U.S. AIR FORCE RETURNING TO NITASSINAN
Just a few days ago, Canada's Department of National Defence (DND)
announced that the U.S. Air Force will be returning to Nitassinan
(Labrador-Quebec) to conduct 168 low-level military flight training
sorties during a one-week period in the spring over Innu land.
The International Campaign for the Innu and the Earth is calling
for peaceful demonstrations at U.S. embassies, consulates,
government offices and other appropriate locations as soon as
possible. Demonstrations do not need to be large to be effective,
and together with a few friends, you can make a difference. We are
also organizing an international day of action for Saturday, April
29.
Meanwhile, Daniel Ashini, director of Innu rights and environment
for the Innu Nation, says he is not surprised at the news that
U.S.A.F. pilots will be joining their counterparts from Germany,
Britain and the Netherlands.
"DND is marketing Goose Bay to the world's air forces, so it makes
sense that the Americans would start training here again," Mr.
Ashini said.
Mr. Ashini also commented on the relationship between the
announcement of the U.S. training and the federal environmental
assessment review process.
"DND must be pretty confident that the Environmental Assessment
Panel is going to give a green light to more training. DND is not
even waiting for the Panel to make its recommendations before it
invites another air force to train in our air space. For us, this
is just more evidence that the environmental review process is a
sham."
For further information, contact the International Campaign for the
Innu and the Earth at 905-849-5501 or 416-920-2656. We may also be
reached by electronic mail at: chernos@web.apc.org
THANK YOU in advance for your support. Please let us know what you
are able to do, and please send us press clippings!
Here is further information from The Labradorian newspaper; do not
hesitate to contact us for more.
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Americans Planning to Conduct Low-Level Flights over Labrador
By BERT POMEROY, The Labradorian
The United States Air Force will conduct low-level flights over
Labrador this spring.
The 14 fighter jets (F-16s) are expected to be at 5 Wing Goose Bay
from April 20-27.
The flights will prepare the pilots for an exercise in Cold Lake,
Alberta.
The flights, expected to be conducted at about 300 to 250 feet,
said base public affairs officer Capt. Plourde, are part of a
step-down process to enable the Americans to participate in
Exercise Maple Flag, an annual event which includes various types
of training, such air-to-air and air-to-ground.
Various Allied countries participate in the exercise, he said.
"When they get out to Maple Flag they're going to be flying at 100
feet, so their flights here will be part of their step-down
process."
The jets will arrive from Germany, where low-level flying is not
practised, he noted, adding that the visit will take place during
the regular flying season.
"The flights will not take place outside the regular time frame for
training here."
It's uncertain, however, just how many flights the Americans will
conduct here, said Capt. Plourde, noting that one aircraft normally
carries out two sorties a day during the flight-training season.
"So that would bring it to about 168 sorties over six days for 14
jets, provided the weather is good," he said.
"We're not sure how many sorties there will be - they'll do
whatever they can during that time period."
The Royal Air Force has offered to provide hanger space and
accommodations to the Americans if it's available at the time, said
Wing Cmdr. Jim Squelch.
"That's a big if, because we should have out own aircraft here by
then," he said.
The American visit should benefit the local economy, said Capt.
Plourde.
"It's money in the pocket of local businesses for the short time
they are here."
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