Please distribute and/or link to: http://coat.ncf.ca/BMD.html

Slide Show of the Coalition to Oppose the Arms Trade (COAT):

"No Means Yes:
Canadian Complicity in the 'Missile Defence' Weapons Development Program."
By Richard Sanders, coordinator, Coalition to Oppose the Arms Trade (COAT) and editor of COAT's magazine, Press for Conversion!

This COAT reseource uses 55 graphics-filled slides to present an entertaining and informative overview of Canada's many important roles in the US-led Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) weapons-development program.

Although this is a serious power-point presentation--containing many quotations and much data--it is balanced with healthy doses of humour and satire. The little-known facts about Canadian involvement in BMD are thus exposed in a user-friendly and humourous manner.  For instance, in among all the graphic images, I've slipped in some witty quotations from Mark Twain, Oscar Wilde and even Walt Kelly's cartoon possum, Pogo!  Also included are the words of such profound, intellectual thinkers as George W. Bush, Paul Martin and Stephen Harper.

Few Canadians have the foggiest idea that our government, military and corporations are very deeply embedded in the US-led BMD weapons program. Even fewer are acquainted with any of the details regarding Canada's complicity in the creation, design, research, development, testing, maintenance, operation and deployment of important BMD weapons systems.

In fact, most Canadians are still suffering from the widespread, debilitating belief that the Canadian government actually rejected any participation in BMD! Those Canadians who do have some inkling that this country is involved in BMD, would probably point to NORAD as the venue for our contribution to this US weapons program.  Although we are rapidly approaching the second anniversary of the Canadian government-initiated, NORAD-treaty amendment (August 5, 2004) which pulled us more deeply into BMD, Canada's complicity through NORAD is actually the least offensive aspect of our involvement in this US-led weapons program.

The whole fabricated myth of Canada's "NO" to missile defense (which is still being spread by the government, corporate media and even some peace activists and the NDP!) has all-but completely destroyed the movement against BMD in Canada. Protests against BMD in Canada have been all but extinguished since February 2005. That's when the Liberal government staged their successful PR victory and pulled the wool over Canada's eyes by simply proclaimed a phoney and meaningless "no" to participation in this massive, weapons initiative.

Canada couldn't "join BMD" in February 2006 anyway, because--for more than a decade--we had already been a major player in the exclusive BMD club. We still are!

The "No Means Yes" slide show was presented by COAT coordinator, Richard Sanders, at the World Peace Forum (WPF) in Vancouver on June 26, 2006. A shortened version of it was done in Victoria on June 22.


Make Canada Say a REAL NO to "Missile Defence" Weapons!
Please Help COAT's campaign to Rebuild Canadian Opposition to BMD

The next time someone tries to tell you that Canada did not join BMD, please set them straight. First, ask what possible evidence they might have to show that Canada did not join the BMD program. Then, direct them to the COAT website for all the data they'll ever need to realize that Canada has indeed been deeply complicit in this program for more than a decade and is still very much involved.

Here's what else you can do:

• Encourage Canadians to divest from BMD-related firms (such as the 16 companies exposed in COAT's "No Means Yes" slide show.)
• Urge Canadians to stop voting for political parties, like the Liberals and Conservatives, that have strongly supported BMD.
• Urge allies, like the NDP, to renew its opposition and to stop claiming that Canada isn't involved in BMD!
• Pressure the Canadian government to stop supporting BMD through:
  • Military R&D (National Research Council and Defence Research & Development Canada),
  • Corporate support and subsidies (Departments of Foreign Affairs, International Trade Canada, Industry Canada, Canadian Commercial Corp.),
  • Participation in US and NATO programs and war games (Department of National Defence), and
  • Membership in NORAD, etc?

Use COAT resources / Support COAT's work:

• Subscribe to Press for Conversion!
• Buy COAT's back issues on BMD.
• Make a donation to COAT.
• Forward COAT research materials by email to listserves etc.
• Use and link to COAT's website: http://coat.ncf.ca

Bring COAT's Anti-BMD Slideshow to Town
After more than a year spent virtually chained to my computer, writing dozens of articles exposing the hidden details of Canada's complicity in the thoroughly-offensive, "missile defense" weapons program, I'm keen to get out there and present my research. (I can also speak on other topics as well. See back issues of Press for Conversion! for potential topics.)
If your peace/anti-war group would like to sponsor a showing of COAT's anti-BMD power-point presentation, please contact me at the email address below.

Other projects:
(1) The New Face of Terror in Afghanistan: Electing Warlords, Drug Barons and World-Bank Pirates
(2) Video Documentary on US War Pretext Incidents (updated description)
(3) Article: Canadian Military Components used in Israel's War Against Lebanon  

Contact: Richard Sanders, coordinator, Coalition to Oppose the Arms Trade (COAT) and editor of COAT's magazine, Press for Conversion!
Email: overcoat@rogers.com