A recent poll has shown that the majority of people in British Columbia support the Surrey School Board’s decision (for which they are being taken to court.) to not allow placement of three children’s books promoting homosexuality into primary classrooms. The issue is the appropriateness of such material for classroom use with five and six year olds. Several experts in different disciplines from across North America have filed Affidavits in support of Surrey School Board. It is stated that exposing kindergarten and grade one children to material about same sex-parents can be potentially harmful. These young children simply lack the understanding and maturity to properly process such information. Needless to say, this is a landmark court case and its importance cannot be over emphasized. One way to help the Surrey School Board is to write letters to the editor of local papers as well as BC’s main daily papers outlining the concerns that parents have about these books as well as any program in elementary school portraying homosexuality as normal and natural.

REAL Women of BC spoke at a press conference organized by the Coalition for the Protection of Parental Rights on March 12 in Burnaby. We called for the British Columbia Teacher’s Federation (BCTF) to stop meddling in and distorting family values and parental instruction and instead to go back to teaching reading, writing, and arithmetic -- for the student’s sake.

At the BCTF AGM, however, democratic discussion was thwarted, as parliamentary rules were abused and three alarming resolutions were passed. Social Justice Recommendation 23 calls for "a specific initiative with designated funding to eliminate homophobia and heterosexism . . . including . . . development of a network of local resource persons . . . to educate students; development of a workshop program . . . to provide school and classroom . . . interventions; . . . and involvement of sexual-minority persons in the development and delivery of these initiatives." Recommendation 24 "undertakes an action plan for influencing policy and encouraging education partners to address homophobia and heterosexism. This will include, but not be limited to: a) Lobbying the minister of education to include issues of sexual orientation in all IRPs . . . at all grade levels and in all subject areas; b) lobbying for legislation to prevent school boards’ prohibiting the teaching of the provincial curriculum and/or the use of ministry-recommended learning resources; c) Lobbying government to appoint an interministerial advisory committee on sexual-minority issues; d) encouraging school districts to develop and implement zero-tolerance harassment policies that include specific reference to an individual’s real or perceived sexual orientation; e) encouraging teacher training institutions to develop mandatory courses on oppression and discrimination that include a component on homophobia and heterosexism; f) advising the BC College of Teachers that teacher certification programs should include mandatory courses on oppression and discrimination that include a component on homophobia and heterosexism; g) seeking op-operation of other education partner groups to support initiatives to eliminate homophobia and hetersexism." Resolution 149 calls for the BCTF to "lobby all other educational partner groups to co-operate in combating homophobia and heterosexism" including: "a) lobbying the Ministry of Education to immediately include sexual orientation as a discrete area of cross-curricular interest in Appendix C of all the IRPs; b) lobbying the Ministry of Education to promptly activate its review process for recommended learning resources to create a list of books, videos and other materials approved for address issues of sexual orientation in all grades and subject areas; c) lobbying the Ministry of Education to advise all local school districts that they must not use narrowly determined and arbitrary processes for resource selection or otherwise prevent teachers from teaching the provincial curriculum; d) lobbying the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Children and Families, the Ministry of Health and the Attorney General’s Office to recognize and address the needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered youth and families; e) lobbying other education partner groups, such as the BCSTA, BCSSA, BCPBBPA and BCCPAC to provide anti-homophobia workshops and resources for their members; and f) lobbying the BC College of Teachers to mandate, in all BC teacher accreditation programs, an anti-oppression course which would include a component on homophobia and hetersexism."

Please write to the Minister of Education, the BCTF office, your local school board, your MLA and your local papers about these resolutions. (The above cited quotes are all taken directly from the BCTF AGM materials used by voting delegates.) Perhaps another activity could be to organize a parents "strike" and not send your children to school for a day, or a week or longer. This would be most effective if done by large numbers of parents at the same time in the same district. It would be to show that parents have lost confidence in the school system and that the Teachers Federation has gone too far. A rally and/or press conference at a local, public site could also be arranged. If you hear of these events being organized in your school district, please participate to the largest extent possible. These changes mark the end of parental authority with our families or the end of the public school system as we know it today.

There was a very different atmosphere this year at the International Women’s Day (IWD) Rally than last year. Perhaps because there was an NDP conference the same weekend, many of the more familiar faces were missing and a more radical crowd of socialist and communist groups was evident. All the speakers were ethnic, some spoke less polished English and there were no high-profile names. Former president of NAC, Sunera Thobani was in the crowd but she wasn’t even introduced. Some of the perpetrators of last year’s attack on our members, Cissy and Peggy were also recognized in the crowd.. As the march began, the prolife-profamily contingent at the rally was able to secure a good position and because of the large police presence, there was no violence directed at us. In an interesting turn of events, some girls came to us to borrow our signs, thinking they were applicable. Though the feminists told them that we were from "the wrong side" they took the signs anyway. Later, two angry Iranian parents blasted us for giving the girls the signs and using and abusing the children. They threatened to sue us if pictures were taken with the girls holding the signs, which we later found dumped in a fountain.

Was it all worth the effort? YES! It is still important to get our message across. Perhaps one year, if more or us attend, the feminists may give up on the march all together.

This is an agreement with 29 of the world’s richest countries to help facilitate the movement of money across international borders by imposing a new set of rules restricting member countries from using their own legislation, policies and programs which could be viewed as "impediments" to the free flow of global capital.

Our members are strongly encouraged to immediately commence a letter writing/telephone campaign to Prime Minister Jean Chretien and the Minister of Trade, Sergio Marchi, as well as newspapers requesting further education via an "Across Country Forum" which would educate Canadians as to the repercussions and/or benefits of this extension to NAFTA before proceeding with its endorsement . This controversial and formerly "secret" agreement will lock Canadian compliance in for 20 years despite any changes in Federal Government when it is signed, which could be as early as May or June. Issues such as foreign ownership, consumer protection, social programs and regional development will all be affected by the MAI. Canadians are once again not being consulted and informed.

Lane Walker and Jen Ziemann were arrested for staging a mock daycare in front of Every Women’s Abortion Clinic in December. After spending the following seven days in jail, they were brought before a judge. At the appropriate time in the trial, Jen made the following address to the court:

As residents of Vancouver’s downtown Eastside and active community members there, Jen was able to relate this community’s social struggles on a continuum with the life issue about which she and Lane were actually in court. The Judge was receptive to Jen’s statement, because it was obvious that they were living their commitment in areas of their lives which were also more politically acceptable. As a result of this, their sentence was time served, with a $500 fine and 18 months probation. These are exceptionally light consequences for pro-life activists.

Watching the news can often be rather depressing. Although newsworthy, it seems that nothing of this particular story made it into our newspapers. Up until a few months ago, there was an unknown born-again Lutheran pastor in Norway, husband and father of three children. Kjell Bondevik was a member of a fringe political party formed in l933, the Christian Democratic Party. In a totally secular society, where the life from a Christian viewpoint was almost unknown, many people were laughing when this Lutheran pastor was presented as the candidate for the next election. He had the support of only about 7% of the electorate. The newspapers gave him no chance. Undeterred however, the new candidate for the Christian Democratic Party went on his campaign, his posters having slogans like "Pray for our Nation - Pray for the election". Wherever he went he always included in his speeches the need to return to Norway’s Christian roots.

On the election day, September l5, the leading labor candidate declined to form a ruling coalition because he had not received the vote total he wanted. His resignation enabled the Lutheran pastor to step in and become the new Prime Minister of Norway. More than half of his 19 Ministers are professing Christians. In Bondevik’s first speech, he said "God is my strength" and stated that the erosion of morals and values must be stopped. He formed a Values Commission to deal with problems like violence, sex abuse, greed, tax evasion and the break down of family life.

The people in Norway just love this new approach. Like many other nations, Norway has for decades been plagued with high crime rates, rise of abortion rates, violence and the break down of the family. Norwegians were ready for a change and the latest poll shows that 92% of them support their new Prime Minister -- the highest support ever for any Prime Minister in the history of Norway! What exciting news. If a change so dramatic can happen in a society which was entrenched in secularism for so long, than anything can happen. Let us not forget those famous words of Winston Churchill "Never give up never never never."

World-wide, one million children enter the sex trade as child prostitutes every year. There are an estimated 10 million child victims of the global sex trade industry annually. But, you say, that doesn’t happen here, in Canada -- our children are safe. Are they?

More than half of young teen mothers are made pregnant by men in their 20's or older, a ground-breaking Statistics Canada study has found. The study examined the 72,000 teen pregnancies in Canada in 1992, 1993 and 1994. It found that 54% of the babies born to mothers 17 or younger had fathers who were 20 or older at the time of the birth. Sixty-three percent of the fathers were at least three years older that the mothers. One quarter of the fathers were six years older or more.

The numbers are particularly dramatic for the 771 babies born to girls aged 12, 13 and 14 during the three year span. More that half -- 51.2% -- of the fathers were legally adults and 25% were 20 years or older! Perhaps it is time that we Canadians stop accepting the comfortable illusion that teens are having sex with other teens.

A report commissioned by several Vancouver community groups has concluded that children exploited for sex are charged more often than those who hire them; that the children are more at risk of violence than the general population but receive less police protection; and that politicians seem more concerned about Third World children involved in the sex trade than those involved in Canada.

Though there is a law against buying or offering to buy sex with children in Canada, there is no evidence of action or progress to protect our children at the street level. Almost all adults who buy sex from children are never prosecuted: from 1988 to 1994, 354 juveniles in Vancouver were charged with offering to sell sexual services, but from 1988 to 1996 only eight men were charged with buying sex from children! Only two of the eight were convicted! The law should be changed so that those who buy sex from juveniles would be charged with sexual assault. Under the current law, those charged can escape conviction by arguing they did not know the child was a minor, but if charged with sexual assault, the age would be irrelevant.

Please write to your MP expressing your outrage, and write to REAL Women for a petition on the age of consent.

READING

These books are available through REAL Women for a cost of $12.00 each and $3.00 shipping and handling for each book:

The Feminist Takeover by Betty Steele (Patriarchy to Matriarchy in Two Decades)

This book examines the rapid growth of the women’s movement with its many government funded organizations, their mandates and the resulting destructive influences on our traditional family. This is a well researched and well written book, you’ll enjoy it.

The Disarming of Canada by John Hasek

A look at Canada’s defense scene, past, present and future. "A devastating criticism of how our military has been undermined--and solutions to the problem"-----Peter Worthington. If you are interested in an inside look at our defense and security arrangements this book is for you.

Internationally renowned artist, Bruce Dall, has commemorated our beloved Canada in celebration of the Year 2000 by creating a truly magnificent collection of 12 original silk-screened serigraphs created by hand on acid-free, museum quality paper, which are individually signed and numbered. The collection can be removed individually for display in your home or office or kept encased in its fine-grained leather, hand stitched, embossed portfolio. This limited-edition collection depicts nature in all her amazing beauty while displaying some of the tremendous diversity of the many regions of Canada.

Bruce Dall is a member of the Federation of Canadian Artists and his work is eagerly sought after. It can be found in many corporate and private collections world-wide such as those belonging to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Charles, the late Lady Diana, former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, British Petroleum and The National Bank of Switzerland.

For further information and/or a flyer on this Limited Edition Portfolio to be sent to you please write or call REAL Women Member Carolyn Wharton at PO Box 113, 1657 -- 128th Street, Surrey, BC, V4A 3V2. Telephone 1 (604) 538-2533. Cost is $2000 plus GST. Payment can be made by Visa, Mastercard, or post-dated cheques made out to Willow Creek Industries (with a 50% down payment). This purchase is a tax write-off for businesses. A generous donation will be made to REAL Women of BC or REAL Women of Canada (UN NGO delegate expenses) by the artist for each portfolio purchased.

Euthanasia is again being debated in the House of Commons. MP Swend Robinson introduced a bill last September that calls for the setting up of a special committee to review the Criminal Code provisions and draft new laws on euthanasia and doctor-assisted-suicide. Please express strongly in your own words why the laws must remain unchanged.

Canadian Nursed for Life are asking for support for the "conscience clause" submitted before the Senate by Senator Stanley Haidasz. Bill S-7 and Act to amend the Criminal Code to prohibit coercion in medical procedures that offend a person’s religion or belief that human life is inviolable has passed first and second reading.

Please write to all BC Senators Jack Huston, Pat Carney, Edward M. Lawson, Len Marchand, Raymond Perrault and Gerry St. Germain (No postage is required) at:

The Senate of Canada, Ottawa, ON K1A 0A4

Also write to Senator Stanley Haidasz offering your support and thanks.

Apparently Dr. Morgenthaler has had some changes in his attitude towards abortion. He used to promote the position of an abortion for anyone at anytime to, but recently says not after 22 weeks. There are petitions available which will be presented to Morgenthaler. If you are interested in receiving a petition to circulate please contact us at the address on the letterhead.

In September, 1997, REAL Women of BC presented a written brief to the Human Rights Commission with our critique of the proposed revisions to the Human Rights Code (HRC, formerly the Human Rights Act.) This was our second presentation to a Human Rights Review; the first was in 1994 before Professor Bill Black. Unfortunately, we are not convinced that the proposed changes to BC’s Human Rights legislation would be in the best interests of the majority of British Columbians. Our brief advocated that 13 of the 16 proposed changes be scrapped.

We were especially alarmed at the "Housekeeping" proposal which will allow the commissioner, as a social engineer, to recommend to cabinet changes in regulations and standards for determining compliance with the Code. This places incredible power in the hands of an unelected, unrepresentative official who may then advocate regulations and compliance standards with potentially draconian effects on British Columbians.

The recommendations also included one to amend the Code to prohibit discrimination on the basis of "gender identity". Our initial concern for this recommendation was that it could be used to promote the Federal Government’s definition of gender: "socially-constructed roles" (Setting the Stage for the Next Century: The Federal Plan for Gender Equality, Status of Women, Canada, August, 1995) This change, when looked at in conjunction with the HRC’s definition of equality and its intention to redress ‘historically disadvantaged" groups at the expense of mainstream society and the traditional family is a recipe for totalitarianism. Recently, a well-known American feminist said there could be as many as nine "genders". Our concerns were confirmed when the post-commission report (Human Rights for the Next Millennium, January, 1998) came out advocating for "transgendered" and "transsexual" individuals. We are no longer born either male or female. Responsible parents left free to love their children would possibly almost eliminate the incidence of non-pathological dysphoria within one generation. Loving parents left alone to teach their children to respect other people would definitely solve this dilemma in one generation.

Our organization feels that many of the recommendations would be better addressed in a healthy family setting. We feel it is in British Columbians’ best interests to curtail the powers of this legislation, and support families who want to be left alone to do their job of raising healthy, well-adjusted and respectful citizens. Many of the proposals seem to have the potential to open the door to abuse of the Commissions’ time and of taxpayers’ money on frivolous cases; other recommendations micro-manage society, individuals, families and personal relationships and are an open invitation to a small special interest group to acquire special protection to the detriment of the rights of the majority of British Columbians.

The good news was that this time in the Human Rights Commission’s Report, the commission admitted that there was a "minority" who advocated for abolishment of current Human Rights legislation. The bad news is that the Commission did not listen to them.

Please write to the Attorney General of BC, Ujjal Dosanjh and make him aware of your concerns with proposed changes to the Human Rights Code in British Columbia. Send a copy of your letter to your MLA, and to the Liberal Caucus.

Humphrey Waldock, author of "Blind Goddess: Law without Christ"

Erma Vietorisz, Heather Stilwell, Ted Hewlett, "Combating The Culture of Death in the Schools"

Dr. Robin Bernhoft, "Moving Public opinion on Euthanasia"

Micheal Markwick (luncheon speaker),"The Long Arm of Government", former executive assistant of the Ontario Human Rights Commission.

Tina Allerellie, "A Personal Encounter with Euthanasia". Tina’s sister was a victim of Kevorkian.

Jason Kenney, Rich Coleman, Colin Mayes, "Politics and the Pro-Life Movement"

Keynote address will be given at the Robson Square Conference Center, 800 Robson St., Vancouver Friday April 17^th at 7pm. Dr. and Mrs. Anthony Levatino will share their dramatic life changing experience "A Doctors Journey from Death to Life". Dr. Levatino, a former abortion provider, talks about his now staunch pro-life stance. Admission is by ticket only so please contact Surrey/Delta Pro-Life Office at 604-574-0225, more information and registration for the Saturday Conference is also available at the same number. (Baby sitting is provided free but prior notice must be received)

CHALLENGE ‘98, a group of young adolescents who go into the schools all across Canada to promote chastity through skits and talks, want to come to your school district high school. CHALLENEGE ‘98 was featured on W5, The Shirley Show, face-off, CBC"s "Big Life", in the Globe and Mail and various other TV, Radio and newspapers. They speak to their peers with great conviction about the importance of chastity, pointing out all the benefits of waiting before getting sexually involved. The message these people bring to their peers is simple: CHASTITY IS COOL! Anyone who is interested in booking the CHALLENGE ’98 team for their own school can contact Mrs. Nanne Visser at 583-3444 (lower mainland) or Mrs. MaryAnne Hessels (604) 590-2434 (Northern BC).

Thank you so much to all of you who have renewed their membership and for your generous donations. We do not get any government funding and we depend on the continued support of our friends and members. WE EXTEND A SPECIAL WELCOME TO ALL OUR NEW MEMBERS.

As mentioned in our last newsletter, membership, as of this year, will run from January to December. Please check the label on your Reality or Provincial Newsletter to see when you paid last or when your membership expires.

Do you need a gift for someone who has everything? How about a membership in R.E.A.L. Women? It is an informative and ongoing gift that many people would enjoy. If you take out a membership as a gift for someone else, please make a note on the membership application and we will send the person who receives the gift a card on your behalf.

The mail out of this newsletter is always quite costly. There are a number of members which we have left on our mailing list although they have not renewed their memberships for quite a while. Unfortunately, we are now no longer able to carry those members and will have to remove the names of all the members that have not paid before 1991. We know that you enjoy receiving the REALITY as well as our provincial newsletter and would encourage you to renew your membership. We will miss you if you don’t.

MOVING?? Let us know!! HOT ISSUES!! Sometimes we would like to get in touch with you fast. Please let us know if you have access (even through a friend) to a fax machine or if you have e-mail. Once in a while certain issues need immediate action and response.

Some members in the Surrey area have expressed the desire to start a prayer chain dealing in particular with social issues. If you would like to be a part of this please let us know or call directly to Janice at 574-9232.

Briefly, the local chapter has been involved in the following issues and events over the last year. 1. Our chapter hosted the BC Annual General Meeting for REAL Women in May of this year. 2. The government of BC has have given us no chance to rest as we have responded to various legislation over the past year:

i) Bill 31 the Family Relations Amendment Act, which redefined the family, changing "spouse" to mean a person living with another person in a "marriage-like" relationship including persons of the same gender.

ii)The BC Teachers Federation passed a resolution to (quote)"combat homophobia and heterosexism", a motion coming straight from Gay and Lesbian Educators of BC (GALE).

iii) The BC Human Rights Commission held a series of public forums a few of us from the executive were able to attend and then respond to the 12 changes that are proposed to the Human Rights Code.

Kelowna Real Women has a resting place. We have been able to rent a corner in the Kelowna Right to Life office, at a VERY nominal price. This is a place where we can put brochures and information for the public.

Our chapter now holds a prayer meeting every fourth Monday evening at the home of Lynette Fruson, at 7:30 p.m. and we have no shortage of prayer requests. If you have a request, or would like to attend, please feel welcome!

Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting of R.E.A.L. WOMEN OF BC (hereinafter call the "Corporation") will be held in Fleetwood Library Meeting Room, 15996 84 Ave., Surrey, BC, V3N 2N7, May 28^th 1997 at 7:00PM for the following purposes:

1. To receive the financial statements of the Corporation for the fiscal year ending 31 December, 1997, together with the reports of the directors;

2. To elect a new Board of Directors

(a) Nominations Advance nominations shall be in writing and shall be submitted by not less than two members in good standing, with the written consent of the nominee, and received by the Nominations Committee at least two weeks in advance (by May 14^th ,1998). A brief biography of the candidate must be submitted along with the nomination. Nominators must vouch that the candidate is a member in good standing, and upholds the philosophy, aims and objectives of the corporation. Nominations should be mailed to Nominating Chairman, 8557 - 164 A Street, Surrey, BC, V4N 3G8, or faxed to the Nominating Chairman at (604) 576-3069. Only members in good standing who have been members for at least 60 days prior to this meeting shall have the right to nominate, vote and/or run for office.

3. To hear and vote on resolutions from voting members. (a) Resolutions shall be submitted in writing, to allow time for them to be typed and enclosed in the members' packets for the AGM. According to the bylaws of the corporation, a resolution may be submitted by one member in good standing, and does not need a seconder to be presented before the members at the AGM. Please submit Resolutions by May 11th ,1998 to Resolutions Chairman, c/o 21676 Spring Crescent, Maple Ridge, BC, V2X 4M6, email them via the Web page, or fax them to (604) 463-1601.

4. To transact any other business as may properly come before the meeting before adjournment.

PLEASE NOTE: New members and renewals will be accepted on the date of the meeting, but new members must attend as observers, not as voting members. Those members whose memberships have lapsed may renew and will be allowed to vote. The Annual General Meeting is open to members, representatives from member organizations and to cooperating organizations.

Dated in Surrey, February 29th, 1998

Doris Darvasi