Whereas, the crisis in Syria has resulted in some NATO member states calling for regime change in Syria.
Whereas, Military interventions have an appalling track record throughout the world. Usually justified as
“humanitarian interventions” under the doctrine of “Responsibility to Protect”, and supposedly undertaken as a
means of stopping civilian casualties, military intrusions actually result in even more civilian deaths and the
destruction of infrastructure crucial to supporting life.
Whereas, There is already a concern that other regional and global players, intent on their own geopolitical aims,
have infiltrated the Syrian resistance, further muddying the waters and making an already complicated situation
even more untenable. Sending more arms and NATO bombs into that mix will not protect the Syrian people but
will once again escalate the crisis.
We the undersigned call on the government of Canada to be the first to downscale the tensions that have
escalated over the Syrian downing of the Turkish fighter jet by:
1) ending calls for regime change in Syria and working toward the success of the Annan peace process in Syria;
2) urging restraint at the upcoming emergency meeting of the NATO Council, called by Turkey;
3) recalling the HMCS Charlottetown and other warships from the Middle East, where the presence of these
gunboats are likely to drag Canada into war.