If you are in Vancouver, please join us for a conversation about the issue of autonomous weapons and the work of the Campaign to Stop Killer Robots. We will provide the information and refreshments. It’s FREE!
Murray Thomson: Peace Warrior
Ploughshares Co-founder 1922-2019 “Murray modelled a life of commitment and high expectations. That covered active engagement in a wide range of causes aimed at human and planetary betterment, and while he was the progenitor of countless organizations and initiatives, those exemplary qualities shone through with particular intensity in his advocacy for a world without nuclear weapons—for a world, as …
Event: Critical Thinking in an Era of Alternative Facts
Join us for an interactive discussion on the importance of digital literacy for ordinary citizens as well as practical ways to address the era of alternative facts.
More clarity on Canada’s views on military applications of artificial intelligence needed
Canada appears to be leading the way in the responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI) with a number of initiatives and guidelines intended to to ensure that AI applications are based on sound reasoning and common values. However, largely absent in its discussions of strategy and risk are military applications of AI—in particular, the growing autonomy of weapons systems. Canada …
Event: Conflicts in Space: Preventable or Unavoidable?
With input from a geographically diverse panel of distinguished experts, this roundtable aims to foster dialogue on this critical question for our time.
Canada’s reluctant participation in peacekeeping in Mali: What it reveals
When Canada announced that it would not be extending its commitment to the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Mali beyond one year, few were surprised. But many are perplexed that Canada is reportedly unwilling to consider a UN request to extend its mission until a replacement Romanian contingent arrives in October, a mere three-months extension. On April 5, a House …
Where does the world stand on killer robots? The view from recent UN meetings on autonomous weapons
From March 25 to 29, the Group of Governmental Experts on Lethal Autonomous Weapons met at the United Nations Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons in Geneva, Switzerland.
Nobel Peace Lectures 2018
Combating War Crimes Published in The Ploughshares Monitor Volume 40 Issue 1 Spring 2019 “Both laureates have made a crucial contribution to focusing attention on, and combating, war crimes. Denis Mukwege is the helper who has devoted his life to defending these victims. Nadia Murad is the witness who tells of the abuses perpetrated against herself and others. Each of them in …
Canada’s future role in UN peace operations
It has been almost three decades since Canada was among the leading contributors of troops to United Nations peacekeeping missions. In late 2017, the government announced Canada’s return to peace operations and, in March 2018, Canada deployed an Air Task Force to the UN mission in Mali. With the one-year period allotted for the Canadian mission coming to an end …