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we oe QANAANIAINV/OWNA YATE D "WEEKEND STAR" SQAT? CHAN FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2001 - 3 co Noted historian, journalist Gwynne Dyer visits Scugog Terrorist strikes on Canadian soil quite warns PPHS guest speaker possibly, By Rik Davie Weekend Star Canada should prepare for the possibility of ter- rorist attacks, local high school students were warned this week. Noted historian, author, journalist and pro- ducer Gwynne Dyer spoke to a full auditorium of Port Perry and Cartwright high school students at a rare public session on Tuesday, where he told those on hand that Canada should prepare for inevitable strikes by terrorists. He also noted that most terrorists are well educated rich kids, and not poverty stricken people seeking freedom. Mr. Dyer, whose col- umn on world affairs is syndicated in over 150 newspapers world-wide each week, is a Canadian now living in London, England. He has com- mented on Mid-East, mili- tary and political affairs for a variety of media out- lets and was the driving force behind the epic CBC documentary 'War'. He spoke to students on the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and what they meant for Canadians. "I am a journalist by trade," Mr. Dyer told the students. "As such, my job is making sense of what's happening before all the facts are in." He warned the stu- dents to beware of 'experts'. "I am not a psychic and I have no special gift. No one knows, in fact, how all this will turn out. It is human (the war in Afghanistan) and as we are speaking here in this room it is night in Afghanistan and people are being killed by American bombs. This is a war." Mr. Dyer told students about his thoughts on why the terror attacks took place. ism is not about poverty. "Curing poverty will not cure terrorism. In fact, most terrorists 1 know of - come from rather comfort- able backgrounds and are well educated," Mr. Dyer said, noting that terrorism is mostly about achieving political goals. First, he stressed, 'it "must be clear that terror- . "They say to them- selves, we want to over throw these (Middle Eastern) governments and make a revolution among the Muslims of the world, so let's (attack the U.S.) kill a lot of people. Rub the American's noses in it and let them do our job for us," said Mr. Dyer. He also told students that he believes the idea behind the strikes was to provoke the U.S. into an overreaction that would see many innocent Muslims killed and thus create an uprising that would see Muslims depose U.S.-supported governments if" the Middle East. | As for the effect on Canada: "The Canadians? Well, we have already: committed troops. By doing this we may be heading for terrorist attacks of our own. If there are cells "of térrorists in. = Canada that are still in a position to function, then make no mistakes, they are planning attacks right now as we speak," Mr. Dyer warned. "Canada is about to participate in a war that will get a good deal worse before it gets better," he predicted. Students sat in rapt attention through the talk which discussed both the history of the Middle East and the history of terror- ism in the modern age. When asked by a stu- dent what he believed would happen to suspect- ed terrorist leader Osama bin Laden when captured, he was somewhat cryptic in his answer. "Well, the reality of capturing bin Laden for trial is slim. Many are shot trying to escape," Mr. Dyer said. "But if captured he would have to be tried by the U.S. system of inno- cence until guilt is proven because that is the sys- tem they are fighting to persevere, after all." In the end, Mr. Dyer sent the students a mes- sage of hope in a changing world. = TT "Les8™ than 20 years ago, in your lifetime... less than a third of the world governments were democracies," Mr. Dyer said, "Now, today, two- thirds are democratically ruled. Some better than others... but still for the first time we outnumber them. World War Three will not happen from this, that was cancelled several years ago. Democracies do not make war on other democracies. If we use the tools to solve the politics oin us in celebrating our 120th year in business! behind terrorism we will be well on our way to con- trolling it." High school students from across Scugog Township gathered at Port Perry High School this week to listen to Gwynne Dyer speak. Founded by our Great, Great Grandfather William Brock in 1881, Brock's has seen numerous changes throughout the decades & century. We have progressed from dry goods; crockery, groceries, wall paper & linoleum to the latest in fashions & footwear today. Join us for goodies, coffee & special savings this weekend as we celebrate 120 years serving the Port Perry & surrounding community. binds he { «ol Pty $8 178 Oucen Street O05 OK \ VLE e 25) % - "mn a i Sf © er ---- 3 fi RAEN i (I I -- 5 i H i ¥ Re KG SIAR FeY0] Ope a Da an SA a a I mpi