Conscientious Objectors May Get Referrals

A proposal before the Berkeley City Council next week would have phone calls seeking information on avoiding military combat referred to the Central Committee for Conscientious Objectors.

The Peace and Justice Commission will ask the council to approve a plan to make the phone number and Web address of the organization available to staff members answering city phone lines.

Berkeley Mayor Shirley Dean says she has no problem with the proposal as long as the informational task does not cross the line into advocacy.

Steve Freedkin, a member of the Peace and Justice Commission, says the proposal comes from a need for balance in light of strong military messages getting to the public through national advertising campaigns.