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

[Chris Spannos]

Urgent action: Tell TransLink directors to deliver ultimatum to RAV 
bidder


StopWar.ca asks its supporters to join anti-war protesters at the 
Croatian Cultural Centre from 8:00 am until 9:00 am Wednesday, Dec. 1st.

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.S. war effort in Iraq. Bring banners, signs and pickets if 
you have them, and please send this message to your email lists.

The Croatian Cultural Centre is located at 3250 Commercial Dr. For more 
information call 604.215.8494

See press release below.

Stop War
http://stopwar.ca
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Press Release          FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE     November 29, 2004

Antiwar coalition wants TransLink to deliver ultimatum to RAV bidder

StopWar.ca, the Lower Mainland's anti-war coalition, is calling upon
TransLink, Greater Vancouver’s transportation authority, to insist that
SNC-Lavalin withdraw from the corporate bid to supply bullets for the 
U.S.
war effort in Iraq.

The company is a participant in a consortium, led by General Dynamics
Corporation, that is bidding on a contract to produce 300 million to 500
million bullets per year for the U.S. military campaign in Iraq. The 
company
is also the final bidder for the Richmond-Airport-Vancouver (RAV)
rapid-transit line.

“TransLink has an important opportunity to join forces with others who 
are
working to get SNC-Lavalin to pull out of this contract which, if 
fulfilled,
will contribute to war crimes,” says StopWar spokesperson Chris Spannos.
“TransLink directors should tell SNC-Lavalin to make a choice: either 
build
the RAV or manufacture bullets for the war in Iraq. We won’t allow you 
to do
both,” Spannos continued.

Vancouver City Council passed a motion January 30, 2003 opposing the 
U.S.
invasion of Iraq. United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan has said 
that
the war violates the UN charter and that the invasion is illegal.

On April 6, 2004, Vancouver City Council voted unanimously to create an
ethical purchasing policy for the city. 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.

Peter Prontzos is a member of the City of Vancouver’s Peace and Justice
Committee. Prontzos argues that "Ethical purchasing offers a very 
powerful
way to support the growing global movement for peace and justice. 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. That would be tantamount to supporting the 
Bush
administration's illegal war."

TransLink has been requested to provide more money to fund the RAV 
project,
which is currently over budget. The final decision will be made at a 
meeting
this Wednesday. “If TransLink does not use this opportunity to pressure
SNC-Lavalin, they will be averting their eyes as the company commits war
crimes”, says Spannos.

Media Contact: Chris Spannos
Phone: 604.215.8494
Cell: 604.505.9894
E-mail: cspannos at shaw.ca