[news] WLP Starts Stop War Games Campaign

[Steve Kisby]

http://www.alternatives.com/prms/2003/wlp-1123.pdf

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Work Less Party Starts Stop War Games Campaign
Party Members Warn Shoppers Of War Game Dangers

VANCOUVER - November 23 2003 - The Work Less Party (WLP) of British Columbia today joined Artists Against War in its Buy No War Toys Campaign by calling on shoppers to not buy war toys or war games. War toys and games cause aggression and violent behaviour, and later in life can lead to aggression, violent behaviour, and death in relating to others and in problem solving.

"The Work Less Party believes in a society that is healthier because it works less and has more time for leisure activities -- and those leisure activities should not include War Games," said Conrad Schmidt, the party's coordinator.

At 1:00 PM on Sunday, November 23, members and supporters of the party entered "EB Electronics Boutique" (403-650 West 41st Avenue inside the Oakridge Shopping Center) and alerted shoppers of the dangers of war games by placing warning labels on war game promotional posters and on the war games being sold. Titles marked included: Call of Duty, Battlefield, Hidden and Dangerous, Kill Switch, Counter Strike, and Rainbow Six 3 -- whose poster boasts "We are freedom's answer to Fear". The stickers said "WARNING: This war game promotes and may cause aggression and violent behaviour and may lead to aggression and violent behaviour when problem solving or relating to others."

EB Electronics Boutique was chosen because of its full page ad, in graphic color, that appeared last week in the Georgia Straight (November 13, page 43), promoting the war game Socom II -- U.S. Navy Seals for Christmas shoppers. This week's Georgia Straight (November 20, page 23) features the same ad except on behalf of Zellers.

The Work Less Party of British Columbia was founded to encourage citizens to Work less, consume less, and live more. By doing this we will have a better quality of life, and at the same time preserve something of our
planet for future generations. A better quality of life does not include war toys and war games.

Artists Against War is a collective of like-minded individuals working for positivity and creativity, and speaking out for peace in a world which too quickly moves towards war. What we have to offer is art in body, shape, and soul -- art of the mind, art of the spirit, art of the movement. Artists Against War's Do Not Buy War Toys Campaign is also a project of the Stopwar.ca Coalition.

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For information:
http://www.worklessparty.org
Conrad Schmidt, 604-215-9395, 604-537-2044 (cell), coordinator at worklessparty.ca

Artists Against War:
Steve Kisby, 604-323-0204, 604-645-2099 (pager), skisby at web.net
http://www.artistsagainstwar.org