Canadian Youth Delegate Ejected from COP17

[jacee]

So why are they doing this? The main reason is a massive scar in the Earth up in Northern Alberta that can be seen from space. With the potential to line the pockets of Canada’s oil barons, the Athabasca tar sands have become Canada’s crown jewel at these climate talks, to be protected at any cost.

The costs are steep; immense and highly polluting water use, the consumption of millions of cubic meters of natural gas, the poisoning of downstream communities, and a climate forcing potential that NASA scientist James Hansen says would mean “game over” for the global climate.

Our leaders have decided to protect the short term gains of our fossil fuel driven economy in lieu of ensuring my generation, and those that will follow, a just and sustainable future. In short,

Canada has decided to put polluters ahead of people.

[jacee]

I saw Rex Murphy's comment on this particular 'award' the other day. He was speaking on the whole Oil Sands and "canada is a horrible global warming laggard' thing. I thought his comments were quite cogent and reasonable.

And is it not then bizarre that at Durban whole countries, like China and India, with massive populations and absolutely huge industrial and manufacturing enterprises, developing more and more electricity plants and coal generating stations -- are let off the hook by the campaigners. The production of those countries dwarfs into nearly total insignificance whatever the oil sands may represent. The Middle East, Venezuela, Russia -- everyone, by comparison gets a pass.

Canada has extremely high greenhouse gas emissions per capita compared to those countries, a fact that the right wing likes to ignore.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_greenhouse_gas_emissions_per_capita

Edited December 7, 2011 by jacee

[PhilosopherKing]

It's not bizarre at all for Canadians to criticize their own government, rather than telling other countries what to do. Canadian can only really affect change at home anyway and the point is that our country ought to be setting the example.

We make changes by voting in new governments, not by going abroad and heaping scorn on Canada. I find myself quite indignant at these young, spoiled, arrogant people who've never known want or need or put much thought into what they're doing or saying insisting that somehow or other they know better than the rest of the country what we ought to be doing. If they do it at home, very well, that's simply the arrogance of youth. But don't go abroad to dump mud on Canada when there are far, far worse sitting in that room which they ignore completely.

And speaking of arrogance, why should we be setting an example? What responsibility do we owe the world to set an example for this sort of thing? Why not let the Chinese and Indians set the example? Between them they make up a fairly sizable chunk of the earth's population. Their example might actually mean something.

[PhilosopherKing]

Canada has extremely high greenhouse gas emissions per capita compared to those countries, a fact that the righthttp://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_greenhouse_gas_emissions_per_capita

Canada is an industrial country, and a major oil producer, with a northerly climate, a large area with a spread-out population. Small wonder we emit more than the UK or Japan, not to mention Jamaica or Burma.

Edited December 7, 2011 by PhilosopherKing

[Shwa]

We make changes by voting in new governments, not by going abroad and heaping scorn on Canada. I find myself quite indignant at these young, spoiled, arrogant people who've never known want or need or put much thought into what they're doing or saying insisting that somehow or other they know better than the rest of the country what we ought to be doing. If they do it at home, very well, that's simply the arrogance of youth. But don't go abroad to dump mud on Canada when there are far, far worse sitting in that room which they ignore completely.

What an utterly nonsensical rant. How they hell do YOU know they don't "put much thought into what they're doing or saying?" Just because you disagree? They can go wherever they want, whenever they want and protest shitty Canadian government policies in any forum they wish. It's the global village gramps, if you don't like it, move to a shack in Montana and start writing out your manifesto.

And speaking of arrogance, why should we be setting an example? What responsibility do we owe the world to set an example for this sort of thing? Why not let the Chinese and Indians set the example? Between them they make up a fairly sizable chunk of the earth's population. Their example might actually mean something.

Example?

[Jack Weber]

What an utterly nonsensical rant. How they hell do YOU know they don't "put much thought into what they're doing or saying?" Just because you disagree? They can go wherever they want, whenever they want and protest shitty Canadian government policies in any forum they wish. It's the global village gramps, if you don't like it, move to a shack in Montana and start writing out your manifesto.

Is Ted here??

[Shwa]

Is Ted here??

Sometimes I wonder...

[cybercoma]

I find myself quite indignant at these young, spoiled, arrogant people who've never known want or need or put much thought into what they're doing or saying insisting that somehow or other they know better than the rest of the country what we ought to be doing.

I find these comments to be scornful and insulting. THese are personal attacks that have absolutely no grounding. All that you know is that 6 students are upset with the way our government is handling the environment. They certainly don't deserve this level of completely unnecessary criticism for that.

[jacee]

Canada is an industrial country, and a major oil producer, with a northerly climate, a large area with a spread-out population. Small wonder we emit more than the UK or Japan, not to mention Jamaica or Burma.

More per capita than China or India ... you know, the ones the Cons keep complaining about, keep using as their excuse to break Kyoto.

[jacee]

We make changes by voting in new governments ...

And by continuously letting our representatives know our opinions.

Why not let the Chinese and Indians set the example?

They are (see above).

[Evening Star]

Thought part of the issue was exactly that China was willing to restrict its emissions if developed countries, including Canada, would meet our commitments? And then Canada bailed anyway?

[g_bambino]

And by continuously letting our representatives know our opinions.

Is repeatedly interrupting speeches the way to do so? Allowing that starts us down a slippery slope.

[cybercoma]

It wasn't allowed. They were thrown out and their credentials were revoked. The entire point is that it's not allowed. It's civil disobedience to make a political point. I haven't seen a single poster say they should have been allowed to interrupt the speech, they shouldn't have been thrown out or they shouldn't have lost their credentials. That's not the point at all.

[WWWTT]

We make changes by voting in new governments, not by going abroad and heaping scorn on Canada. I find myself quite indignant at these young, spoiled, arrogant people who've never known want or need or put much thought into what they're doing or saying insisting that somehow or other they know better than the rest of the country what we ought to be doing. If they do it at home, very well, that's simply the arrogance of youth. But don't go abroad to dump mud on Canada when there are far, far worse sitting in that room which they ignore completely.

And speaking of arrogance, why should we be setting an example? What responsibility do we owe the world to set an example for this sort of thing? Why not let the Chinese and Indians set the example? Between them they make up a fairly sizable chunk of the earth's population. Their example might actually mean something.

Whao man what a comment to make buddy.Ok I'll just start from the top

Any Canadian is free to critisize the government,even abroad.If they choose to do so abroad then they expose themselves to that countries laws.And even then Canada is still obligated to protect them abroad.

Then you make assumptions about the protesters such as "spoiled" and "arrogant" among others.Do you personally know these protestors?So how are you qualified to make these statements?

And finaly the Chinese are setting examples.They leed the world in green energy development and the amount there they pollute actually is far less per capita

WWWTT

[olp1fan]

Thought part of the issue was exactly that China was willing to restrict its emissions if developed countries, including Canada, would meet our commitments? And then Canada bailed anyway?

\

So we'll continue to support Kyoto right now but the deal was China would start during 2020?

not much of a deal

[Shwa]

Any Canadian is free to critisize the government,even abroad.If they choose to do so abroad then they expose themselves to that countries laws.And even then Canada is still obligated to protect them abroad.

And let's not forget the outrage a few weeks ago when a couple of NDP MPs went to Washington to make a beef about the Keystone pipeline. Why... how DARE they!

Bound for U.S., NDP critics vow to tell ‘whole story’ on Alberta oil

[g_bambino]

It wasn't allowed. They were thrown out and their credentials were revoked... It's civil disobedience to make a political point.

It wasn't allowed, but they did it anyway and, because they did it without warning, managed to stay long enough to bring attention to their message, as was the plan, no doubt. Now, imagine if two groups, each knowing it's a successful tactic, did the same at the same gathering; or three other groups, or six. Where does the slippery slope incline to but general chaos; multiple groups trying to shout over the others because each thinks their "political point" is more right than anyone else's and thus has to be the most important. There's a reason social humans conceived the idea of waiting one's turn and allowing others theirs.

[ed.: c/e]

Edited December 8, 2011 by g_bambino

[jacee]

\

So we'll continue to support Kyoto right now but the deal was China would start during 2020?

not much of a deal

Well no, Harper's not 'supporting' Kyoto.

We didn't meet the targets.

China's per capita emissions are waaaay lower than ours.

[olp1fan]

Well no, Harper's not 'supporting' Kyoto.

We didn't meet the targets.

China's per capita emissions are waaaay lower than ours.

I realize China can be pretty cold with snow but Canada is one of the coldest countries in the world

doesn't that explain why we emit higher fumes..use more energy?

[cybercoma]

It wasn't allowed, but they did it anyway and, because they did it without warning, managed to stay long enough to bring attention to their message, as was the plan, no doubt. Now, imagine if two groups, each knowing it's a successful tactic, did the same at the same gathering; or three other groups, or six. Where does the slippery slope incline to but general chaos; multiple groups trying to shout over the others because each thinks their "political point" is more right than anyone else's and thus has to be the most important. There's a reason social humans conceived the idea of waiting one's turn and allowing others theirs.

[ed.: c/e]

[dre]

She hates Cnada? Or disagrees with Canada's government policies....? There is a difference, right?

Not to blowhard partisan sycophants there isnt.

[dre]

I realize China can be pretty cold with snow but Canada is one of the coldest countries in the world

doesn't that explain why we emit higher fumes..use more energy?

No not even close.

[jacee]

I realize China can be pretty cold with snow but Canada is one of the coldest countries in the world

doesn't that explain why we emit higher fumes..use more energy?

Ya sure ... that and the tarsands.

Point being ... Canada's emissions are on a steep increase, as are China's, and we could still get on board with ... um ... the rest of the world.

There's only one earth.

KEEP THE OIL AT HOME,

MANUFACTURE.

High technology.

Medical technology ...

Within our borders of responsibility,

Clean.

From the earth to the earth.

Just a thought ...

[jacee]

It's not bizarre at all for Canadians to criticize their own government, rather than telling other countries what to do. Canadian can only really affect change at home anyway and the point is that our country ought to be setting the example. What's bizarre is the notion that Canadians should ignore domestic politics and focus on criticizing foreign governments that they really have no control over anyway.

APPLAUSE APPLAUSE!

[jacee]

The statement was, I understand "Turn your backs on Canada".

Going to an international forum and doing that can hardly be termed patriotic.

They got a standing ovation from the rest of the world.

That, along with my own opinion says ...

Thank you to the youth for representing the majority who do not support Harper in thumbing Canada's collective nose at the world. It's just friggin tacky.

The youth have class, and deserved the standing ovation and I welcome them home!

Edited December 8, 2011 by jacee