Last Updated:Friday - 09/24/2010

WCR Letters to the Editor

Reroute those military dollars

Thank you for your thoughtful reflections on Populorum Progressio (WCR Editorial, Oct. 29). This document, published just seven months before the incorporation of Development and Peace as founded by the bishops of Canada, has become the organization's inspirational touchstone.

After 40 years, do we still need to see where Pope Paul is pointing? You referred to his proposal "for a World Fund made of money from reductions in military expenditures."

A CBC news item with the same date as your editorial points out that "Canada's military exports have more than tripled over the past seven years." Does this call for "radical reform without delay"? Indeed!

Meanwhile, we have the fright of changes to the royalty regime in Alberta. Would Pope Paul have promoted the radicalness of Mary's Magnificat and "the rich sent empty away"? Would he have asked us to follow the admonition of Jesus to "be not afraid"?

Would he be pointing to "Third World" countries such as Botswana, Bolivia, and Venezuela that legislate to protect their natural resources for their people in the future?

Your editorial follows a week after an excellent article on Abu Brima from Network Movement for Justice and Development in Sierra Leone. In his presentation to local Development and Peace members, Abu spoke of 18 years of partnership with Development and Peace in the struggle for integral human development.

In that time, NMJD grew from nine Young Christian Students to a national network connected to all parts of Sierra Leone. This movement struggled with rampant corruption and 10 years of civil war to an 87 per cent participation rate in this year's election of a government which is focused on accountability and the development of the people of Sierra Leone. That's enthusiasm with a large dose of patience!

Angus Perry
Edmonton

Nationalize all natural resources, cigs, liquor

Re: Alberta's oil-revenue royalties.

Crude oil, not to mention all natural resources and alcohol/tobacco product production, should be owned and operated by the populace at large; Such earthly elements all should never have been privatized at all.

They should be owned by the people, especially if scores of us and, in particular, our young people, are going to pay for, get seriously ill and die from such products.

The people's governments of all of Canada should do the ethical/moral thing: tobacco and alcohol production, as well as all of our natural resources, should be completely government owned and operated, with all profits and benefits going to all Canadians.

Frank Sterle, Jr.
White Rock, B.C.

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