[mobglob-discuss] Urgent action: Tell TransLink directors to deliver ultimatum to

[Chris Spannos]

RAV bidder
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Urgent action=3A Tell TransLink directors to deliver ultimatum to =

RAV bidder

StopWar=2Eca asks its supporters to join anti-war protesters at =

the Croatian Cultural Centre from 8=3A00 am until 9=3A00 am =

Wednesday=2C Dec=2E 1st=2E

Join us to tell TransLink directors that they must insist that =

RAV bidder SNC-Lavalin withdraw from the corporate bid to =

supply bullets for the U=2ES=2E war effort in Iraq=2E Bring banners=2C =

signs and pickets if you have them=2C and please send this =

message to your email lists=2E

The Croatian Cultural Centre is located at 3250 Commercial =

Dr=2E For more information call 604=2E215=2E8494

See press release below=2E

Stop War
http=3A//stopwar=2Eca
----

Press Release          FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE     November 29=2C =

2004

Antiwar coalition wants TransLink to deliver ultimatum to RAV =

bidder


StopWar=2Eca=2C the Lower Mainland=27s anti-war coalition=2C is calling =

upon TransLink=2C Greater Vancouver=E2=80=99s transportation authority=2C=
 =

to insist that SNC-Lavalin withdraw from the corporate bid to =

supply bullets for the U=2ES=2E war effort in Iraq=2E =


The company is a participant in a consortium=2C led by General =

Dynamics Corporation=2C that is bidding on a contract to =

produce 300 million to 500 million bullets per year for the =

U=2ES=2E military campaign in Iraq=2E The company is also the final =

bidder for the Richmond-Airport-Vancouver (RAV) rapid-
transit line=2E =


=E2=80=9CTransLink has an important opportunity to join forces with =

others who are working to get SNC-Lavalin to pull out of this =

contract which=2C if fulfilled=2C will contribute to war crimes=2C=E2=80=9D=
 says =

StopWar spokesperson Chris Spannos=2E =E2=80=9CTransLink directors =

should tell SNC-Lavalin to make a choice=3A either build the RAV =

or manufacture bullets for the war in Iraq=2E We won=E2=80=99t allow you =

to do both=2C=E2=80=9D Spannos continued=2E

Vancouver City Council passed a motion January 30=2C 2003 =

opposing the U=2ES=2E invasion of Iraq=2E United Nations Secretary-
General Kofi Annan has said that the war violates the UN =

charter and that the invasion is illegal=2E

On April 6=2C 2004=2C Vancouver City Council voted unanimously =

to create an ethical purchasing policy for the city=2E The policy =

applies to all goods purchased by the city and requires that =

suppliers seeking to do business with the city must guarantee =

that their products are not created under conditions which =

violate the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights=2E

Peter Prontzos is a member of the City of Vancouver=E2=80=99s Peace =

and Justice Committee=2E Prontzos argues that =22Ethical =

purchasing offers a very powerful way to support the growing =

global movement for peace and justice=2E It would make a =

mockery of this policy for Vancouver Councillors to vote to =

award a contract to SNC-Lavalin as long as the company =

intends to manufacture bullets for the war in Iraq=2E That would =

be tantamount to supporting the Bush administration=27s illegal =

war=2E=22

TransLink has been requested to provide more money to fund =

the RAV project=2C which is currently over budget=2E The final =

decision will be made at a meeting this Wednesday=2E =E2=80=9CIf =

TransLink does not use this opportunity to pressure SNC-
Lavalin=2C they will be averting their eyes as the company =

commits war crimes=E2=80=9D=2C says Spannos=2E


Media Contact=3A Chris Spannos
Phone=3A 604=2E215=2E8494
Cell=3A 604=2E505=2E9894
E-mail=3A cspannos=40shaw=2Eca