Clean water is a fundamental human right... Not according to Canada!

[Machjo]

Why? It's only the UN. All nations are not members. Canada could very well sign something that says each person has the right to water.
"Let them come and get it. Oh shucks, they can't afford to come get it? Then perhaps some generous companies could set up desalinization plants in those countries."
Canada donates enough to countries in need.

Wel, I haven't read the document. If by right to clean water is meant that governments can't stand in the way of other countries getting access to clean water through free trade, then maybe we should sign onto it... if we intend to abide by it of course. But again, if it's just for the photo op, then no we should not sign onto it.

 

[CDNBear]

So what are you saying: that we should sign on and then ignore the resolution?

Nope.

I thought you said above we should not sign on to it. If that's the case, then my quote above agrees with it. I'm not following your logic here.

Correct.

 

[AnnaG]

"Send us the water... you can't? Then send us money to dig wells. We'll put it in the UN Clean Water Fund."

-Fake UN Quote

lol That'll be the dominant whine alrighty.

 

[Machjo]

Nope.

Correct.

So what hot air were you referring to then?

 

[CDNBear]

So what hot air were you referring to then?

The hot air that is in abundance in here.

Sometimes less is more, but that's just my opinion.

 

[AnnaG]

Wel, I haven't read the document. If by right to clean water is meant that governments can't stand in the way of other countries getting access to clean water through free trade, then maybe we should sign onto it... if we intend to abide by it of course. But again, if it's just for the photo op, then no we should not sign onto it.

What difference would signing make anyway? I think each country tends to cherry pick which resolutions they follow. lol The other resolutions they sign seem to be dealt with by obfuscating and procrastinating.

Sign it, don't sign it; I think it's moot.

 

[Machjo]

What difference would signing make anyway? I think each country tends to cherry pick which resolutions they follow. lol The other resolutions they sign seem to be dealt with by obfuscating and procrastinating.

Sign it, don't sign it; I think it's moot.

I see a symbolic significance. It's like signing a contract of sorts in that it represents your integrity, your commitment to an agreement. If we're not going to abide by that resolution, then let's not sign it. We'd look better if we didn't sign onto it and then lived up to it anyway than if we signed onto it and then failed to live up to it. So we should sign it only if we really intend to live up to it, and if the government has doubts about it, then let's not sign onto it.

Generally speaking, I don't think too highly of Harper, but as far as signing resolutions left right and centre and then not abiding by them, I think Harper is doing a better job than his predecessors by not signin onto new agreements when we're having a hard time living up to previous agreements already. If we sign onto it, we should do the honourable thing and live up to it. If we're not going to live up to it, then let's do the honourable thing and not sign it. Both are acceptable options of course, but let's try to fix our image of having our word mean nothing.

 

[mentalfloss]

How much water do we have? How much water do they need? How much water do we lose? How much do we pay?

Do the math, then get back to me.

 

[AnnaG]

I see a symbolic significance. It's like signing a contract of sorts in that it represents your integrity, your commitment to an agreement. If we're not going to abide by that resolution, then let's not sign it. We'd look better if we didn't sign onto it and then lived up to it anyway than if we signed onto it and then failed to live up to it. So we should sign it only if we really intend to live up to it, and if the government has doubts about it, then let's not sign onto it.

You do know we are talking about politicians here, don't you? Just curious.

Generally speaking, I don't think too highly of Harper, but as far as signing resolutions left right and centre and then not abiding by them, I think Harper is doing a better job than his predecessors by not signin onto new agreements when we're having a hard time living up to previous agreements already. If we sign onto it, we should do the honourable thing and live up to it. If we're not going to live up to it, then let's do the honourable thing and not sign it. Both are acceptable options of course, but let's try to fix our image of having our word mean nothing.

Dammit, Mach, we are talking about politicians. You know, those types of people that use ethics, morals, and principles only on the basis of convenience.

As much as I feel compassion for people in the middle east, the area of the planet with the least fresh water, and considering that Africa's land has the least nutritional value for agriculture of the continents (except maybe Antarctica), overpopulation will do nothing but cause an extreme amount of grief in the future.
I have very little compassion for places like Las Vegas.

How much water do we have? How much water do they need? How much water do we lose? How much do we pay?

Do the math, then get back to me.

I'm all for sharing as long as it is done wisely.

 

[mentalfloss]

You do know we are talking about politicians here, don't you? Just curious.

Dammit, Mach, we are talking about politicians. You know, those types of people that use ethics, morals, and principles only on the basis of convenience.

As much as I feel compassion for people in the middle east, the area of the planet with the least fresh water, and considering that Africa's land has the least nutritional value for agriculture of the continents (except maybe Antarctica), overpopulation will do nothing but cause an extreme amount of grief in the future.
I have very little compassion for places like Las Vegas.

I'm all for sharing as long as it is done wisely.

Agreed. I just don't understand why this sort of analysis isn't done beforehand or isn't released to the public. I'm pretty sure if we were aware of some general guidelines or consequences, we could make an educated decision instead of some leap of faith or abject denial of support.

People are smarter than that - let them be aware of exactly what this kind of endeavour means for the nations involved, both collectively and individually. Otherwise we run into Mother Teresa vs. The IRS.

 

[GreenFish66]

There are many technologies available out there today that can purify ANY water ...We should be advancing/promoting these technologies..

Cost of basic survival in Canada - $11,000 (not including cable)
Basic allowance given to those on assistance in Canada - $3800

A 1st World Country like Canada should not only be doing more for poverty stricken people in other countries, but more for the poverty striken people of Canada .

The Governments of Canada have lost touch with reality and seem to have forgotten what the basic necessities/requirements of a 1st World country include..

I think "they" actually believe "they" are fooling the Slavedrone Sheeple with their corrupt system...Most have tuned out or turned away from all the B.S Games ..This has got to change before we ALL loose our way ...

 

[Bar Sinister]

You need to consider the ramifications of this declaration.

The UN declares water/sanitation a basic human right. There are only a few options that represent compliance. You move the people to the clean water, you move the water to the people or you drill wells and install facilities. Those regions/nations that don't uphold that standard do not comply for reasons of lack of political will or lack of money (generally speaking).

There will be many regions that won't comply and when this happens, the UN will step up and bang their drum about the responsibility of member nations to provide this basic human right.... Guess who will be forking out the cash?

In terms of the UN "socialist plot", the related links say volumes.

How can water be fairly distributed?
Where clean water is a pipedream

The UN will step in? Where has it ever done that without the backing of the Security Council? The UN has passed hundreds of declarations regarding human rights without a single one of them being enforced by the UN itself. The idea of a UN declaration on anything is to set a baseline and then hope that the world will comply since the UN really has no enforcement mechanisms short of action by the Security Council, an institution that is incredibly inconsistent and unrealiable.

So far as a "socialist plot" is concerned that seems to be the easy out these days. If you don't like something then suddenly it is a socialist plot. Please provide me with proof of the plotting if you can. You might just as well call it a fascist plot as fascists are no doubt equally interested in supplies of fresh water.

 

[EagleSmack]

OK, Eaglesmack, just read the Fourth principle again. Are you against the free trade of resources on the world market as a means of helping poorer nations that may not otherwise have access to such resources? We're not talking about charity here, but trade. What's the issue with that? Have you caught Obamitis and now are the protectionist par excellence?

I am not against free trade.

However, I assure you... this is charity. This is not trade. Thinking logically about this I doubt Canada can provide water for many impoverished nations without footing the whole bill. So then that will mean money to help them update their sewerage and clean water facilities. Money that will be squandered on UN overhead and a balance will go to the government officials of these impoverished and as always spent on things other than what it was intended for. Some of it will trickle down to a village or two for a photo op.

If they can't provide their own safe drinking water, then they have very little to trade.

I'm not so much as a protectionist but I am becoming a bit more of an isolationist. Not a total isolationist but I think we should butt out a lot less than we have. We just don't have the money like we used to. We're in so much debt that we can't afford to keep flushing money away.

 

[GreenFish66]

Oil Oil Everywhere and not a drop to drink ...

 

[EagleSmack]

The UN will step in? Where has it ever done that without the backing of the Security Council? The UN has passed hundreds of declarations regarding human rights without a single one of them being enforced by the UN itself. The idea of a UN declaration on anything is to set a baseline and then hope that the world will comply since the UN really has no enforcement mechanisms short of action by the Security Council, an institution that is incredibly inconsistent and unrealiable.

So far as a "socialist plot" is concerned that seems to be the easy out these days. If you don't like something then suddenly it is a socialist plot. Please provide me with proof of the plotting if you can. You might just as well call it a fascist plot as fascists are no doubt equally interested in supplies of fresh water.

Maybe the Captain should not have used the word "plot".

Do you agree that they are basically telling nations that have an abundance of water to provide water and better water treatment facilities to those nations that don't? If not telling them asking them to sign a resolution that binds them to providing these things for those that don't have them?

 

[GreenFish66]

Lack/Control of water is an issue ..Desalination is an answer..

 

[EagleSmack]

Lack/Control of water is an issue ..Desalination is an answer..

To some countries yes, those that live by the oceans. Again, as a signee I am sure that your treasury would be open to provide desalination plants.

 

[AnnaG]

To some countries yes, those that live by the oceans. Again, as a signee I am sure that your treasury would be open to provide desalination plants.

Why not? We've spent almost $2.5 billion making sure people have registered their paint strippers, hair dryers, squirt guns, etc.

 

[Omicron]

I lived in Ottawa for a couple of years, and I couldn't stop being grossed out by how the water of all the rivers and streams was brown.

Eventually my job there was done, and I was so happy to be able to move back west where the water has at least semblance of still being water.

 

[petros]

Where would you find safe water in Canada if it became necessity?