Friday, September 07, 2007

Predictable

Harper's keynote address at the APEC Summit contained the predictable theme- blame the Liberals:
"For at least a decade most governments, including Canada's government, paid what can charitably be called lip service to the issue of climate change," he told the international forum. "Because they were unwilling to tell the public that reducing carbon emissions must entail real economic costs in the short term, governments responded to the problem with little more than political rhetoric."

"When my government took office a little over 18 months ago, we inherited a patchwork of programs that just weren't doing the job," Mr. Harper told the APEC meeting.

Interesting that Harper uses the phrase "lip service" during a speech, which he himself admits that no targets will be forthcoming from the Summit. As a matter of fact, Harper touts "lip service" as real progress during these talks, because apparently a few vague lines scribbled on a comminique is relevant to the question of climate change:

Paraphrasing- "We declare that the world must do something about global warming, just not right now because "we're not ready". We pledge to meet again in the future to discuss what type of discussions we should have that will lead to a framework, outlined in our discussions".


The real question, why isn't Canada pushing targets? Harper says we will lead by example, not arm-twisting, which amounts to a complete copout. Minister Baird likes to remind us all that Canada only accounts for 2% of the world GHG output, so it follows that we must apply pressure on other nations, if we are to have a real impact. The APEC Summit is a joke, nothing more than a propaganda exercise to look relevant and engaged.

10 comments:

Mike said...

"When my government took office a little over 18 months ago, we inherited a patchwork of programs that just weren't doing the job," Mr. Harper told the APEC meeting.

"So using our own good sense, we canceled those programs, the resurrected them a few months later, with less money and different names, so it looked like we actually cared about the environment to a bunch of gullible voters" he continued, glancing around the room to see if anyone was actually listening.

Steve V said...

mike

Ain't that the truth!!

"When my government took office, we had no plan whatsoever, so we were forced to re-invent the patchwork of programs we inherited, from the people who weren't doing the job"

Anonymous said...

Can anyone find me an example of another Western leader airing his domestic political laundry on an international stage? Please? I don't want to think we're the only ones who do that.

What an embarrassment.

Anonymous said...

The saving grace is that with a 16 time difference Harper is getting ZERO airplay for this continued bullshit.
Another waste of taxpayers money whilst he and the wife play with koalas!

Steve V said...

"Can anyone find me an example of another Western leader airing his domestic political laundry on an international stage?"

I'm curious if someone can point to ONE example, where Harper hasn't aired domestic laundry on the international stage. Seems to me, it happens everytime.

Anonymous said...

LIEberal dislike the fact that Harper is right. DeYawn "Never got it done." It wasn't the Conservatives, NDP or Bloc that said that IT WAS A LIEberal!

"Can anyone find me an example of another Western leader airing his domestic political laundry on an international stage?"

Well,Most other countries had probably someone who thought it could be done - unlike DeYawn who said it was impoosible to meet the target. it is NOT political Laundry, DeYawn knows that it can't be met and his record sn the envirement is poor. I may not agree with everything the Conservatives are doing in this matter - but at least the brought in bills to fight pollution. {By the way - should we kill all the cows because the contribute to Global Warming than humans?}

Besides if GW is a problem why are the authors distancing themselves from the UN stance? I suggest you read the following atricle: "Climate Momentum Shifting: Prominent Scientists Reverse Belief in Man-made Global Warming - Now Skeptics" at:

http://epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Minority.Blogs&ContentRecord_id=927B9303-802A-23AD-494B-DCCB00B51A12

Therefore with the conservative government fighting pollution, they are doing more for Canada that DeYawn ever - or ever will - do in reducing so called Green House Gases.

Steve V said...

clown

Great nic, very appropriate!

Anonymous said...

clown:

So, what you're saying is that you can't think of any other world leader that childishly complains about domestic politics and takes cheap political shots at his opponents when representing Canada in front of the world community.

Thanks. Next time skip all of the other crap, please. No one cares.

wilson said...

''The [APEC Summit] is a joke, nothing more than a propaganda exercise to look relevant and engaged.''

And that has been true of all the meetings/summits for the last 10 years.

Steve V said...

"And that has been true of all the meetings/summits for the last 10 years"

Except for the one's where people sign-on to legally binding initiatives.