A Policy on *

SOCIAL CONCERN SPECIAL RESOLUTIONS *

A Policy on *

PUBLIC STATEMENTS *

HOW TO WRITE RESOLUTIONS *

Canada’s International Role *

Population Explosion *

1963 *

Canadian Broadcasting Corporation *

Adoption Procedure *

Divorce *

Nuclear Disarmament *

1964 *

People’s Republic of China *

Revision of U.N. Charter *

Native Peoples *

Peace Research *

Contraceptives *

1965 *

Canadian Broadcasting Corporation *

People’s Republic of China *

Divorce Reform *

The War in Vietnam *

Family Planning *

1966 *

Inter-faith Adoptions *

China *

Vietnam *

Family Planning *

World Population Growth and the Danger of Hunger *

1967 *

Medical Aid to Vietnam *

China *

Water and Air Pollution *

Vietnam *

Family Planning *

Native Peoples and Us *

Shipment of Materials of War *

Vietnam *

1970 *

Pollution prevention in the arctic *

persons seeking sanctuary *

Indian policy *

pollution control *

1972 *

VIOLENCE IN OUR SOCIETY *

1973 *

terminal illness *

human rights *

1974 *

Penal Reform *

James Bay Development *

Peace *

Political Prisoners South Vietnam *

South Africa *

Abortion *

Drugs *

Canadian Citizens of U.S. Origin *

Mental Illness *

Refugees of Conscience *

Native People *

New Climate of Peace *

1974 *

Peace *

World Population Control *

Natural Resources *

Family Planning *

Abortion *

World Food Crisis *

International Adoption *

Alternative Sources of Energy *

Disarmament *

1976 *

Amnesty International *

Energy Policies *

Senior Citizens *

1978 *

Native Peoples and the Criminal Justice System *

Civil Liberties *

Canadian Unity *

Human Rights and Sexual Orientation *

South African Apartheid Policy *

The Administration of the World’s Seas and Antarctic Regions *

SPECIAL RESOLUTIONS TO BE SUBMITTED TO THE 1979 PARISH POLL *

Rights of Palestinian Arabs and the State of Israel *

Yuri Orlov *

PEACE THROUGH DISARMAMENT *

1980 *

PEACE THROUGH DISARMAMENT *

Action Plan *

1981 *

1982 *

1. WORLD PEACE AND DISARMAMENT *

2. OPERATION DISMANTLE *

3. PROJECT PLOUGHSHARES *

1983 *

1984 *

A Policy on

1. Special resolutions may be put on the agenda of an annual meeting of the C.U.C. by a simple majority vote of the delegates present and voting, if they are submitted at or prior to the adoption of the agenda.

2. Special resolutions shall require a three-quarter-majority vote of the delegates present and voting, recorded abstentions to be included in the total.

3. Public announcements of such special resolutions must indicated that they have not been submitted to the denomination as a whole through normal procedures and, therefore, that they do not necessarily reflect the collective view of other Unitarians and Universalists in Canada.

 

A Policy on

The president or members of the Board of the Canadian Unitarian Council may make public statements on matters of social concern based on denominational policy or position. They may also make statements on matters of social concern where no policy or position has yet been established; in such cases, they are expected to exercise the utmost discretion. In the case of any such statement or where no policy or position has been established, the statement will be submitted to the next succeeding annual meeting of the C.U.C. for ratification.

The three policies, pages ii and iii, were passed at the 1973 Annual Meeting of the Canadian Unitarian Council in Kingston.

The 1974 Annual Meeting of the C.U.C. voted to adopt Bourinot’s Rules or Order for annual meetings. The present form of our resolutions, beginning with the preamble "Whereas", is not consistent with Bourinot. According to Bourinot, while, "…it is common practice to prefix preambles to resolutions, it is at variance with correct parliamentary usage, and can easily be avoided by a careful framing of the motion". Supportive material usually included in "Whereas" clauses may be worked into the wording of the resolution itself. Or, the simple resolution can be stated with a list of supportive evidence appended to the motion. Take for example the 1974 Resolution, which reads:

WHEREAS increasing numbers of native people are migrating from rural to urban areas; and

WHEREAS they then encounter problems of housing, finances, education, skills and employment, in addition to confusion due to the fragmentation of social services; and

WHEREAS some measure of success in dealing with these problems has been attained by the establishment of migration centres (such as the one in Thompson, Man.):

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the 13^th Annual Meeting of the CUC urges the Federal Government and provincial governments to fund the establishment of migration centres for native people as speedily as possible to deal with problems that arise.

This resolution, to be consistent with Bourinot, could read:

BE IT RESOLVED that the 13^th Annual Meeting of the CUC urges the Federal Government and provincial governments to fund, as soon as possible, the establishment of migration centres, such as the one at Thompson, Man., to ease the problems of the increasing number of native people migrating from rural to urban areas, in housing, finances, education, skills and employment and in social services."

Or the motion could simply end at the words, "Thompson, Man.", with a list of supportive evidence appended.

The Resolutions Committee urges societies to adopt the Bourinot method of wording resolutions.

Resolutions should be based on facts obtained from reputable and appropriate sources, easily verifiable. Supporting data and references should be included.

Resolutions should be devoid of judgements based on emotion without documentation.

Wording should be clear and unambiguous, with intent and argument clear.

Action should be definite and of practical value.

The issue should be of major significance, preferably of national concern.1962

WHEREAS the elimination of the cold war and the achievement of a stable world peace are more dependent upon the removal of international tensions and a reduction in the weapons of war than upon an increase in narrow nationalism and a build-up in armaments;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Canadian Unitarian Council commends the Secretary of State for External Affairs in his continuing efforts to strengthen the United Nations, to further moderation and compromise in the resolving of international tensions, and to advance practical steps lading towards the control of nuclear weapons and general multilateral disarmament.

WHEREAS the population of the world is expanding at an alarming rate thereby increasing pressure upon the earth’s resources to maintain human life; and

WHEREAS there exists today inadequate food, shelter, and education in many parts of the world; and

WHEREAS severe restrictions on the distribution of birth control information and materials subject needy and poorly educated families to unnecessary hardship;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Canadian Unitarian Council urges that:

1. Federal and Provincial parliaments remove restrictions prohibiting the responsible distribution of birth control information and devices; and

2. The Canadian government support population control through the World Health Organization, the United nations, and other channels; and

3. Unitarians and Universalists across Canada give their active support to the formation of a family planning association in Canada; and

4. The Canadian government give financial and scientific support to the intensive research now being made to discover inexpensive, harmless, and effective birth control method.

WHEREAS the general excellence and variety of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s programs, both radio and television, are widely acknowledged; and

WHEREAS these programs have been made available entertainment and information to sections of the public debarred by locality or other circumstances from access to such cultural facilities, and also that these programs have contributed to a sense of Canadian identity; and

WHEREAS the C.B.C. has been under heavy and repeated attack from various sources;

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the Canadian Unitarian Council affirms its strong support of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation as a completely independent body free from political and/or commercial interference and programming; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the CUC call upon the Government of Canada to finance the C.B.C. at a sufficiently high level of support to make sure that the C.B.C.’s independence from political and commercial interference can continue, and the C.B.C. can continue to make such vital and adequate contributions to the social and cultural life of Canada.

WHEREAS we believe that children are neither the property nor the chattels of their parents, nor the chattels of the state, nor of any religious group, but rather persons in their own right, deserving the fullest protection of society and its laws:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Canadian Unitarian Council goes on record as being in opposition to our present adoptive practices and/or legislation which segregates children according to the presumed religion of one or more of their natural parents and thus deprive some children of the advantages of adoption in the name of religion.

WHEREAS the Canadian Unitarian Council believes that the legal provisions for divorce in nearly all parts of Canada are both archaic and more narrow than is desirable; and

WHEREAS the United Church of Canada at its 20^th General Council of September 1962 adopted recommendations for a much wider and more humane approach to the problem of unsuccessful marriage, including extended counselling and rehabilitative family services:

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the Canadian Unitarian Council expresses agreement in principle with these recommendations; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Canadian Unitarian Council urges the Federal Government to consider and act upon

1. grounds for divorce in addition to adultery;

2. methods of granting divorce other than by private acts of parliament.

WHEREAS in today’s world, nuclear war would represent a suicidal solution to international disputes; and

WHEREAS there is danger that conventional warfare would escalate through tactical nuclear weapons to planetary holocaust:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Canadian Unitarian Council takes the position that every opportunity for negotiation should be explored and pursued to its utmost, rather than dependence being put upon armed struggle in the composing of international disputes:

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that in order not to aggravate international tension:

1. There should be no further extension of nuclear arms capability to presently non-nuclear powers;

2. Nuclear bases operated by major powers should be withdrawn from foreign soil under United nations’ inspection;

3. There should be no further development of nuclear armaments by powers already possessing them;

4. Negotiations should be directed towards a reduction of powers armed with their own nuclear forces leading ultimately to universal U.N.-inspected disarmament.

WHEREAS one of the most dangerous threats to peace in the world today is the lack of communication between many countries and the People’s Republic of China, leading to misunderstanding and tensions on both sides; and

WHEREAS the present exclusion of the People’s Republic of China from the United Nations isolates approximately one-quarter of the world’s population;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Canadian Unitarian Council urges the Government of Canada to work towards the establishment of normal diplomatic relations between Canada and China, and between China and other nations of the world; and, while recognizing the rights of the people of Taiwan/Formosa, to support the efforts of the nations which are working towards the admission of the People’s Republic of China to the United Nations; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Canadian Unitarian Council urges the Canadian Government to increase trade and cultural exchanges between Canada and the People’s Republic of China.

WHEREAS the year 1965, which is the twentieth anniversary of the founding of the United Nations, has been officially designated as International Cooperation Year; and

WHEREAS recently a more favourable climate for agreements leading to a genuine and lasting peace has been brought about by adoption of a nuclear test ban treaty by more than one hundred sovereign states;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Canadian Unitarian Council supports the revision of the U.N. Charter to bring about a more effective security system based on laws against international violence, courts to interpret those laws, and an independent police force to enforce them.

WHEREAS poverty among the native Indian and Eskimo peoples of Canada is the rule rather than the exception; and

WHEREAS native treaty rights (where they exist) are continually being eroded; and

WHEREAS it becomes increasingly difficult for native groups to make an adequate living in their time-honoured fashion;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Canadian Unitarian Council goes on record as favouring;

1. The extension of all citizenship rights to Canadian Natives, without loss of benefits obtained under any treaty or agreement with the Canadian Government of local authorities;

2. More extensive educational and health facilities for Canadian Indians and Eskimos’

3. Improved economic development and opportunities in the Indian and Eskimo communities;

4. No discrimination against Indians and Eskimos in employment generally.

WHEREAS the problem of maintaining world peace is the most serious facing mankind; and

WHEREAS the scientific effort applied to such fields as the economic consequences of disarmament, the resolution of conflict and the establishment of world law is pathetically small compared with that expended on matters of less vital concern; and

WHEREAS the Canadian Peace Research Institute is an organization actively applying the scientific method to specific questions concerning the establishment of peace for the further information of governments and peoples’

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Canadian Unitarian Council urges the Federal and Provincial Governments to give financial support to the Canadian Peace Research Institute; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Canadian Unitarian Council publicly endorses the Canadian Peace Research Institute and urges its member churches to assist in the financial campaigns of the Institute and to disseminate news of its activities and findings.

WHEREAS Section 150 of the Criminal Code of Canada makes it a criminal offence to advertise, sell, or have available for sale or disposal, any instructions or article intended to prevent contraception; and

WHEREAS contraception is approved and practiced daily by millions of informed Canadians with moral and religious approval; and

WHEREAS information and contraceptives are not legally and readily available to Canadians; and

WHEREAS the continuation of this law undermines Canadian foreign aid by inhibiting assistance in population planning to those overpopulated countries requesting it; and

WHEREAS a private member’s bill has been introduced in the House of Commons to legalize supplying of information and articles of contraception to those desiring it:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Canadian Unitarian Council urges the Government of Canada to adopt the above private member’s bill as a government bill and to obtain its enactment with the greatest urgency.

WHEREAS the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation is a very significant neutral medium on which the Canadian people depend for information and for the expression of all views and opinions on important political, moral, religious, and cultural issues; and

WHEREAS the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation is a significant force for national unity and understanding; and

WHEREAS the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation has, on occasion been subjected to political pressure and interference:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Canadian Unitarian Council 1965 Annual meeting encourages the Canadian Government to continue its efforts to protect the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation from political interference and to resist every attempt to prevent the free expression of opinion through the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.

WHEREAS one of the most dangerous threats to peace in the world today is the lack of communication between many countries and the People’s Republic of China, leading to misunderstandings and tensions on both sides, and this is especially true since China had developed atomic weapons; and

WHEREAS the present exclusion of the People’s Republic of China from the United Nations isolates approximately one-quarter of the world’s population; and

WHEREAS in 1955 Canada played a major role in breaking the deadlock on admitting emergent nations to membership in the United Nations, and Canada can be equally effective today in breaking the Chinese deadlock;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Canadian Unitarian Council 1965 Annual Meeting urges the Government of Canada to:

1. Establish regular diplomatic relations and an exchange of ambassadors with the People’s Republic of China;

2. Support, and urge other nations to support, the efforts of those countries working for the seating of the representatives of the People’s Republic of China in the United Nations, to replace the present representatives from "China" in the U.N.

3. Recommend a U.N. sponsored examination of the issue of self-determination for Formosans; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Canadian Unitarian Council1965 Annual Meeting urges the Canadian Government to increase trade and cultural exchanges between Canada and the People’s Republic of China;

WHEREAS the grounds for divorce in Canada, which reflect the social needs and mores of an earlier era and which differ from Province to Province, require that individuals fit their situation to the grounds (i.e. adultery), rather than the grounds being adaptable to the individual situation; and

WHEREAS marriage is the legal contract developed historically as a means of protection for woman and child; and

WHEREAS, in the context of modern Canadian society, the protection of woman and child no longer requires that a man and woman continue in a personal relationship they wish to end; and

WHEREAS the nurture of the child, while best accomplished under the conditions of wholesome family life, can seldom be well provided for under the circumstances of undue tension or hostility between the parents; and

WHEREAS society had no interest other than the well being of the persons involved in forcing two persons who no longer care to co-habitate as man and wife to continue legally in this relationship:

1965 (continued)

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Canadian Unitarian Council 1965 Annual Meeting requests the governments concerned to amend their divorce laws along the following lines:

1. That in cases where both parties desire a divorce and there are no children, the divorce be granted upon the second application, after a six-months’ waiting period following an initial joint application, subject to the following provisions concerning support:

a. If the parties agree upon support for either spouse, or agree to dispense with support, the provisions of such agreement should become part of the decree of divorce.

b. If the parties do not agree upon the question of support, this issue should be heard by and ruled upon by a domestic relations judge, such ruling to become part of the decree.

c. Such hearing should be in camera, unless an open hearing is requested by one of the parties.

d. During the six-months’ waiting period counselling services should be made available to the parties but not be obligatory.

2. That in cases where on party only desires a divorce and there are no children, the divorce be granted upon the second application after a one-year waiting period following an initial application subject to the same provision that no penalty under item 1 above, and the further provision that no penalty or financial burden be placed upon the applying party because of the initiative taken by such party. Counselling services should be made obligatory during the one-year waiting period.

3. That, to protect the interest of the children, an Authority be established and competently staffed to confer with all parents applying for divorce concerning plans for custody and support of manor or dependent children.

4. That, in cases involving manor or dependent children, divorce be granted upon the second application of either or both parties after a one-year waiting period following an initial application subject to the following provisions concerning custody and support of children and support of spouse:

a. Where both parties and the Authority referred to under item 3 above agree upon proposals for the custody and support of children as serving the best interests of the children, these proposals should become part of the decree of divorce.

b. Where, in the view of either parent or the Authority, proposals for custody and/or support are not the best possible provision for the children, the issue of such provision should be heard by and ruled upon by a domestic relations judge, such ruling to become part of the decree of divorce.

i. In such hearing, the Authority and/or either parent may call upon any source of information – including social agency, welfare or other organization, or police report – which may aid in determining the best provision for the children; and

ii. Such hearing should be in camera, unless an open hearing is requested by one of the parents and approved by the Authority; and

c. Provision for the support of either spouse, or for dispensing with such support, should be established as under item 1 above and become part of the decree of divorce.

WHEREAS the United States Government has for ten years been increasingly involved in a military way in South Vietnam; and

WHEREAS there is increasing evidence that the United States Government has been escalating the war to the point where the peace of Southeast Asia and of all the world is endangered:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Canadian Unitarian Council 1965 Annual Meeting supports the proposal of Prime Minister Pearson that a halt be called to the bombing of North Vietnam and urges that the Canadian Government use all of its influence in order that:

1. An immediate ceasefire on both sides be achieved; and

2. That the United States halt its military build-up in South Vietnam; and

3. The negotiations be initiated between the Government of South Vietnam and the national Liberation Front, so that the People of South Vietnam can attain self-determination as soon as possible;

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Canadian Unitarian Council 1965 Annual Meeting earnestly petitions the Fourth General Assembly of the Unitarian Universalist Association to consider and adopt a General Resolution consistent with the principles outline above.

WHEREAS the principle of family planning is increasingly recognized by leaders of the major religious faiths of Canada as an essential element of responsible parenthood; and

WHEREAS Section 150 of the Criminal Code of Canada makes it a criminal offence to advertise, sell, or have available for sale or disposal, any instructions or article intended to prevent contraception; and

WHEREAS contraception is approved and practiced by many informed Canadians with moral and religious approval;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Canadian Unitarian Council 1965 Annual Meeting urges the Government of Canada to legalize the supplying of information about and articles of contraception.

WHEREAS THE AIM OF Child Welfare Legislation is to pursue policies which are in the best interest of those dependent children for whom society must provide, and

WHEREAS the number of these children is increasing due to more illegitimate births; and

WHEREAS the granting of an adoption order should be based on the ability of the adopting parents to provide love, and emotional and physical security, and this ability may have no relation to professed religious affiliation; and

WHEREAS although a child under the age of reason cannot be considered to have a religion with regard to adoption, it is the practice of most agencies to make adoption placements along religious lines;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOVLED that the Canadian Unitarian Council 1966 Annual Meeting requests the Provincial Governments, where applicable, to delete the section regarding religious presumption as to the faith of the child, and amend the Child Welfare Acts to specify that the religion not be considered in determining adoption except in cases where the child himself wishes to express a preference.

WHEREAS one of the most dangerous threats to peace in the world is the lack of communication between many countries and the People’s Republic of China, leading to misunderstandings and tensions on both sides, and this is especially true since China has developed atomic weapons; and

WHEREAS the present exclusion of the People’s Republic of China from the United Nations isolates approximately one-quarter of the world’s population;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Canadian Unitarian Council 1966 Annual Meeting urges the Government of Canada to:

1. Establish regular diplomatic relations and an exchange of ambassadors with the People’s Republic of China;

2. Recommend that the United Nations no longer recognize the representatives of Nationalist China as representing China;

3. Support, and urge other nations to support, the efforts of those countries working for the seating of the representatives of the People’s Republic of China in the United nations;

4. Recommend a United Nations sponsored examination of the issue of self-determination for Formosans; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Canadian Unitarian Council 1966 Annual Meeting urges the Canadian Government to increase trade and cultural exchanges between Canada and the People’s Republic of China.

WHEREAS it is evident that the war in Vietnam continues to expand with increasing U.S. commitment, endangering not only combatants and civilian population of Vietnam, but also the peace of the world;

WHEREAS the U.S. Military action of indiscriminate warfare against a population through the use of napalm, white phosphorous bombs, and the chemical destruction of crops is an outrage to the sense of human justice;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Canadian Unitarian Council 1966 Annual Meeting urges the Government of Canada to urge the parties involved to negotiate on the basis of the 1954 Geneva Accords.

WHEREAS section 159 of the Criminal Code of Canada makes it a criminal offence to advertise, sell, or have available for sale or disposal, any instructions or article intended to prevent contraception; and

WHEREAS contraception is approved and practiced by many informed Canadians with moral and religious approval;

WHEREAS the continued infraction of this section of the Criminal Code weakens the structures of and the respect for the Canadian Criminal Code; and

WHEREAS family planning is an essential element of responsible parenthood; and

WHEREAS four private members’ bills in earlier sessions failed to reach a vote and four private members’ bills introduced this session have been referred to the Health and Welfare Committee at the House of Commons:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Canadian Unitarian Council 1966 urges the Health and Welfare Committee to recommend and the Government of Canada to introduce, a Government Bill similar to the initial private member’s bill and obtain its enactment with the greatest urgency.

WHEREAS the rapid population increase has frustrated in many countries attempts to improve the material circumstances of the people by accelerated economic growth, and in particular has frustrated attempts to provide adequate diet to all people of the world; and

WHEREAS at present there seems to be no possibility of closing the food gap for people living in countries with rapid population growth and lagging food production; and

WHEREAS it is apparently economically and technically impossible to provide for all deficient areas by imports alone;

THERFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Canadian Unitarian Council 1966 Annual Meeting urges the Canadian Government:

1. To support actively programmes of population control under international auspices;

2. To increase aid;

a. Which will improve food supplies through better production methods; and

b. Which will create economic and social conditions to spur farmers in food-deficient countries to increase food production.

WHEREAS THE AIM OF Child Welfare Legislation is to pursue policies which are in the best interests of those dependent children for whom society must provide; and

WHEREAS the number of these dependent children in increasing; and

WHEREAS the granting of an adoption order should be based on the ability of the adopting parents to provide love, and emotional and physical security, and this ability may have no relation to professed religious affiliation; and

WHEREAS although a child under the age of reason cannot be considered to have a religion, the present child welfare legislation makes no reference to religion with regard to adoption, it is the practice of most agencies to make adoption placements along religious lines:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Canadian Unitarian Council 1967 Annual Meeting requests the Provincial Governments, where applicable to delete the section regarding religious presumption as to the faith of the child, and amend the Child Welfare Acts to specify that the religion not be considered in determining adoption except in cases where the child himself wishes to express a preference.

WHEREAS the war in Vietnam continues to escalate and the number of innocent civilians killed and injured increases daily; and

WHEREAS the Canadian Unitarian Council and the Unitarian Universalist Association have several times expressed their concern for a negotiated peace in Vietnam;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Canadian Unitarian Council 1967 Annual Meeting:

1. Urges the Government of Canada to render all possible medical and humanitarian aid to wounded and injured civilians in all parts of Vietnam;

2. Urgently requests aid from the Government of Canada to bring burned and injured children from all parts of Vietnam to Canada for treatment;

3. Commends the Canadian Friends Service Committee for its program of sending medical supplies for civilian use to all parts of Vietnam and urges Canadian Unitarian Service Committee of Canada to extend its humanitarian program of service to children to all parts of war-ravaged Vietnam.

WHEREAS one of the most dangerous threats to peace in the world today is the lack of communication between many countries and the People’s Republic of China, leading to misunderstandings and tensions on both sides, and this especially true since China has developed atomic weapons; and

WHEREAS the present exclusion of the People’s Republic of China from the United Nations isolates approximately one-quarter of the world’s population;

THERFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Canadian Unitarian Council 1967 Annual meeting urges the Government of Canada to:

1. Recognize the present government at Peking as the Government of China;

2. Support, and urge other nations to support, the efforts of those countries working for the admission of the People’s Republic of China to the United Nations, to replace the present representatives from "China";

3. Seek immediately the inclusion of the People’s Republic of China in world disarmament talks.

WHEREAS clean water and clean air are essential to most forms of life but are polluted by steadily increasing quantities of human and industrial waste; and

WHEREAS these pollutants constitute an increasing danger to the general health of urban communities and, in particular, to the health of vulnerable individuals (in these areas), e.g., the aged, the young, those susceptible to lung, heart, alimentary canal ailments, etc.; and

WHEREAS industries and municipalities continue to pollute water and air resources despite existing legislation and where the damage in some locations has reached the stage where it cannot be rectified; and

WHEREAS pollution is a problem of immense complexity involving large geographical areas, as well as Federal, Provincial, and Municipal Governments and where increased awareness of the dangers involved has produced no effective leadership in solving this problem:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Canadian Unitarian Council 1967 Annual Meeting urges the Federal Government to initiate a comprehensive pollution control policy to co-ordinate and implement existing legislative programs to create further specific opportunities for financial aid to the Municipal and Provincial Governments to proceed with their programs; to penalize, by enforced anti-pollution laws, all delinquent organizations and individuals; to continue to extend air and water pollution research, and to take all further steps necessary to arrest this menace; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Meeting encourage individual churches and fellowship to exert further pressure at the municipal level and by communication to Members of Parliament.

WHEREAS it is evident that the war in Vietnam continues to expand with increasing U.S. commitment, endangering not only the combatants and civilian population of Vietnam, but also the peace of the world;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Canadian Unitarian Council 1967 Annual Meeting urges the Government of Canada press for the initiation of a United Nations peace-keeping force until such time as self-determination by the Vietnamese people is assured; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Meeting petitions the Government of Canada to urge the parties involved to negotiate on the basis of the 1954 Geneva Accords and the three-step proposal of United nations Secretary-General U Thant of June 20, 1966; viz:

1. Cessation of the bombing of North Vietnam;

2. Scaling down of all military activities in South Vietnam;

3. A willingness of all sides to enter into discussion with those who are actually fighting.

WHEREAS Section 150 of the Criminal Code of Canada makes it a criminal offence to advertise, sell, or have available for sale, any instructions or articles intended to prevent contraception; and

WHEREAS contraception is approved and practiced by many informed Canadians with moral and religious approval; and

WHEREAS family planning is an essential element of responsible parenthood; and

WHEREAS the widespread disregard of an unreasonable law can only induce a growing disrespect for law in general:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED hat the Canadian Unitarian Council 1968 Annual Meeting:

1. Urges the Federal Government to remove marijuana from the provisions of the Narcotics Control Act and provide for its control under the Food and Drug Regulations; and

2. Urges the Federal Government to encourage research into the question of marijuana with a view to establishing reasonable and just laws.

WHEREAS there exists a gulf between the native peoples of Canada and the immigrant peoples, resulting from the apartheid inherent in the reserve system; and

WHEREAS the prospects for material and spiritual progress for both peoples are seriously limited by prejudice which exists in each group toward the other:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Canadian Unitarian Council 1968 Annual Meeting urges its member societies to make a beginning at bridging that gulf by themselves undertaking programs of mutual discovery through individual and group face-to-face interactions between whites and Indians.

WHEREAS warfare is waste of human and natural resources; and

WHEREAS warfare causes needless suffering; and

WHEREAS warfare anywhere on earth endangers the peace of the world;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Canadian Unitarian Council 1968 Annual Meeting urges the Canadian Government to stop shipment of all types of military equipment and materials of war to any United country unless the supplies are to be used in support of a United Nations peace-keeping action.

WHEREAS it evident that the war in Vietnam continues to expand with increasing U.S. commitment, endangering not only the combatants and civilian population of Vietnam, but also the peace of the world:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Meeting calls upon the Government of Canada to urge the parties involved to negotiate on the basis on the 1954 Geneva Accords and the three-step proposal of United Nations Secretary-General U Thant of June 20, 1966, viz:

1. Cessation of the bombing of North Vietnam; and

2. Scaling down of all military activities in South Vietnam; and

3. A willingness of all sides to enter into discussion with those who are actually fighting.

WHEREAS there is a delicate ecological balance in the Arctic; and

WHEREAS there is no International Agency for preventing pollution in the Arctic:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Canadian Unitarian Council 1970 Annual Meeting goes on record as endorsing the Bill presently before the Parliament of Canada fore preventing pollution in the Arctic.

WHEREAS many persons subject to military draft in the United States of America, involved in combat in South East Asia, have indicated a desire to enter this country as landed immigrants in order to remain neutral; and

WHEREAS there is ample precedent both in the principle of sanctuary for refugees generally, and in its particular applications by Canada in the acceptance of persons fleeing from slavery and enforced servitude in the United States in the Nineteenth Century, and in the open welcome extended to persons fleeing from the imposition of hostile governments in the Hungarian Rebellion and Czechoslovakian repression:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Canadian Unitarian Council 1970 Annual Meeting urges the Government of Canada to:

1. Declare a policy of open sanctuary to all persons fleeing from involvement in the South East Asia conflict; provided that such persons are not in flight from non-political civil or criminal proceedings, but notwithstanding their indictability under military or draft laws of their country of origin,

2. Waive the minimum age requirements in the case of person who are actually members of foreign armed forces or have received notice of draft thereto; and waive requirements of parental permission and sponsorship in such cases, and allow all such persons so landed to bring with them and have landed in the same manner their spouses and their children.

Canadian Control of economy (Canada development corporation)

WHEREAS it is essential to the full and orderly development of the economy that Canadian control of industries and resources in the country be encouraged; and

WHEREAS, on the other hand, most of us could not accept outright expropriation of industries externally owned:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Canadian Unitarian Council 1970 Annual Meeting supports the establishment Federal Government of a Canada Development Corporation as one means to achieve this objective

Indian policy

WHEREAS government’s Indian Policy announced in its white paper of June 1969, has been almost unanimously opposed by native people as a further threat to Indian rights and Indian identity; and

WHEREAS a counter—proposal in the form of a "red paper" will be presented this spring to the Government by the National Indian Brotherhood; and

WHEREAS the Government and the people of Canada desperately need, during the decade of the Seventies, to listen deeply to the it, wisdom and the spirit of the native heritage of living in harmony with nature:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Canadian Unitarian Council 1970 Annual Meeting urges the Canadian Government to wait for the publication of the red paper before taking any further action on the white paper, the Indian Policy, and to allow the people and the leaders in Canada – both Indian and non-Indian – time and opportunity through discussion to understand the significant issues at stake; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Canadian Unitarian Council 1970 Annual Meeting urges every church and every community in Canada to give highest priority during 1970 to the initiation and/or encouragement of such discussion for Indians and non-Indians to explore together how to create opportunities to become involved in applying the wisdom of the Indian heritage to the most important work of this decade – creating a society in which cultural diversity will be honoured, the environment will be appreciated and protected, and there will again be "a place in the sun for all living things", as there was in this land before the white man arrived.

WHEREAS it is apparent that world levels of air, water and soil pollution have become a threat to the quality of life not only of future generations but of those presently in existence; and

WHEREAS efforts in Canada to control such pollution have been hampered and fragmented by conflicts of political jurisdiction and the reluctance of many polluters to undertake the cost of pollution control voluntarily;

VIOLENCE IN OUR SOCIETY

WHEREAS most Canadians are aware of violence involving the use of physical force, but are less aware of violence in the form of exploitation of individuals or groups or of the denial of basic human rights; and

WHEREAS an understanding of the nature of violence and its cases and an acceptance of practical measures to prevent and to cope with violence in all its forms are of crucial importance:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Canadian Unitarian Council 1972 urges:

1. Members of local churches and fellowships to:

a. Study the report of the Capital Workshop on "Violence in our Society" held in Ottawa in October 1971, and select one or more specific situations existing in their communities giving rise to serious individual or group frustrations; and

b. Develop an understanding of the problems faced by police officers and assist in creating mutual confidence between the community and members of the police force.

2. Local municipal authorities, Provincial and Federal Justice Departments in cooperation with police associations to: pass appropriate tests

WHEREAS members of the medical profession now prolong human life during terminal illnesses by artificial means; and

WHEREAS should they wish to withdraw these means they might well incur legal consequences; and

WHEREAS it should be a right of people of advanced years who suffer from terminal and painful illness to die with dignity; and

WHEREAS it should be possible to safeguard this right from abuse by taking into account the wishes of the patient, his family and his doctors:

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the Canadian Unitarian Council 1973 Annual Meeting advocates recognition of the right of death with dignity by permitting the withdrawal of treatment in terminal illness subject to reasonable safeguards.

WHEREAS the International Covenants on Human Rights as adopted unanimously by the United Nations General Assembly in 1966 stress the importance of nations in upholding, protecting and extending the rights of human beings the world over; and

WHEREAS the social, economic, civil and political rights of individual persons and whole groups of persons are in need of acknowledgement, stimulation and expansion throughout the world; and

WHEREAS the 1965 and 1972 General Assemblies of the Unitarian Universalist Association adopted general resolutions expressing concern about these matters:

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the Canadian Unitarian Council 1973 Annual Meeting urges the Canadian Government to ratify all International Conventions and Covenants on Human Rights adopted by the United Nations General Assembly, particularly those on genocide, racial discrimination; educational, social and cultural rights; civil and political rights; and discrimination against women;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Canadian Government establish a federal Human Rights Commission as was recommended by a National Human Rights Conference in 1968, and, since that time, by many national organizations including the Federation of Business and Professional Women’s Clubs of Canada, the Royal Commission on the Status of Women and the National Action Committee on the Status of Women.

WHEREAS it is now 25 years since the adoption by the United nations of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; and

WHEREAS Canada has not yet ratified some of the Covenants of the Declaration:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the 13^th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Unitarian Council urges the relevant Governments of Canada to take prompt action to bring about the ratification of these Covenants by Canada.

WHEREAS Canadian penitentiaries, although supposedly correctional in nature, are in fact dehumanizing and a breeding ground for further crime:

THERFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the 13^th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Unitarian Council makes the strongest representation to the Solicitor General and Federal Minister of Justice to proved with a vigorous programme of prison reform where the preservations of human dignity is a prerequisite.

WHEREAS the James Bay Development will affect the geography of approximately one quarter of the area of Quebec province and the ecology of a much larger area; and

WHEREAS economic demand for the resources of the north has suddenly placed great pressure on the land and its people; and

WHEREAS the consequences of this pressure for the thousands of native people and creatures who live in this area have become a major ecological and ethical problem; and

WHEREAS the possible impact on the natural environment of this proposed development and its inhabitants has been either insufficiently researched or incalculable; and

WHEREAS many experts as well as ordinary citizens are not satisfied with the information provided by the Quebec Government to date, particularly with regard to the ecological consequences, the ultimate use of the power so generated, the cost both in human and economic terms to the citizens of Quebec, and the feasible alternatives to this development; and

WHEREAS the fundamental priority is to find a just solution in the confrontation between economic expansion and the rights of people and creatures likely to become the victims of such expansion; and

WHEREAS decisions regarding fundamental priorities are being made without sufficient consultation between the government and the governed:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the 13^th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Unitarian Council urges the Quebec Government to cease further development until the native peoples’ rights and wishes have been established, and until the positions of the recognized ecological experts have been clarified and evaluated, and until the citizens of Quebec and other provinces to be affected are in possession of all the facts and variables which the James Bay Development would entail.

WHEREAS the concept of Peace goes beyond the absence of war or the cessation of hostilities; and

WHEREAS Peace includes the broader concept of mental, physical and spiritual well being of people:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the 13^th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Unitarian Council endorses the need to work for the absence of poverty and of economic insecurity; for a healthier environment, and for equal opportunity for the development of the human potential.

WHEREAS there are hundreds of thousands of political prisoners still being held under inhuman conditions by the Thieu regime of South Vietnam; and

WHEREAS there has been both international and national concern regarding these prisoners; and

WHEREAS the International Committee to Free South Vietnam Political Prisoners from Detention, Torture and Death has the support of Committees across Canada and among many of our Members of Parliament:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the 13^th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Unitarian Council endorses, and urges Unitarians and Universalists to support both morally and financially, the work of the International Committee to Free South Vietnam Political Prisoners.

WHEREAS apartheid is an official policy of the South African Government; and

WHEREAS there is international recognition of the inhuman conditions and maltreatment of black South Africans as a result of this policy; and

WHEREAS a boycott of South African goods has been recognized as an effective sanction against this white supremacist government:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the 13^th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Unitarian Council urges Unitarians and Universalists to boycott all South African goods as our effort to aid the cause of black South Africans.

BE IT RESOLVED that the 13^th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Unitarian Council recommends that the members of our societies give moral and monetary support to Doctor Morgentaler of Montreal and others like him who are challenging our abortion laws.

WHEREAS much of the increasing violence in our larger cities stems from the efforts of those addicted to drugs to obtain money for drug purchase; and

WHEREAS the high cost of addictive drugs is largely the result of their illegality and artificial scarcity; and

WHEREAS so long as addictive drugs are illegal and expensive it will be in the best interest of drug dealers to create new drug addicts; and

WHEREAS the British system of maintenance of addicts has succeeded in keeping drug related crime and violence at a very low level in British society:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the 13^th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Unitarian Council urges Federal and Provincial Governments to consider such a program for Canada, with the level of violence in society considered an equally valid measure of success of a program as the rate of cure of addiction.

WHEREAS increasing numbers of landed immigrants from the United States are becoming Canadian citizens; and

WHEREAS many of these are under indictment in the U.S. as a result of their opposition to the war in Vietnam, and are still subject to arrest in the U.S. since no statute of limitations operates in these cases:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the 13^th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Unitarian Council urges the Government of Canada to bring all possible influence to bear on the Government of the U.S. to withdraw indictments against individuals now Canadian citizens for offences related to their opposition to the war in Vietnam and their subsequent immigration to Canada.

WHEREAS in many provinces care and treatment of the mentally ill has occurred in large centralized centres, treatment of which carries a social stigma; and

WHEREAS in many provinces transition from such centres to society at large has been a sudden one which may involve return to the very situation which contributed to the initial difficulty; and

WHEREAS there is often reluctance to employ those who have received treatment for mental illness:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the 13^th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Unitarian Council encourages provincial governments in efforts to provide care and treatment of the mentally ill in as decentralized a manner as possible, and in establishing half-way houses providing supportive services and help in locating employment.

WHEREAS Canada offers refugee status and travel documents to refugees from totalitarian governments of the left; and

WHEREAS such status and travel documents are not available to other refugees of conscience subject to equally severe sanctions:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the 13^th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Unitarian Council urges the Government of Canada to grant refugee status and travel documents, taking into account the sanctions to which the refugee of conscience is subject rather than the political system from which he is fleeing; and further that the absence of a valid passport not be used as grounds for deportation, as it has been used with South Vietnamese objecting to the war in Vietnam and seeking refuge in Canada.

WHEREAS increasing numbers of native people are migrating from rural to urban areas; and

WHEREAS they then encounter problems of housing, finances, education, skills and employment, in addition to confusions due to the fragmentations of social services; and

WHEREAS some measure of success in dealing with these problems has been attained by the establishment of migration centres (such as the one in Thompson, Manitoba):

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the 13^th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Unitarian Council urges the Federal Government and provincial governments to fund the establishment of migration centres for native people as speedily as possible to deal with problems that arise.

WHEREAS International Peace is the most urgent need for the world in what is left of this century:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Canadian Unitarian Council 1974 urges that the Government of Canada adopt a vigorous and unequivocal policy for peace, and refuse on principle to promote or engage in the sale of any and all war material to any other country, but instead trade only in the goods that promote human life and well being; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Government of Canada be urges to provide truly impartial medical aid and relief, either bilaterally or through international channels, to the victims of war and other disasters, with need rather than political alignment as the criterion for help.

THAT the 14^th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Unitarian Council urges Unitarians and Universalists to speak out clearly against all acts of terrorism and to support such specific movements as:

· AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL, which is a worldwide human rights movement independent of any government, political faction or religious creed. It seeks to obtain release of prisoners of conscience held anywhere in the world and to abolish all torture of prisoners.

· THE CANADIAN PEACE RESEARCH INSTITUTE, a non-profit, non-partisan organization entirely supported by public donations and foundation grants, which utilized the techniques of scientific research to re-examine the cause of war and to discover the principles of conflict resolution.

Supportive Material

We consider that Peace is more than the absence of war, that it includes the concepts of mental, physical and spiritual well being of people (see 1974 resolution on Peace – page ?). We are opposed to all acts of terrorism and to the use of vengeance and retaliation as a way of resolving conflicts.

THAT, because rapid growth of population is a significant contributor to human misery and the degradation of the environment, the 14^th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Unitarian Council urges the Government of Canada to make use of its considerable prestige and resources in ethical, non-coercive action directed toward the stabilization of human population, through voluntary means, both at home and abroad.

THAT the 14^th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Unitarian Council recommends that the Canadian Unitarian council request Information Canada to make available a list of resource materials relating to the state of the natural resources in Canada and their relationship to the total global resources, and that this information be circulated to Canadian Unitarian and Universalist societies in order to encourage the development of an informed and responsible conservation policy for the guidance of our Canadian government and hopefully of other conservation-conscious nations.

THAT the 14th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Unitarian Council urges Federal, provincial, municipal and private health agencies to expand their family planning services to all residents of Canada at all income levels.

THAT the 14^th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Unitarian Council urges Federal, provincial and municipal health agencies to make abortions readily available.

Supportive Material for the above two resolutions

We re-affirm the 1974 resolution on Abortion (page ) supporting Dr. Morgentaler and others like him in challenging our abortion laws.

The purpose of the above two resolutions is to reduce social strains derived from unwanted children and to reduce the population growth which increases the demand for shrinking, non-renewable resources and finite space. Our rising numbers tend to increase the complexity of self-government, thus further diminishing the quality of life.

THAT, in view of the world wide shortage of food, intensified by the feeding of high protein grains to stock, the 14^th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Unitarian Council urges its member societies and individuals, as minimum steps, to encourage the purchase of grass finished beef as opposed to grain finished beef; the use of fertilizer for essential purposes only; and the lessening of food wastage.

THAT the 14^th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Unitarian Council supports the establishment of the proposed central federal office to handle overseas adoption in order to coordinate the efforts of international social service.

Supportive Material

Many children in the world are is desperate need of adoption, particularly children of mixed parentage in Vietnam and other Asian nations. Many families in Canada wish to adopt, but find very few infants available for adoption.

Persons, having as a first step made application to provincial authorities and having been duly qualified to adopt under provincial adoption standards, should then be guaranteed the active cooperation of provincial adoption agencies and the federal departments concerned.

Canada at the Geneva session of the Law of the Sea Conference regarding our rights over territorial waters (Ref. March 1975). Considering that we have the longest coastline of any country, that it borders on three oceans and that the area and richness of the sea bed is greater than for any other nation, it is essential that we Canadians be aware of the necessity of setting our territorial sea limits and having the right to legislate within those limits. In our arctic waters, for instance, where special ecological conditions exist, pollution could bring and irreversible disaster in a very short time.

THAT the 15^th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Unitarian Council urges the Canadian Government to allocate increased funds to research into alternative sources of energy which are non-destructive of the environment, e.g. wind, solar, geothermal power.

THAT the 15^th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Unitarian Council urges the Federal Government to accept the principle of total and complete nuclear disarmament and to promulgate it among all countries.

THAT the 16^th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Unitarian Council encourages members of Canadian U.U. societies to join local groups of Amnesty International and, where local groups do not exist, that congregations and fellowships take the initiative in forming new groups in their areas.

Supportive Material

More than two million people are currently being detained solely because of their religious or political beliefs. Amnesty International is a recognized and successful organization working on behalf of Prisoners of Conscience. Furthermore, 1977 has been declared "Prisoners of Conscience" year by Amnesty International in order to gain wider support for their cause.

THAT the 16^th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Unitarian Council urges all its societies to support and cooperate with all groups who oppose energy policies that ignore social and environmental needs.

Supportive Material

Ethical and religious tradition suggests that an act be judged by its effects; it is implied that a moral responsibility exists for the social and ecological effects of our energy policies.

THAT the 16^th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Unitarian Council supports all reasonable measures to help our elderly citizens to remain integrated and active in society.

FURTHER THAT the 16^th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Unitarian Council urges the Federal and Provincial Governments of Canada to maintain a scale of old age pensions, which will permit the elderly to live in dignity and comfort.

Supportive Material

A report of the Canadian Council on Social Development has revealed that more than half of the 1.8 million Canadians living on the old age pension exist at or near the poverty line. Many older people are being forced into early retirement when they would prefer to remain at work for a few more years.

THAT the 17^th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Unitarian Council urges the Solicitor General of Canada and the Government of Canada to give immediate and urges priority to recommendations that have been made repeatedly in studies and reports dealing with the subject of native peoples and the criminal justice system, e.g.

a. That Native people be recruited and employed at all levels of the criminal justice system (including institutional staff and the policy making levels in the Canadian Penitentiary Services and the National Parole Service);

b. That sensitivity to native concerns and culture be a requirement for all non-native staff working with native people;

c. That there be development of institutional programs oriented to the needs of Native inmates.

Supportive Material

"A disproportionate number of Native persons in Canada are being convicted of offences and sent to jail. In British Columbia, the proportion of admissions of Native offenders to provincial institutions in recent years had ranged from 14% to 21%; in Alberta, from 23% to 34%; in Saskatchewan, from 50% to 60%; and, in Manitoba, from 40% to 50%, even though the Native population is approximately 5% in British Columbia and Alberta and 12% in Saskatchewan and Manitoba." – Schmeiser, Douglas, A., THE NATIVE OFFENDER AND THE LAW, INFORMATION CANADA, OTTAWA, 1974, p. 81 (A study prepared for the Law Reform Commission of Canada).

THAT the 17^th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Unitarian Council, aware of the current controversies in Canada involving language rights, expresses its concern over the danger of erosion of civil liberties in Canada, and asks the Canadian Unitarian Council Board of Directors to follow developments and be prepared to make presentations to appropriate governmental and other bodies, and to join with others for their protection.

THAT the Canadian Unity 17^th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Unitarian Council urges the Parliament, the Prime Minister of Canada, and the Provincial Legislatures to take all responsible action in their power to preserve the unity of Canada;

FURTHER THAT the Parliament, the Prime Minister of Canada, and the Provincial Legislatures, by whatever means and methods available to them through legislation, accommodate the just claims of the Province of Quebec and, by these, seek to impress upon Quebec that Confederation can and will be mutually advantageous to Quebec, the other Provinces, Territories, and the Nation.

THAT the 17^th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Unitarian Council encourages all societies and individual members to support all efforts to modify federal and provincial codes of human rights to bar discrimination based on sexual orientation.

THAT the 17^th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Unitarian Council requests that the Government of Canada and all Canadian banks reflect their opposition to the apartheid policy of the South African Government by stopping all loans and other financial aid to corporations conducting business in South Africa.

FURTHER THAT the Canadian Unitarian council 17^th Annual Meeting urges the Government of Canada to place an embargo on the importation of wines and food products from South Africa.

THAT the 17^th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Unitarian Council urges the Government of Canada to work through its representatives at the United Nations to establish the principle of United Nations governance of the international areas of the world such as oceans and Antarctic regions, assuring orderly use and development, protection of wild life, and revenue to support the peace keeping and social ameliorative functions of the United Nations.

Supportive Material

Anarchy now exists outside national boundaries, leading to tensions between nations, environmental pollution, destruction of life (whales, as one example), and disorderly exploitation of resources, which should be developed for the benefit or humanity as a whole. The revenue produced by such orderly administration might also serve to support the peacekeeping function of the United Nations, peace now being a prerequisite for all other desirable goals.

THAT the Canadian Unitarian Council at its Annual General Meeting of May 21, 1978 in Fredericton, N.B. fully supports the right of the Palestinian Arab people to participate directly through their own freely chosen representatives in all talks and negotiations affecting their rights, properties and political future, without pressure or hindrance from outside sources; and

FURTHER THAT the Canadian Unitarian Council also fully supports the right of Israel to exist as a sovereign state with peaceful borders.

THAT the 17^th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Unitarian Council instructs the Executive to convey to the Ambassador of the U.S.S.R. our profound distress and concern at the recent conviction of Human Rights Advocate Yuri Orlov, and to request the Canadian Government to reconsider its cultural and economic relations with the Soviet Union in view of this repressive act.

BE IT RESOLVED THAT the 18^th Annual Meeting of the CUC urges Federal, Provincial and Municipal Governments to support Peace Through Disarmament.

FURTHER, that each delegate is requested to urge his or her society to become involved and agree on a strategy to further this issue as an Issue of the Year 1979. Suggested ways of involvement could include the following strategies:

a. Adoption of Operation Dismantle’s proposal for a "Global Referendum."

b. Proliferation of information on disarmament in your communities.

c. Letters from societies to politicians and interested citizens.

d. Joint and coordinated efforts from various congregations in each region to inform Municipal, Provincial and Federal politicians through personal action such as marches, demonstrations, public meetings and government ratification.

BE IT RESOLVED THAT the 19^th Annual meeting of the Canadian Unitarian Council promote changes in the law to permit that the right to abortion be determined exclusively by the woman in consultation with a physician.

Action Plan

1. Each delegate is requested to urge his/her society to become involved and agree on a strategy to further this issue. Suggested ways of involvement could include the following actions:

a. To support the Canadian Abortion Rights Action League (CARAL)

b. To disseminate information on "freedom of choice on abortion" in your community.

c. To encourage societies to write politicians and interested citizens to seek individual support.

d. To form a coalition of like-minded religious groups.

e. To promote joint efforts with other groups to lobby local, provincial and federal politician through personal action, written briefs, marches, demonstrations and public meetings.

f. To advocate, at the same time, that birth control information be available and free to all who seek it.

2. BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Canadian Unitarian Council affiliates with CARAL. (Canadian Abortion Rights Action League).

1. BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Government of Canada be urges to: Promote changes in Canadian foreign, military and trading policies that will encourage peace by strengthening international bodies, weakening military alliances and working toward disarmament.

2. WHEREAS governments have made no real progress in 35 years towards disarmament through negotiations alone; and

WHEREAS individual people have a right to participate directly in the choice for world disarmament;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the International Association for Religious Freedom:

a. Endorses the concept of a Global Referendum on Disarmament

b. Communicates this support to U.N. Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim

c. Urges national organizations within the International Association for Religious Freedom to call upon their governments to introduce the Global Referendum on Disarmament proposal in the United Nations General Assembly.

1. WHEREAS Amax of Canada Limited has refused to respond to the Nishga Tribal Council requests that Amax stop dumping mine tailings into Alice Arm, British Columbia, and

WHEREAS these tailing constitute a direct contravention of the Federal Fisheries Act; and

WHEREAS earlier assurances that similar tailings dumped into Buttle Lake, British Columbia would be harmless have proved to be untrue:

THERFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the delegates to the 1981 20^th Annual Meeting of the Unitarian Council go on record as supporting the demands of the Nishga Tribal Council in their request for a Provincial Government Public Inquiry under the Public Inquiries Act, into the dumping of mine tailings into Alice Arm; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that they demand a moratorium on dumping tailings into Alice Arm until such an inquiry is held.

Because we are deeply concerned over the continuing and seemingly accelerated arms race and the danger of nuclear war:

BE IT RESOLVED that: the Canadian Unitarian Council, will, as its 1982/83 Issue of the Year, work toward world peace and disarmament by:

a. Exploring causes of conflict in the world; and

b. Supporting Project Ploughshares’ Nuclear-Weapon Free Zone proposal; and

c. Forming local coalitions or umbrella groups; and

d. Continuing activities begun during 1981/82

WHEREAS 34 Canadian towns and cities have decided to conduct referenda on general disarmament with their Municipal elections next fall, t the request of Operation Dismantle; and

WHEREAS Operation Dismantle has applied for funds for this project from the North Shore Unitarian Veatch program in Plandome, New York; and

WHEREAS this application has been endorsed by the Unitarian Universalist U.N. Office, and by the Social Responsibility Committees of Unitarian congregations in Ottawa and Vancouver; and

WHEREAS the Canadian Unitarian council has endorsed Operation Dismantle’s call for a global referendum on disarmament since 1979;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Canadian Unitarian Council assist in funding the worldwide mayor’s mailing by:

1. Encouraging contributions to Operation Dismantle for this purpose by Canadian Unitarian societies.

2. Authorizing a mailing from Operation Dismantle to Unitarians across Canada in order t raise funds for this purpose.

BE IT RESOLVED that: the C.U.C. continue as a member-supporter of Project Ploughshares, and appoint representatives to the Project Ploughshares Sponsoring Board, this representative to report to our Board of Trustees and to C.U.C. through the Canadian Unitarian and at our Annual Meetings.

Also, we urge local Unitarian Societies to join, or aid in the formation of, local Project Ploughshares groups.

Also, we urge Unitarians to become individual members of Project Ploughshares groups.

1. BE IT RESOLVED that: The C.U.C. continues its work on Peace and Disarmament.

Resolved: To urge that the Federal Government and all Provincial Governments provide extraordinary programs to the individual victims of the current recession in equal measure to that provided directly to the business community in the form of extraordinary tax concessions, grants, low cost loans and the like.

Resolved: To promote study, discussion and action aimed at identifying the social forces and institutions contributing to poverty and unemployment in Canada.

WHEREAS the use of nuclear weapons is an ever-present threat to the continued existence of humanity on this planet and overshadows all other social issues of our time; and

WHEREAS nuclear disarmament has been the first choice of the Parish Poll, "Issues of the Year: balloting of Canadian Unitarians for the last several years; and

WHEREAS Canadian Unitarian societies are now actively involved in action programs to achieve nuclear disarmament:

BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of the Canadian Unitarian Council:

1. Formulate a denominational policy on nuclear disarmament which can be supported by Canadian Unitarians; and

2. Develop and coordinate a nuclear disarmament action program for implementation by Unitarian members and societies throughout Canada as well as the denomination at the national level. The content of the action program could include consideration of the following specific proposals:

a. Encouraging the widest possible dissemination of the "Bombs Away: slide presentation and kit developed by the Unitarian Church of Vancouver Nuclear Disarmament Committee.

b. Fostering active working relationship with Project Ploughshares, Operation Dismantle and other similar groups, and participating in joint activities.

c. Providing support and encouragement to societies throughout Canada in implementing local nuclear disarmament programs to communicate with political leaders, to write letters to the editor, and to gain the support of community leaders.

d. Twinning Canadian cities with other cities throughout the world, especially cities in the Soviet Union.

e. Developing possibly novel ideas which may reduce nuclear tension and increase the prospects for world peace, e.g. a student exchange between Canada and the U.S.S.R., a silent vigil in front of both the Soviet and U.S. embassies in Ottawa, etc.

f. Including in "Can. U." a regular feature report on the denomination’s nuclear disarmament program and/or publishing a quarterly nuclear disarmament report for distribution to Canadian Unitarians.

g. Involving the C.U.C. Executive Director in the denomination’s disarmament program.

h. Establishing regular contact with the U.U. Office at the United Nations.