2014-08-19 Request to Board of Governors, University of Saskatchewan: END the relationship with Lockheed Martin Corporation

FIRST IN A SET OF FIVE POSTINGS re  LOCKHEED MARTIN AT THE UNIVERSITY:

(U of S because I am most familiar.  Lockheed Martin is also at (Canadian)  Dalousie Univ, Univ New Brunswick,  Royal Military College, of which I am aware.  At American universities, goes without saying.)

1.   (This posting, scroll down) 2014-08-19 Request to Board of Governors, University of Saskatchewan: END the relationship with Lockheed Martin Corporation

2.   2014-12-11 U.S. Torture: ADDENDUM, Letter to University, end relationship with Lockheed Martin, ‘contract interrogators’

3.   2015-01-02 Reply from Board of Governors, request to disassociate from Lockheed Martin,

4.   The Minerva Initiative.  from Bill C-51, Elephant in the Room, the U.S.A.

The goal of the Minerva Initiative is to improve DoD’s (U.S. Dept of Defence’s) basic understanding of the social, cultural, behavioral, and political forces that shape regions of the world of strategic importance to the U.S.The research program will:

• Leverage and focus the resources of the Nation’s top universities. … see The Minerva Initiative

5.   The very successful Disinvest – Invest Student movement (University Endowment funds):   http://sojo.net/blogs/2014/11/17/why-movement-disinvest-fossil-fuels

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The request to Board of Governors to end the relationhip with Lockheed Martin went to the Board on August 20, 2014 in advance of:

• board meeting    October 9, 2014
• board meeting    December 16

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Board members are listed at   http://www.usask.ca/secretariat/governing-bodies/board-of-governors/profiles/index.php.

Office of the University Secretary

University of Saskatchewan

212 College Building

107 Administration Place

Saskatoon, SK  S7N 5A2

Phone: (306) 966-4632     Fax: (306) 966-4530;     Email: university.secretary@usask.ca

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF RECEIPT

From: University Secretary Sent: August-20-14 3:01 PM   To: Sandra Finley; University Secretary Subject: RE: Submission to Board of Governors

Hello Sandra,

Thank you for your correspondence.  We have provided your letter to the Board of Governors, as per your request.

Respectfully,

Sheena Rowan

University Secretary’s Office

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LETTER TO UNIVERSITY BOARD OF GOVERNORS,

END THE RELATIONSHIP WITH LOCKHEED MARTIN

 

August 19, 2014

 

Board of Governors

University of Saskatchewan

 

Lee Ahenakew

Gordon Barnhart

David Dubé

Blaine Favel

Linda Ferguson

Max FineDay

Kathryn Ford

Grant Isaac

Grit McCreath

Susan Milburn

Greg Smith

 

Dear Members of the Board of Governors,

 

It will be prudent for the University to end its relationship with Lockheed Martin Corporation. I request you to consider the proposal.

Individually, you may not know about Lockheed Martin’s funding role at the University of Saskatchewan.

And you may not know about developments related to Lockheed Martin (details are appended):

• An end to their contracts at Statistics Canada
• The 20 minute Youtube documentary on SOFEX (the annual arms bazaar in Jordan, Lockheed Martin is visible)
• The connection to Project Daniel that is using 3-D printer technology to give arms back to kids whose arms have been blown off
• The strength and determination of the informed international movement to change the path we’re on

The world is rapidly evolving to a place different from the one I grew up in.  There are many good and great initiatives underway.  People from every country talk to each other, and help each other.   Shane Smith (the SOFEX documentary), Mick Ebeling (prosthetic arms from 3D printers) are two among thousands of examples.

Regarding the strength of the movement, citizens of all nations are empowered by the arts – – think of the impact of ONE BOOK and movie, alone – –  Lord of the Rings.  Frodo is every one of us.  We encounter allies amongst many peoples.  Together we exercise moral authority. The empowerment has been on-going for decades; you will know the newer versions of the Frodo story in our theatres.

There are many benefits for the U of S Board of Governors if they adjust University policies in alignment with the changes in the world.   You can project that “collaboration” with Lockheed Martin will have a detrimental effect on the University’s reputation at some point.

The propaganda of “communications consultants” is not a match for the proliferation of respected documentaries.   The role of Universities in the maintenance of an unacceptable status quo has been high-lighted by films like Inside Job, narrated by Matt Damon.

he asks tough questions and elicits squirms from several participants, notably former Treasury secretary David McCormick and Columbia dean Glenn Hubbard, . . .

Their reactions are understandable, since the borders between Wall Street, Washington, and the Ivy League dissolved years ago;

Large numbers of citizens understand that same relationship in different sectors of the economy, besides the financial.   The University of Sask is one example in the military-industrial-governmental-university complex.

The words of former General and President of the U.S., Dwight Eisenhower, are marshalled forth, you probably know them: President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s 1961 farewell speech Plus Words of Wisdom from Eisenhower. 

We must never let the weight of this combination endanger our liberties or democratic processes. We should take nothing for granted. Only an alert and knowledgeable citizenry . . .

There is sufficient awareness that a holding-to-account of universities will happen. Indeed, it is in the process of happening.

I will be appreciative if you will advise me of the outcome of your deliberations – – will the relationship between the University of Saskatchewan and Lockheed Martin Corporation enhance the reputation of the U of S?   Is it defensible?  If so, on what grounds?

To assist, some of the arguments that need to be refuted if the relationship continues, are contained in the appended.

Thank-you for your consideration.

 

Best wishes,

Sandra Finley

U of S Senator, Elected

 

APPENDED

The following  bit of elaboration makes the point of large mobilizations of people and money around moral authority.

 

1. EJECTION FROM STATISTICS CANADA

Conscientious objection by Canadians to Lockheed Martin’s role at Statistics Canada has been sufficient to cause StatsCan to eliminate Lockheed’s role altogether by 2016.  (Source:  Transcript of the testimony by Yves Beland, Director of Census Operations, under oath.  at the October 2013 trial of Audrey Tobias,  they’re (Lockheed Martin) out of the picture totally.)

 

2. The Business of War: SOFEX – YouTube  

Doing good in the world is profitable.  I think that Shane Smith became famous through his work to expose vice in the world.  Vice is now on HBO as a documentary TV-series hosted by Bill Maher, I am told. From the internet: Vice began as a magazine founded by Smith in Montreal in 1994, now a global company operating in 30 countries.  Today in his forties,Smith is worth an estimated $400 million, according to Forbes.

Smith hosted the 20 minute documentary on SOFEX.  Lockheed Martin comes in near the end of it.

Number of views, SOFEX:  

a million-and-a-quarter of the YouTube alone

42,000 more since July 22^nd when I first noted the number.  I heard about the videoby word-of-mouth, not through advertising.

Number of views:

1,248,100 as at July 22

1,262,100 views 10 days later (Aug 1 AM)

1,268,197 views by August 5^th

1,279,745 by August 12^th

1, 290,765 as of Aug 19

(INSERT:   1,375,347 as at Oct 05)

 

I tweeted Smith to thank him, the video contributes to understanding the dynamics at play with the international manufacturers of munitions.

When making a decision about Lockheed Martin, I think the Board of Governors would want to know what is informing the public debate.

 

3. NOT IMPOSSIBLE LABS  http://www.notimpossiblelabs.com/

Project Daniel: 

Just before Thanksgiving 2013, Mick Ebeling returned home from Sudan’s Nuba Mountains where he set up what is probably the world’s first 3D-printing prosthetic lab and training facility. More tothe point of the journey is that Mick managed to give hope and independence back to a kid who, at age 14, had both his arms blown off and considered his life not worth living.  

By the time the team returned to their homes in the U.S., the local trainees had successfully printed and fitted another two arms, proving the project will have lasting benefit beyond the team’s presence. 

That Project Daniel successfully unfolded in a region where a cease-fire had expired (and where

fighting has now escalated), and that the people taught to utilize the 3D printers were barely familiar with computers, let alone the idea of 3D printers, is a milestone achievement that bears the potential for global impact. “We’re hopeful that other children and adults in other regions of Africa, as well as other continents around the globe, will utilize the power of this new technology for similar beginnings,” said Not Impossible founder Mick Ebeling. “We believe Daniel’s story will ignite a global campaign. The sharing of the prostheses’ specifications, which Not Impossible will provide free and open-source, will enable any person in need, anywhere on the planet, to use technology for its best purpose: restoring humanity.”

 

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Or,  Listen in on  Not Impossible  founder Mick Ebeling’s conversation on CBC radio’s program “Q” right here:

http://www.cbc.ca/q/popupaudio.html?clipIds=2476780836

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Aug 1^st Spoke with and emailed Not Impossible.  Theresa   info >@> notimpossiblelabs.com     310 667 9223    Venice, CA  to establish connection: 

There you are helping the kids whose arms have been blown off.

Here we are, working to stop Government money from going to Lockheed Martin Corporation, makers of cluster munitions that blow off kids’ limbs.

    

4. There is hefty  mobilization around Gaza.  “if this isn’t an argument for the world to act in stopping this madness, I don’t know what is” – The children of Gaza – video (3.5 minutes):   http://www.channel4.com/news/the-children-of-gaza-jon-snow-video.    The broadcaster also mentions the foreign aid role. 

(I notified Jon Snow that his video is being used in this communication.

Sent: August-05-14 12:12 PM To: ‘news >@> channel4.com’ Subject: Jon Snow re Children of Gaza) 

 

5. International Conventions, Cluster Munitions, Land Mines

 

6. LOCKHEED MARTIN MANUFACTURES CLUSTER MUNITIONS, ILLEGAL UNDER INTERNATIONAL LAW

 

7. Re  THE ARGUMENT THAT “LOCKHEED MARTIN USA IS NOT THE SAME AS LOCKHEED MARTIN CANADA”, i.e.,  the subsidiary is independent of the parent:

In the Lockheed Martin – Census trials, the Justice Dept routinely claimed that Lockheed Martin Canada is a different company from Lockheed Martin USA. (Hence, the crimes committed by Lockheed Martin cannot be used at trial.)

In the last of the trials (Stegenga), the Prosecution did not pursue this line of argument after presentation to the Court of a screen capture of Lockheed Martin’s USA webpage that says:

Our Census Business Practice successes include . . . Canada’s 2011 and 2006 Census.

In the case of the University, the next item speaks.

 

8. Lockheed Martin’s Collaboration Topics (CT’s), as presented to U of S in April 2012 are posted at Lockheed Martin Visit to Your Institution.    Excerpts:

to turn the sensed environment into information about the target (e.g., target recognition, speed, intent, etc. via Ladar, Radar, EO, and acoustic methods) 

Hardware, software, and architectures to enable uninhabited intelligent deployments of ground, sea, air or space capabilities (These are UAVs, unmanned aerial vehicles, also known as drones for military use)

Biometrics:

Architectures for detectors and associated hardware and software for personnel identification in a broad range of applications (e.g., authentication, surveillance, tracking)

to include methods to facilitate timely response (e.g., explosive vapor, biological agents)

more

At two meetings of Senate, Ernie Barber (then Acting Dean of Engineering) defended Lockheed Martin’s role at the University as one of “renewable technologies”.   Yes – Lockheed Martin is heavily dependent upon fossil fuels; supply lines are often targeted during invasions, renewable technologies are attractive – –  you have to spin Lockheed’s role someway.

I encourage Board Members to read the CT’s as presented by Lockheed Martin itself.   How you get to  “renewable technologies” is hard to fathom.

 

9. RE the argument,   The University needs the funding from Lockheed Martin.

From your perspective of Citizens Who Pay Taxes:

There are offset agreements in the contracts Lockheed Martin has with the Government, that require them to spend a percentage of the value of the contracts in Canada.   The U of S receives Lockheed Martin money as a consequence.

However,  Lockheed has a history of over-charging on Government contracts.   If the Government money simply went directly to the University, omitting Lockheed Martin as the middle-man, you would get more money AND with no strings attached.    The argument does not stand up to scrutiny.

 

Robert Kennedy:

“Few men are willing to brave the disapproval of their fellows, the censure of their colleagues, the wrath of their society. Moral courage is a rarer commodity than bravery in battle or great intelligence. Yet it is the one essential, vital quality for those who seek to change a world that yields most painfully to change.”

” A revolution is coming — a revolution which will be peaceful if we are wise enough; compassionate if we care enough; successful if we are fortunate enough — But a revolution which is coming whether we will it or not. We can affect its character; we cannot alter its inevitability.”

WHY the (R)Evolution?

2010-07-16 CHRONOLOGY: the involvement of the American military in the Canadian census set in the larger CONTEXT of American military intrusion into Canadian affairs. (Sandra Finley)

Excerpt:

How much influence does Lockheed Martin have in the world? What kind of influence is it?   Those might be good questions to ask.

The original census contracts were awarded to Lockheed Martin at about the same time as the Bush Administration was dropping bombs on Iraq in an illegal war of aggression (2003). Which of course was hugely profitable for Lockheed Martin.

Lockheed was in a position to influence, and did influence the decision that led to the destruction of Iraqi schools, hospitals, museums, water infrastructure – – everything. It is a war that is on-going eight years later with death beyond imagination, and I don’t know how many permanently injured, see the current tally at http://www.antiwar.com/casualties/.

Millions of other Iraqis are either refugees or they are homeless:

“Refugees International has observed extreme vulnerabilities among the hundreds of thousands of Iraqi refugees living in Syria, Jordan, and other parts of the region, as well as the millions of internally displaced persons within Iraq. Most refugees have not been granted legal status and thus live in limbo, often without access to basic services and work opportunities. Many persons displaced within the country have no access to assistance, basic levels of protection, or any hope of return to their original homes.” http://www.refugeesinternational.org/where-we-work/middle-east/iraq

It has cost the American public more than 733 billion dollars to wage the Iraq War (not counting Afghanistan) http://costofwar.com/, money they have needed for their own country. They sink further into debt. The international community is asked to step in to provide humanitarian aid to Iraq after the American military-industrial-congressional complex (#1 player, Lockheed Martin) has dropped the bombs; the devastation inflicted by the war is total.

The hatred and the terrorists that have been created by that illegal war are incalculable. Lockheed Martin’s profits and its share price go up.

. . .   What if those bombs had been dropped on us, from the unmanned aerial vehicles (drones, airplanes) that are Lockheed Martin’s more recent gift to humanity, following after land mines and cluster munitions which are both illegal under Canadian and International Law? Lockheed’s unmanned drone programme is now moving to Saskatoon; we sink deeper into the writhings of hell.

There are a number of issues regarding Lockheed Martin’s involvement in the Canadian census: large legal, rational and moral issues, and as a significant step of the American military into Canada. The chronology below provides the context which makes the growing military intrusion apparent.

You will see serial acts of treason by Canadian officials.

The chronology shows some of

• the military developments in Canada

• the growing “normalization” of military police presence in Canada

• Lockheed Martin’s role

• mixed in with the resistance in Canada.

I make the point in the chronology that with offset agreements in Lockheed Martin contracts, the Government is transitioning to an economy that makes money on war.   Many years ago I read that 45% of the American economy is dependent upon the waging of war.

The Canada First Defence Strategy enacted in June 2008 is very clearly about transforming the Canadian economy into a war economy. Is that what we want? Because that’s what you get with Lockheed Martin.

What is the motivation behind the transformation of Canada into a puppet-state of U.S. corporate interests? We have circulated a lot of information on the situation in the U.S.. They are running out of resources (e.g. water, oil and electricity) and so they appropriate what does not belong to them.

It is like the German Nazis: their war machine ran them out of iron ore, hence the “Quisling” Government in Norway that allowed them a short run from the iron mines in northern Sweden across a narrow corridor that is Norway, to the sea for ocean transport down the Norwegian coast to German weapons factories.

The American Government dropped bombs on Iraq to secure oil. It’s a little hard for them to do that to Canada. The alternative and often-used weapon in the arsenal of the military-industrial-congressional complex in the U.S. is to set up puppet governments (petro-states), take what you want, destroy the local environment, poison the people and leave when you’re finished.

We are the creators of our own misfortunes, or not.   We need to get word to people now so they can start explaining to their friends the need to boycott the May 2011 Census, as another step in the resistance that will force Lockheed Martin Corporation, the war mongers, out of Canada.

UPDATE:   October 2013 trial of Audrey Tobias,  they’re (Lockheed Martin) out of the picture totally  at Statistics Canada, as of the 2016 Census.