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Margaret Swink's Blog Posts

Margaret Swink serves as Ploughshares Fund’s Communications Director. With a broad background in both international relations and communications, Margaret strives to make security issues understandable and compelling to both policy makers and informed citizens.
Negotiations Back in the Picture
This weekend saw an encouraging resurgence of the word 'negotiations' in the conversation around Iran's nuclear program. After several weeks where talk of military conflict has dominated the discussion, it is a welcome change.  Read more »
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Posted by Margaret Swink on January 24, 2012
NPT, David Ignatius, Media, negotiations, Public Editor, Stuart E. Eizenstat, the Washington Post, Iran
Top 10 nuclear weapons stories of 2011
It's been a memorable year in nuclear policy. From Fukushima to Iran, the world was reminded just how dangerous nuclear technology can be. But hope continues to remain amidst the challenges. As the year draws to a close, here's a look back at some of the hottest nuclear stories of 2011. Read more »
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Posted by Margaret Swink on December 28, 2011
North Korea, Global Zero, Mikhail Gorbachev, news
A Promise Kept, A New Beginning
As a candidate, Barack Obama distinguished himself by his anti-war stance. It was a popular move in a nation that was fatigued by a multi-year conflict with no clear end in sight. Today, President Obama has annouced the end to the war he campaigned against, keeping a major promise and opening up a new opportunity for new beginnings in both nations.  Read more »
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Posted by Margaret Swink on October 21, 2011
Middle East, Conflict, Iraq, Joe Cirincione, Joel Rubin, U.S. Foreign Policy, Obama
A Small, but Essential Victory
A few weeks ago, Paul Carroll wrote an op-ed in The Hill, urging approval of the pending appointment of Sung Kim as U.S. Ambassador to South Korea.  Read more »
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Posted by Margaret Swink on October 18, 2011
Diplomacy, North Korea, Paul Carroll, South Korea
Cutting Where It Counts
 In January, then-Secretary of Defense Robert Gates warned us that government’s fiscal management might at some point become one of the nation’s largest threats to national security: Read more »
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Posted by Margaret Swink on August 9, 2011
Brown Journal of World Affairs, cuts, Department of Defense, Financial Times, Joe Cirincione, Nuclear Weapons, Robert Gates
Budget Cutters Take Note
Republicans and the White House are in tense negotiations to hammer out a deal on long-term deficit reductions. For once, both political parties are keeping defense cuts on the table. The mood in Washington is reflected in recent comments by Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta: Read more »
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Posted by Margaret Swink on July 13, 2011
Nuclear Budget, U.S. Nuclear Policy, United States
Joe Cirincione joins the Secretary of State's International Security Advisory Board
Today, the State Department annouced the new members of the International Security Advisory Board (ISAB). Among them was our own Joe Cirincione.  Read more »
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Posted by Margaret Swink on July 12, 2011
U.S. Foreign Policy, United States
A New START for Philanthropic Engagement
In the policy world, the New START campaign symbolized a return to responsible arms control, led by an engaged and committed American president. In addition to celebrating that policy moment, for us here at Ploughshares Fund, the extraordinary success of the New START campaign got us thinking about effective philanthropic models. How could we replicate the moment that just happened? And how could we keep pushing the envelope on what we do? Read more »
Posted by Margaret Swink on June 30, 2011
U.S. Nuclear Policy, United States
Reclaiming Mother's Day for Peace
Did you know Mother’s Day was originally meant to be about peace?   Established by Julia Ward Howe in 1870, Mother’s Day was originally intended to organize women for peace and disarmament after the Civil War. This year, Ploughshares Fund is bringing the holiday back to its roots with its Roses for Peace campaign, offering organic roses in honor of mothers as a way to raise funds to support women’s leadership for a nuclear free world.   Read more »
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Posted by Margaret Swink on May 8, 2011
Homeland Security, United States
John Haas
We are diminished. John C. Haas, 1919 - 2011
Another friend and supporter of Ploughshares Fund passed away this week. Philanthropist and business leader John C. Haas died on Saturday, aged 92. Read more »
Posted by Margaret Swink on April 6, 2011