Glancing back at the Ceasefire.ca posts for 2015 gives some idea of the many important issues with which we grappled in 2015.

• We begin with the first of many posts on Canada’s grotesque $15 billion arms deal with Saudi Arabia: Saudi arms deal makes mockery of Canadian values (Peggy Mason, Embassy, 21 January 2015). This is an issue with which the new government must grapple sooner, we hope, rather than later.

• One of the most prevalent themes of 2015, and still very much on the front burner, is Canada’s role in Iraq (and now Syria): Peggy Mason debates Canada’s role in Iraq (CBC Radio One, 30 January 2015).   See also Poll: Majority of Canadians oppose expansion into Syria (Tim Naumetz, Hill Times, 7 April 2015) and Blowback: Iraq war to Islamic state (20 August 2015).

• On the hugely important issue of Bill C-51, here is my personal favourite: Mary Walsh takes on Stephen Harper and Bill C-51 (CBC television, 12 March 2015). The new government has promised parliament will get a meaningful opportunity to review and amend (and we hope largely discard) the bill.

• In a brutally honest interview Gideon Levy, Haaretz columnist, talks to CBC Radio (15 April 2015).

• We have been calling for a full public and parliamentary review of Canadian defence and security policy since February of 2015.  See A Canadian defence and security policy for the 21st century (Peggy Mason, Embassy, 13 May 2015). The Liberal government has promised a review early in their mandate.

• In this Rideau Institute and Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives joint study, board member Michael Byers outlines a bold new approach: New study identifies more than $10 billion in savings on military equipment (29 June 2015).

• In perhaps one of our most disconcerting posts, we draw attention to the massive nuclear weapons modernization programs now underway but little known to most of the global community: Why are all the nuclear weapons states modernizing their arsenals? (9 July 2015).

• This is one of the most noteworthy GOOD news stories of 2015, with enormous ramifications for the future of global peace and security: Rideau Institute President on Iran nuclear deal (14 July 2015).

• For the critically important federal election in October 2015, we set up an entirely new set of web pages. Among other bells and whistles were some great political cartoons accompanying the links. See New! Canada Election Watch 2015 (24 July 2015).

Let us resolve to work even harder in 2016 for peace, justice and global security.  Onward!