Continental Shift:
Winning in the Political Moment

Steve Staples, noted military and security analyst, will look at the shifting political landscape following recent elections and what it will mean for Canadian peace and justice NGOs and civil society. He will touch on rising militarism and military spending, the decline of UN peacekeeping and peace diplomacy, and the future of the Afghanistan combat mission, among other issues.

When: November 17, 2008 at 7 PM
Where: Garry Oak Room, 1335 Thurlow at Moss (behind Sir James Douglas School)
Contact: Steve Staples 613-290-2695 or Saul Arbess or 250-383-5878

This event is sponsored by the Canadian Deptartment of Peace Initiative (CDPI) and the Council of Canadians (Victoria Chapter). A collection will be taken.

Brief Bio of Steve Staples

Steven Staples is the president of the Rideau Institute and founder of . In the past 15 years, Steven Staples has acted as the Director of Security Programs for the Polaris Institute, the Issue Campaigns Coordinator for the Council of Canadians and the Coordinator for End the Arms Race.

He is well known for his work on international defence, disarmament and trade issues. In 2006 he published his first book, Missile Defence: Round One (Lorimer), which chronicled the citizen-based campaign that succeeded in persuading the Paul Martin government to announce that it would not join the U.S. ballistic missile defence program in February 2005.

Steven Staples is a member of the Canadian Pugwash Group and the Group of 78, and also acts as the General Secretary of the international network of anti-nuclear groups, Abolition 2000.

Note: Steve will also speak in Vancouver on Thursday, Nov. 20. Contact: lkazdan@shaw.ca, 604-874-9982