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Yo, Canada
Huh. Well, this is interesting - to me, at least.
UN rights body overrides Canada, Russia in approving native peoples declaration
GENEVA (AP) - The new UN Human Rights Council on Thursday overrode Canadian and Russian objections and passed a declaration to protect the rights of native peoples around the world, including an assertion that they have a possible right to restitution for land and resources taken from them.
By 30-2 vote, the body approved the declaration that said indigenous people should be free from discrimination and that they have a right "to consider themselves different and to be respected as such." A dozen countries abstained and three were absent.
A coalition of indigenous people who had been campaigning heavily in favour of passage had complained that Canada, a former supporter of the declaration, had switched sides after the Conservative party ousted the Liberals earlier this year.
They said Canada thus joined the United States, Australia and New Zealand - all countries with significant native populations - in opposing the declaration. The U.S., Australia and New Zealand, however, have no vote because they are not members of the 47-nation council, which began its first session last week.
The council replaced the widely discredited 53-country UN Human Rights Commission.
Link to the article
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In other, related news, we're going downtown tomorrow! Canada Day in Ottawa. Puts another twist on the phrase "over the top" ;)
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Still hunting down footnotes - 76 of them, in fact - like a madwoman. I have most of my sources, and spent a couple of hours thumb-wrestling with a microfilm machine today.
It's a good paper. Mostly. But... damn, I could explain my misgivings to y'all, but then I'd have to kill you. Confidentiality and all that.
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Jacob crawls. And says "Baw."
::sniffle:: They grow so fast!
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Has anybody ever used one of those mobile knife-sharpening trucks? Or are they specifically put in this world to break children's hearts when they drive through residential neighbourhoods sounding just like ice cream vendors?
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And to send off this entry with a smile the weekend before both sides of the border go partying, here's a cute thing I got a few years ago. You may have gotten it, with the same "this is an actual transcript released by the Navy" header I have below. It's not. It's a joke/urban legend that's been around somewhere between 30-40 years, but never actually happened, no matter who swears they got it from their uncle, Navy PFC Bob.
ACTUAL transcript of a US naval ship with Canadian authorities off the coast of Newfoundland in October, 1995. This radio conversation was released by the Chief of Naval Operations on 10-10-95.
Americans: "Please divert your course 15 degrees to the North to avoid a collision."
Canadians: "Recommend you divert YOUR course 15 degrees to the South to avoid a collision."
Americans: "This is the captain of a US Navy ship. I say again, divert YOUR course."
Canadians: "No, I say again, you divert YOUR course."
Americans: "THIS IS THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN. WE ARE ACCOMPANIED BY THREE CRUISERS AND NUMEROUS SUPPORT VESSELS. I DEMAND THAT YOU CHANGE YOUR COURSE 15 DEGREES NORTH OR COUNTER MEASURES WILL BE UNDERTAKEN TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THIS SHIP."
Canadians: "This is a lighthouse. Your call."
UN rights body overrides Canada, Russia in approving native peoples declaration
GENEVA (AP) - The new UN Human Rights Council on Thursday overrode Canadian and Russian objections and passed a declaration to protect the rights of native peoples around the world, including an assertion that they have a possible right to restitution for land and resources taken from them.
By 30-2 vote, the body approved the declaration that said indigenous people should be free from discrimination and that they have a right "to consider themselves different and to be respected as such." A dozen countries abstained and three were absent.
A coalition of indigenous people who had been campaigning heavily in favour of passage had complained that Canada, a former supporter of the declaration, had switched sides after the Conservative party ousted the Liberals earlier this year.
They said Canada thus joined the United States, Australia and New Zealand - all countries with significant native populations - in opposing the declaration. The U.S., Australia and New Zealand, however, have no vote because they are not members of the 47-nation council, which began its first session last week.
The council replaced the widely discredited 53-country UN Human Rights Commission.
Link to the article
In other, related news, we're going downtown tomorrow! Canada Day in Ottawa. Puts another twist on the phrase "over the top" ;)
Still hunting down footnotes - 76 of them, in fact - like a madwoman. I have most of my sources, and spent a couple of hours thumb-wrestling with a microfilm machine today.
It's a good paper. Mostly. But... damn, I could explain my misgivings to y'all, but then I'd have to kill you. Confidentiality and all that.
Jacob crawls. And says "Baw."
::sniffle:: They grow so fast!
Has anybody ever used one of those mobile knife-sharpening trucks? Or are they specifically put in this world to break children's hearts when they drive through residential neighbourhoods sounding just like ice cream vendors?
And to send off this entry with a smile the weekend before both sides of the border go partying, here's a cute thing I got a few years ago. You may have gotten it, with the same "this is an actual transcript released by the Navy" header I have below. It's not. It's a joke/urban legend that's been around somewhere between 30-40 years, but never actually happened, no matter who swears they got it from their uncle, Navy PFC Bob.
ACTUAL transcript of a US naval ship with Canadian authorities off the coast of Newfoundland in October, 1995. This radio conversation was released by the Chief of Naval Operations on 10-10-95.
Americans: "Please divert your course 15 degrees to the North to avoid a collision."
Canadians: "Recommend you divert YOUR course 15 degrees to the South to avoid a collision."
Americans: "This is the captain of a US Navy ship. I say again, divert YOUR course."
Canadians: "No, I say again, you divert YOUR course."
Americans: "THIS IS THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN. WE ARE ACCOMPANIED BY THREE CRUISERS AND NUMEROUS SUPPORT VESSELS. I DEMAND THAT YOU CHANGE YOUR COURSE 15 DEGREES NORTH OR COUNTER MEASURES WILL BE UNDERTAKEN TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THIS SHIP."
Canadians: "This is a lighthouse. Your call."
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::sigh:: Nice way to weaken my pride for my country, there Canada. Way to be progressive.
no subject
::sigh::