In 1976, Ernie and Nancy Regehr returned to Canada from a 3 year term in South Africa and Zambia. The 70s were a tumultuous season of the beginnings of change, marked by a heightened awareness in the western world for human rights such as apartheid, relief of poverty, and greater corporate responsibility.
The Regehrs were greatly influenced by what they had seen in Africa. Perceptions were still being influenced by the second world war. A nation’s status in the world community was connected to the size and power of its army. Much of the world’s resources were being poured into building military systems by both the Communist block, “the evil empire”, and what the US called “the free world” nations, while there was little awareness or concern for poverty, education, or health care.
For the Regehrs and a small group of forward thinkers, the proliferation of nuclear weapons on both sides of the Iron Curtain was a course which could only lead to the annihilation of humanity. The US had already used nuclear weapons, and the arms race and cold war had raised fears and mistrust to an all-time high. Policies based on “You’re either with us or against us” only served to polarize people and escalate the tension while minimizing the only thing that really mattered – our humanity.
On their return to Canada, the Regehrs founded Project Ploughshares with the belief that the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (nuclear, biological, and chemical) would result in their eventual use. It wasn’t a very popular point-of-view at the time, but it was an obvious conclusion for them. Project Ploughshares began to promote the notion that the world could not fight for peace, peace had to be built. The doubters wondered if peace could come through disarmament or was that a dreamer’s dream?
Project Ploughshares, although small and seemingly insignificant, was passionate and well informed through their network of like-minded co-workers (on the ground) in nations around the world. They made it a point to support their arguments with hard statistics and information which wasn’t readily available elsewhere. This approach earned them credibility and an opportunity to make presentations to the Standing Committees of the House of Commons and Foreign Affairs.
In the early 80s, the nuclear buildup had brought the world to the brink of disaster. It was a turning point for the peace movement. People saw firsthand that building weapons that could destroy all humanity would not make the world a safer place. Throughout the European nations there were millions of people in the streets protesting the proliferation of nuclear weapons. Ronald Regan and Mikhail Gorbachev met in Iceland where it is believed they came very close to an agreement that would ban all nuclear weapons. Their advisors, however, seemed intent on preventing that. The peace debate around disarmament and militarism became even more polarized and heated.
In the 90s, Project Ploughshares and the peace movement were able to convince leaders to ban the use of biological and chemical weapons and the testing of nuclear weapons. The collapse of the Soviet Union in late 1991 put their arsenal and expertise up for sale on the world market. For the first time non-state “players” (terrorists) became a realistic threat to world peace. The potential for a small group to build a nuclear weapon and use it became very real. It was a turning point in the quest for peace. It helped to impress the need and urgency among leaders and at the UN for nuclear disarmament and regulation as a key component in peace-making.
Although there has never been a more dangerous time in the history of the world, there has also never been a more hopeful time that leaders will agree to lay down their weapons. Former hardline militarists such as Henry Kissinger, George Shultz (Regan administration) and others now support a full nuclear weapons ban. After 30 years of pursuing peace through disarmament, Project Ploughshares and others believe that a world-wide ban of nuclear weapons, the regulation of the production of the components of these weapons, and the regulation and sale of conventional weapons are within reach. There are fewer wars today than there were 30 years ago and there is realistic hope that nuclear disarmament will be achieved in this decade.
Today is remarkably like the 70s. From every country, social strata and domain, a new generation of forerunners is rising who are passionate about poverty relief, education, social justice, and corporate responsibility. They are motivated by hope, enthusiasm, and vision to transform our world. The challenges they face are no less daunting, yet every bit as possible to overcome. Wisdom would say that their strategies for change-making be built upon the lessons learned by their predecessors because they probably don’t have 30 years to achieve their goals.
The Regehrs have invested most of their working careers building peace by educating the public and advising leaders. They had a vision of a world without nuclear weapons and they have worked persistently over 30 years to make that vision a reality. They have poured their lives into making a better and safer world for all of us. They and other forerunners from around the world have worked to not only change the policies of governments, but also to teach us about our humanity. They have taught us that there is no “us and them”, there is only “us”. If we can “get” that one simple idea, we will have moved a long way towards overcoming the problems of the world.
Paul Weigel
Project Ploughshare’s Canadian office is in Waterloo. Their web site is: www.projectploughshares.ca
