Shunpiking Online Vo. 02 No. 03 December 2004

OTTAWA-HULL (30 November 2004) -- THE US television network ABC in an item in preparation for US President George W. Bush's "visit" to Canada warned negative economic fallout may occur if Canadians strongly voice anti-war and other sentiments in opposition to the US government. The linking of economic relations between Canada and the US and the right to conscience has increased in direct proportion to the burgeoning Canadian movement against annexation and imperialism.

The monopoly-controlled media are browbeating Canadians into giving up their right to conscience for fear of economic damage. Canadians reject with utter contempt this spurious attack on their right to take a stand against imperialist war, annexation and other issues. The right to conscience and the right to express political opinions in opposition to war, annexation and imperialism are fundamental principles that do not waver or weaken under economic blackmail.

The argument to negate the right to conscience advanced by ABC News, several Canadian media, the CCCE and others is in contradiction with the modern definition of international trade and economic relations between industrial nations.

The Canadian Council of Chief Executives (CCCE) suggests that Canadians must adjust their political views to conform to the main doctrines of the US administration or be penalized economically. This organization representing the most powerful monopolies operating in Canada demands deeper annexation of the country by the US and is presently promoting continental regulatory, economic, military and policy integration. According to the CCCE and their allies in the mass media, the "reality" of annexation means that Canadians must repress their right to conscience and go easy on the abhorrent actions and views of the US government and the collaboration of the Martin Liberals.

Economic relations between countries that are based on annexation, fear, intimidation and blackmail must be renewed. The suggestion by the CCCE that the high levels of trade between Canada and the US demand the negation of Canadians' right to conscience is in violation of the modern definition of international trade and economic relations. It speaks of big power chauvinism and annexation of one economy by another. It describes a subservient relation between industrialized countries not based on trade for mutual benefit but on annexation of a weaker nation by a stronger one.

The argument to negate the right to conscience advanced by ABC News, several Canadian media, the CCCE and others is in contradiction with the modern definition of international trade and economic relations between industrial nations. Those relations must be based on equality, mutual benefit and social responsibility. Trade and economic relations between industrial countries and those nations and regions ravaged by centuries of imperialist military aggression, conquest, unequal trade and colonialism must be based on equality, social responsibility and the recognition of the need to provide the long suffering nations and peoples of the world generous terms of trade and aid.

Canadians will not mute their opposition to US militarism and the Martin government's cowardly collusion. The suggestion by the CCCE and others of a linkage between trade and negation of the right to conscience exposes the need for renewal of the economic relations between Canada and the US It highlights the urgent demand and necessity to reject annexation and develop trade, economic and other relations between Canada and the US based on modern enlightened definitions.