HAP CANADA UPDATE #2 , March 4, 1999

This mailing is being delivered through various e-mail networks and by
regular mail to the HAP Canada mailing list. We apologize if you receive
this information more than once.

1) GETTING TO THE HAP

Flights. Unfortunately, there are no cheap group rates for flights from
anywhere in Canada. There is no airline designated as the conference
carrier and offering discounts for HAP delegates. Individuals should
make their own arrangements. The best price we've heard of is a charter
May 8 to 16, out of Toronto, to Amsterdam for $541 plus tax.

Registration. Due to the extended early registration date, confirmations
of early registrations have been delayed. We have been notified that the
official confirmations should arrive around the first week of March. The
registration center at The Hague has been contacting people who may have
problems with their registration. So, if you haven't heard from them, it
probably means everything is fine. You will receive a confirmation . . .
eventually.

Hotels. After the early registration finishes, the registration office
will no longer confirm hotel bookings. There are still spaces available,
but they encourage you to book as soon as possible.

2) CANADIAN PREPARATORY EVENTS

Many events across Canada are being hosted in preparation for the HAP.
Please let us know if you have an event planned in your community.

Victoria - On February 26 over thirty people attended a discussion on
"Self-determination: Alternatives to Cession, Conflict and War."  A
panel of experts gave an overview on self-determination issues, a
discussion of First Nations issues, and a review of the Supreme Court of
Canada's recent Opinion on legal issues relating to secession of Quebec.
Discussion following led to recommendations for the HAP Strand II,
Advancing the prevention, peaceful resolution and transformation of
violent conflict.

On March 8, Patti Willis (Pacific Campaign for Disarmament and Security)
and Mary June Pettyfer (World Federalists) lead a discussion on the HAP.
Pettyfer will give a historical background and overview to HAP 99.
Willis will discuss militarization of the Asia-Pacific and review
regional peacemaking initiatives to be presented at The Hague.  The
session will be held at University of Victoria, Begbie Building, room
C112, beginning at 7:15 p.m.

Vancouver - End the Arms Race is leading a delegation of Canadians who
will leave March 28 for Iraq. Donations have come in from across Canada
to send seven Canadians to Iraq. They will bring medicine and
participate with other international NGOs in fact-finding exercises.
Results of the trip will be presented at the Hague Appeal for Peace.

Hamilton - On March 31 the Hamilton branch of Project Ploughshares is
sponsoring a discussion on the four strands of the HAP. The event will
be held at the First Pilgrim United Church, 200 Main Street East. The
contact is Mark Sutterby

Toronto - Science for Peace and Voice of Women are hosting a major two
day conference on March 10 and 11. On Wednesday March 10, 7:30 to 9:30
p.m., Jonathan Schell (author of The Fate of the Earth and The Gift of
Time: The Case for Abolishing Nuclear Weapons Now) will be the keynote
speaker at the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts, 27 Front St. East. A
full day program continues Thursday March 11 at Ontario Institute for
Studies in Education (OISE), 252 Bloor St. West. Schell speaks again in
the morning, followed by workshops on: Civilian Peace Service; Poverty,
Debt and the Jubilee 2000 Campaign; Canada & the Road to the Prohibition
of Nuclear Weapons; Creating a Culture of Peace; Evolving Concepts of
Security; and Canada's role in the World Arms Trade. For more
information contact Carolyn Langdon, Science for Peace, University
College, 15 King's College Circle, room H-02, University of Toronto
416-366-1656 ext. 274

Oakville - The International Campaign for the Innu and the Earth (ICIE)
is fundraising to send two representative of the Innu people of
Nitassinan, whose land continues to be overflown by military fighter
jets, to the conference. If you are interested in helping, please feel
free to send a donation to the ICIE or to buy/sell raffle tickets. You
can contact them at 148 Kerr St. Oakville On. L6K 3A7.

Cornwall - The HAP 99 was part of the agenda at a conference of over 400
young Canadians, the Youth Canada Peacebuilding and Conflict Resolution
Conference, February 27 & 28 in Cornwall. Aspects of community violence
prevention and conflict resolution were the primary focus of the
conference. A national youth conflict resolution network expects to
monitor the HAP deliberations and incorporate HAP materials and
presentations in their national youth training program.

Ottawa - Paul van Tongeren, the Executive Director of the European
Platform for Conflict Prevention and Transformation, was in Ottawa in
early March to participate in meetings organized by the Canadian
Peacebuilding Coordinating Committee (CPCC). On March 1 he met with NGO
members of the CPCC. On March 2 &3 he joined over 300 NGOs and
government officials at the Canadian Peacebuilding Consultations at the
Department of Foreign Affairs.

CPCC is collaborating with the European Platform to sponsor a workshop
at the HAP 99 on Peacebuilding. In preparation, the CPCC organized a
one-day roundtable discussion on Peacebuilding coalition and
constituency building. A report from the workshop, outlining lessons
learned, do's and don'ts, etc.  from a variety of Canadian and
international coalition and networking initiatives will contribute to
CPCC's presentation at the HAP.

3) HAP PROGRAM

The Program and Agenda for the HAP 99 Civil Society Conference continue
to be works in progress. We will continue to post the latest versions on
our HAP Canada website (http://www.web.net/~wfcnat/hapcan)

Please feel free to contact us for other HAP resources, such as the
Conference registration packet, hard copies of this Update, a two-page
HAP Canada background paper, or the latest HAP international newsletter,
Peace Matters.