A few weeks ago we received free by mail, from the federal Ministry of Supply and Services a slick 48-page booklet ominously titled ‘11 Steps to Survival’. The booklet, published by Emergency Planning Canada, is crammed from cover to cover with so-called helpful hints, plans, sketches, diagrams, charts and statistical information to help all God’s children living in Canada to sur- vive the horrors of a nuclear bomb at- a a * * * The opening paragraph informs us that we live in a nuclear age (surprise). It then expresses a pious hope that ‘‘Canada will never be attacked by nuclear weapons but, it says, ‘‘as long as the possibility exists we should be prepared to take sen- sible precautions that could save sey lives.” Here are the 11 basic steps to caitivel as compiled by Emergency Planning Canada: 1. know the effects of nuclear explosions; 2. know the facts about radioactive fallout; 3. know the warning signal and have a battery-powered radio and spare batteries on hand; 4. know how to take shelter; 5. have 14 days’ emergency supplies; 6. know how to prevent and fight fires; 7. know first aid and home nursing; 8. know emergency cleanliness; 9. know how to get rid of radioactive dust or sand; 10. know your municipal plans; 11. have a plan for your- self and your family. (Amen). bal o* * It is not our purpose to ridicule the good intentions of the author of the book- let, even though we cannot but suspect it was written with tongue in cheek. What we do question though, is the basic philosophy of those government authori- ties who commissioned the publication of this blatantly fatalistic survival plan‘ of coping in a nuclear wasteland. We firmly believe that ‘‘11 Steps to Survival” was conceived, published and given massive free distribution, as a part of the current campaign that nuclear war is inevitable. Those who would have us believe this false notion borrowed from the Chinese Maoist leaders by the U.S. authorities, strive also to make us believe that the Western powers must be armed in such strength to secure victory in a strike-first nuclear war against the Soviet Union. * * * As an added persuasive argument, the equally false notion is advanced that such a war would be limited to the Euro- pean theatre and, at the worst Canada would only suffer a few scattered nuclear bombs on some of its main centres. All of which is arrant poppycock. For, if a nu- clear war should break out, Canada would be caught squarely in the middle. If such evident self-deceit was not the Marxism-Leninism Today Alfred Dewhurst ys intent of ‘‘11 Steps to Survival’, why didn’t the government authorities com- mission a booklet on ‘‘Steps to Prevent Nuclear War’’? For, surely, the only secure road to survival for all is to make sure there will never be a nuclear war. * * * Fortunately for Canada and her people there exists a growing and ever more vib- rant groundswell of opposition to nuclear. war. The strength and breadth of this opposition and the potential existing, were well demonstrated during the var- ied activities during U.N. Disarmament Week, which in a number of centres cul- minated in mass demonstrations and ral- lies. These activities were but the fore- runner of things to come, and must come, if the nuclear arms race is to be aborted as a first major step on the road. to disarmament based on equality- and equal security. Steps to prevent nuclear war are a mil- lion times more sensible than Ottawa’s ‘‘11 Steps to Survival’. The Toronto demonstration, acclaimed as the largest since the end of the U.S. war of aggres- sion against Vietnam, was a stirring reply to the fatalistic nonsense of the inevita- bility of nuclear war. It, and other like demonstrations across the country, ‘Served notice on the government that a large number of younger generation of Canadians, including young parents and- their children joined with the older generations, are determined to act now for survival. Not after the bomb has ‘dropped. * * * The anti-war demonstrations over the past week were not just protest as- semblies. The slogans chanted of *‘no nuclear war’’, ‘“make Canada a nuclear free zone’, ‘‘disarmament now’’, ‘‘out of NATO and NORAD”, express the demand for a fundamental change of pol- icy for Canada, reflected in an indepen- dent foreign policy. Steps to concretize — this basic demand can be taken by gathering signatures on the petition “Peace is Everybody's Business’, as well as calling upon the Canadian government to: e declare Canada a nuclear-weapon free zone and, on this basis, demand of the U.S. Government to remove all of its | nuclear weapons from Canadian soil; (such weapons are presently stored at Comox, B.C., Bagotville, Que. and Chatham, N.B.) e to accept the offer of the USSR never to use nuclear weapons against any state which does not produce, import, or deploy nuclear arms, and to confirm - this mutual obligation by a formal tre- aty with the USSR; and to ask the United States to also conclude such a treaty with Canada. Pete Sings for PEACE 8:00 P.M. THEATRE N Seeger SATURDAY, MARCH QUEEN ELIZABETH $11, $9, $7 Adults $9, $7, $5 OAP & Children The Ash Street Players present a J SERIES TICKETS AVAILABLE Earl .- Robinson Composer of “Joe Hill’ A Salute To LABOUR SUNDAY, APRIL 4 2:00 P.M. ~ QUEEN ELIZABETH ae \ Odetta A Salute To PAUL ROBESON SUNDAY, MAY 16 QUEEN ELIZABETH $8 OAP & Children 2:00 P.M. PLAYHOUSE $11 Adults yy, TICKETS AVAILABLE PLAYHOUSE $8 Adults $4 OAP & Children CBO, Lower Mainland Woodward's Adults $25, $23, $21 OAP & Children $16, $14, $12 Info 669-4636 Charge-it 687-2801 y CBO, 501 W. Georgia All Lower Mainland Woodward's AMS UBC, Nanaimo Ticket Centre Info 669-4636 Charge-it 687-2801 y, ENDORSED BY: Mayor Michael Harcourt; lan Waddell, MP; Rosemary Brown, MLA; North Vancouver Voters Association, Don Burbidge, President; Ernie Crist, Alderman, North Vancouver; EF Dr. Pauline Weinstein, Vancouver School Trustee; eoroiny Lynas, North Vancouver School Trustee; Harry Rankin, Vancouver Alderman; Bruce Loe, Vancouver Aidernane Rev. John ce f Hilborn; Earl Robinson, pees : e Vancouver and District Labour Council; BC Provincial Council of Carpenters; Canadian Farmworkers Union; CUPE, Loc. 389; International Longshoremen and Warehouse Union; Jack a Munro, President, IWA Region 1; Marine Workers and Boilermarkers Union; Telecommunications Workers Union; United Fishermen and Allied Workers Union; Vancouver Municipal and te : Regional Employees Union; Burnaby Citizens Association; Committee of Progressive Electors; Association of Coquitlam Electors; North Vancouver-Seymour NDP; Richmond Electors Action League; Surrey Alternative Movement; Vancouver-Little Mountain NDP; Coalition for World Disarmament; BC Peace Council; Canadian Peace Congress; Canadian Coalition for Nuclear Responsibility; Comox Valley Nuclear Responsibility Society; Voice of Women; Canadian Congress of Women; Central America Support Committee; Canadians for Democracy in Chile; Southern Africa Action Coalition; Red Door Rental Aid Society; Greater Vancouver Renters Association; North Shore Tenants Association; SPEC; Fraser River Coalition; People’s Co-op Bookstore; Downtown Eastside Residents Association. ; PACIFIC TRIBUNE—NOV. 13, 1981—Page 10