Ceasefire Canada
Encyclopedia
Ceasefire.ca is a public policy research and advocacy group. It functions as the research and advocacy arm of the Rideau Institute on International Affairs
.
to prevent Canada
from joining the U.S Ballistic Missile Defense program. The key figures in the creation of Ceasefire.ca were Steve Staples and Peter Coombes. In fact the name was used in a previous campaign to stop the invasion of Iraq. Staples and Coombes were inspired by the success of web-based campaigns such as Moveon.org. Ceasefire.com was intended to be a web-based tool for citizen action on Canadian government policy. In 2007 Ceasefire.ca moved to the Rideau Institute on International Affairs under Steve Staples. Over the years it has been involved in a number of campaigns. It was involved in the campaign against the George W. Bush
's Star Wars program, it helped push many Canadian politicians to oppose the war in Afghanistan
, allowed US war resisters to stay in Canada
, called for the ban on deadly cluster bombs, lobbied for the abolishment of nuclear weapons, and worked to prevent the weaponization of space. From its humble beginnings Ceasefire.ca has grown to a membership of 15,000 subscribers who receive online bulletins and take part in online letter writing campaigns. Also, over 1000 have become donors and help fund the organization's campaign work and research activities.
One of the key features on the Ceasefire.ca website is the regular blog posts on issues that Ceasefire.ca is involved with. These range from the war in Afghanistan (2001-present), nuclear disarmament
, missile defence to Canadian military spending. Posts are provided by staff, students and interns. Many volunteers and interns are students from Carleton University
, University of Ottawa
and Saint Paul University
. The blogs are edited by Bill Robinson who has been writing on Canadian defence and security policy issues since 1983. He was also a member of Project Ploughshares. In addition he has contributed to Canadian Network to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, the Polaris Institute
, the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives
and the Rideau Institute on International Affairs
.
Action Alerts
Ceasefire.ca mobilizes its members to take action on issues that affect peace and justice. Through its Action Alerts it raises awareness for its surveys, letter writing and postcard campaigns. Examples of this would be a letter writing campaign calling for a inquiry into the torture scandal and the campaign for a federal department for peace.
Events
Ceasefire.ca also works to promote events that work towards peace. It makes its subscribers aware of guest speakers, forums, book launches and other peace related events.
Media coverage
The site covers media content by make the public aware of major reports, studies and news stories.
Newsletter
The newsletter is a service that the public can subscribe to. Sent out once or twice a month, the newsletter makes its subscribers aware of all the latest news on the issues concerning Canada, peace and justice.
, Matthew Good
, Maude Barlow
, Mel Hurtig
and Helen Caldicott
.
Rideau Institute on International Affairs
The Rideau Institute was founded in January 2007. It is a left leaning, registered non-profit organization based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. The Institute's primary activities are independent research, advocacy and consulting. It aids decision makers, opinion leaders and the public through...
.
History
Ceasefire.ca was created in 2003 by the Polaris InstitutePolaris Institute
The Polaris Institute is a Canadian think tank based in Ottawa. Its stated goal is "to help empower citizen movements towards democratic social change"...
to prevent Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
from joining the U.S Ballistic Missile Defense program. The key figures in the creation of Ceasefire.ca were Steve Staples and Peter Coombes. In fact the name was used in a previous campaign to stop the invasion of Iraq. Staples and Coombes were inspired by the success of web-based campaigns such as Moveon.org. Ceasefire.com was intended to be a web-based tool for citizen action on Canadian government policy. In 2007 Ceasefire.ca moved to the Rideau Institute on International Affairs under Steve Staples. Over the years it has been involved in a number of campaigns. It was involved in the campaign against the George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
's Star Wars program, it helped push many Canadian politicians to oppose the war in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
, allowed US war resisters to stay in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, called for the ban on deadly cluster bombs, lobbied for the abolishment of nuclear weapons, and worked to prevent the weaponization of space. From its humble beginnings Ceasefire.ca has grown to a membership of 15,000 subscribers who receive online bulletins and take part in online letter writing campaigns. Also, over 1000 have become donors and help fund the organization's campaign work and research activities.
Activities
Blog PostsOne of the key features on the Ceasefire.ca website is the regular blog posts on issues that Ceasefire.ca is involved with. These range from the war in Afghanistan (2001-present), nuclear disarmament
Nuclear disarmament
Nuclear disarmament refers to both the act of reducing or eliminating nuclear weapons and to the end state of a nuclear-free world, in which nuclear weapons are completely eliminated....
, missile defence to Canadian military spending. Posts are provided by staff, students and interns. Many volunteers and interns are students from Carleton University
Carleton University
Carleton University is a comprehensive university located in the capital of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario. The enabling legislation is The Carleton University Act, 1952, S.O. 1952. Founded as a small college in 1942, Carleton now offers over 65 programs in a diverse range of disciplines. Carleton has...
, University of Ottawa
University of Ottawa
The University of Ottawa is a bilingual, research-intensive, non-denominational, international university in Ottawa, Ontario. It is one of the oldest universities in Canada. It was originally established as the College of Bytown in 1848 by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate...
and Saint Paul University
Saint Paul University
Saint Paul University is a Catholic Pontifical university federated with the University of Ottawa. It is located on Main Street in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, and has been entrusted for more than a century to the Congregation of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate...
. The blogs are edited by Bill Robinson who has been writing on Canadian defence and security policy issues since 1983. He was also a member of Project Ploughshares. In addition he has contributed to Canadian Network to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, the Polaris Institute
Polaris Institute
The Polaris Institute is a Canadian think tank based in Ottawa. Its stated goal is "to help empower citizen movements towards democratic social change"...
, the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives
Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives
The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives is an independent, non-partisan, policy research institute in Canada that leans to the political left. It concentrates on economic policy, international trade, environmental justice and social policy. It is especially known for publishing an alternative...
and the Rideau Institute on International Affairs
Rideau Institute on International Affairs
The Rideau Institute was founded in January 2007. It is a left leaning, registered non-profit organization based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. The Institute's primary activities are independent research, advocacy and consulting. It aids decision makers, opinion leaders and the public through...
.
Action Alerts
Ceasefire.ca mobilizes its members to take action on issues that affect peace and justice. Through its Action Alerts it raises awareness for its surveys, letter writing and postcard campaigns. Examples of this would be a letter writing campaign calling for a inquiry into the torture scandal and the campaign for a federal department for peace.
Events
Ceasefire.ca also works to promote events that work towards peace. It makes its subscribers aware of guest speakers, forums, book launches and other peace related events.
Media coverage
The site covers media content by make the public aware of major reports, studies and news stories.
Newsletter
The newsletter is a service that the public can subscribe to. Sent out once or twice a month, the newsletter makes its subscribers aware of all the latest news on the issues concerning Canada, peace and justice.
Supporters
With over 15,000 subscribers and 1000 donors Ceasefire.ca works to promotes peace and justice. They have also attracted key supporters such as David SuzukiDavid Suzuki
David Suzuki, CC, OBC is a Canadian academic, science broadcaster and environmental activist. Suzuki earned a Ph.D in zoology from the University of Chicago in 1961, and was a professor in the genetics department of the University of British Columbia from 1963 until his retirement in 2001...
, Matthew Good
Matthew Good
Matthew Frederick Robert Good is a Canadian rock musician. He was the lead singer for the Matthew Good Band, one of Canada's most successful alternative rock bands in the 1990s, before dissolving the band in 2002...
, Maude Barlow
Maude Barlow
Maude Victoria Barlow is a Canadian author and activist. She is the National Chairperson of The Council of Canadians, a citizens’ advocacy organization with members and chapters across Canada. She is also the co-founder of the , which works internationally for the human right to water...
, Mel Hurtig
Mel Hurtig
Mel Hurtig, is a Canadian publisher, author, political activist and former political candidate.He was born and raised in Edmonton, Alberta. He is the former president of the Edmonton Art Gallery.-Businessman and Publisher:...
and Helen Caldicott
Helen Caldicott
Helen Mary Caldicott is an Australian physician, author, and anti-nuclear advocate who has founded several associations dedicated to opposing the use of nuclear power, depleted uranium munitions, nuclear weapons, nuclear weapons proliferation, war and military action in general. She hosts a...
.