_ &

Protection
measures

continued from previous page

resources on B.C.’s coast.

O Enforcement of the
provisions of the Canada
Shipping Act to provide fair
compensation for all those
affected by oil spills, without
requiring lengthy court
proceedings. Quick action by
the federal government to
demand compensation when
foreign governments or
corporations are responsible for
damages in Canadian waters.
Establishment of a joint
federal-provincial review is
required to assess the adequacy
of measures to quickly and
effectively deal with oil spills
on the B.C. coast and to
guarantee the implementation
of appropriate measures.

O Strict enforcement of
federal legislation on the
transportation of hazardous
goods by land, water and air,
coupled with regular review of
curent legislation with public
input.

O A stop to the urbanization
of prime farm land as well as
protection and strengthening of
the Agricultural Land Reserve.
Elimination of the power of
cabinet to override decisions of
the ALR and to arbitrarily
remove farm land from the
reserve.

O A ban on the use of toxic
pesticide and herbicide
spraying by industry and
agriculture where the results
will damage the environment
and endanger human health or
animal life. Stricter control over
the sale and use of pesticides
and herbicides for home use.
Assistance to farmers to find
substitutes for chemical and
pesticide fertilizers.

O Rational use-and
development of energy
resources, including
conservation and alternate
forms of energy. Prohibition of
water exports and exports of
other energy sources where
they will adversely affect
Canadian development.

O Full support to the
protection and extension of
natural wilderness parks, as
part of an integrated plan for a
more balanced use of existing
resources and the creation of
more employment.

O Recognition of the
aboriginal rights of B.C. Native
peoples. Support for the
negotiation and settlement of
land claims which would
ensure participation of Native
peoples in sustained use of
resources and enable Native
people to protect their natural
habitat and ensure survival of
their culture and enhance their -
economic well-being.

O The integration of
environmental education into
elementary and secondary
school curricula.

ll these and other
steps to environmental security
must be seen as part of a global
struggle to prevent the
destruction of humankind,
either by a nuclear war or a
war fought with the use of
other weapons of mass
destruction, or by the
destruction of the environment
through pollution and other
abuses. The United Nations
organization, which is playing
an increasingly important role
in the prevention of war, can
also play a key role in
promoting international
standards and co-operation for
the protection of the
environment. Canada can make
a major contribution in this
connection.

Humankind is at the
crossroads. We must choose
between the preservation or the

_ A call to action

A major struggle
is taking place in”
B.C. between the
corporate
polluters, most of
which are foreign
owned, and the
people of B.C. who
want to preserve
their province

from the greedy,

profit-hungry
corporations.

Our commitment

he Communist Party
calls on all of its committees,
local organizations and
members to participate fully in
the struggle to achieve the
objectives set out in this policy
statement. Communists should
be active in their communities
and work co-operatively with
organizations and individuals
working for a safe

environment.

The serious ecological
problems we face can be solved
only by unity of purpose and
action. The Communist Party
pledges to make its
contribution towards such
common action by the
environmental movement, the
labour movement, the peace
movement, the New
Democratic Party and others
concerned with the future of
the planet.

The goal of the Communist

annihilation of human and
animal life. There is no third
road.

A major struggle is taking
place in B.C. between the
corporate polluters, most of
which are foreign owned, and
the people of B.C. who want to
preserve their province from
the greedy, profit-hungry
corporations. These
corporations have recently
formed an organization led by
top corporation heads to fight
the environmental movement
and turn back the tide of public
opinion. Chief among these are
the major forest company
executives.

Their aim is to divide the
environment movement - set
unions and the
environmentalists and native
peoples against each other. The
aim is to create disunity and
thus have their way in creating
conditions for the unrestricted
exploitation of B.C.’s resources
for the purpose of realizing
maximum profits. British
Columbians must unite to
defeat this major threat to our
province.

Party is a planned, socialist
society based on the will of the
majority of the Canadian
people and on Canadian
realities. In a socialist Canada,
the purpose of production and
distribution of all that is
created by labour will be for
the satisfaction of material and
cultural human needs — not
for profit, regardless of the
social or environmental cost.

In a socialist Canada, the
protection of the environment
and sustainable development in
a world at peace will be the
guiding principle at every level
of society.

The Communist
Party invites
comment and
suggestions for
changes to this
draft policy

Statement.

Write to:

B.C. Provincial
Committee,
Communist Party
of Canada, 1726
East Hastings St.,
Vancouver, B.C.,
V5L 1S9, or
telephone: (604)
254-9836.