The voice of B.C.'s organized fishing industry workers
• Coalitions and movements like the Solidarity Coalition provide a direction for the future, says Catholic Bishop Remi de Roo. Alternatives to the economic policies of the marketplace develop in such movements, which put human and social needs ahead of profit.
New coalitions, alliances hold hope for the future
• Following is an excerpt from the address to last month's B.C. Federation of Labor convention by Remi de Roo, Bishop of the Roman Catholic diocese of Victoria.
IFOR one believe that we are at a critical juncture in the history of our country and our province.
In the midst of the present economic and social crisis, we have some major choices to make for the future. We could, on the one hand, stop resisting the dominant forces and accommodate ourselves to the high-tech market economy and society that lies before us. Or, we could, on the other hand, intensify our resistance, by struggling for an alternative economic and social future.
Earlier in my remarks, I referred to the social Gospel, the social dimension of the message 6f hope revealed by Jesus Christ. Let me recall that in 1977, the Canadian Bishops after discussion in a plenary assembly issued a unanimous declaration entitled "A Society to be Transformed." In it, they stated that Christian principles authorize citizens to be critical of any ideology and to develop alternative social structures more in keeping with gospel values.
Earlier, they referred to the small minority groups of people who were adopting a prophetic stance in the face of social injustices and dedicating themselves to the promotion of a counter-culture, as signs of hope for the future.
Now as I travel across the country, meeting with groups engaged in various struggles for social and economic justice, I see a growing number of women and men deeply committed to developing an alternative economy, generally sacrificing themselves to build a more human society.
Here, in British Columbia, the work of the People's Commission for Social and Economic Alternatives, set up by the B.C. Solidarity Coalition, offers another sign of hope.
These and other experiences of popular organizations demonstrate that an alter-
Editor, The Fisherman:
Your Nov. 18 issue contained inaccurate statements that I assume were attributable to Dennis Brown. It is stated that "The International Pacific Salmon Fisheries Commission repeatedly overestimated run sizes to the advantage of the outside troll fleet and the American fleet."
Your readers should be aware of the fact that the new treaty requires that run size updates be made during the season in order that the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) can be adjusted. Revisions of the TAC in accordance with run size determinations will be required on numerous occasions as the season progresses.
As run size estimates change, the Canadian government could raise or lower
• Bishop Remi de Roo addressed B.C. Federation of Labor convention.
native vision to a high-tech market economy is being forged today.
As a result of arduous reflection and concerted struggle, there appears to be a growing consensus around several alternative policies and strategies for Canada's economic future. For example:
• a national commitment to full employment and an emphasis on permanent meaningful jobs, new patterns of work, with adequate personal and family income;
• more effective and meaningful institutions for providing social services and redistributing income in our society;
• new resource and industrial strategies based upon models of economic development that emphasize self-reliance and ecological sustainability;
• new forms of economic planning and decision-making that ensure the direct participation of workers, the poor, and the marginalized;
• new forms of social ownership and control of industries by workers and communities;
• new processes for consultation with workers in other countries or regions affected by changing economic strategies in order to ensure global and national solidarity for economic justice.
Government leadership in these areas is essential, but history demonstrates
the troll allocation in accordance with domestic allocation objectives.
With regard to the inference that United States fishermen received an advantage in 1985, your readers should know that the treaty entitled United States fishermen to 27 percent (less 50,000) of the TAC of Fraser River sock-eye. Their actual percentage catch (26 percent) was below that stipulated. For Fraser River pink salmon, the United States should have received 32.7 percent of the TAC but took only 30.6 percent. Where was the "advantage?"
JOHN ROOS Director IPSFC
New Westminster
that people cannot rely on government alone.
The development of social and economic alternatives requires the meaningful building of an autonomous social movement composed of labor and community groups. Once again, our experience in British Columbia provides some important insights. The B.C. Solidarity Coalition has proven to be a common organizational vehicle for popular groups to develop meaningful economic and social alternatives. The crucial question is whether or not there is sufficient commitment and the energy to sustain this struggle over the long haul.
Allow me a further word about authentic solidartty. In our increasingly complex and interdependent global society, we will not long protect our rights if we do not promote the rights of others. The freedoms and advantages we have achieved place upon our shoulders special responsibilities.
We deceive ourselves if we advocate a renewed society of equal rights, justice and love while ourselves profiting from market economy practices, where the strong triumph over the weak.
Your enlightened self-interest as well as the requirements of global solidarity among workers urge you to constantly broaden your vision and deepen your personal and communal commitment to help others. Unorganized workers, marginalized and less powerful groups, part-time workers, especially women and single parents should experience your unrelenting support. The victims of our current economic and social crisis look to you for leadership in building a more human alternative order.
I commend the B.C. Federation of Labor and its affiliates for the leadership you have given over the past two and a half years in supporting, through Operation Solidarity, the work of B.C. Solidarity Coalition.
I realize that there have been difficult and trying moments. It has never been easy for labor unions and community groups to develop dynamic alliances and working relationships that can be sustained for an extended period of time in our society. Yet, herein lies a critical challenge for the future.
With people of goodwill from every walk of life, you are called to take a stance with the victims of society, the marginalized and the powerless. The preferential option for the poor means applying the social gospel values of justice and compassion for the re-orientation of society, the structuring of a "civilization of love." I encourage you to intensify your efforts for the common good.
The Canadian Bishops do not claim to have instant solutions to the complex problem besetting society today. But we invite you to reflection and we will labor with you to find the answers.
People of hope know that the darkness of night must soon give way to dawn. Tomorrow belongs to those who truly care.
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A guide to Tory agenda
THE TORY BUDGET, by Ben Swan key. Published by the Centre for Socialist Education, 1985. Vancouver, B.C. 246 pp. $5.95
Those reeling from one Tory government policy after another often suffer from the age-old problem of not seeing the forest for the trees. In the fishing industry we see the lack of funding for SEP and the failure of the Tories to follow through with other election promises.
But labor economist Ben Swankey has done all of us a favor in his latest book, The Tory Budget, by putting all those policies and actions of the federal government in one small easy to read book.
After several chapters that outline the effect of the budget on working people, Swankey moves easily into a look at how the Tory strategy is closely linked to the needs of corporations to increase already rising profits.
The "corporate plan" Swankey charges is incorporated into every aspect of the federal government and is the dominant force behind the actions of the cabinet. He looks at key issues including free trade, deregulation, tax breaks, privatization and foreign investment. In each area the author documents both the corporate demands and the government policy, showing direct connections between the two.
He ends the book with a call for coalitions amongst those who common economic interests in a society make them natural allies in the struggle for justice.
This topic, in light of Solidarity and other coalitions, deserves a book in itself, but Swankey makes a valuable contribution to understanding the real agenda of the Tory government and why we must all unite to protect ourselves from corporate plans for our futures.
— Jim Sinclair
The story of the lights
KEEPERS OF THE LIGHT, by Donald Graham, Harbor Publishing, 1985. 262 pp. $24.95
Lighthouses have particular personalities to fishermen. They mark stages in long runs along the coast and serve the important role of warning vessels from the shore's hazards. This year, B.C.'s lights began to acquire a voice as well: they are radio links in the improved local weather warning systems now under development.
But what is lighthouse life like from the shore side? Author Donald Graham, himself the keeper of the Point Atkinson light, has assembled the history of many of the coast's landmarks. In this generally well-written book, the misery, loneliness and fear of decades spent at Godforsaken spots like Cape Beale are recorded. It would make an excellent Christmas present for any mariner and would be best read in a warm, dry place with a bottle of rum.
— Geoff Meggs
IPSFC rejects comments
THE FISHERMAN - DECEMBER 12,1985/5