V
Stop Harper government's boycott of U.N. Durban III conference!
Thu, 2010-11-25 15:05
#1
Stop Harper government's boycott of U.N. Durban III conference!
Thu, 2010-11-25 15:10
#2
Harper shamed Canada by being the first country to declare it would boycott Durban II, out of "solidarity" with the pariah regime of Israel.
Opposition parties shamed themselves by either not opposing Harper's stand, or by taking months to do so (e.g. Dewar and Marston's shameful statement of praise for Harper).
This time, Canadians must again stand up and condemn this decision - and prevail upon our political representatives of all stripes to do likewise!
[url=http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/canada-again-boycotts-un-ha... again boycotts U.N. "hate-fest"[/url]
Canada will not take part in a UN event next year to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Durban conference on racism that saw the United States walk out in protest over texts branding Israel as a racist and apartheid state, Jason Kenney says.
“Canada will not participate in this charade,” the Immigration Minister told a news conference Thursday. “We will not lend our good name to this Durban hate-fest.”
Of course, Kenney is repeating the same dirty lies started by Israel's international propaganda network during Durban I in 2001.
Thu, 2010-11-25 16:29
#3
i'm glad the canadian government isn't attending, all they will do is gum up the works with over the top israeli propaganda. Anyone else from canada is free to attend, so those who are actually interested in furthering anti racism will be free to do their work.
but i agree the big problem is the corporate media is lining up to give these hacks a forum to spew lies about the conference ("hate fest") and is showing just how good little news organizations line up behind power to give them a podium to spew their bs, without having to worry about the media actually doing their job and investigating the claims that israel was the only subject discussed, holocaust denial, etc.
Thu, 2010-11-25 16:53
#4
As a moderate position, perhaps Canada could attend, but put their hands over their ears, and chant ' I can't hear you' ad infinitum whenever Israel is brought up.
My understanding is that Israel is brought up at the conference more than any other country, and let's face it - Israel is not the biggest problem in the world when it comes to racism. Yes, they treat Jewish and Arab citizens differently, and are certainly deserving of rebuke, but they are receiving a dispropotionate amount of the criticism.
Still seems a bit childish to opt out entirely, for fear of hearing something negative about Israel.
Thu, 2010-11-25 17:07
#5
I too am reluctant to want to pressure Harper to represent Canada anywhere-- much more interested in any campaign to remove him.
Thu, 2010-11-25 18:57
#6
Lard Tunderin Jeezus
It is nothing less than shameful that the Globe & Mail continues to repeat the blatant lies of the right-wing disinformation campaign against the Durban conference:
Ottawa's decision to stay away from the 2009 event was vindicated when Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad used the Durban II as a vehicle for Holocaust denial, racism, xenophobia and the promotion of hatred, Mr. Kenney added.
You can find a transcript of the speech by Ahmadinejad here. Nowhere within it is there any denial of the holocaust - only a reference to the fact that one crime against humanity (the holocaust) did not justify another (the nakbah).
Thu, 2010-11-25 19:07
#7
laine lowe
As a moderate position, perhaps Canada could attend, but put their hands over their ears, and chant ' I can't hear you' ad infinitum whenever Israel is brought up.
That's exactly what Canada did at the 2001 Conference in Durban. The US and Israel walked out.
My understanding is that Israel is brought up at the conference more than any other country, and let's face it - Israel is not the biggest problem in the world when it comes to racism. Yes, they treat Jewish and Arab citizens differently, and are certainly deserving of rebuke, but they are receiving a dispropotionate amount of the criticism.
I'm not sure what was discussed at the 2009 Review Conferance since our media boycotted the event by not giving it any coverage, other than to slag the event as an opportunity to attack Israel. Groups like UN-Watch, Eye on UN and NGO Monitor were very successful in derailing this process. As for the original UN World Conference Against Racism, over a hundred resolutions were passed and of them, less than a handful had any relationship to Israel. At that time, our balanced media focused on a small number of NGOs who were quite militant in their opposition of Israel and their actions. The extent and impact of the actions of a few were exaggerated and disseminated by the usual players listed above.
The UK media were far more thorough and balanced in their coverage. Another hotly contested resoultion had to do with paying reparations for slavery. India contested any inclusion of their caste system being racist while China staved off the inclusion of Tibet. Many European participants were not to keen to single out the issue of racism against the Roma either.
Fri, 2010-11-26 11:23
#8
well now it is up to jack and gilles to announce their decisions. since both harper and ignatieff have stated canada will not go to durban 3 what will the other party leaders do and say
Fri, 2010-11-26 11:56
#9
well now it is up to jack and gilles to announce their decisions. since both harper and ignatieff have stated canada will not go to durban 3 what will the other party leaders do and say
Good question.
In January 2008, when Harper announced the boycott of Durban II, Paul Dewar and Wayne Marston supported his decision in a release that went up on the NDP website. There was such an outcry that the statement was mercifully removed two days later. It took until May for Jack Layton to do the right thing. He got Marston to write to Kenney, asking that the decision be "reconsidered". The letter is feeble, but at least Layton ensured that the party took the right stand.
You can still see some of the documents and historical record [url=http://notimeformetaphors.blogspot.com/2008/06/ndp-reconsiders-durbanfin...
We need pressure - now - on both the Bloc and the NDP to ensure they do the right thing. Likewise with individual MPs from the other two parties, but with less hope.
Fri, 2010-11-26 12:18
#10
I don't want Harper speaking for me on human rights because he is a nasty hypocrite but I think the world needs to see his is not the only voice in this country.
I think that instead of the NDP spending political capital demanding that the government go the NDP should send two or three top people to attend and present our parties views to the world. Lead by example. Send either Bill or Libby and a couple of the other great parliamentarians to attend with support staff to do a full Blog, Twitter etc coverage on the party site. Lets get some traffic and energy onto the site by showing our natural allies in the NGO's and other activists that our MP's are effective, knowledgeable and committed. A message saying Canada should attend is lame by itself.
Fri, 2010-11-26 12:20
#11
I agree, Krop - but Canada must not boycott. That message in itself is what much of the world will retain.
Fri, 2010-11-26 13:03
#12
As well it is good to remember that Canadians love people who shine on the international stage. By going with the new media and if it is done right it could catch on and make a splash in the UK and around the world. Much like a #1 hit in the states will sell records in Canada or a Brooker Prize nomination sells books making a major splash in the world media will help sideline the toady Canadian media and showcase the NDP MP's.
Fri, 2010-11-26 17:03
#13
laine lowe
I think the NDP should do both. Condemn Harper/Ignatieff and send Siksay and Davies to attend and report. Harper has already proven himself to be an ass on the world stage. This move further reinforces that perception. More noise should be made about Ignatieff being just as hawkish and racist as Harper.
Tue, 2011-08-16 08:12
#14
NGOs Cry Sabotage Over UN Meeting on Racism - by Thalif Deen (IPS)
http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=26007
"Kal Akuno, co-director of the US Human Rights Network and convenor of the Durban + 10 Coalition, told IPS the 'sabotage campaign' against the high level meeting and the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, adopted at the World Conference Against Racism in Durban in 2001, is an affront to all victims of racism and xenophobia..
The statement also said the coalition stands opposed to the 'slander and sabotage' against the DDPA and the 10th anniversary meeting spearheaded by the United States, Canada, Israel and several members of the European Union..
The coaltion accuses these countries of trying to 'suppress the rights and demands of the many groups protected by the DDPA, including, migrants, indigenous peoples, African and African descendant peoples, for restitution and reparations, and those of the Palestinian people for self-determination."