Media Hatchet Job in the Maritimes ... Global TV 'News'

Global TV Nov. 30, 05 pm approximately 7-8 pm, 'news' with Allan Rowe (Rowan?) and Stacey Baillie

Subject: Conservative Party's Prospects in the Maritimes and CPC Leader Stephen Harper

http://
www.canada.com/globaltv/
maritimes/tvlistings.html


It was a hatchet job. If you skim what follows, my comments, and follow the links, ask yourself this:

Given the connections

* the PolSci class involved in Global TV's report
* the instructor's position as chair of the department
* the connections to CBC facilities for the journalism students
* the opportunities for students that are presented and emphasized on the STU PolSci course information and departmental website which link to:

* the Department of Heritage website connection
* United Nations in Canada -- CANIMUN
* the government funding for UN conferences for students

Would you say that the Global TV news team were presenting 'news' . . . or is it government-funded propaganda -- biased news? Perhaps influenced by a little UN networking, considering the connections for the students and the staff member featured? See departmental course offerings and follow the links to more.

The program segment was so negative; emphasizing and recounting what were described, out of context of Harper's whole discussion, incorrectly and incompletely, as Harper's views on Maritimers and their culture of dependency There is a news link to one article on this below. (By the time listeners (without pen and paper readily available) realized what was happening, the program was half done -- too far along to get exact words.)

Three or four individuals--the average voters, presumably--and/or students were interviewed and they were uniformly negative about the Conservatives and Stephen Harper's chances in the Maritimes. Would that not make listeners question?

Interviewees & Connections

Interviewed was the Chair of the Department, Professor Thomas Bateman, though I heard him identified only as teaching Political Science at St. Thomas University, Fredericton, New Brunswick

We saw Prof. Thomas Bateman instructing in his classroom with students present.

When presented in a university setting, seen to be teaching, the instructor gains the university's credibility for his views, whether intended by the institution administration, or not. The Global program emphasized Bateman's credentials for discussing the Conservatives' chances in the Maritimes, his position -- negative on the leader. Is this, then, the official view of the university? Does all the administration concur? This is germane to the administration since the students and what I think were supposed to be the average citizens [if they were on campus] questioned were uniformly negative about Harper and Conservative views in their responses. Surely no course would have not one dissenter, would it? Would a journalist not have asked a range of questions instead of emphasizing a negative?

There was not a dissenting word -- no other perspective was presented.



March! ... Left, Right ... Left, Left, Left ...

From the university's website and onward:

The web of connections

Interdisciplinary Studies - International Relations

Applied Arts - Social Justice component

Bachelor of Arts - Journalism Major

Model United Nations - CANIMUN

Bachelor of Arts Co-op Programme – Working Knowledge [links to a chance to work elsewhere in Canada and abroad at any of various universities through Exchange Programs ]

[Singled out as ] Distinctive Programmes

Innovative Programs

Journalism

It is the only programme in Canada using state-of-the-art classrooms and editing suites in a Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) broadcast centre. Graduates from the Journalism programme are working for CBC, ATV, Global, and Brunswick News, as well as in related fields.

As part of the programme, the Dalton K. Camp lecture series attracts such innovative voices in journalism as Naomi Klein and Moses Znaimer.

Research Centres & Endowed Chairs

Atlantic Human Rights Centre (AHRC)

[The AHRC ] is established to promote and develop multidisciplinary teaching and research in the area of human rights at the regional, national, and international levels. The centre promotes and stimulates informed thinking about human rights and their implication for law and society through excellence in analysis and research.. . . . two annual lectures . . . the Dr. Bernie Vigod Memorial Lecture in Human Rights . . . Dr. Abdul Lodhi Lecture . . . an intensive summer course for teachers on teaching for and about human rights. [. . . . ]

Chair in Canadian Citizenship and Human Rights [. . . . ]

Chair in Native Studies [. . . . ]

Aquinas Chair in Interdisciplinary Studies [. . . . ]

The Dalton K. Camp Endowment in Journalism

Interdisciplinary Studies

These programmes focus attention on emerging issues and explore common themes [. . . ]

International Relations [. . . ]

Social Justice [. . . ]

Academic Exchanges

[. . . . ] emerging global society and economy . . . be informed about and sensitive to international issues. . . . ability to communicate . . . . St. Thomas has established a number of exchange agreements . . . one year of their studies abroad.

[. . . . ] Several President's Travel Awards are available to support students who are selected to participate in an exchange programme.

St. Thomas has exchange agreements with:

[universities in Sweden, Australia, Malta, Texas, Florida, Quebec, London Ont., Nunavut and ]

Hokusei Gakuen University, Japan
Sogang University, Seoul, Korea
Fu Jen University, Taiwan
The Catholic University of Korea
Universidad Santo Tomas, Chile
Universidad del Norte Santo Tomas de Aquino, Argentina

Model United Nations

St. Thomas University students have an impressive history of involvement with United Nations simulations . . . tournaments in Ottawa, Toronto, New York, the Netherlands, and at Harvard University. St. Thomas was one of 50 universities competing in the Canadian Association of United Nations (CANIMUN) tournament this past year, and many student delegates from St. Thomas University received awards for their work.

What is a 'tournament' in this UN context? Who selects participants? Who pays? Using what criteria? Is there any room for views opposing this UN influence or the UN status quo? Is there any discussion of the UN's oil-for-food program? Those countries and individuals involved? Would one who thinks the UN needs to be revamped or replaced by a United Nations of Democracies be chosen to exercise his / her right to express non pro-UN views? Or would the foreign travel aspect of this program (with the come-on advertisement of minor perqs for young people with no experience of the world) be open to those who spout the right views and go along with the UN buzzwords and the evident agenda . . . but not to others with opposite views? [Some of us consider much of it malarkey.]

This PolSci course may be a fine program but, given the one-sided views presented in the news program that Mr. Bateman and his 'journalism' students participated in, viewers have to wonder just what the whole program is worth in the realm of 'journalism'. As a news consumer, I expect journalists to inform, after exploring several perspectives and issues, not just propagandize for the status quo and one political view, the government's view.

Note what are advertised as Distinctive Programmes:

Journalism, Interdisciplinary Studies, CANIMUN

CANIMUN Sponsors

The URL

Funding Support Level

Have you ever wondered where all the other grant money has gone -- all the unannounced grants which you are not informed of in MP mailouts and press releases?

Had you expected that your tax $$$ were promoting and supporting UN views and global approaches? Do you think there might be other views just as valid? National perspectives? Do you agree with what appears to be the social engineering? Did you have anything to say about this? No? That is the kind of thing decided by the (Liberal) government(s).


What if you think the UN has failed? For example, what if the UN's programs to combat AIDS are less successful in Africa than the one African program that actually has been successful and is seldom mentioned? That's the program in Uganda which advocates abstinence / one partner (legal marriage) for the young to avoid AIDS and to prevent its dispersal? That Ugandan program is Christian-based, not UN based.

How does one teach people ruled by vicious dictators--oppressive corrupt thugs--in countries far removed from democracy, without having to deal with them and through them? Does the AID $$$ go through the heads of the governments of said dictators, the military power, and the like?

Is there any point in continuing to throw money at something that surely, by now, Africans know has something to do with promiscuous sexual activity leaving one open to infection--particularly vicious along the long-distance truck routes--which facilitate the spread of the AIDS virus?

Is it time for Africans to start taking a bit of responsibility for their own health? After 20+ years, shouldn't more Africans have learned how to avoid AIDS, just out of common sense? Will all the Western guilt geld thrown at basket case countries make one iota of difference? Or are the West's efforts through programs such as the UN's likely to be failures but, in effect, successful in their secondary agenda -- keeping alive the UN and its agencies, the ones tellling all of us we "owe" the Third World . . . whatever, but always $$$ and guilt . . . That's the same group of helping agencies under the rubric of the UN which provides the best perqs for those who manage to get to New York, Geneva, Vienna, etc. . . . to represent their Third World countries.

Consider all the above when you hear one of the few media outlets in the Maritimes present one perspective, the views of this group as though it were representative of mainstream opinion -- the acceptable, unquestioningly accepted way sensible, decent, helping, global citizens look at the world -- and politics.

Links: here -- here

About CANIMUN

Since September 2000, Canada's Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) has been supporting the United Nations Association in Canada's Model United Nations Programme. . . . the United Nations Association in Canada (UNA-Canada) . . . an international Model UN Conference in Canada for Canadian and international university students. [. . . . ]

. . . . CANIMUN is a four-day bilingual simulation event held in Canada's capital city, Ottawa, every March. CANIMUN 2003 . . . 800 participants and volunteer staff members . . . . a petition was circulated amongst participants of CANIMUN 2003 and was signed by over 800 participants and volunteers. . . . subsequently, on 11 July 2003, UNA-Canada was pleased to announce that CANIMUN 2004 would take place . . .

A "petition was circulated" at whose instigation? Are the participants the best judge of the value of these types of student indoctrination? Are there any dissenting views presented? Is the petition something like a push poll -- designed to put the idea of more youth get-togethers in students' minds and useful to the UN's enablers to extract more $$$ for another get together to indoctrinate more students in UN / status quo thinking and speaking? . . . Paid for by others, I'm guessing. OPM is so useful.

The come-on -- and what young person, wanting to see and learn about the world would not be interested? What comes with the attractive exchanges?

CANIMUN 2006 . . . from 1-4 March 2006.

Every year, . . . staffed with avid Model UN enthusiasts . . . this new and innovative international conference. CANIMUN also offers many exciting features, including: unique and prominent conference venues; renowned speakers; simultaneous translation in French, English and Spanish; Embassy Briefings; a Mock Press Corp (2003 only); the International Press Forum; a daily bilingual News publication; an International Model United Nations Forum (2003 only); an Ambassador's Reception; a Head Delegate's Luncheon; and, a series of challenging and innovative committee set-ups that promise stimulating and engaging debate for all involved.

The following is a quick reference to CANIMUN 2006: [. . . . ]

Exchanges by Destination -- Students may study abroad for a year

Exchanges Canada / Canadian Heritage -- Exchanges by Delivery Organization -- and a lengthy list it is.

The United Nations Association in Canada (UNA-Canada) is a national charitable organization . . . mandate is to engage the Canadian public in the work of the United Nations and the critical international issues . . . . accomplish our goals through a dynamic staff team at the National Office and a network of volunteer-driven regional branches.

. . . . .We work closely with the educational communities in every province and territory to build their capacity to educate young people from a global perspective. . . . .

UNA-Canada's projects also aim to define foreign policy priorities for our government. . . . with a variety of stakeholders . . . peace and security, human rights and sustainable development. . . . Canada's international priorities, and a range of global issues. . . . .

Note the recurring terms, the assumptions. Why should they "define foreign policy priorities for our government . . . " blah, blah, blah.?

How do the rest of us or students make input if we have other views? Do you suppose those who don't agree would have an organization devoted to another perspective and paid for by government . . . tax $$$ from all?

While those students are learning to care, to be humanitarian, to pressure government on behalf of . . . whatever they're taught, it seems, where do they learn about the realities of life, which require a little less $$$ for aid and the UN, and a lot more hard-headedness about the world and its relationship to Canada?


An aha! moment

ECOSOC and Summits

World Trade Organization (WTO)
Topic 1: Role of the L20 in Trade Negotiations
Topic 2: Review of the Doha Development Agenda
United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)
Topic 1: Child Soldiers
Topic 2: Child Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
Topic 1: Climate Change
Topic 2: Biodiversity and GMO's
United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO)
Futuristic Committee
2050: World food supply and production capacity have drastically depleted
United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS
Topic 1: Building an Intersectional Model
Topic 2: HIV/AIDS, Security, and Humanitarian Response
United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Topic 1: Preserving Indigenous, Non-Official, or Second Languages
Topic 2: Proposals for new World Heritage Sites

Don't miss the impact of the full list of 2006 Staff, Specialised Agencies, Delegate Services, Committees -- Did you know that by taking a course with such advantages your child would be indoctrinated? Did you have any say in this? -- Perusing this list might raise even more questions about who are included . . . and why . . .

* General Assembly Committees: 1st, 2nd 3rd committees and GA Special Session
* ECOSOC Committees: WTO, UNICEF, UNEP, FAO, UNAIDS, UNESCO
* Specialised Agencies

including:

Council of Confederation [Is that Canadian Confederation? UN Confederation?]
Ad Hoc Committee
International Military Tribunal
International Press Forum
International Court of Justice [The chair is from NB. ]
NATO
Joint Crisis Director
NGO Network [Could we find out more about Canada's NGO's here?]
Governments of Affected Areas
G8
Arab League [Why? Is there an Asian, African, European, Jewish or Israeli League?] Security Council

Given the connections, the opportunities presented and emphasized, the people involved in just this one of Global TV's news items, would you say that the Global TV news program was presenting 'news' or is it something else, gov-univ. bias influenced by UN networking and with an element of social engineering?

If you consider that the UN has not been an unalloyed success in the eyes of many Canadians, what political party pre-election would want a negative picture of the Conservative Party and its leader presented to Maritimers? No connection, of course.

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