Dec. 12, 2006: Just to clarify ...

The link is for the background only.

The best laid plans of mice and men ...


Perhaps Mr. Ryan should have read a little more before using a header like this one: It's all Harper's fault , Sid Ryan, Fri, December 1, 2006

www.torontosun.com/News/Columnists/
Ryan_Sid/2006/12/01/2576129.html

Mr. Ryan, have you read anything about the UN / UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions and do you understand the implications and their ramifications?

Below, Mr. Ryan's article, are a few salient points fromthe UN Protocol. At least check those, or that whole post, or the original webpages or documents, though webpages disapear at the press of a mouse ... sic transit gloria ... and history. The UNESCO Protocol encompasses much more than "doing good" for the natives.

But first, to Mr. Ryan's lament:

While the Harper government was busy in the House of Commons rushing through recognition of Quebecers as a nation, its representatives at the United Nations in New York were busy voting against the extension of human rights to indigenous peoples in Canada and around the world.

[....] The declaration is aimed at improving the standard of living of indigenous people and recognizing their right to self-determination, giving them the right to live within their own customs and culture and to preserve it through education delivered in their own languages. It would also recognize the rights of indigenous peoples to land claims and resources and allow them to oppose military use of and incursions upon traditional lands.

There are over sixty native languages in Canada. Think about the implications for the languages industry and for finding jobs in each of them. Note how much would be given away. Think about who want to get into the North for minerals, oil, LNG ... anything there.

[....] how far we have fallen ...

... defending human rights," said Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, chairperson for the UN permanent forum on indigenous issues.

... reneged on the Kelowna Accord, [....]

Background: worth knowing about

FHTR Jan. 29 0 Feb. 3, 2006:
Implications - intended and included: UN / UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions

frosthitstherhubarb.blogspot.com/
2006_01_29_frosthitstherhubarb_archive.html

Scroll down to get some idea here. These are headers, phrases, quotes to indicate what is included. Obviously, in much of this, No ... means just the opposite.


Feb. 3, 06
No Indoctrination 1, No Element of Coercion, No Global Aspirations
[....]
The Digital Solidarity Fund
CFP: The Digital Solidarity Fund: An Internet tax in disguise

Joseph A. Klein, a Harvard Law graduate who has worked as a global technology attorney for more than 30 years, is the author of Global Deception: The UN's Stealth Assault on America's Freedom. [and Canada's freedom, as well] January 30, 2006

[. . . . ] The truth is that the financing mechanism for this Fund relies in large part on mandatory surcharges imposed on high tech companies as a condition to having their contract bids accepted by ......

No Indoctrination 2: No Outside Influences?

It intends to provide a legal framework

[....] diversity in dialogue [controlled by whom?]


Diversity of dialogue is the exact opposite of what this UNESCO convention is, which is to give CONTROL to those countries which wish to keep their populace from freedom and democracy through open access to knowledge via the internet. See the efforts to wrest control of the net away from what has been free via the US, to give it to the UN whose member states would exercise regulatory, tollgating, etc. controls so that only the rich and government-approved would have access to the tools for freedom. Note that the telcos--quebectel--are very very interested in this. (More on this later.) It is more about protecting industries and getting a firm foothold in controlling what may come in future, for those who instigated this.

[....] to fund a Digital Solidarity Fund to combat unequal access to the net.

No Indoctrination 3: No Coercion, Helping the Poor of Africa & the World

[....] Search: UNESCO, cultural, diversity Webpage of Culture et Communications Quebec, Newsletter: Vol. 5, no. 37, December 19, 2005 -- published after Paul Martin signed the UNESCO protocol Nov. 23, 05.

[....] The section will feature regulatory measures aimed at protecting and promoting the diversity of cultural expressions, including those that provide opportunities for creation, production, dissemination, and distribution to domestic cultural industries; that provide public financial assistance; that support public institutions, as appropriate; that support artists and others involved in the creation of cultural expressions; and that enhance diversity of the media. [ except for any pro-Conservative media? ]

Promote discussion among cultural managers, public policy developers, teachers, and researchers with a special interest in policies and measures aimed at protecting and promoting the diversity of cultural expressions, by providing access to research, publications, and lectures on cultural policies, practices, and measures.

[....] voluntary contributions [....]

“We must work for the implementation of the Convention and to find concrete ways to make it effective as a political and development tool” – Dakar Declaration
[....]
INCD delegates are urging Culture Ministers to work with trade ministers to ensure they understand the wide scope of cultural policy tools that are at risk. This extends beyond the audiovisual, publishing, and music industries to include telecommunications, electronic commerce, retail and distribution services, the media, and many other sectors.

[....] to create preferential opportunities for artists and cultural productions from the South and to provide the necessary resources to develop cultural capacity and creative industries [....]

[....] For this reason, Canadian Coalition for Cultural Diversity co-chair Pierre Curzi stressed that “We must start broadening the debate and transfering knowledge to developing countries right now

[....] audio-visual services
[....]
But the threat to culture is not only in the audio-visual sector, but also from similar demands that involve telecommunications, advertising, retail, publishing, theme parks, events management, and more.
[....]
Professor Jane Kelsey from the Law School at the University of Auckland, New Zealand. [. . . . ] the ongoing negotiations on the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) aim to extend the right of foreign firms to run a country’s services, ranging from health, education, and pensions to railways, postal services, and broadcasting, and prevent their governments from giving preference to local providers of such services. [. . . . ]

But the threat to culture is not only in the audio-visual sector, but also from similar demands that involve telecommunications, advertising, retail, publishing, theme parks, events management, and more. [....]

Note: "giving preference to local providers" and I'll bet they're not concerned about Saskatoon nor Calgary. Did you think they were?
[....]
“In Doha, we promised developing countries we would correct the distortions in the world trade system to their advantage

No Indoctrination 4: Francophone Countries Gain

UNESCO Convention on the Diversity of Cultural Expressions and the services trade negotiations in Hong Kong
www.mcc.gouv.qc.ca/international/diversite-culturelle/eng/#nouvelle13

[....] francophone countries gained considerably from the recent adoption of this Convention

* [....] Might service negotiations undermine the universal obligations of governments with regard to public services, as well as their ability to regulate, and do they compromise cultural diversity? Mr. Sauvé stressed that the right of states to regulate their service activities is crucial .... This includes public service and universality obligations. Public services—education, healthcare, postal services—are excluded from GATS jurisdiction when they are provided on a non-commercial basis and do not compete directly with private providers of equivalent services. [ie. There are private businesses involved and there is money to be made, IMHO.]

No Indoctrination 5: Summit's Outcome Important for Islamic Countries

No Indoctrination 6: Control & the CRTC, Protection, Language, Industries & the CRTC [added Feb. 5, 06 -- scroll down past #5 for it.]

February 1, 2006
CRTC & Lib. Big Brother

There is much more if you link.