Thursday, October 14, 2010

Is Canada too successful for a U.N. security seat?

UN Security Council Chamber in New York.
Examine the articles why allies and friendly nations failed to deliver the necessary votes for Canada to secure a temporary seat:  ENVY or National interest?
  1. Canada's effort in blocking the Global Bank Tax.
  2. Push for developing nations to be included in Carbon emission program: Third party audits of Carbon Credits of China/India in Copenhagen.
  3. Canada's unwavering support for only democracy in Middle East: Israel.
  4. Canada can't be pushed around, it's economy is not a basket case. We 're number  one in G8.
  5. Canada's call for more Accountability at G8/G20, U.N.
Canada is pushing for more economic sanctions against Iran. The United States is being isolated from it's natural ally on the Security Council, European countries have  gained two more seats. Will the Totalitarian regimes have an easier time without Canada at table?
The U.S. could use the help in pushing for U.N. reform and advocating pro-democracy policies. The current conservative government in Canada had been campaigning for months to sit on the U.N.’s most powerful committee with no public support from the Obama administration.Germany, Portugal: That gives the EU more than 25% control of the body and a strong voting block to ensure EU priorities become global priorities. -- This was the second time a high profile ally could have used U.S. help yet Rice chose to stay silent. 

The Democrat led Congress and Senate have been unsuccessful in legislating a Cap and Trade Regime.  They have enacted regulations from EPA. United States November elections point to a loss at the Senate or Congress by Democrats. This will reduce the ability for the Obama administration to enact a Carbon Tax.
English: Number of resolutions vetoed by each ...
Vetoes
China, India and Brazil have a lower standard on observing, protecting human rights and freedom of the press at home or in foreign trade. They could use one less boyscout at the Security Council who would raise concerns.
India’s most important priority at the UN is to be asked to join the Security Council as a permanent member. Portugal supports that campaign.
Canada opposes expanding the number of permanent members, any one of whom can veto a resolution. Instead, it supports an expanded and regionally representative group of non-permanent members on the council.
 
“As the structure of the world economy changes, more and more, we are in a position to co-operate for our mutual benefit,” Mr. Harper said in a speech Wednesday to a large gathering of Chinese and Canadian business leaders, diplomats and academics.
“China needs a stable source of energy to fuel its continuing growth; Canada is an emerging energy superpower,” Mr. Harper added.
“In other words, in the context of global economic developments, it is clear that the strategic partnership between Canada and China has never been more promising. Our countries have both performed relatively well in the global recession, and we have been on the right side in the crucial deliberations in the G20 over the past two years.”
Developing Nations need Commodities Canada is Ethical Energy Super Power
The currency’s latest surge comes as prices for gold approaches a record while crude prices advanced. Finance Minister Jim Flaherty’s comments Tuesday are also lifting the loonie – he expects Canada will be the first G7 country to erase its deficit. Meantime, the U.S. dollar continued to slide after minutes yesterday from the Federal Reserve showed new stimulus will be needed to kick-start growth..
Robin Hood Tax Part II
Oxfam is pushing for a financial transactions tax as a means to pay for environmental programs and foreign aid.
Prof. Stiglitz, who teaches at Columbia University in New York, said on a conference call that such a levy would raise considerable sums because there would be little incentive to dodge a small fee on transactions. The money would come from volume.
The tax would be fairly easy to collect since most of these transactions flow through computer systems and clearing houses, Prof. Stiglitz said. The financial crisis created the need to curb certain kinds of financial behaviour, and a tax would help achieve that, he said. Arguments by the banking industry that a transactions tax would hurt growth are “self-serving,” Prof. Stiglitz said, arguing that a more stable financial system would enhance economic growth.
The “currency war” also argues for a financial transactions tax: since many emerging market countries are putting up tariffs or controls on capital flows to control the ascent of their exchange rates, all countries might as well do it in a co-ordinated way. Not that all countries need to enact the tax for it to work – Prof. Stiglitz said he saw no “compelling reason why this needs to be done globally,” noting countries that opted to implement a financial transactions tax would benefit from a smoother, more stable financial sector. 
PM meets with official opposition
It was National interest on the part of many nations who policies and interests do not match ours. Should we be ashamed we stuck to our principled positions? With a four point lead nationally and a six point lead in Ontario, not bloody likely.
Opposition ignore abuses in some developing countries
It appears some in the media and opposition's need to belong outweighs their principles in human rights and Canada's national interest. As mentioned our economy is the "envy of the world". What country can match us?
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