Hours After Addressing UN On Climate, Harper Announces Canada Will Join Target-Free Climate Plan

[hatrack]

UNITED NATIONS -- Prime Minister Stephen Harper used a United Nations conference aimed at saving the Kyoto Protocol as a backdrop yesterday to announce that Canada would join a rival climate change pact.

Hours after urging all countries to cut greenhouse-gas emissions by 50 per cent in any successor to Kyoto, Mr. Harper told reporters Canada would become the seventh member of the Asia-Pacific Partnership, a group nicknamed the anti-Kyoto partnership by some environmentalists.

Seeking to portray Canada as a bridge-builder on the climate change file, Mr. Harper said he wants to be involved in the partnership so he can coax its members into joining a new deal under the United Nations when Kyoto expires in 2012. The Asia-Pacific Partnership, created last year by Australia, China, India, Japan, Korea and the United States, has been criticized for lacking the mandatory targets contained in Kyoto. Together, the six countries account for nearly half the world's greenhouse-gas emissions.

EDIT

Mr. Harper's efforts to portray Canada as a bridge between Kyoto countries and non-Kyoto countries received a none-too-veiled rebuke yesterday from a young Canadian who addressed the main assembly. Catherine Gauthier, 18, speaking on behalf of a host of environmental organizations, said the next UN climate change meeting this December in Bali must extend Kyoto. "There are spin doctors in certain capitals that will try to convince you otherwise with their 'diplomatic breakthroughs,' 'bridges' and 'complementary processes.' But there is only one road to a safe climate and it leads to Bali," said Ms. Gauthier.

EDIT/END

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20070925.HARPER25/TPStory/Environment

[phantom power]

1. You know, I've been bugging my boss about a goal-free salary plan.

And I've been notifying my bank about a proposal for a voluntary-payment mortage plan.

They keep laughing, even after I explained the details.

[PDJane]

2. I am so utterly tired of this admin

That I'm actually hoping that the bloc collapses the government this fall. And I hope that the populace is as tired of the Americanization of Canada as I am.

Complete with the business of stopping, harassing and arresting well-known activists at the border.

[aquart]

3. Don't Americanize!!!!!

By which I take it you mean a fascist takeover of your government by lying, greedy thieves. Trust me, it doesn't work well.

[phantom power]

4. I had been hoping for increased Canadianization of America.

Oh well.

[razzleberry]

8. the previous gov'ts were no better .n/t.

[glarius]

5. He's again portraying himself as Canada's and the world's saviour!

Once again, on the world's scene, just as he does at home, Stevie is saying that he will lead by example, and not by lecturing the world while doing nothing, which he says is what the previous Liberal governments did.
He then proceeds to lecture the world! Even if what he says about the previous governments was true, which it is not, he is really out of line by again taking this opportunity to air dirty laundry to the rest of the world! God, I hope the Canadian public wake up and see what a negative force he is when we vote again! I really detest the man.

[lapfog_1]

6. Who would have imagined that the fate of the world hung on these guys...

Bing, Bob, Dorothy... I hope you are up to the task!

[tom_paine]

7. More Canadian Anschluss...you poor "Austrian" bastards

Der Bushler has his eyes set on having you. And Harper is happy to play Mussolini whenevr Chimpy asks.