May 15, 2006 Kyoto, Activists

Thinking outside the Kyoto box May 13, 2006, NatPost

Federal Environment Minister Rona Ambrose has served notice that the Conservative government is serious about proceeding with a "made-in-Canada" plan to reduce the country's greenhouse gas emissions and address climate change, rather than adhering to the unrealistic targets of the Kyoto Protocol, which the Liberal government had signed Canada on to.

[....] The reality, of course, is that meeting those absurd commitments would have been anything but painless; it would have demanded the shutdown of countless Canadian factories and a material decline of Canadians' lifestyles. Indeed, Ottawa has known for years that Kyoto was impractical, but has until now refused to admit it, even to itself.

[....] But equating adherence to Kyoto with making real progress on reducing man-made emissions is a mistake. The U.S. is not a signatory to Kyoto. Canada is. Yet, since 1990, the U.S. -- despite growing faster economically than Canada -- has increased its emissions by only 15%. In Canada, emissions have increased by 24%. Similarly, the U.S. has become a leader in the field of emerging cleaner technologies, while so far Canada has largely missed out on these opportunities.

[....] Canada is exploring the possibility of joining the Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate, which includes the U.S., India, China, Australia, South Korea and Japan, and imposes less draconian penalties and targets than Kyoto.

While the Liberals misspoke themselves in the Kyoto politicking for the election, the media did not question their outrageous pronouncements--remember Paul Martin?--on Kyoto, on any number of other bloopers. Now, they seem to be so used to BS that they can no longer recognize a realistic approach.



Industry would buy emissions credits -- No taxpayer funding -- "government can facilitate a trading system, without subsidizing ,,, through regulation" John Ivison, May 12, 06

Rona Ambrose, the Environment Minister, said while she did not see the Conservatives setting up a fund to buy emission credits -- as was envisaged under the Liberals' Kyoto plan -- she could see the government regulating large emitters of greenhouse gases such as electricity generators and oil companies, who account for nearly half of Canada's emissions, and allowing them to purchase credits to help them meet their targets.

[....] She said a large part of the $2-billion earmarked for climate change in the May 2 budget will be directed toward developing new clean technologies. "Canada only accounts for 2% of the world's emissions, so... I would suggest the best way Canada can contribute toward reducing greenhouse gases is to develop and deploy clean technologies, not spend billions overseas," she said.

However, she added it would take up to 10 years for industry to adopt new technologies and an emissions trading system would help companies adjust in the meantime. [....]

The Experts: "Environmental experts have suggested an emissions trading system" and Canadians could pay other countries. Give me a break! Which people would benefit? I've seen the "initiatives" so beloved of Liberal governments and how that operates; somehow, Liberals tended to benefit ........ think which grants and funding went where.




Memory Lane: Just one example: Activists, the Industry, The Talking Heads

It is fascinating, at a time when activists are becoming positively frenetic in their pronouncements--their activism, to look at lists of some activist groups and think a bit. There may be recurring names, networks recognizable, a pattern or something else revealed ... perhaps long term plans or something else. As a result of a search for "list Canadian NGO experts", I found the following. Check the politician(s), members of government department(s), representatives of particular groups including Canadian NGO's chosen to represent Canadians at international meetings, conferences, symposia, talk fests ..... and whether they represent Canadians' views ...... that is, the views of the great bulk of Canadians.

Note: There are other lists -- links on this webpage -- other talk fests ... places to go, people to see.

The Racism Industry: talk fests, travel to exotic places ... what's not to like? And no wonder the industry hates conservatives who might be interested in value for money.

The United Nations World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance (WCAR)
United to Combat Racism: Equality, Dignity, Justice --
Where: Durban, South Africa at the International Convention Centre
When: August 31-September 7, 2001

What follow are a few excerpts; assume [....] after each.

International Preparations

As usual for such world conferences, there were preparations that took place internationally and series of regional events that were held. The following preparatory and regional conferences led up to WCAR.

Durban, South Africa - United Nations World Conference Against Racism (WCAR) [....]

Canadian Delegation for the WCAR

Head of Delegation
The Honourable Hedy Fry
Secretary of State (Multiculturalism) (Status of Women)
List of Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) sponsored by the Canadian Government

Opening Remarks by the Honourable Hedy Fry P.C., M.P. [This is the woman representating Canadians, delivering ther "Opening Remarks"? ....... Hedy, the woman who claimed "They are burning crosses on the lawns of Prince George [Corrected May 25, 06: I had misstyped this as Prince Rupert] as we speak" -- from memory but that is the gist of Hedy's words ........ She didn't and never will speak for me.]

Secretary of State (Multiculturalism) opening remarks at the Regional meeting of the Americas

Santiago, Chile
December 5, 2000
[Hedy Fry: "systemic racism, xenophobia and discrimination still exist in Canada"]

Under the umbrella of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, enshrined in 1982, sits legislation on citizenship, multiculturalism, employment equity, human rights and official languages.

However, we have found that legislation alone did not guarantee equality and freedom from discrimination - but that laws need to be backed up by good public policy and community development programs that address the manifestations of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and that are responsive to the marginalization of people who face multiple discrimination because they are women, children or youth, gay or lesbian, elderly, refugees or migrants, peoples with disabilities and other vulnerable groups and individuals.

Her mandate expands "as she speaks", it seems.

Check the potential travel perqs:

UN Regional Expert Seminars: Geneva, Warsaw, Bangkok, Addis-Ababa, Santiago
Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) Forums: Strasbourg, Santiago, Dakar, Tehran

UN Regional Expert Seminars

This is just one list, for one destination, Santiago, Chile and I have omitted the names of those involved. I just included what activist group/NGO/department was represented, some with more than one person. ......... Whatever the issue, Kyoto, world poverty, following the decisions that emanate from delegates to UN groups like that below ... whatever, is it any wonder the activists and NGO's are coming out of the woodwork just now? Under the Liberals, the taxpayers of Canada sent them to some rather exotic and far away places to complain talk and make plans for more talk fests. Activists do the same for any number of causes and when they talk, the mainstream media report ... and the media generally don't ask for the opinions of the ones who pay for all this talk.


Canada's Delegation to the Regional Conference of the Americas

Held in Santiago Chile on December 5-7, 2000.

Governmental Delegates
Head of Canadian Delegation
The Honourable Hedy Fry
Secretary of State (Multiculturalism) (Status of Women)
[....] Executive Assistant to Secretary of State (Multiculturalism) (Status of Women)
[....] Canada's Ambassador to Chile
[....] Permanent Mission of Canada to the United Nations in Geneva
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT)
[....] Canadian Secretariat - WCAR
Department of Canadian Heritage
[....] Department of Canadian Heritage
[....] Strategic Communications and Outreach
Canadian Secretariat - WCAR
Department of Canadian Heritage
[....] Canadian Secretariat - WCAR
Department of Canadian Heritage
[....] Department of Canadian Heritage
[....] Director, Aboriginal and Circumpolar Affairs Division
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT)
[....] Permanent Mission of Canada to the United Nations in Geneva
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT)
[....] Canadian Embassy, Chile
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT)
[....] Human Rights, Humanitarian Affairs and International Women's Equality Division
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT)
[....] Human Rights, Humanitarian Affairs and International Women's Equality Division
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT)
[....] International Relations Division Directorate
Department of Indian and Northern Affairs
National Institution Observer
[....] Canadian Human Rights Commission

Non-governmental Observers
[....] National Organization of Immigrant and Visible Minority
Women of Canada (IVWAA)
[....] National Association of Friendship Centres
Aboriginal Youth Council
[....] Africville Genealogy Society
[....] Native Women's Association of Canada
Non-governmental Organizations sponsored by the Government of Canada
[....] Saskatchewan Intercultural Association
[....] Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE, Ontario)
[....] Association des avocats et juristes noires du Québec
[....] Multiculturalism Societies and Service Agencies of British Columbia
[....UBC, NGO representative]
Department of Native Studies
[....] Métis National Council
[....] National Inuit Youth Council