The World today
The world is now spending two trillion tax-payer dollars a year on war, and the preparations for war.
For clarity, that’s 2,000,000,000,000
Just 1.5% of this would feed the entire world
Another 1.5% would pay for the education of every student in America
With the world facing catastrophic environmental changes, a rising risk of nuclear war, growing economic inequality, a tragic refugee crisis, systemic racism, and now the coronavirus pandemic, military spending must be redirected to vital human and environmental needs.
International Day of Peace
The International Day of Peace is observed around the world each year on 21 September. Established in 1981 by unanimous United Nations resolution, the day is devoted to “commemorating and strengthening the ideals of peace both within and among all nations and peoples”.
Pivot2Peace is committed to honoring International Peace Day every year.:
In 2020, because of the Covid-19 pandemic, we were not able to hold an event. Instead a small group stood outside the Federal Building, with signs and Peace Pledges for passers by to sign. We obtained over fifty signatures.
In 2019 we held an evening event, with live music and dancing, at the Collingwood Legion. Again, there was a Peace Wall and Peace Pledges for people to sign. 100+ people attended and most signed the Peace Pledge
International Day of Peace - Sept. 21, 2020
In front of the Federal Building, Downtown Collingwood, Sept 21, 2020
Modelling our new Pivot2Peace T-shirts and masks, Sept 21, 2020
Standing for Peace, Sept 21st, 2020
Talking about the World Beyond War Peace Pledge, and the non-partisan nature of working for Peace, Sept 21, 2020
Signing the Peace Pledge, Sept 21, 2020
Modelling collaboration, cooperation, and peaceful communication, Sept 21, 2020
International Day of Peace - Sept. 21, 2019
Helen Peacock Addresses international day of peace
Watch Helen inspire us at our International Day of Peace Celebration on Sept. 21, 2019 at the Collingwood Legion!
INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE - OWEN MCBRIDE (MARIPOSA HALL OF FAME)
Owen McBride singing “Last Night I had the Strangest Dream” at the International Day of Peace Celebrations in Collingwood, Ontario on September 21, 2019.
About Us
Pivot2Peace was founded in June, 2019 as part of a growing global movement to abolish the institution of war and replace it with a just and sustainable peace. Why? Because war and militarism make us less safe, cost $2 trillion tax-payer dollars per year world-wide, and are a top polluter/destroyer of our environment. Simply put, we cannot address today’s urgent Climate Crisis without addressing the destructive environmental impact of war.
We believe the tragedy of the pandemic has a silver lining. It has opened people’s minds to the fact that we are all connected, and that no one is safe until we are all safe. We want to embrace this new consciousness to create a Canada that is a true Peace-building force, both at home, and in the world.
Our Unique Place in the Canadian Peace Movement
Pivot2Peace is a member of the newly formed Canada Peace Network, a group of Peace organizations across Canada who are coming together for greater impact. Each member organization has its own priorities and focus. In Pivot2Peace we are working to abolish the institution of war as a means of resolving conflict by directly confronting the collective western consciousness that on the one hand professes to want peace, and on the other hand has allowed 250 wars since WWII. We are all, each of us, part of that consciousness. If we focus on preventing this war, or those sanctions, but do not look at the thinking that has created them in the first place, wars will continue. Einstein said “A problem cannot be fixed at the level of consciousness that created it”. Pivot2Peace is focused on educating Canadians to our own complicity in war, and shifting the Canadian consciousness toward a Peace orientation. We want to empower our politicians and leaders to WAGE PEACE.
Our Mission
To raise awareness in Canada that war is NOT inevitable, NOT justifiable, NOT necessary, and NOT beneficial in any way. On the contrary, militarism pollutes and destroys the environment more than any other industry, and is costing us $2 trillion/year of taxpayer money worldwide – money that could be redirected to Green Energy solutions to save the planet rather than destroy it.
We want to help Canada make a huge systemic shift toward our core values of peace and acceptance of others, and away from our present tolerance of war and the killing of others. We want to leverage our peaceful reputation to actively WAGE PEACE, and to address the Climate Crisis with bold systemic moves to allocate our tax payer dollars according to our peace and environmental priorities.
In 2019, the Department of Defense budget was over $32 billion, while the Ministry of the Environment’s budget was under $3 billon. With the world facing catastrophic climate change impacts, a rising risk of nuclear war, growing economic inequality, a tragic refugee crisis, systemic racism, and now the coronavirus pandemic, military spending must be redirected to vital human and environmental needs. We want conversion of the arms industry to a peaceful, green, and just economy.
Strategic Direction
Evolve the responsibilities of the Ambassador for Women, Peace and Security into a Ministry of Peace operating at the cabinet level
Refocus our Ministry of Defense to make it strictly defensive and transition defense resources and funding to Green Energy solutions within the Ministry of the Environment: medical solutions to the Pandemic Emergency; and, Peacekeeping initiatives within a Ministry of Peace
End any form of arms trade between Canada and other countries
Partner with other Canadian Peace and Environmental organizations to educate and inform the Canadian public about the costs of war and the benefits of peace
Our Founders
Standing up For Peace, September 2019, Blueshores Clubhouse
Meet The Team
Pivot2Peace was founded by Helen Peacock in June, 2019 after 18 months of research, study and discussion with neighbors, colleagues, family, and friends. Helen was particularly inspired by the work of World Beyond War and the learning she gained from their on-line course War Abolition 101. But the true impetus for Pivot2Peace comes from the horror our more than 120 members feel about our complicity in the 250 wars since WWII, the empathy we have for the millions of people whose lives have been destroyed by war, and the sense of urgency we share about the Climate Crisis. We can no longer allow over $2 trillion tax payer dollars per year, globally, to be squandered on life-destroying wars. That money must be redirected to life-affirming human and environmental needs.
Our Partners
Pivot2Peace is the South Georgian Bay Chapter of World Beyond War - a global movement to end all wars with members in 175 countries
Pivot2Peace is also aligned with the Canadian Peace Initiative’s campaign to establish a Federal Department of Peace
Learn More
Pivot2Peace is part of a global movement to end the institution of war and establish a just and sustainable peace.
You may think, because Canada is one of the most peaceful countries in the world, that we are not complicit in the over 250 wars since WWII, and the over $2 trillion tax-payer dollars per year, world-wide, now being spent on war and the preparations for war. You may think it is not our responsibility that over 71 million people today have been displaced by war and that the industrial military complex world-wide is a top polluter/destroyer of our environment.
But you would be incorrect.
Here are some unpleasant truths:
- Canada facilitates the Arms Trade by hosting CANSEC, North America’s largest trade show for the military. Delegations from around the world come to Canada to buy weapons and other military equipment that will be used to kill people.
- Canada supplies Light Armored Military vehicles to Saudi Arabia and military equipment to Sudan, contrary to the Arms Trade Treaty which Canada has signed.
- Canada refuses to sign the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons while still claiming to be “anti-nuclear”.
- In the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, Canada intends to spend $19 billion tax-payer dollars on Fighter Jets even though Canada does not face any credible threat that would require these jets (according to Charles Nixon, Past Deputy Minister of Defense).
- Although the majority of Canadians believe the greater threat to our well-being is climate change, not defense, the federal government’s investment priorities are the opposite: the 2019 Department of Defense budget was over $32 billion, while the Ministry of the Environment’s budget was closer to $2 billon.
With the world facing catastrophic environmental changes, a rising risk of nuclear war, growing economic inequality, a tragic refugee crisis, systemic racism, and now the coronavirus pandemic, military spending must be redirected to vital human and environmental needs.
As Canadians we want to use our fortunate position as one of the most peaceful countries in the world to WAGE PACE on behalf of all countries and to lead the way in ending militarism. We will do this by ending any form of arms trade with other countries, advocating for a Ministry of Peace, and shifting resources from our Ministry of Defense (ie war and the preparations for war) to address pressing climate issues and Peace initiatives.
