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McGill University has faced longstanding accusations from socialists, anti-war activists, and political groups of collaborating with the Canadian Federal Government and weapons manufacturers to conduct research and development on fuel air explosives (FAEs), also called THERMOBARIC WEAPONS.
Thermobaric, or fuel-air explosives FAE, are as close to NUKES as we can get WITHOUT THE RADIATION.
These concerns date back to at least 1984, when journalists from The McGill Daily uncovered research into FAEs at McGill funded by the Canadian Department of Defense.
Student campaigns such as "Demilitarize McGill" emerged in response, calling for policies to prohibit military research at the University.
Controversy resurfaced in later years, including in 2001 when a McGill professor worked on thermobaric bombs, a type of FAE.
Activists continue to criticize McGill's involvement in military research and its ties to the Canadian AND American military-industrial complex, arguing that such research disproportionately harms marginalized communities and contributes to global conflict.
While McGill has implemented ethical guidelines for research, critics argue these do not specifically address or restrict military-funded projects.
This time, however, in the context of ongoing protests across the City, every single day, for Palestine, against zionism, against wars, against Donald Dumpster, and calls for diplomatic recognition of Palestine as an independent sovereign state, not to mention the devastating wars in Gaza, the use of thermobaric weapons in Kiev by Russia, the situation might become very complicated for McGill University which has already been widely criticized for rough-handling Palestinian protesters on the lower campus of the University.
● How credible are the accusations that McGill colluded with weapons manufacturers?
The accusations that McGill University has "colluded" with weapons manufacturers are based primarily on the university's financial investments in major arms-producing companies, and direct collaboration in weapons development or manufacturing.
Evidence shows that McGill University has invested tens of millions of dollars in companies like Lockheed Martin, BAE Systems, Airbus, Thales, and Safran, firms that supply military technology globally, including to the military of the Kriminal Kikel Kolony in Occupied Palestine.
These investments have drawn significant criticism from students and activists, leading to wide-spread and widely covered by the local media campus protests and calls for divestment from weapons manufacturers AND Occupied Palestine.
In response, McGill has recently committed to "exploring" divestment from weapons manufacturers and zioNazi
Occupied Palestine.
The criticism is centred on financial ties, as well as secretive and coordinated action with arms companies.
● Are there official statements from McGill denying direct involvement in weapons manufacturing
McGill’s public communications focus on its investment practices, clarifying that the University "hires external fund managers to handle its endowment" and that it is "exploring divestment from weapons manufacturers" , defined as companies deriving most of their revenue from military weapons production.
● How transparent is McGill about its investments in arms and military-related companies?
McGill University provides a moderate level of transparency about its investments in arms and military-related companies.
The university publishes a publicly available document, “Listed Equity Mandates,” which discloses holdings above $500,000 , and identifies investments in several major arms-producing companies, including Airbus, Safran, Thales, Dassault Aviation Group, and Lockheed Martin.
However, investments below $500,000 are not disclosed, and some totals are not fully transparent to the public.
Activists and student groups have used McGill’s own published data to track and publicize these investments, but have also called for greater transparency and full disclosure of all holdings, regardless of amount.
In summary, while McGill does release some investment information, there are limits to the transparency, particularly regarding smaller holdings and the full scope of its endowment investments. It is a public institution funded by taxpayer money, so it should publish all such information and be transparent.
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LINKS/ READINGS/ SOURCES/ REFERENCES :
https://www.mcgilldaily.com/2012/11/from-the-lab-to-the-battlefield-2/
https://externalaffairs.ssmu.ca/campaigns-committees/peace-disarmament/
https://peacemagazine.org/archive/v05n4p12.htm
https://www.mcgilldaily.com/2009/09/fate_of_military_research_regulations_still_up_in_the_air/
https://www.cbc .ca/news/canada/montreal/protest-palestinian-israel-mcgill-encampment-investments-divest-1.7188777
https://www.mcgilldaily.com/2023/11/mcgill-invests-at-least-7-million-in-arms-producing-and-military-services-companies/
https://www.mcgilldaily.com/2024/09/mcgill-commits-to-exploring-divestment-from-weapons-manufacturers-amid-pressure-to-divest-from-israeli-apartheid/
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