The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
He placed signs of protest around town. He organized a rally of people who share his view. He even made plans to attend the governing party's policy convention to make his voice heard. So no one was more pleased than local activist Greg East when Prime Minister Paul Martin announced yesterday that Canada will not sign on to the U.S. ballistic missile defence program. "I am absolutely delighted that Mr. Martin has chosen, for whatever variety of reasons, to make the right decision not to get any further involved," said East. Ever since the U.S. government asked Canada to be a part of the controversial program, East has taken full advantage of his right to protest. Last November, the landlord placed signs on his properties around town that read "No Star Wars" Ð a term critics apply to the scheme Ð and "Peace on Earth," reflective of his view that the missile defence program is spurring an arms race. Around that time, East also organized a peace march down Main St. designed in part to speak out against any Canadian involvement in the system. He even went as far as joining the federal Liberals so he could bring his view on the matter to the party's upcoming policy convention. "I like to think that Mr. Martin heard I was coming and decided he better get this resolved," joked East. On a serious note, he feels missile defence needs to be opposed because it "doesn't work" and is simply "bad for peace."
