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.
Conscience Canada has signed on to this statement: 
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: 
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: 
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. 
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: 
We invite you to join us in wearing white poppies, blue scarves and other symbols of our commitment to work for peace with justice.
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