Halifax International Security Forum

Actions in Halifax and Toronto Demand Forum Be Banned


Toronto picket against Halifax War Conference, November 19, 2022

Spirited actions were organized in Halifax and Toronto on November 19 demanding the banning of the Halifax International Security Forum (HISF), aka the Halifax War Conference, and for Canada to get out of NATO and NORAD. No Harbour for War held its protest at the Peace and Friendship Park across from the Westin Hotel in Halifax where the HISF was taking place. On the same day, the Communist Party of Canada (Marxist-Leninist) held a picket at the Toronto constituency office of Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland. Anti-war activists, women, youth, students, workers, retirees and others participated enthusiastically at both events. Both actions paid tribute to Allan Bezanson, a stalwart of CPC(M-L) who played a decisive role as organizer and mainstay of No Harbour for War, thus making an indelible contribution to the anti-war movement in Canada.

No Harbour for War has a proud history of opposing the HISF since it started 14 years ago. The organization represents the anti-war consciousness of the people of Halifax and Canada, drawing people from various walks of life into its activities including opposing the use of the port of Halifax for the "visits" of U.S./NATO forces and as a base for war exercises. It stands against the militarization of the city of Halifax and against U.S.-led imperialist wars and aggression abroad and opposes Canada's participation in these crimes. At this year's event, the participants denounced Canadian Defence Minister Anita Anand for her warmongering keynote speech at the HISF in support of the U.S./NATO proxy war in Ukraine and for calling for Canada to be further integrated into the U.S. war machine.


Halifax, November 19, 2022

At the Toronto action, speaking on behalf of CPC(M-L), Philip Fernandez welcomed everyone and denounced the HISF as a gathering of warmongers and arms dealers from Canada and around the world organized by the U.S./NATO bloc to subvert humanity's drive for peace and stability. He pointed out that the Halifax war conference stands for a "security" based on the striving of the U.S. for world domination backed by U.S./NATO wars of occupation and aggression -- wars that cause displacement and insecurity for millions of people the world over and must be stopped. He also noted that plans were being hatched at the HISF this year to ramp up support for the U.S./NATO proxy war in Ukraine, integrate Canada more firmly into the U.S. war machine, and step up attacks on China so as to enable the U.S./NATO to dominate the Indo-Pacific region.

The gathering chanted slogans including Ban the Halifax Security Forum!, War Criminals Not Welcome in Canada!, Canada out of NATO!, Canada out of NORAD!, Not a Single Youth for Imperialist War and Aggression!, Make Canada a Zone for Peace! and Free Julian Assange, Charge the U.S./NATO War Criminals!

Other speakers also expressed their vigorous opposition to the war conference. A high school teacher from the faith group Pax Christi denounced the CBC and the media disinformation aimed at keeping Canadians ignorant of the crimes and warmongering of the U.S., Canada, Britain and NATO countries around the world, which are the main source of human suffering and the environmental crisis. Youth activist Cory Thomas David expressed concern that the U.S. is pushing Chrystia Freeland to be the next head of NATO, condemning her family's Nazi links and her cozy relations with the Nazi-dominated government of Ukraine. He said all Canadians must hold the Trudeau government to account for crimes being committed in our name.

The Toronto action warmly received a message of support and solidarity from Dr. George Elliott Clarke, former Canadian Parliamentary Poet Laureate and current E.J. Pratt Professor of Canadian Literature at the University of Toronto. Amongst other things, Professor Clarke underscored that the world faces grave dangers as a result of big power geo-political rivalries instigated by the West and that those who call for militarism and war in Canada and around the world must be stopped before another World War breaks out.

Copies of an article from the TML Daily of November 18 opposing the HISF were distributed at the Toronto action to passers-by. The action ended with another round of slogans, a thank you to all who participated and the pledge to continue to work together on the anti-war front, to make Canada a Zone for Peace.


This article was published in
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Volume 52 Number 8 - November 2022

Article Link:
https://cpcml.ca/Tmlm2022/Articles/MS520819.HTM


    

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