Super Genius
Posts: 1,274 
November 17th, 2005, 12:13 PM
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4444550.stm
the vote gave Europe the "strongest protection in the world" from dangerous chemicals. Big Business put up a huge fight, which indicates their concerns over health harms from their products.
Canada has not enacted any such protection for its citizens, even as cancer rates double and triple over recent decades, with a strong link to toxins used by industry and in consumer goods.
Chemicals put on the market have not had to be checked for their effects on health and the environment. The onus has been on public health authorities in individual countries to test those they suspect may be dangerous. These new laws puts the burden of proof, and a "duty of care", on business, where it must be.
The European Parliament also voted for improved labelling of products made with chemicals thought to be harmful. Canadians have absolutely no idea what toxic harms are in their everyday purchases.
Will we contuinue to let coporate culture rule us? to take both our wealth and our health?
Lets follow the European lead and enact 'some same legistlation' , eh? {Some SANE legistlation.}{ Some sayin' legistlate change.}
Karlin
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4444550.stm
the vote gave Europe the "strongest protection in the world" from dangerous chemicals. Big Business put up a huge fight, which indicates their concerns over health harms from their products.
Canada has not enacted any such protection for its citizens, even as cancer rates double and triple over recent decades, with a strong link to toxins used by industry and in consumer goods.
Chemicals put on the market have not had to be checked for their effects on health and the environment. The onus has been on public health authorities in individual countries to test those they suspect may be dangerous. These new laws puts the burden of proof, and a "duty of care", on business, where it must be.
The European Parliament also voted for improved labelling of products made with chemicals thought to be harmful. Canadians have absolutely no idea what toxic harms are in their everyday purchases.
Will we contuinue to let coporate culture rule us? to take both our wealth and our health?
Lets follow the European lead and enact 'some same legistlation' , eh? {Some SANE legistlation.}{ Some sayin' legistlate change.}
Karlin
Clever Clogs
Posts: 651
November 17th, 2005, 12:21 PM
With the ruling in the softwood lumber dispute and the U.S. resistence to comply, Canada is in the position of having that clause taken out of NAFTA as a recognized retalitory measure, thus protecting Canadian health. Why has Martin not acted to do so???
Quoting
Answer - under NAFTA corporations can sue our government for passing laws that restrict trade. Remember 3 years ago when a company that produced a gasoline additive proven a cancer causing agent successfully sued Canada ($27,000,000?) and got to continue poisoning us? http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4444550.stm
Canada has not enacted any such protection for its citizens, even as cancer rates double and triple over recent decades, with a strong link to toxins used by industry and in consumer goods.
Lets follow the European lead and enact 'some same legistlation' , eh? {Some SANE legistlation.}{ Some sayin' legistlate change.}
Karlin
Canada has not enacted any such protection for its citizens, even as cancer rates double and triple over recent decades, with a strong link to toxins used by industry and in consumer goods.
Lets follow the European lead and enact 'some same legistlation' , eh? {Some SANE legistlation.}{ Some sayin' legistlate change.}
Karlin
With the ruling in the softwood lumber dispute and the U.S. resistence to comply, Canada is in the position of having that clause taken out of NAFTA as a recognized retalitory measure, thus protecting Canadian health. Why has Martin not acted to do so???
Running out of ranks
Posts: 8,366 
November 17th, 2005, 12:40 PM
"Answer - under NAFTA corporations can sue our government for passing laws that restrict trade. Remember 3 years ago when a company that produced a gasoline additive proven a cancer causing agent successfully sued Canada ($27,000,000?) and got to continue poisoning us? "
That additive is there to help, not hinder. To pull that additive from gas would be like putting over half a million cars on the road. I thought it was only harmful if you were exposed to large quantities of it. (I suspect this has something to do with them wining the case)
"Answer - under NAFTA corporations can sue our government for passing laws that restrict trade. Remember 3 years ago when a company that produced a gasoline additive proven a cancer causing agent successfully sued Canada ($27,000,000?) and got to continue poisoning us? "
That additive is there to help, not hinder. To pull that additive from gas would be like putting over half a million cars on the road. I thought it was only harmful if you were exposed to large quantities of it. (I suspect this has something to do with them wining the case)
Clever Clogs
Posts: 651
November 17th, 2005, 01:35 PM
when our government forfeited our sovereign right to protect the health of its citizens in favour of the self-interest of foreign corporations by signing NAFTA, I believe it also forfeited its mandate to govern.
Now they put genetically modified products into our food supply without warning labels, irradiate our food, ignore environmental pollution controls in simple-minded responses to limited threats such as West Nile virus, and take no recourse in protecting our population from contaminant materials in products. More and more Health Canada acts as shills for big Pharma and there is no prosecution for falsified test results from big Pharma labs. We should take note of European concerns and allign our interests toward that market.
when our government forfeited our sovereign right to protect the health of its citizens in favour of the self-interest of foreign corporations by signing NAFTA, I believe it also forfeited its mandate to govern.
Now they put genetically modified products into our food supply without warning labels, irradiate our food, ignore environmental pollution controls in simple-minded responses to limited threats such as West Nile virus, and take no recourse in protecting our population from contaminant materials in products. More and more Health Canada acts as shills for big Pharma and there is no prosecution for falsified test results from big Pharma labs. We should take note of European concerns and allign our interests toward that market.
Super Genius
Posts: 1,274
November 19th, 2005, 01:46 PM
Canada should go ahead and break some NAFTA rules, go ahead and pass legistlation that might not be good for some corporations - like the chemicals law. If they come around to collect the fines, give them the finger and hold up a mirror for the USA to look at.
The point is - we should not be held back by NAFTA if the signatories are not obeying its rules. Not with health issues especially.
Like you said. Now said twice - when will our PM
PM hear us?
Quote:
Excellant point indeed.
under NAFTA , corporations can sue our government for passing laws that restrict trade.
With the ruling in the softwood lumber dispute and the U.S. resistence to comply, Canada is in the position of having that clause taken out of NAFTA as a recognized retalitory measure, thus protecting Canadian health. Why has Martin not acted to do so???
With the ruling in the softwood lumber dispute and the U.S. resistence to comply, Canada is in the position of having that clause taken out of NAFTA as a recognized retalitory measure, thus protecting Canadian health. Why has Martin not acted to do so???
Canada should go ahead and break some NAFTA rules, go ahead and pass legistlation that might not be good for some corporations - like the chemicals law. If they come around to collect the fines, give them the finger and hold up a mirror for the USA to look at.
The point is - we should not be held back by NAFTA if the signatories are not obeying its rules. Not with health issues especially.
Like you said. Now said twice - when will our PM
PM hear us?
Ponderous Intellect
Posts: 3,847
Location: Victoria, BC
Location: Victoria, BC
November 19th, 2005, 05:13 PM
I'll get the info to back it (have to do some research since I heard it first hand from someone who was there during the protest) but I was always under the illusion we were somehow superior to other countries that pillage third world people.
Makes me kinda sad.
Quoting
Um, Rev & Karlin, I just learned some stuff about our fair country that shocked me. In Guatemala the Canadian government is every bit as cut-throat and destructive as the Americans. We go down there to mine and tear up ancient sites at will.
We should be moving closer to Europe, Pete. We should also be working with developing nations a lot more. Africa and South America represent huge possibilities and they love dealing with middle powers who treat them fairly.
I'll get the info to back it (have to do some research since I heard it first hand from someone who was there during the protest) but I was always under the illusion we were somehow superior to other countries that pillage third world people.
Makes me kinda sad.
