Ploughshares Stories
Ploughshares Urges Diplomacy Following Israel’s Strike on Iran
Israel’s massive strike on Iran has set in motion a dangerous escalatory spiral. Coming at a moment when diplomatic efforts toward a new nuclear agreement between the US and Iran were gaining traction, the strike undermined fragile momentum and threatens to derail progress. The attacks risk further escalation and immense human suffering, including for US…
RECA Expired One Year Ago—What it Means, and Why it Matters
Today, June 10, 2025, marks one year since the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) expired. To raise awareness for this anniversary, we’ve gathered information from advocates and partners to share what RECA is, why it matters, and the impacts of RECA’s expiration. What is RECA? The Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA), established in 1990, provides…
Investing in a Peaceful Future – VIDEO
This video from our friends at As You Sow explores how your retirement savings might be financing arms manufacturers making nuclear missiles, cluster bombs, and other controversial military weapons used in wars and armed conflicts all over the world. In less than 4 minutes, Grant Bradski walks you through As You Sow’s Weapon Free Funds…
Under Pope Leo XIV, What’s Next for the Catholic Church’s Nuclear Weapons Platform?
Two weeks ago, newly appointed Pope Leo XIV engaged in a first-week tradition well known to leaders across the world: an introductory flurry of posts on X. “Peace” was the theme of his seven starter posts, which appeared on feeds across the globe on May 14. Leo XIV drew attention to the Christian diaspora, the…
Ploughshares Hosts Iconic Doomsday Clock for 2025
Last week, Ploughshares and the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists hosted a reception for a group of grantees and partners at our DC office to celebrate our collective efforts to reduce the threats posed by nuclear weapons. We journeyed from our usual office to the building’s event space, and despite a light smattering of rain,…
Bankrolling Bombs: How Your 401(k) Funds the War Machine and What You Can Do About It
Over the last few months, I’ve written about how weapon makers are connected to humanitarian risks, and how that translates to financial risks for 401(k) investors. In this post we’ll trace the investment chain from A to Z, showing how our savings end up flowing towards military weapon manufacturers, and how you can find sustainable…
Golden Dome: The Star Wars Reboot No One Asked For
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…
VIDEO – Ploughshares: How Did It Get Started?
In 1981, a group would come together to fight for a world without nuclear weapons. That’s how Ploughshares began, with a simple mission to turn swords into ploughshares. Or in this case, nuclear weapons into a thing of the past. Learn more about our history and what Ploughshares stands for today: Author Ploughshares View…
The Humanitarian Impacts and Investment Risks of Conventional Weapons
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…
Raising Awareness and Building Community is Key to Reducing Nuclear Threat
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…