plaice@uvicctr.UUCP (plaice) (12/01/88)
We have heard much about perestroika and glastnost in the last couple of years. Liberties are being increased, but there are still incredible problems to be resolved. One of the most visible (at least from the West) is the fact that many Jewish refusniks are still not allowed to emigrate. Not only are they refused emigration, but they essentially lose their jobs, as well as any access to libraries, former colleagues and laboratories, typically for trumped-up security reasons. Please circulate this letter, have as many people as possible sign it, and send it off to Mikhail Gorbachev. John Plaice --------------------------- Mikhail S. Gorbachev General Secretary, CPSU The Kremlin Moscow 103132 RSFSR, USSR Dear Mr. General Secretary: We have followed closely and welcome the steps being taken by your government with regard to the release of political prisoners and other liberalizing measures. We write you now to call your attention to a longstanding and still unresolved problem which concerns us deeply: Many scientific colleagues continue to be prevented from leaving the Soviet Union after being in a state of limbo for more than five years -- some for more than ten. We appeal to you to grant these colleagues of ours permission to emigrate, in accordance with your statement of October l985, and resume their long-interrupted professional lives. Resolution of this problem will remove a great stumbling block to full-hearted scientific cooperation. Hoping for a positive response, we send our greetings and good wishes. Sincerely yours, -- John PLAICE (+1) 604/721.7299 Dept. of Computer Science plaice@uvunix.uvic.ca University of Victoria ...!ubc-vision!uvicctr!plaice Victoria, B.C. CANADA V8W 2Y2
dlbedws@datlog.co.uk ( Simon Bedwell ) (12/05/88)
Whilst I totally agree with the sentiments expressed in this posting I feel I must comment on the general method of expressing dissatisfaction being suggested - that of copying, signing and sending STANDARD LETTERS. My girlfriend worked for a Government Minister. On hearing about the above, she told me that it is STANDARD PRACTICE to discard ALL standard letters received about a subject. The resoning behind this is that if someone cannot be bothered to spend time considering the issues involved and composing an original letter, then they cannot *really* be interested in the subject. I should add to this that original letters are read and taken note of. Moral: DON'T BE LAZY !! If you really care then THINK about the issues, COMPOSE an original letter, SEND it. --SB