Michael Byers 🇨🇦
@michael-byers.bsky.social
Co-director, Outer Space Institute
Chair, Salt Spring Forum
UBC Professor
Author, citizen, troublemaker
He/him
Chair, Salt Spring Forum
UBC Professor
Author, citizen, troublemaker
He/him
Steven Guilbeault is an honourable man.
Canada minister resigns from cabinet over Carney’s controversial oil pipeline deal
Minister Steven Guilbeault says Indigenous nations were not consulted and the pipeline would have ‘major environmental impacts’
www.theguardian.com
November 28, 2025 at 1:57 AM
Steven Guilbeault is an honourable man.
I grew up with a family rumour about Indigenous ancestry. As a young adult, I checked it out with genealogical research and DNA testing. I am not Indigenous. Neither, it turns out, is Thomas King.
Inconvenient Indian author Thomas King says he is not part Cherokee
Writer ‘still in shock’ after a whistle-blowing organization showed him genealogical evidence that he wasn’t part Indigenous as he originally assumed
www.theglobeandmail.com
November 25, 2025 at 1:20 AM
I grew up with a family rumour about Indigenous ancestry. As a young adult, I checked it out with genealogical research and DNA testing. I am not Indigenous. Neither, it turns out, is Thomas King.
Reposted by Michael Byers 🇨🇦
Minister McGuinty, what gives? Surely the Canadian military has no interest in learning IDF lessons about waging genocide. We need confirmation no Canadian soldiers took part. And if they did, a whole lot of explaining & accountability.
Minister ‘Can’t Confirm’ If Canadian Officers Went To Israeli Seminar
The seminar reportedly focused on Israel’s experiences in waging its genocidal war on Gaza.
www.readthemaple.com
November 24, 2025 at 12:27 AM
Minister McGuinty, what gives? Surely the Canadian military has no interest in learning IDF lessons about waging genocide. We need confirmation no Canadian soldiers took part. And if they did, a whole lot of explaining & accountability.
Mark Carney continues to distance himself from Justin Trudeau. But if there's a political calculation here, I can't see it.
No more feminist foreign policy, Carney says
Prime Minister, who made the comments at the G20 summit in Johannesburg, has placed less emphasis on feminist policies than the Trudeau government
www.theglobeandmail.com
November 23, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Mark Carney continues to distance himself from Justin Trudeau. But if there's a political calculation here, I can't see it.
Andrew Coyne is visiting the Salt Spring Forum tonight -- for a community discussion about Canadian democracy, the topic of his new book.
The Crisis of Canadian Democracy - Sutherland House Publishing
Andrew Coyne, one of Canada’s most esteemed political thinkers, delivers a powerful exposé of the nation’s crumbling democratic institutions. With characteristic wit, insight, and rigor, Coyne disma...
sutherlandhousebooks.com
November 21, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Andrew Coyne is visiting the Salt Spring Forum tonight -- for a community discussion about Canadian democracy, the topic of his new book.
Reposted by Michael Byers 🇨🇦
On this Trans Day of Remembrance, I hope Albertans will remember that trans kids and teens are living breathing humans who just want to be themselves, without fear of hate and discrimination. Demonizing kids merely to score political points in some weird culture war is craven and cruel.
November 20, 2025 at 8:21 PM
On this Trans Day of Remembrance, I hope Albertans will remember that trans kids and teens are living breathing humans who just want to be themselves, without fear of hate and discrimination. Demonizing kids merely to score political points in some weird culture war is craven and cruel.
Political appointees overruled a senior U.S. military lawyer who was concerned the strikes "could amount to extrajudicial killings."
Top military lawyer raised legal concerns about boat strikes
The lawyer at U.S. Southern Command, which oversees the operations against alleged drug-smuggling boats near Venezuela, disagreed that the strikes are legal and was overruled, according to six sources...
www.nbcnews.com
November 20, 2025 at 5:32 AM
Political appointees overruled a senior U.S. military lawyer who was concerned the strikes "could amount to extrajudicial killings."
Sloppy reporting by @theguardian.com, which should have made clear that foreign vessels are free to enter the 200 nautical mile exclusive economic zone, which is different from the 12 nautical mile territorial sea.
Russian spy ship enters British waters and shines lasers at military pilots
Defence secretary reveals details of recent incursions as he warns UK is facing ‘new era of threat’ from hostile countries
www.theguardian.com
November 19, 2025 at 8:52 PM
Sloppy reporting by @theguardian.com, which should have made clear that foreign vessels are free to enter the 200 nautical mile exclusive economic zone, which is different from the 12 nautical mile territorial sea.
Turns out that Russian officials weren't the only ones reading my op-eds in the Globe and Mail about their war crimes and crimes against humanity.
I remain in awe of the courage and perseverance of the Ukrainian people.
I remain in awe of the courage and perseverance of the Ukrainian people.
November 19, 2025 at 3:12 AM
Turns out that Russian officials weren't the only ones reading my op-eds in the Globe and Mail about their war crimes and crimes against humanity.
I remain in awe of the courage and perseverance of the Ukrainian people.
I remain in awe of the courage and perseverance of the Ukrainian people.
In 2002, political hacks in the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Legal Counsel produced the notorious "torture memos".
They're at it again now, trying to excuse extrajudicial killings on the most implausible of legal grounds.
They're at it again now, trying to excuse extrajudicial killings on the most implausible of legal grounds.
Memo Approving Boat Strikes Is Said to Rely on Trump’s Claims About Cartels
www.nytimes.com
November 16, 2025 at 9:19 PM
In 2002, political hacks in the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Legal Counsel produced the notorious "torture memos".
They're at it again now, trying to excuse extrajudicial killings on the most implausible of legal grounds.
They're at it again now, trying to excuse extrajudicial killings on the most implausible of legal grounds.
95-year-old Richard Falk detained by Canadian border officials, questioned as possible "national security threat".
Prominent legal scholar detained at Canadian border while on his way to a conference on Palestine | CBC News
A well-known academic and former UN special rapporteur says he was detained by customs agents in Toronto while on his way to speak at a conference on human rights violations against Palestinians.
www.cbc.ca
November 16, 2025 at 1:23 PM
95-year-old Richard Falk detained by Canadian border officials, questioned as possible "national security threat".
Lloyd Axworthy is right: Canada needs to do the right thing, especially when the U.S. is not.
Canada should pull out of refugee pact with U.S. over Trump policies, says former Liberal foreign minister
Lloyd Axworthy says the U.S. should no longer be considered a safe country for Canada to return asylum seekers to
www.theglobeandmail.com
November 13, 2025 at 11:47 AM
Lloyd Axworthy is right: Canada needs to do the right thing, especially when the U.S. is not.
What is Canada’s Role in Upholding the Rule of Law and Multilateralism?
That's the title of Sabine Nolke, Stephen Toope, Kristen Boon and my panel at the Canadian Council of International Law annual conference next Friday in Ottawa.
That's the title of Sabine Nolke, Stephen Toope, Kristen Boon and my panel at the Canadian Council of International Law annual conference next Friday in Ottawa.
2025 Conference | ccil (English)
SAVE THE DATE: 54th Annual Conference of the CCIL. November 13 and 14, 2025 in Ottawa. Theme: "Friends, Enemies and Frenemies: Engagement and Retaliation in International Law". Please stay tuned for ...
www.ccil-ccdi.ca
November 7, 2025 at 11:09 PM
What is Canada’s Role in Upholding the Rule of Law and Multilateralism?
That's the title of Sabine Nolke, Stephen Toope, Kristen Boon and my panel at the Canadian Council of International Law annual conference next Friday in Ottawa.
That's the title of Sabine Nolke, Stephen Toope, Kristen Boon and my panel at the Canadian Council of International Law annual conference next Friday in Ottawa.
“Canada exports millions of dollars’ worth of weapons and systems to the U.A.E., which supplies the RSF" -- the militia that's presently committing what looks like genocide.
Sudanese fighters accused of massacres use Canadian-made rifles | CBC News
The Rapid Support Forces in Sudan, accused of civilian massacres, have posted numerous images posing with rifles bearing the logo of a small B.C. manufacturer called Sterling Cross Defense Systems. Ex...
www.cbc.ca
November 7, 2025 at 7:39 PM
“Canada exports millions of dollars’ worth of weapons and systems to the U.A.E., which supplies the RSF" -- the militia that's presently committing what looks like genocide.
Reposted by Michael Byers 🇨🇦
Did you miss the October 24th event titled "Canadian Security Interests and Trump 2.0"?
@michael-byers.bsky.social @mattkorda.bsky.social @brankamarijan.bsky.social
@kerrybuck.bsky.social
📽️ Watch all 6 panels here ⬇️
youtube.com/playlist?lis...
@michael-byers.bsky.social @mattkorda.bsky.social @brankamarijan.bsky.social
@kerrybuck.bsky.social
📽️ Watch all 6 panels here ⬇️
youtube.com/playlist?lis...
Canadian Security Interests and Trump 2.0 - YouTube
October 24, 2025 Presented by the Canadian Pugwash Group (CPG), the Centre for International Policy Studies (CIPS) and the Outer Space Institute (OSI) Canada...
youtube.com
November 7, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Did you miss the October 24th event titled "Canadian Security Interests and Trump 2.0"?
@michael-byers.bsky.social @mattkorda.bsky.social @brankamarijan.bsky.social
@kerrybuck.bsky.social
📽️ Watch all 6 panels here ⬇️
youtube.com/playlist?lis...
@michael-byers.bsky.social @mattkorda.bsky.social @brankamarijan.bsky.social
@kerrybuck.bsky.social
📽️ Watch all 6 panels here ⬇️
youtube.com/playlist?lis...
"The Canadian military should stay home – far away from Donald Trump’s latest illegalities."
My latest (as a gift article):
My latest (as a gift article):
Canada risks complicity in the high-seas killings committed by the U.S.
Canadian technology is being used to target boats off the coast of Venezuela
www.theglobeandmail.com
November 3, 2025 at 8:33 PM
"The Canadian military should stay home – far away from Donald Trump’s latest illegalities."
My latest (as a gift article):
My latest (as a gift article):
Reposted by Michael Byers 🇨🇦
This reminds me of a 🇫🇮 Finnish war hero General’s experience during a Cold War visit to the UK. A 🇬🇧 counterpart supposedly asked him:
“So how many Soviet troops are currently in Finland?”
- “About 100,000”.
“Oh, so many? Where are they stationed?”
- “Along the Eastern border, 6ft underground.”
“So how many Soviet troops are currently in Finland?”
- “About 100,000”.
“Oh, so many? Where are they stationed?”
- “Along the Eastern border, 6ft underground.”
November 1, 2025 at 1:21 PM
This reminds me of a 🇫🇮 Finnish war hero General’s experience during a Cold War visit to the UK. A 🇬🇧 counterpart supposedly asked him:
“So how many Soviet troops are currently in Finland?”
- “About 100,000”.
“Oh, so many? Where are they stationed?”
- “Along the Eastern border, 6ft underground.”
“So how many Soviet troops are currently in Finland?”
- “About 100,000”.
“Oh, so many? Where are they stationed?”
- “Along the Eastern border, 6ft underground.”
The US president is sundowning. Would someone please tuck the poor man into bed?
Trump threatens to go into Nigeria ‘guns-a-blazing’ over attacks on Christians
US president says he ordered Pentagon to begin planning for action, without mentioning Muslim persecution
www.theguardian.com
November 2, 2025 at 12:02 AM
The US president is sundowning. Would someone please tuck the poor man into bed?
Reposted by Michael Byers 🇨🇦
dear @bluejays.com, i'll be in Toronto on Friday and would love to sing our Canadian anthem at game 6. whaddaya say? #BlueJays #WantItAll #WorldSeries ⚾️
October 30, 2025 at 7:36 PM
dear @bluejays.com, i'll be in Toronto on Friday and would love to sing our Canadian anthem at game 6. whaddaya say? #BlueJays #WantItAll #WorldSeries ⚾️
SpaceX's hegemony is affecting the Canadian space industry.
MDA shares tumble on fears of satellite contract loss
U.S. telecommunications company Globalstar Inc. is exploring a sale to SpaceX, according to a Bloomberg report
www.theglobeandmail.com
October 30, 2025 at 10:58 PM
SpaceX's hegemony is affecting the Canadian space industry.
Reposted by Michael Byers 🇨🇦
Canada will remember.
October 29, 2025 at 2:39 AM
Canada will remember.
In Toronto next week, I'll be speaking about the enforcement of international law at this free public conference organized by the Ukrainian Bar Association.
Justice Under Fire: The Legal Profession’s Role in Ukraine’s Response to Aggression
uba.ua
October 27, 2025 at 4:10 PM
In Toronto next week, I'll be speaking about the enforcement of international law at this free public conference organized by the Ukrainian Bar Association.
Reposted by Michael Byers 🇨🇦
Golly gee, you think?!
“The fact that we don’t have robust explanations for why AI models sometimes resist shutdown, lie to achieve specific objectives or blackmail is not ideal”
“The fact that we don’t have robust explanations for why AI models sometimes resist shutdown, lie to achieve specific objectives or blackmail is not ideal”
AI models may be developing their own ‘survival drive’, researchers say
Like 2001: A Space Odyssey’s HAL 9000, some AIs seem to resist being turned off and will even sabotage shutdown
www.theguardian.com
October 25, 2025 at 6:42 PM
Golly gee, you think?!
“The fact that we don’t have robust explanations for why AI models sometimes resist shutdown, lie to achieve specific objectives or blackmail is not ideal”
“The fact that we don’t have robust explanations for why AI models sometimes resist shutdown, lie to achieve specific objectives or blackmail is not ideal”
Jane Philpott is coming to the Salt Spring Forum tonight.
Just a few tickets left!
Just a few tickets left!
Dr. Jane Philpott
Health for All: A Doctor's Prescription for a Healthier Canada
www.eventbrite.ca
October 25, 2025 at 10:52 AM
Jane Philpott is coming to the Salt Spring Forum tonight.
Just a few tickets left!
Just a few tickets left!