It should be clear that, since the Second World War, we have seen millions of lives lost in the Cold War through the proxy conflicts of the large super powers. Since 9/11, and the despicable attack on innocents at the World Trade Centre, we have, in the absence of the Cold War, faced security threats that are largely diffuse. Acts of terrorists are often met with a “war on terrorism,” but that is not a helpful term.

As former Canadian ambassador to the United Nations, Paul Heinbecker, has pointed out, you cannot declare war on a noun. Security threats posed by terrorists are serious, but the approach of preparedness is more closely akin to a policing action than a full military response.

The largest likelihood is that Canada will no longer face another nation to nation conventional war. The security threats of the 21st century will be different from those of the last century.

In this new reality, Canada’s traditional strategy of a 3-D approach defence, diplomacy and development has the key elements. What we have lacked is a national conversation about the relative importance of each. Sadly, under Stephen Harper, the role of our diplomatic corps has been de-emphasized with embassies closing, diplomats treated as irrelevant, and Canada’s respect for multilateralism itself called into question. Our role as peacemakers, a role invented by former prime minister, Lester Pearson, has also fallen. While we continue to make financial donations to peacekeeping missions, we are no longer making significant contributions in terms of personnel.

Meanwhile, other military establishments around the world, from the U.S. Pentagon to the U.K. military, have identified the climate crisis as a serious security threat. Anthropogenic global warming is a clear and present danger. Global political instabilities will be exacerbated by crop losses, rising sea levels and millions of environmental refugees.

The capacity of our military to effectively respond may be more meaningfully employed through our emergency disaster response than through stealth fighter jets. Responsible preventative steps against this man-made security threat comes through reducing greenhouse gas emissions in an aggressive time-bound fashion.

Canada’s Green Party calls for the following urgent priorities for a realistic 21st century defence strategy:

• Realign our defence spending to increase our capacity and speed in delivering disaster assistance (e.g. through the DART Disaster Assistance Rapid Response Team) and our contributions to UN peacekeeping forces and missions, and decrease our contributions to NATO war efforts.
• Rebuild the broken linkages among Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada (DFAIT), National Defence and the Canadian Forces (DND/CF), and the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), to effectively and efficiently plan, organize, and execute our missions abroad.
• Play a lead role in establishing a standing UN Rapid Response Force with a mandate for peacekeeping and environmental restoration in both international crisis situations and domestic catastrophes like floods, earthquakes, storms and fires.
• Instruct Canadian embassies and consulates around the world to develop effective early disaster reconnaissance and assessment capabilities in order to speed up Canadian response times.
• Oppose the use of the United Nations Responsibility to Protect (R2P) doctrine as a military solution to force aid relief on countries that are rejecting it.
• Focus Canada’s development aid efforts and economic investment in the specific key areas that:
• Foster alternative fuels and energy sources that dramatically reduce the need to import oil and natural gas and further allow the growth of recipient nation independent and/or majority ownership of these sectors and/or businesses as they develop.
• Focus on agriculture sectors that provide for food sovereignty through both subsistence farming and domestic commercial farming methods that are in keeping with green environmentally sound and gender equality principles.
• Increase bilateral trade, where possible, to facilitate the export of value added products from small island economies.
• Support and strengthen cooperation with regional organizations to further the goal of regional independence and sovereignty.
• Advance the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, and ensure its principles are at the core of Canadian foreign policy.
• Support the creation of a Department of Peace and Security.
• Review Canada’s membership in military alliances including NATO and NORAD to ensure they are meeting Canada’s priorities of diplomacy, development and defence.
• Press urgently for global nuclear disarmament and the conversion of military industries in Canada and worldwide into peaceful and restorative industries.
• Meet the urgent needs for aerial and nautical search and rescue with fixed wing planes and Coast Guard vessels and icebreakers.
• Ensure that Canadian veterans are treated with respect and that those requiring ongoing treatment and/or disability payments are ensured compensation at least as generous as that provided for civilian work place injuries.

These and other steps will assist in achieving true global peace and security.

Originally published in the Hill Times.

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In today’s increasingly tumultuous world – with problems ranging from climate change to economic meltdowns to wars – humanitarian aid workers are active daily assisting millions of people no matter who they are or where they live.  They don’t exclusively respond to emergencies.  They also help communities rebuild their lives after crises and become more resilient; they act as advocates so that victims’ voices are heard, and try to build genuine peace in conflict areas.

According to the UN, humanitarian aid must be offered without discrimination based on nationality, social group, religion, sex, race, or other factors.  It is based on several founding principles, including humanity, impartiality, neutrality, and independence.  Although aid workers reflect all cultures, ideologies, and backgrounds, they are united by their commitment to humanitarianism.

The theme of this year’s campaign is “I Was Here” – aimed at promoting the concept that anyone can help others anywhere.  It also promotes better international cooperation at a time when globalization has made the planet smaller and more interlinked.  Of course, Canadians must recognize, too, that the people being most negatively affected by contemporary problems are almost always the world’s poorest, most marginalized, and most vulnerable citizens.   Canadians must also realize that our humane international reputation is being steadily eroded by the Harper Conservatives abandonment of our past heroic peacekeeping role; our cruel treatment of desperate refugees; our cuts to development aid to the poorest countries, and more.  Make today a day when you commit to stopping the downward slide of Canada while celebrating the great generosity of many Canadians both here and overseas.

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“There are countless survivors of landmine accidents who deal everyday with the reality of terrible injuries.  We have made progress but we must continue the effort to ensure that no one else is affected by these terrible weapons,” said Green Leader and Member of Parliament for Saanich-Gulf Islands Elizabeth May.

Canada played a major role in the successful introduction of the Ottawa Treaty, an international treaty to ban anti-personnel landmines. The treaty has saved countless human lives and prevented terrible injuries long after conflicts have ended.  The treaty now includes 159 nations.

“The Ottawa treaty has resulted in fewer casualties from anti-personnel mines.  Canada must now push for a similar treaty to ban other types of ordnance that have the potential to remain unexploded and cause civilian injuries,” said May.

The day of awareness also brings attention to the plight of survivors, who have often lost limbs and lack proper healthcare or rehabilitation.

“Lacking support, the survivors of landmines often have to deal with extreme poverty.  It is up to the global community to ensure these consequences of war do not become a lasting legacy.  This means enabling survivors to carry on with a full and secure life,” said May.

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