Category: World News
Mme Arbour Speaks Truth to Canada’s Foreign ‘Policy’
| 4/26/2010 | Posted by Patti under Canadian Politics, Middle East, War on Terror, World News, World Politics |
I’m not much of a fan of the National Post as I find many of its writers a lot more right leaning (I’m trying to be kind) than I have tolerance for. However, as intolerant as I am of these writers, I do occasionally read their drivel if for nothing else to make sure I really am still intolerant of them.
So, rather than subject myself to actually reading the National Post, I follow them on Twitter and scan the headlines they tweet for items of interest. One caught my attention today “Louise Arbour speaks out on the world’s worst country — Canada“, a piece written by Kelly McParland.
I have a lot of respect for Mme Arbour having read about her actions in Bosnia and the Hague. I admired her gutsy stands, especially in bringing the indictment against Slobodan Milosevic in the face of some of the NATO countries demonstrating their lack of will in bringing him to justice. I admired that she is not only a gutsy woman in an often man’s world but a gutsy Canadian woman.
McParland on the other hand, appears to be very good at the type of armchair journalism which can be pretty safe to engage in. You know, the kind of writing that bloggers, like me, do from the comfort of our homes. Except he gets paid and should be writing to a higher standard. (more…)
Don’t Mess With Americans & Their Flag, Eh
| 4/20/2010 | Posted by Patti under General, World News |
Back on February 28th, the day Canada’s mens team won hockey gold, a couple of Canadians down in La Quinta, California decided it would be fun to celebrate the Canadian win by hiking up a steep mountain, taking down an American flag and replacing it with a Canadian flag.
Local police have tracked down the two suspects and have asked their local district attorney to lay misdemeanour vandalism and flag desecration charges against them. When the owner of the flag’s son when up in early March to swap the two flags, he discovered the American flag had been torn apart and buried under some rocks.
Adding insult to injury, the flag has been flying at this location in honour of those killed in 9/11 which also includes 24 Canadians. The local Walmart donates a new flag every six months to keep the flag in good shape.
Personally, I think those two should be charged. I think it is great the Americans have a charge specifically for desecrating flags, Canada would be wise to adopt one. Should fit right in with Harper’s ‘tough on crime’ campaign. But I digress. (more…)
When Will Revenue Override Prudence?
| 4/19/2010 | Posted by Patti under Environment, World News, World Politics |
As the volcano in Iceland continues to spew forth ash and the cloud continues to spread itself across Europe and now apparently to the eastern shores of North America I’ve wondered how long the airlines would be tolerant of the prudence being shown by the air traffic controllers.
I’m going to say at the outset, I have never flown on an aircraft and at this point in my life have never had a need to. I have on occasion turned my vehicle into a flying vehicle due to lead footitis but I’ve never left the ground.
I’m sure millions of travellers stuck in countries they are trying to leave would certainly like to see planes flying to get them home. Over the weekend some European airlines sent up test flights through the volcanic ash cloud. At this point, they seem to be claiming their planes returned without any problems or damage.
Affected airlines are losing millions of dollars a day as this situation continues to drag on. Weather forecasters are now saying this will likely continue for days at a minimum and possible weeks depending on how long it takes this volcano to settle down. Meanwhile a NATO F-16 who flew through the cloud area reportedly has sustained damage to its engines. (more…)
Gutfeld Goes Too Far On Fox News
| 3/23/2009 | Posted by Patti under Ethics, Military, World News |
Fox News network is reportedly one of the highest rated in the USA. I’ve never been a particular fan of it, I’ve generally found a lot of their reporting more along the lines of a national gossip show, sort of like the broadcast version of the National Enquirer. I’m a Canadian, so for the most part, what passes as news south of the border isn’t really my business.
I’ve grown up with an awareness that a lot of Americans have very little awareness of their neighbour to the north. I can remember as a kid encountering other children in Algonquin Provincial Park, (that’s in Ontario) and them asking me what ‘state’ I came from. When I told them I lived in the Province of Ontario, the usual response was “what state is that in”?
I well remember how strange I thought those kids to be that they couldn’t fathom that they were standing in the province I came from. It was later I learned that ignorance came from a lack of information about this country and even less interest in knowing.
Back to Fox News. One of their so called news shows is called “Red Eye” hosted by Greg Gutfeld. For the most part Gutfeld and the cronies who participate on the show with him think they are rather funny in their perspective. Sort of Fox’s answer to the Leno or Letterman. (more…)
Do AIG Bonus Recipients Have No Sense?
| 3/18/2009 | Posted by Patti under World News, World Politics |
I’ve been watching the furor which has erupted over the payment of bonuses to employees at AIG in the US. Edward Liddy, the man appointed by the government to oversee AIG, claims the bonuses need to be paid out as they are a debt owed by the company. Liddy is not one of those receiving funds, he receives $1 annually, so this is not about his pocketbook.
From what I have read, the agreement to pay these bonuses was made early in 2008 which preceeded the stock market meltdown. I rather doubt the agreement preceeded any awareness at all on AIGs part that the company was in financial trouble. Seems to me some pretty hard questions need to be asked about just who had the authority to agree to allow such a huge amount of money to be paid out.
Logic says that is should have been someone pretty high up in the company and should have been aware of the financial situation. The reality is, the current financial crisis wasn’t totally a shot from the blue. The depth and seriousness of it has been a bit of a shock but the fact that something was pending is not. I’ve been seeing signs of what was coming for the last 2-3 years and I’m not involved in a high finance industry. (more…)
Holocaust Denier Ordered Out of Argentina
| 2/21/2009 | Posted by Patti under World News |
The government of Argentina has given Bishop Richard Williamson ten days to leave the country or face expulsion. Williamson has been at the centre of an international furor over his denial of the holocaust during WW2. Now he’s not alone in such denials but what has brought his particular hate message to world notice is that he is one of four bishops Pope Benedict has chosen to lift excommunication on.
Barracks in Auschwitz
Argentina accuses Williamson of having lied about his activities, specifically his employment while in the country. They have not shied away from also stating that Williamson’s views have influenced their decision to terminate his welcome in the country. With about 200,000 Jews living in Argentina, the largest Jewish population in Latin America, it is pretty understandable why he would be very unwelcome. (more…)
Australia Bush Fires Kill Record Number
| 2/9/2009 | Posted by Patti under World News |
It’s hard to believe the utter devastation that bush fires in the state of Victoria in Australia has wrought. Almost 800 homes have been destroyed, countless vehicles and other structures, animals and upwards of 160 people and rising have lost their lives. Another 80 are in hospital. Almost 1300 square miles destroyed by raging fires that some describe as sounding like 5 or 6 airliners landing at once.
What is even more mind boggling is that it is believed that some of the estimated 400 fires were deliberately set. According to one report I found, at least two suspects are in custody. Between the drought that Australia has suffered with for months and record hot temperatures, it would take someone with a serious lack of gray matter between the ears to even thinking of striking a flame. (more…)
The Gaza Debate
| 1/27/2009 | Posted by Patti under Middle East, World News, World Politics |
You know, I’ve watched this situation in the Gaza strip going on. I can be some what detached from it all as I don’t have any direct connection to either side of the conflict other than it being in the area of the Holy Land which is where the roots of my own faith are.
I don’t even begin to understand all that goes on there other than the emnity and hatred on both sides runs deep. I expect that just as there are those on both sides of the divide who believe the other side is absolutely the agressors there are those of goodwill who mere want to live their lives in peace.
The Palistinean group Hamas remains committed to the annihilation of Israel and ultimately the Jewish people. In many countries in the world, certainly in the west, Hamas is considered to be not a government but a terrorist group. For years they have used the Gaza strip to fire missles into Israel. They have also used Lebanon to do the same. (more…)
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