Canada because we too inhabit the western hemisphere and, therefore, are as much hostages of the Monroe Doctrine as are the people of Nica- rauga. Every thinking Canadian, who believes in the future of this land, should get himself or herself into the streets to demonstrate for Nica- ragua over the coming weeks. If we don’t help to preserve Nicaraguan sovereignty today, it is fully possible that one day there will be no one left to help us fight for our own. 0p, Uf Subscription Rate: Canada — $16 one year; $10 six months Second class mail registration number 1560 Editor — SEAN GRIFFIN Assistant Editor — DAN KEETON Business & Circulation Manager. — MIKE pRONIUK Graphics — ANGELA KENYON Published weekly at 2681 East Hastings Street Vancouver, B.C. V5K 1Z5 Phone (604) 251-1186 Foreign — $25 one year; = tt Sana or more than 15 months, the teepees had stood on the shores of Nanoose Bay, providing a warning for passing motorists about the dangers of nuclear weapons testing, and attempting to be a conscience to a government intent on lock- ing Canada into United States’ milit strategy. But last Thursday, the encampment of the Nanoose Conversion Campaign folded its tents and departed the site beside the CPR tracks paralleling the bay on Van- couver Island. Volunteers for the cam- paign, which was protesting the agreement Canadian waters, were forced to move on the pain of eviction. : It was only because of that threat, anda lengthy and costly court battle had the group resisted the eviction, that forced the move. For even though the agreement was renewed — despite outspoken opposition from Canadians — for 10 years two weeks ago, the campaign was still active. Its members, who hosted a packed confer- ence in Nanaimo last January, were pre- pared to maintain the vigil near the Canadian Forces Maritime Experimental Testing Range (CFMETR) and eventually compel Ottawa to cancel the test pact. Unfortunately, the local government figured largely in the eviction threat. The regional district board, which includes a former commander of the military base, had ordered CIP, a land-holding arm of Canadian Pacific, to either bring the camping spot up to campground standards — ata cost of thousands of dollars — or evict the occupants. However, the campaign will continue. The group will maintain its “peace truck” at the rest stop on the Island Highway that allows the U.S. to test submarine- . related, nuclear-capable weaponry in opposite the campsite. Campaign members — People and Issues - will be available, as they have for the past two years, to.disseminate information on the nature of the CFMETR testing, and other aspects of the arms race, to inter- ested tourists. The NCC will also be working on a longer term plan for preserving the vigil to be launched in the next:few months. * * * y itself, a song may not bring down an empire, or even stop the federal government’s steamroller effort to impose free trade on Canadians. But it certainly adds theatre to the protest against the sell- out deal with the Reagan administration, and can do its part to stop it. We’re referring to a note we received from Saskatoon resident David Orchard, who enclosed some particularly pertinent lyrics along with a photo (displayed here) and some accounts of a demonstration in _ the prairie city recently. Orchard co-ordinated the demonstra- tion which greeted Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, who met with Saskatchewan Premier Grant Devine on the free trade issue after announcing his cabinet shuffle July 2. The prime minister was forced to weave his way through the demonstrators, who carried placards bearing the mes- sages, “Defend Canadian Sovereignty, Stop Free Trade,” “Yankee Go Home and Take Your Puppet Mulroney With You,” and “Free Trade Could Cost Us Canada.” Everyone agrees that the hit of the affair, however, was a man sporting a Reagan mask and bearing a small puppet in the likeness of Mulroney. We think he - scored big points with his pointedly sym- bolic depiction of the free trade relation- ship and the lyrics he sang, a mocking reference to the “Shamrock Summit” held in Quebec City last year, in which Reagan and Mulroney stressed their mutual Irish heritage. “Ronald. Reagan’’ with Mulroney puppet at Saskatoon anti-free trade demonstration. ‘ PHOTO: SASKATOON STAR-PHOENIX We also think a good song bears api } ing. So here are the words — sung al He. |t| nately by the “Ron” master and ae “Brian” puppet characters — to the™ of ““When Irish Eyes Are Smiling. _ (Ron) When Ronnies eyes are smiling (Brian) He pulls Mulroneys’ string it (Ron) ‘Cause we’ve convinced Canad! (Brian) That free trade is the thing __ (Ron) Although we're bigger and strM (Brian) We'll take a leap of faith (Ron) So with U.S. pressure growing (Brian) We'll be the 5Ist State. _ Feel free to use them. * O# * Fc most of us, it’s difficult to conte” plate more than 50 years in the Co of munist movement, let alone 50 y 4 marriage. Yet that dual accomplishes, the achievement of Uno Soderholm de? with wife Bertha celebrated theif gol é anniversary in Maple Ridge July 6. i) At the affair, arranged by the and held at their son’s house in Ridge, United Fishermen and Als Workers Union officer Bert Ogdet tribute not only to their 50 years tog. but to their long involvement in the U% and the Communist Party. For Un0 4 | commitmenet goes back to 1932, whe. | joined what was then a new party 12 if ish Columbia, and to 1943 whe? became a tenderman and began a life i of activity in the union, including term the UFAWU board of dirctors. Fol or tha also it was a life devoted to the C munist movement and the union, °, both are members of the UFAWU 8 | citizens group. ded We're told some 150 people atte® é the anniversary celebration. We ca? ee add our congratulations to those YO" and best wishes for the years to come: 4 e PACIFIC TRIBUNE, JULY 16, 1986 :