How can we make the best case for shifting from war to peace? What must we understand and know about the war system if we are to dismantle it? How can we become more effective advocates and activists for ending all wars, pursuing disarmament, and creating systems that maintain peace? These questions and more will be explored as we delve into the course.

War’s Ecological Footprint & Global Impact

“Military force is necessary to keep us secure.” How often have we heard this argument? It is time to move beyond this argument and challenge the notion that military intervention makes us safe. Current systems of collective security and global governance are built upon assumptions deeply rooted in the war system and militarized responses to conflict. International law and the UN system are furthered hampered by the assumptions of sovereignty that are implied in the nation-state global order. Guest speaker Jean Augustine will examine the needed reforms to make international institutions more effective and democratic. She will also talk about Canada’s relationship in the international community, and its role in shaping systems of global governance to support peace. Furthermore, guest speaker Tamara Lorincz will discuss the environmental impact of war, which is a leading contributor to the growing global climate crisis. In all stages, from the production of weapons through combat, military operations pollute land, air, and water, destroy ecosystems, and drain limited natural resources.

Tamara Lorincz is a Board Member of Canadian Voice of Women for Peace and the former Executive Director of the Nova Scotia Environmental Network. Tamara has an LLB/JSD and MBA specializing in environmental law and management from Dalhousie University. She is currently a PhD student in Global Governance at the Balsillie School for International Affairs (Wilfrid Laurier University).