Thanks to one of our members for alerting us to the opportunity to participate in a survey on the upcoming federal budget.
Below are some ideas for responses.
Continue readingDraw the Line Sept. 20
It’s encouraging to see that the Sept. 20 global day of climate action is making the links between destruction of our living home, the earth, war & militarism, the need to respect Indigenous rights and other social justice issues. Learn more here: https://drawtheline.world/canada?r=CA&d=BC&lang=en How can we participate in ways that help people learn about the power of nonviolence?
Building a Future Without War: A Workshop for Action & Solidarity
US-based Center on Conscience & War is hosting a two-evening (Aug. 19 & 20, 2025) online workshop panel bringing together powerful voices from national organizations that support people confronting the military system—whether they’re being recruited, currently serving, seeking discharge, or looking for healing and solidarity after service.
Featured speakers include Stephen Englehart, legendary Marvel Comics writer (Captain America, Doctor Strange) and a Vietnam-era Conscientious Objector.
Continue readingIf military spending just makes things worse, then what?
In their article on the Rise of End Times Fascism , Naomi Klein and Astra Taylor help us understand what the real threats are: “The forces we are up against have made peace with mass death. They are treasonous to this world and its human and non-human inhabitants.” It’s obvious that spending billions of public money on militarism, often enriching some of the end times fascist entities, using gifts from our living home, the earth, in totally unsustainable ways, is counterproductive.
Conscience Canada is working with other activists from across the country to explore options for unarmed civilian defence (UCD). Instead of investing in “defence” that relies on violence and threats, we want to invest in protecting what we love. Researchers such as Erica Chenowith & Maria Stephan have shown nonviolent social change efforts are often more effective than violence in protecting what we value. Most governments seem to have discounted this option, so it’s up to us to make it happen.
Sign on to Global Network Statement on Golden Dome
Conscience Canada has signed on to this statement: https://space4peace.org/global-network-statement-on-golden-dome/ & we invite you to do so too.
Invitation: Our 2025 AGM, via Zoom
Your input for our upcoming AGM (April 12, 2025, via Zoom) is welcome! After the business section, participants will discuss how to promote peace & justice education. Please email info@consciencecanada.ca to register. See below for more details.
Note: The Pace e Bene colouring pages, above, are available at https://paceebene.org/coloring-pages
Canada & Nonviolent Resistance
Richard Sandbrook (VP of S4P) writes, “training and organization should be the goal of as many organizations as possible within civil society: churches, synagogues, temples, civil rights organizations, unions, indigenous rights organizations, peace organizations, climate groups, for example. Michael Beer’s manual on more than 300 tactics of nonviolent resistance, which is available free online, is an accessible guide.” For a good starting point on exploring the role of nonviolence in our current context, read the article here: https://www.scienceforpeace.org/post/freedom-is-not-free-canada-and-nonviolent-resistance Another useful article on this theme: https://www.meditationsinanemergency.com/the-nature-of-our-power-a-conversation-with-political-scientist-erica-chenoweth/
War, Climate Fairness & Planetary Health webinar
The IPPNW (International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War-Canadian branch), Conscience Canada, Doctors for Planetary Health West Coast and the Climate Emergency Unit are co-sponsoring a discussion on how to better prioritize fairness and health while addressing the climate crisis. To register, go to: https://www.ippnwcanada.ca/archive/february-speaker-series-war-climate-fairness-amp-planetary-health-is-the-cop-process-harmful-register-now
Chris Houston’s articles-worth sharing!
It’s exciting to learn that journalist, UofT faculty member, consultant, peace museum advocate Chris Houston produces a weekly peace-themed column for an independently owned paper, the Bancroft Times. The 28/01/25 article focuses on the harms caused to wellbeing, including peace, of US govt. policies and the clamour to increase military spending. https://chrishouston.ca/stories-of-peace/f/the-audacity-of-america
Virtual Conference: Compassion, Justice, in Polarizing Times
Anima Leadership was founded in 2007 to nurture inclusive, productive workplaces & communities. It’s a professional consulting firm which offers some free events, including the Conference, Jan. 21 – 23: https://animaleadership.com/anima-conference-2025/