Ploughshares Stories

May the 4th be with you! The idea of defending the US against our adversaries’ nuclear weapons has long been enticing, leading the US to develop anti-ballistic missile (ABM) systems in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. And despite the shortcomings of several programs and the prohibitive costs of deployment, the Reagan administration launched the Strategic…

Last month, I wrote about how ethical investors try to avoid companies involved with the production of controversial weapons that inflict indiscriminate harm on civilians. But it’s more common for arms makers to be involved in the production of so-called conventional weapons that are designed to destroy specific military targets. Unfortunately, conventional weapons are often…

Ploughshares had the opportunity to sit down with Alex Bell, the new president and CEO of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, to discuss what’s changed in the nuclear field, pressing issues, and how best to communicate to a broader audience about the nuclear threat and inspire them to act. As part of Ploughshares’ role…

Ploughshares is invested in ensuring that people recognize the nuclear threat is real. It’s not science-fiction or the plot of a movie set in the Cold War. It exists. It’s here. In many ways, it’s harder today to make progress on reducing the nuclear threat, despite the devastating effects that would result from a nuclear…

This month, Ploughshares and our partners came together to raise attention to the threat of nuclear weapons on Capitol Hill in a large-scale day of action, unlike any we have ever coordinated in the history of our organization. Alongside nearly 30 partners from more than ten different organizations, we gathered to distribute signed copies of…

How controversial weapons threaten global peace and your portfolio Many military weapons are considered controversial weapons due to the indiscriminate harm they cause to civilians, violating international humanitarian principles. Investing in controversial weapons makers doesn’t just threaten global peace – it also threatens your savings. Beyond the systemic risk to the global economy that a…

I was honored to attend the Munich Security Conference for the first time earlier this month. It is an undeniably influential gathering where speeches are made, signals are given, and action follows. The Conference was an opportunity to engage with global leaders from governments and civil society. It was an opportunity to learn more from…

The movement combatting the proliferation of nuclear weapons has long been a vital force for peace, safety, and environmental preservation. Our community has challenged some of the most dangerous technologies on Earth. Yet, as the movement continues to evolve, an essential question arises: who is truly included in this community, and how can it become…