Students for Disarmament

by Robert Linsley

Is nuclear war inevitable? Many of our political and
military leaders would have us believe so. The threats, war-
mongering and weapons build-ups are increasing in both east and
west, and, what is more alarming, there is now open talk of a
"winnable'' nuclear war.

What does one do in this situation? Should we simply leave
the decisions to our political leaders? Generally, they seem to
be raher ignorant, even unbalanced. Personally, | don't feel that

_they ar qualified to decide whether | should live or die. It's
a subject I'd like to have some say in myself! And don't doubt
it, a nuclear war would come to Vancouver as well. Every town
over 25,000 people in North America is targeted by a Russian
missile. There are no safe places.

Our society is fragmented. There are so many specialized
groups -- artists, politicians, business people, labourers, house-
wives, academics, and so on. The result of this fragmentation is
the feeling of helplessness and, ultimately, apathy -- the feeling
that one person can do nothing to influence events. Yet if the
bomb drops, it falls on all of us.

In an attempt to break out of this paralysis and do something
effective, to stand up for our right to live, a group of students
at UBC has organized a symposium on the arms race. A symposium
serves the purpose of raising public awareness. It is only a beg-
inning, but it is a beginning which is within our power to make.
The emphasis will be on ways in which the ordinary citizen can
be effective, and there will also be speakers to provide back-
ground information and give the facts about the consequences
of a nuclear war. No special interest groups such as political
parties or churches will be represented.

Students from Emily Carr are invited to attend. Any
contributions of posters, sculpture, performance pieces etc.,
to enhame the event, are very welcome. Feb. 27 at UBC

Students for Peace and Mutual Disarmament can be contacted
at: Box 71, Student Union Bldg., UBC, or contact Robert Linsley
(879-6440) or Gary Marchant (278-2885).

See Student Society bulletin board for agenda and speakers list