Compare
Doing the hard work required to unite parties, not divide them:
Respecting those you differ with, as opposed to pointing fingers. Relying on a genuine desire to achieve a common good rather than reneging on your own commitments and blaming others.
and Contrast
The head of the United Nation's climate-change agency is a careful diplomat. So when he took the unusual step of firing a sardonic barb at Canada Monday, it was a sign of how far Canada's reputation has sunk.
Yvo de Boer, the UN climate chief, portrayed Canada as a climate hypocrite. The Canadian government, he said, is demanding cuts in emissions by Third World countries after failing to meet its own commitments.
“I personally find it interesting to hear Canada just a little while ago indicating it would not meet its commitments under the Kyoto protocol and now calling on developing countries to take binding reduction targets,” he told a press conference Monday at the Bali climate-change conference.
It's one thing when the opposition here at home criticizes the government, it's quite another when we are being mocked by the head of the UN on Climate Change and countries around the world are doing the same.
While I'm still angry about this, I would have to agree with a commenter on this blog yesterday, ryan, that the more this goes on, the more ridiculous we look and that will have an impact here at home.
Harpercrites are quick to support Baird of course. Few of us would expect anything different. It is rather astonishing however that they do not understand what this means for the country. This reaches beyond Climate Change, though it's tough to downplay the importance of that. It speaks to the credibility of this country overall and they seem unable to grasp that.
I was accused yesterday of simply not liking the direction the country is going in. Damn straight!
Abandoning International commitments, backing away from our stellar human rights record, backing away from our stance on the Death Penalty, reneging on our responsibility to care for the planet, doing nothing meaningful in Darfur, doing nothing for poverty in this country, oh the list is too long.
Indeed, I do not like the direction this country is going in. It seems to me that the Conservatives are oblivious to it. Unless of course they are really saying that we should bring back the death penalty, ignore human rights unless they address their moral code, we don't believe in climate change, Darfur is not meaningful to Canada and the poor in this country should just pull themselves up by the boot straps.
If that is what they really mean, I suggest that they should have the courage to say it.
Government by deceptive sound bite, serves no one.
All of this I would remind you is happening on the anniversary of Pearson having won the Nobel Peace Prize. It takes leadership, talent and skill to build a structure. It requires none of the above to knock it down.
Contrast and compare.
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21 comments:
As I thought, the diplomatic niceties are disappearing at these talks.
There are still four days until the end of these talks and it will be interesting to see how other countries and organizations begin to take the diplomatic gloves off.
It is funny. The goal for the Conservatives at these talks should have been to get through them without embarrassment. They could have done that by toning down their rhetoric and not give other delegations anything to sink their teeth into. Then they could have taken their hard line when the working groups began their work after this meeting. Those working groups work behind the scenes and the Conservatives stubbornness would not have been as noticable.
Instead, they go there and act like a spoiled child leading to, as you say knb, some rather undiplomatic statements from other participants.
If these keep up as the week progresses our MSM will be hard pressed to ignore them and that means Canadians will be hard pressed to ignore them.
The Conservatives would then find themselves in the situation of handing the Liberals a very big stick with with to beat them in the next election. A stick involving the issue that Canadians have been consistently saying is the most important issue to them at the moment.
The Conservatives, as I thought, are way out of their league at these talks and it is showing. Unfortunately, Canada's reputation is taking a beating for their incompetence.
Sometimes I hate being right.
Well said knb!
This government is very very selfish, I would imagine they are giddy with the prospect of not having to play any role in the future globally because no one will ask and they won't have to send money anywhere because we all know thats how they see assistance, cooperations and helping others. Socialist money sucking schemes.
ottlib It is funny. The goal for the Conservatives at these talks should have been to get through them without embarrassment.
Indeed, but how could they have given their base support without continuing with their bluster? They'd become incongruous...though I'm not satisfied that the harpocrites would even get that.
I'm glad you were right.
It may not be a comfortable place to be, but I'd rather be there than not.
Thanks Steve.
Time for truth don't you think?
jay, you sound resigned.
Don't be. We can do something here.
KNB, very well stated,
Contrast - yes, but no comparison
KNB
Its great to see how all you lefties seem to be agreeing its kind of funny to tell you the truth.
By accepting criticism from a corrupt UN is like saying that Kim Yong-Il from North Korea is a stand up guy.
About humane rights:
What do you think we are trying to do in Afghanistan? If you think that we are not trying to help the Afghan people to have a better life then your really out to lunch.
About Darfur:
We don't have the man power or enough equipment to send to them thanks in large part to the liberals budget cuts of the 90"s.
With all the billions of $$$$ send,and the forgiveness of debts to some of these third world coutries why is it nothing really changes for their people.
I mean is it possible that those government are so corrupt that only a fraction actually reaches the people themselves? Is it normal that a country like Iraq before the gulf war the people starved and their leader lived a life of luxury with all that oil that they do have?
Also where is your famous UN in this I see too busy criticizing Israel everytime it decides to defend its self.
One more thing knb I'm still waiting for your leader Dion to visit our troops in Afghanistan remember this was one of the reason giving by Denis Coderre when he went this past October he was to prepare the ground for Dion's visit this fall.
I guess he still has until Dec.21 2007 to go . I could go on but I'm tired now good night.
Oh come on, you're buying the Reform Party propaganda. Pure right-wing nuttery.
Corrupt UN? Where are you actually getting these accusations? Oil-for-Food? Give me a break. Harper's got more controversies brewing in his first term than the UN has had over it's 60 year history. What a joke.
"What do you think we are trying to do in Afghanistan? If you think that we are not trying to help the Afghan people to have a better life then your really out to lunch."
Nobody is denying that the soldiers in Afghanistan want to help people. But how does an aggressive military campaign in Kandahar, which we keep gaining then losing ground help people? I don't know where you're getting your information, but you don't seem informed on the fact that both the Liberals and the NDP want a withdrawal from Kandahar to reconstruction. The mission, as it is, isn't working.
Ever wondered why the countries of the third world are so poor? Do you have any idea why Africa, which was self sufficient in food 60 years ago, now can't produce enough to feed its own people and in many cases has to import? Are you enjoying your coffee and chocolate? Well, Africa is producing your Timmy's instead of growing its own food. Why does Africa need aid in the first place?
Ryan
"Corrupt UN? Where are you actually getting these accusations? Oil-for-Food? Give me a break. Harper's got more controversies brewing in his first term than the UN has had over it's 60 year history. What a joke."
Let us see some of the members of this UN club that you so much adore o.k.?
North Korea leader a good stand up guy right? Iran's leader talk about a holocaust denier a good stand up guy right? Venezuela leader another great stand up guy right? Cuba's leader another stand up guy right? I could go on but it would take way to much time.
Oil for food program is another example how many people have you heard of being charged in the affair I don't of anyone maybe you do.
The UN has way over 100 countries has its members. Now with all these countries why is it the UN can't fix the middle east problems?
Why does an organization that has over 100 countries has its members not able to solve the Darfur situation?
Remember Rwanda? What did the UN do to stop the genocide? Maybe you speak to Romeo Dallaire about it.
Lets talk about Afghanistan:
"But how does an aggressive military campaign in Kandahar, which we keep gaining then losing ground help people? I don't know where you're getting your information, but you don't seem informed on the fact that both the Liberals and the NDP want a withdrawal from Kandahar to reconstruction. The mission, as it is, isn't working."
Top Generals are saying we need more troops to be send there. That's where the UN comes in again why isn't the UN listening and send more troops? I'm not saying Canada send more. In world war 2 everytime we conquered a territory we had enough troops to occupy the territory and move the nazis until they had no place to go and give up. If Canada leaves Kandahar before the Afghanistan can defend themselves,how long do you think it will take the taliban to gain controll of the province? How then can you build schools when the taliban will demolish it the very next day? Its like saying in world war 2 that the alies would start building the country before the nazis were eradicate from Europe that crazy.
Africa:
Ever wonder why a continent like Africa that has so much natural resource are so poor?
Lets take a country like Israel of about 2 million people that doesn't have natural resource that I know,and is always under threat from its bigger neighbors has a much better living condition, have you ever wonder why this is possible?
I got to go now but nice talking to you thanks!!!
I've never wondered why Israel has done so well. They receive more aid than all the other countries in the world combined if Egypt and Columbia are removed from the equation. Ah, so you are for aid! I get it now!
http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/
US-Israel/foreign_aid.html
if that site is too partisan, try this one:
http://www.wrmea.com/html/usaidtoisrael0001.htm
Come on, do some reading. You're only aware of half truths. And half truths don't
And seriously, comparing the "Taliban" to the Nazis? Grow up.
Sorry, the first site was not the partisan one, the second was.
Ryan
"I've never wondered why Israel has done so well. They receive more aid than all the other countries in the world combined if Egypt and Columbia are removed from the equation. Ah, so you are for aid! I get it now!"
I have never said we shouldn't help. What I'm saying when we send $$$$ we should make sure that it reaches the people in question not be diverted.
During WW2 people in
Europe were starving
they felt threatened
by the Nazi occupation.
Once the war ended we the allies send tons in
aid. Now look at those same countries I think there doing o.k. now don't you think?
We have been sending tons of cash to these
third world countries over the decades,why is it,it seems that it is a never ending circle do you think its normal? Is it possible that their leaders are corrupt?
Do you find it normal that North Korea starves its people,but seems to have enough cash to spend just about 25% of its GNP to the military and build nuclear weapons but can't afford to feed its people you think thats normal? If you want I could send you a link.
""Taliban" to the Nazis?"
O.K. besides the obvious that Nazi were more powerful then the Taliban. Explain to and others the difference between the two if you may thank you!!
Afghanistan is not Germany and the occupation is not World War 2. This is a false argument that I'm not going to indulge in.
Oh yeah, and if you'll actually read the articles, you'll find out that a good portion of the aid money that is given to Israel is diverted to military purposes, not social items.
Ryan
"Taliban" to the Nazis"
You haven't given me the difference between them. I know Afghanistan is not Germany and the occupation is not World War 2. I'm talking about their Ideology what is the difference between them?
"Oh yeah, and if you'll actually read the articles, you'll find out that a good portion of the aid money that is given to Israel is diverted to military purposes, not social items."
What I meant that the $$$$ are diverted towards their leaders own pockets not the military.
I will give you another example then here.
Remember Saddam Hussein
former dictator of Iraq. Did you see on the news all those luxury palaces that he had. How do you think he got them? Wasn't the $$$$ that was meant to go to his own people that went for himself?
Why don't you explain to me and others that the billions $$$ that we and others have send to some of these countries for decades and still see that nothing has changed to their people. Do you have an explanation to this? Do you think its normal?
Let me give you another example here.
Say that you have children and they ask you for help fine your the parent thats part of your job we should all help no doubt. But every week they come and say that they need $$$. We help them 1 week 2,3,4,5, 6 months down the road their situation doesn't change won't you be suspicion why things don't change for them heelloooo?
Same thing for some of these countries. If you don't believe that they may be something wrong with some of the regimes of these countries then your out to lunch I'm sorry to say.
I'm pretty easy going in terms of where threads go on their own, but John, you are taking this thread way off track.
The meaning of the post is being lost.
It's not a huge deal, but could you please carry on at your place?
KNB
"I'm pretty easy going in terms of where threads go on their own, but John, you are taking this thread way off track."
I'm just answering Ryan here. Don't you want me to answer him? He gives a answer and I just explain how I got to my thats all.
I believe you fired the first shot, so to speak. Or was it a pre-emptive strike?
Anyhow, I'm not going to argue about this further. Besides, the main difference between the Taliban and the Nazis is that the Taliban prefers beards, while the Nazis prefer tiny square mustaches. What a ridiculous argument.
Ryan
Right !!!
KNB
It seems that I wont be bothering you for a while. I wont be on the blogs for a while. Its to bad that we couldn't agree on much. But believe it or not I did have fun on your blog,thats the reason I kept coming back. I just wish we could have gotten along better. I will be around another hour,but then I will be to busy to blog. Personal reason work related. So I'll be looking at your blog for another hour.
It's been fun!!! Thanks!!
KNB don’t be irritated with these Rightwing Gooks they come and flies around arr..oo..uuun…d arr..oo..uuun the brightest lights like flies… They know how talking turkey and being Totally irrelevant is irritating … But that is their idea… and that is all they can do.
Mr Dion IS MAKING good vibes on the world stage and showing what the REAL CANADA wants and will do.
Cheers .
marta
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