Building support for the next 50 years

In 1976, Project Ploughshares embarked on a mission to advance policies and actions that prevent war and armed violence and build sustainable peace. Fifty years later, the global landscape has changed dramatically, but in many respects Canada and the world is facing a similar moment. 

Alarm bells are being sounded as nuclear powers seek to upgrade their arsenals and threaten to use them, and as efforts to prevent further proliferation are under duress. Overall military spending is dramatically accelerating as nations fear threats near and far—defence contractors are flying high, other business are racing to get in on the action, and the implications for the global arms trade are concerning.

There are also profound differences between 1976 and 2026. Military applications for new technologies such as artificial intelligence, and military activities in new domains such as space, have gone from the realm of science fiction to an everyday reality. Perhaps most troubling, any semblance of consensus on the importance of multilateral cooperation and international law has been ruptured.

Project Ploughshares is hard at work on all of these fronts, continuing to rely on credible research and collaboration to propose alternative approaches that will bring the world closer to real security and sustainable peace. “We are at the tables where these pressing policy issues are being debated,” said Paul Heidebrecht, Project Ploughshares’ new Director. 

It is also time for the organization to renew its capacity to contribute toward efforts to turn swords into ploughshares. To that end, Heidebrecht is pleased to announce that Fred W. Martin has joined the team as a Fundraising Consultant. Recently retired as Director of Advancement at Conrad Grebel University College, Martin brings years experience in fundraising and institutional administration to this role. 

“I’m very excited to be involved at Project Ploughshares at this particular point in time,” said Martin. “Ploughshares’ plays a pivotal role in bringing solid research to bear on issues of peace and militarism. I’m looking forward to conversations with our supporters about how we can respond to this moment.” 

Colin Read, Chair of the Project Ploughshares Management Committee, noted that “as we celebrate our 50^th anniversary, we are looking ahead to position Ploughshares to be relevant and vibrant for another 50 years. Fred’s fundraising expertise will be an important part of this process.”

Martin begins his work in late March and can be reached at: fwmartin@ploughshares.ca.