MAKING PEACE: IN MEMORY OF STEPHEN MOORE

Rather than making peace, Canada keeps on making war:

• April 2016: Canada approved a $15 billion sale of weapons to Saudi Arabia.
• March 2017: Canada extended its military mission in Ukraine until March 2019.
• June 2017: Canada extended its military mission in Iraq and Syria until March 2019.
• June 2017: Canadian troops arrived in Latvia to lead a NATO mission against “Russian aggression.”
• June 2017: Canada increased its war spending by 70% over the next 10 years.
• July 2017: Canada was not one of the 122 countries that signed a treaty banning nuclear weapons.

WHAT CAN WE DO FOR PEACE?

ENDLESS WAR: 2001 – 2017: CANADIAN ENGAGEMENT

AFGHANISTAN     October 2001 – March 2014: 12+ years

LIBYA                        March 2011 – October 2011: 7 months

IRAQ                          October 2014 – ongoing

SYRIA                        March 2015 – ongoing

UKRAINE                 September 2015 – ongoing

LATVIA                     June 2017 – ongoing

As this table indicates, since 2001, there have been only a few months—March to October 2014—that Canada has not been engaged in  war.          

Why, instead of working for peace, has Canada chosen this ongoing, seemingly never-ending involvement in war? There are three main reasons:

1. Canada’s dependence on the US for its foreign policy.
2. Canada’s membership in the US-led military alliance NATO.
3. Profits for the Canadian arms industry.

MORE WAR-MAKING

In June, Canada further strengthened its commitment to war-making by increasing its war spending by 70% over the next 10 years, from $18.9 billion in 2016–17 to $32.7 billion in 2026–27.

This is money that could, instead, be spent on education, healthcare, affordable housing, or the implementation of the 94 Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

Why is Canada increasing its military spending? There are at least two answers to this question:

1. US PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP DEMANDED IT. Trump is putting pressure on NATO members to pay “their fair share” of costs for NATO—a US-led military alliance.
2. PRIME MINISTER JUSTIN TRUDEAU WANTS IT.

A more militaristic and war-making nation is, perhaps, what Trudeau had in mind when, shortly after the 2015 election, he said “Canada is back.”

There are many indications that, by “back,” Trudeau meant more war-making. For example, the Trudeau government has twice extended Canada’s military mission in Iraq and Syria.

ENDLESS WAR: WHO BENEFITS?

War is big business. Many countries, including Canada, are making a killing out of this never-ending war-making.

• The Canadian arms industry generates about $10 billion in revenue annually, with 60% coming from exports.
• The US is the largest market for Canadian military equipment.
• Canada is the 2^nd largest exporter of arms to the Middle East.
• Canada is the 6^th largest exporter of arms in the world. 

WHO LOSES? Ordinary citizens everywhere. 

BANNING NUCLEAR WEAPONS

THE GOOD NEWS

Last month, 122 countries, a large majority of the UN members, signed a legally-binding treaty banning nuclear weapons. This treaty is the first major development in nuclear disarmament in many decades.

THE BAD NEWS

Canada did not sign the treaty. Nor did any of the nine nuclear-armed states.

Why did Canada not sign? Canada is a member of NATO. NATO reserves the right to use nuclear weapons on a first-strike basis. The US instructed all NATO members to reject the treaty. 

MAKING PEACE

WHAT CANADA MUST DO

• Withdraw from the military missions in Iraq, Syria, Ukraine, and Latvia.
• Develop a foreign policy independent of the US.
• Get out of NATO.
• Stop selling arms.
• Sign the UN treaty banning nuclear weapons.
• Make diplomatic peacemaking a top priority.

IN MEMORY OF STEPHEN MOORE: 1969 – 2017

Making Peace Vigil is holding today’s vigil in memory of Stephen Moore, who died on August 16, 2017. A founding member of the Vigil, Stephen devoted his life to the struggle for peace and justice.

Right up until the very end, Stephen used his voice to call for peace, dictating the letter, printed below, to his daughter from his hospital bed. The letter appeared in the Leader-Post on August 17, 2017, the day after Stephen died.

“Canada’s role in the global arms trade, and its role in nuclear proliferation in particular, is a disgrace. In this year alone, it seems Canadian equipment has been used by Saudi Arabia, while former MPs Irwin Cotler and Daniel Turp…call for a halt of such sales….Their message couldn’t be clearer: No guns or weapons to human rights violators.  

Names aside, labels aside and parties aside, an eerie choir of undertakers echoes our national anthem down Bay Street to the tune of billions of dollars paid to the global arms trade. This depressing scene says nothing of Canada’s role as a spreader of nuclear weapons, technology and materials…..  

The stakes could scarcely be higher. Global warming and climate change, as well as global nuclear arms proliferation, are the two great threats to continued human existence. Canada must stand four-square against both. Earlier this year, more than 100 nations voted to stop altogether the trade in nuclear arms. Canada was not among them. We cited NATO’s self-defence policy as our reason, the very same reason nations like North Korea, Pakistan, India and China use to ignore the non-proliferation treaty. 

Let us stand on the right side of human history, giving voice to peace and allowing future generations to have their voices heard.”

Thank you, Stephen, for giving voice to peace. You are an inspiration to us all.