The only comprehensive source of data and analysis on space activities and their cumulative impact on the security of outer space, Space Security 2009 is the sixth annual report on trends and developments in space, covering the period January to December 2009. It is part of a wider Space Security Index project that facilitates dialog among space experts on space security challenges. Project partners include Project Ploughshares, Secure World Foundation, the Institute of Air and Space Law at McGill University, the Simons Centre for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Research at the University of British Columbia, the Cypress Fund for Peace and Security, and the Space Generation Foundation.
A new report entitled, Addressing Armed Violence in East Africa (link to come), was released September 30 by Project Ploughshares and World Vision Canada. Written by Executive Director John Siebert and Senior Program Associate Kenneth Epps, this report describes World Vision’s work in parts of Kenya, Uganda and Sudan to combine peacebuilding with development programming. John and Kenneth collaborated with World Vision Canada staff to carry out field research for the report in September 2008.
The annual Ploughshares Armed Conflicts Report is now available for 2009 in poster format or, with detailed charts and country descriptions, as a web-based report. This year's Preface writer is Dr. James Orbinski, MD, who, in 1999, accepted the Nobel Peace Prize awarded to Doctors Without Borders for its pioneering approach to medical humanitarianism.
Staff Transitions
In mid-August we said farewell to Jessica West, Program Associate with Project Ploughshares since September 2006. Over the last three years she managed the Space Security Index (SSI) project, overseeing the research, production, and publication of the annual report on space security. She also worked with staff in carrying out Ploughshares’ nuclear disarmament program. Jessica made presentations on space security at numerous events around the world, including the US Air Force Space Command in Colorado, the Institute for Defence and Security Analyses in New Delhi, and an e-Parliament hearing in Brussels. In September Jessica entered the joint University of Waterloo – Wilfrid Laurier University PhD Program in Global Governance at the Balsillie School of International Affairs. We wish her much success in this new challenge.
On September 1 we welcomed Cesar Jaramillo as a Program Associate. Cesar will manage the SSI project and the publication of the annual report on space security, as well as participate in implementing nuclear disarmament initiatives. Cesar has a degree in Journalism from Pontifical Bolivariana University in Medellin, Colombia and BA and MA degrees in, respectively, Political Science and Global Governance from the University of Waterloo. Cesar has worked as a journalist, translator, interpreter, teacher, and researcher and brings this wide range of skills and experience to his new position with Project Ploughshares.
Program Updates
Arms Trade Treaty (ATT)
Earlier this year, Ploughshares assumed responsibility for managing a one-year program in support of international civil society efforts to achieve an Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) under funding from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office of the United Kingdom. Events have been planned across the globe and the following pictures were taken at those held in Lebanon and India.
Lebanon
In July, the Permanent Peace Movement in Beirut, Lebanon organized an event titled "Supporting the Arms Trade Treaty in North Africa and the Middle East". The three delegates pictured here are (left to right) Jassim bou Jassim (Bahrein), Sherif Azer (Egypt), and Suhair Mahdi (Sudan).
India
In New Delhi, India, an ATT briefing session for Indian Parliamentarians was organized in August by the Control Arms Foundation of India. Thirteen parliamentarians attended from 8 different states that are particularly affected by unregulated arms proliferation. Pictured below are the assembled parliamentarians and event organizers.
Also in New Delhi, In September, the Control Arms Foundation of India coordinated a photo exhibition, "A Farewell to Arms". The exhibition featured entries from 14 renowned photographers from across India who documented the human cost of arms proliferation. Below, noted Indian photographer Roghu Rai inaugurates the exhibition with a lamp-lighting.
Geneva Declaration on Armed Violence and Development
On July 31, Program Associate Maribel Gonzales attended a multi-sectoral Consultation on the Geneva Declaration inNew York.The meeting was convened to brainstorm on the conference themes, ideas on participation, and style of gathering for the 2010 Southeast Asia and Pacific Regional Meeting for the Geneva Declaration to be held in Manila.
John Siebert was in Geneva, Switzerland on September 28-29 to attend a NGO strategy workshop called, “Next Steps for Civil Society Involvement in the Geneva Declaration Process,” hosted by the Quaker United Nations Office (QUNO).
Space Security
Cesar Jaramillo and John Siebert attended a Space Canada policy event on space-based solar power in Toronto on September 8 where John gave a plenary presentation on the Space Security Index (SSI) project. With the size of the investment required to make space-based solar power a reality, investors, insurers, designers, systems manufacturers, and other potential stakeholders need to know about risks such as military intentions and legal and regulatory uncertainty. The SSI provides the information needed to make informed decisions on these issues.
International Day of Peace
Project Ploughshares issued a statement which reflects on the current dangers of nuclear weapons as well as the opportunities for advancing nuclear abolition. Canada is well-positioned as a middle power to support and promote the overall nuclear disarmament agenda.
Ploughshares local groups in Edmonton and Calgary were both involved in public events.
In Edmonton, City Hall served as a venue for a gathering sponsored by many city peace and justice organizations including Ploughshares Edmonton. Pictured here is a group of students who attended from Belgravia school.
In Calgary, the International Day of Peace saw the culmination of 2 years of work with the unveiling of Calgary's Peace Pole and Plaza. Some 56 Calgary organizations were involved in this project including Ploughshares Calgary. On the Peace Pole "May peace prevail on earth" is written in English, Blackfoot, Cree, and French while the word "Peace" is etched in eightly languages, symbolizing the ones spoken by Calgarians. The Peace Pole Plaza is pictured here with the Peace Pole in the centre and behind it, large letters spelling "engage".
Other Meetings and Speaking Engagements
On July 30, John Siebert was in Edmonton to present a well-attended workshop titled “Is Canada still in the peace business?”. Organized by Ploughshares Edmonton, the workshop was part of a Global Youth Assembly conference titled “Our Global Community: Building a Better World One Brick at a Time” put on by the John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights.
On August 6, Jessica West made a presentation at Ploughshares Hamilton's Hiroshima Day commemoration.
In Ottawa on September 17, John Siebert participated in a workshop on Canada’s future policy and programming in Sudan. It was organized by the Sudan Inter-agency Reference Group (SIARG), an umbrella organization of Canadian NGOs working in Sudan including Project Ploughshares. The recommendations from this NGO consultation with officials from DFAIT, CIDA, DND, the RCMP, Corrections Canada and other departments will be considered by the Sudan Task Force of DFAIT as Sudan approaches key moments in the implementation of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement, including national elections in 2010 and a referendum on Southern Sudan independence in 2011.
While in Ottawa, John also made a presentation to the Conflict Prevention Working Group of Peacebuild on his participation in the Global Partnerhship for the Prevention of Armed Conflict workshop (GPPAC), held in Istanbul, Turkey, in July 2009. GPPAC is organizing meetings in the fall of 2009 with the Organization of American States (OAS) and other regional inter-governmental bodies in the Americas to discuss the role of NGOs in supporting conflict prevention.
Project Ploughshares in the News
Senior Policy Advisor Ernie Regehr was quoted in the article "Day slams Grit era response to India nuke tests" published in the September 30 issue of Embassy.
Ernie Regehr was extensively quoted by Randy Woods in “Canada, India could finalize nuclear cooperation deal soon", Platts (http://www.platts.com/AboutPlattsHome.aspx), August 2009.
Our nuclear ambivalence must end Ernie Regehr Waterloo Region Record, August 6, 2009
(This also appeared in the Guelph Mercury.)
Revisiting, and Reviving, the R2P Ernie Regehr Embassy, July 22, 2009
This article was highlighted in the Canadian Embassy in Washington's July 27th "Canada Watch", a weekly update on research from Canadian think tanks and universities.
Documents and Publications Now Online
Addressing Armed Violence in East Africa (link to come) John Siebert and Kenneth Epps
Project Ploughshares and World Vision Canada
September 2009
The Vital Components of an Arms Trade Treaty (English) (French)
Control Arms, July 2009
Disarming Conflict
Ernie Regehr's blog is at http://www.cigionline.org/publications/blogs/disarmingconflict . His postings since mid-July have focused largely on various aspects of nuclear nonproliferation including the recent talks with Iran. His reflections have also touched on the issues of a renewed stalemate at the UN Conference on Disarmament, the use of military force in peace operations, and the effects of military spending.
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