News Release

For immediate release

July 30th, 1998 

M.P. Libby Davies says Private Shipyard Gets Palace Treatment 

(Vancouver) Libby Davies, Member of Parliament for Vancouver East, is heading south to demonstrate that the danger of nuclear weapons is escalating and it is our neighbours who have the largest stockpiles of weapons of mass destruction. 

Davies is leading a second Canadian Citizens' Weapons Inspection Team to the United States to inspect The Electric Boat Corporation, the construction facility for the Trident Submarine. 

"The Electric Boat Corporation is better shielded from public scrutiny than Saddam Hussein's Presidential Palaces. The public is not allowed to scrutinize the production facility, yet they produce the world's largest delivery systems for weapons of mass destruction," said Davies. 

Davies and other team members will meet the United Nations' Under-Secretary General for Disarmament Affairs, Jayantha Dhanapala, at the UN in New York at 9:00a.m. Monday, August 3rd. Mr. Dhanapala led diplomatic teams accompanying UNSCOM on inspections of Saddam Hussein's Presidential Palaces.

To underscore the concern about nuclear weapons Davies is leading the team on the eve of the anniversaries of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

"The threat of nuclear catastrophe is escalating," said Davies. "And the anniversaries of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki serves as a solemn reminder of the deadly capacity of nuclear weapons." Davies added, "We cannot simply hope the horror of nuclear weapons will disappear. That's why citizens like us must actively work to eliminate the threat."

The Citizens' Weapons Inspection Team will hold a press conference at 10:00 a.m. Monday August 3 at 777 UN Plaza, 8th Floor, Boss Room. The final destination is the Electric Boat Corp. in Groton, Connecticut where the team will conduct its inspection at 3:00 p.m. 

The Canadian Weapons' Inspection Team includes Peter Coombes, President of End the Arms Race; David Morgan, President of Veterans Against Nuclear Arms; and, Phyllis Creighton, represents the Anglican Church of Canada.

--30-- 

For information contact:

Libby Davies, Ottawa (613) 992-6030, Vancouver (604) 775-5800

Jillian Skeet, End the Arms Race (604) 687-3223