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Path: utzoo!watmath!watnot!watdragon!jmsellens
From: jmsellens@watdragon.UUCP (John M Sellens)
Newsgroups: can.politics,net.micro
Subject: Re: To sell software to Capetown U. or not to sell?
Message-ID: <1523@watdragon.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 30-Sep-86 18:27:12 EDT
Article-I.D.: watdrago.1523
Posted: Tue Sep 30 18:27:12 1986
Date-Received: Wed, 1-Oct-86 03:49:36 EDT
References: <674@looking.UUCP>
Reply-To: jmsellens@watdragon.UUCP (John M Sellens)
Distribution: can
Organization: U of Waterloo, Ontario
Lines: 29
Xref: watmath can.politics:1031 net.micro:15681
Summary: 

I'm surprised that Brad's article hasn't yet provoked a huge flurry
of response.  So I'll wade into the (whatever - I lost my train of
analogy):

In article <674@looking.UUCP> brad@looking.UUCP (Brad Templeton) writes:
>1) How can one verify that this is the truth?

The Canadian gov't has agencies that help people export stuff (Export
Development agency?) - perhaps they could provide some info.  Or
External Affairs?  There's probably some organization in Toronto
working at fighting apartheid - is there an ANC branch?

>2) If it is, should a refusal to sell to South Africans be general, or
>should you make exceptions where you can?

I, personally, have trouble with this boycott idea.  I have heard blacks
from South Africa speak both for and against boycotts, both cultural and
financial.  Heck, I even watched the New Music show on South Africa
and songs like "Sun City".

To me it really doesn't seem clear whether a boycott helps or hurts the
blacks (and other groups, such as the Indians) in South Africa.  If I
were you, I think I would try to obtain some independent confirmation
of the Professor's assertions.  Then, if it is non-discriminatory, and
working towards that, then I think I would sell it.  I might make a point
of letting the South African gov't (Dear Mr. Botha:) know that you were
selling to this University only because they oppose racism.

John