Paul Hannon

Anti-personnel landmines: The ‘dumbest weapon in the world’ As war in Ukraine intensifies, five European countries – Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Finland and Poland – withdrew this year from the Ottawa Convention banning landmines and the Convention on Cluster ...

it made sense for nearby nations to focus on self defence – but anti-personnel landmines “remain the dumbest weapon in the world” and “it’s pure chance who they will strike.” @tamargabelnick.bsky.social news.un.org/en/audio/202...

Great organization doing vital work is looking for a talented person to join their team. Is that you?

Tamar Gabelnick | United Nations

"At this critical moment, we must remember that humanitarian disarmament treaties aren't just legal documents - they're promises we've made to protect future generations from indiscriminate and inhumane weapons." #landmines @tamargabelnick.bsky.social www.un.org/en/peace-and...

#Landmines are a stupid weapon so indeed it would be folly to leave the treaty banning them.

A Middle Power Adrift - Project Ploughshares Canada’s defence and security posture has entered uncharted waters. At the heart of this shift lies the country’s relationship with its southern neighbour. As Prime Minister Mark Carney bluntly observ...

"This in an incredible moment of opportunity for #Canada to chart its own course, addressing anxieties and public concerns. Fighter jets and weapons may offer the appearance of strength or reassurance to an anxious public. But it is diplomacy that delivers security." ploughshares.ca/a-middle-pow...

Good moves.

"Civil society is not on the margins of diplomacy. We are woven through the process itself, linking knowledge to governments, publics, & communities of practice... Civil society is the connective tissue that allows diplomacy to endure in fractured times."

"no one is a greater expert on landmines than landmine survivors themselves" @erinlynnhunt.bsky.social

Is this the correct link for registration?

Silent Killers Episode 5: A New Generation of Disarmament Leaders In this episode of Silent Killers, David Peck interviews Erin Hunt, the Executive Director of Mines Action Canada, discussing her journey into activism, the importance of public engagement, and the role of youth in disarmament efforts. They explore the Mind Action Fellows Program, which empowers young advocates to engage in international diplomacy and share survivor stories. The conversation highlights the challenges faced in the fight against landmines, the importance of celebrating small wins, and the hope for a future free of landmines through collective action and support from decision-makers. Erin Hunt is the Executive Director of Mines Action Canada. She has been doing public education on the Ottawa Treaty banning landmines since 2003 and working in humanitarian disarmament in various capacities since 2006. Erin's areas of expertise include the humanitarian impact of indiscriminate weapons, victim assistance, gender in disarmament and Canadian disarmament policy. She contributes to the work of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, the Cluster Munition Coalition, the International Campaign to Abolish nuclear weapons and Stop Killer Robots. Erin contributes to the Women, Peace and Security Network - Canada and to national and international working groups on feminist and gender sensitive approaches to foreign policy and mine action. During the 2017 process to negotiate the Treaty on the Prohibition of nuclear weapons, Erin was a member of the International Campaign to Abolish nuclear weapons negotiating team which was awarded the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize. Prior to joining Mines Action Canada, Erin worked on victim assistance programs for landmine survivors in Uganda, implemented sport-based peacebuilding programs for youth in a post-conflict setting and worked in child welfare. She has a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science from the University of Victoria and a Masters Degree in Human Security and Peacebuilding from Royal Roads University. www.minesactioncanada.org

#SilentKillers ep.5 is out 👇

Erin Hunt, Executive Director of Mines Action Canada, discusses her journey into activism, the power of public engagement, and the vital role of youth in disarmament.

🎧 Tune in to hear how global change starts with education, advocacy, and action: bit.ly/42ufr9T

If they all clear the B-Sens will be greatly improved.

🧵👇UPDATE: Here are some additional statements from High Level Week at #UNGA80 on #AutonomousWeapons and military #AI

🆕 Take a deeper dive in our latest Substack post: stopkillerrobots.substack.com/p/no-machine...

At the First Committee, we urge delegations to:
➡️ Condemn all use of #landmines and #ClusterMunitions, under any circumstances;
➡️ Denounce withdrawals from the treaties;
➡️ Urging all states to join and stop withdrawal plans;
➡️ Vote in favour of the resolutions promoting these life-saving treaties.

At the First Committee, we urge delegations to:
➡️ Condemn all use of #landmines and #ClusterMunitions, under any circumstances;
➡️ Denounce withdrawals from the treaties;
➡️ Urging all states to join and stop withdrawal plans;
➡️ Vote in favour of the resolutions promoting these life-saving treaties.

🎙️ New Episode Alert!

In this latest episode of #SilentKillers, we sit with the photographer and photojournalist Giovanni Diffidenti, whose powerful reportage has illuminated critical humanitarian issues in over twenty countries.

👉 Listen now: bit.ly/3IATCyI

#MineFreeWorld #MineFreeEurope

sigh

Pity there is no audio on the stream.

And Glebites.

Ukraine’s exit from Mine Ban Treaty complicates Canadian training mission Ottawa was a key force behind a global anti-personnel landmine treaty. Can it stay neutral as Ukraine withdraws from it?

The Ottawa Treaty is one of the most widely known Canadian contributions to international peace & security. @erinlynnhunt.bsky.social
“Landmines were banned because they killed civilians,” said Hunt. www.canadianaffairs.news/2025/09/23/u... @anitaoakvilleeast.bsky.social @erinlynnhunt.bsky.social

1/ Did you know the very first UN General Assembly resolution was on nuclear disarmament?

Today, on the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons, we reaffirm our collective commitment to a safer world, one free of nuclear weapons. #NuclearBan

"We call on government leaders around the world to launch negotiations for a new international treaty on autonomous weapons systems to ensure human control in the use of force and to prohibit machines that target people.... Machines should not make life and death decisions."

Yes this call at UNGA could not be more urgent. @stopkillerrobots.bsky.social

A Legacy Under Threat: The Resurgence of Landmines - SDG Media Zone, 80th Session of the UN General Assembly In 1997, international efforts that led to the creation of the Mine Ban Treaty were recognized with a Nobel Peace Prize. Over the years, more countries stopped the production and use of landmines and ...

Check out this interviews from #UNGA80 about the importance of the Ottawa Treaty banning landmines.

webtv.un.org/en/asset/k1n...
@icblcmc.bsky.social

Here is a list of qualified people who might help including some well known Canadians.
red-lines.ai

🖊️ Sign our petition to demand:
✅ A ban on weapons that target humans
✅ new international law on #AutonomousWeapons
✅ Human control over the use of force
✊ Add your voice today: www.stopkillerrobots.org/take-action/...

Not that I am aware.

"It sets a dangerous precedent for countries to set aside laws governing armed conflict the day they may actually need to apply them." @tamargabelnick.bsky.social

Digital Communications Coordinator

🗣️Come work with us!

We are looking for a strategic and creative Digital Communications Coordinator to enable ICAN's world-changing work. Learn all about who we need and how to apply here:

www.icanw.org/digital_comm...

#opportunity #jobopening #hiring #nuclearban

Very glad to see these red lines. As a global AI powerhouse this is an area where #Canada can be an important leader. Good place to start is autonomous weapons aka #KillerRobots @evansolomon.bsky.social @anitaoakvilleeast.bsky.social @mark-carney.bsky.social @minesactioncan.bsky.social

Good to see this red line: "Prohibiting the deployment and use of weapon systems used for killing a human without meaningful human control and clear human accountability." @stopkillerrobots.bsky.social @minesactioncan.bsky.social