A world without war: this is the vision that Douglas Roche has pursued for decades. A long-time Progressive Conservative Member of Parliament, Canadian ambassador for disarmament, and later a senator, Roche has been in the thick of international affairs for more than forty years.

Though few of us realize it, today the world is more peaceful than in past centuries. Death and destruction due to war have diminished dramatically in the past two decades. This is no accident -- it is the cumulative result of the work of the world's peacemakers. Sometimes in public, often behind the scenes, talented high achievers are waging a campaign for peace that is in ascendance over the warlike intentions of the arms industry, military generals, and aggressive government leaders.

Neither Roche nor the peacemakers shy away from the thorniest issues the world faces -- including the threat posed by nuclear weapons, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and multiple threats of genocidal violence.

Roche shows how new ideas like the responsibility to protect innocent civilians from genocide or armed attack by their own government, and new institutions like the International Criminal Court are moving the world along the path to the end of war.

To tell this story, Roche profiles some leading peacemakers of our time and the work they are doing, and also interviews keen observers of world politics who offer informed commentary on the work of the peacemakers. You will meet former prime ministers and foreign ministers, senior UN officials, religious figures, women's organization leaders and activists. Few are household names. Roche documents the many successes of the past two decades in reducing conflict in the world, and in creating structures and institutions which are making war less likely and more difficult for states to initiate.

With a Resources section of websites, books and films.

DOUGALS ROCHE was elected to Canadian Parliament four times, serving from 1972 to 1984 and specializing in the subjects of development and disarmament. He holds six honorary doctorates. Canada's Ambassador for Disramament from 1984 to 1989, he was elected Chairman of the United Nations Disarmament Committee, the main UN body dealing with political and security issues, at the 43rd General Assembly in 1988.

He was appointed to the Senate of Canada in 1988. He is an Officer of the Order of Canada, former Chairman of Canadian Pugwash and Chairman of the Middle Powers Initiative, a network of eight international non-governmental organizations specializing in nuclear disarmament. In 1995, he received the United Nations Association's Medal of Honour and the Papal Medal for his service on disarmament and security matters. In 2000, he received the Pomerance Award for work at the United Nations on nuclear disarmament.

Roche is the author of seventeen books, including The Human Right to Peace (Novalis, 2003), Global Conscience (Novalis, 2007), and Creative Dissent (Novalis, 2008).

Douglas Roche's profile page

"A passionate, important read. Douglas Roche is a knowledgeable, long-standing expert in the fight for peace and to save the planet from weapons of mass destruction."

Michael Douglas, Actor, Producer and United Nations Messenger of Peace