Friday, May 01, 2009

Liveblogging Canada and the World

Lord Alderdice; President of the Liberal International, is talking about how Canada helped the Peace Process in Northern Ireland. Thanks Canada, He is talking about the Liberal International group.
I didn't know that the Liberals had over 100 partner parties around the world.

1145 Lord Alderdice is talking about the positiveness that LPC brings to the world and Liberalism in general. Bob Rae is watching intently, Bill Graham is reading something.

1146 LA is talking about how Canada is a country that can be accepted and trusted as they lack the baggage and have the resources and energy, that people look to Canada because we aren't going to their resouces and they(Canada) acts with generosity.

1149 LA is talking about Canada's Liberal values and principals, very good so far. Bob, Denis and Bill are taking notes.

1150, LA is talking about Canada as a beacon of light and inspiration to the world, closing remarks.

1151 Bill Graham is back,talking about Liberal values, and how Canadians and Liberal policy, human security agenda helped Ireland and the world.

1152 Graham mentions that "other" political party can think, but most people aren't allowed to speak...then he starts talking in French, heavy English accent.

1153 Grahams french is hard for me to understand, talks about Canada in La Fracaphonie, and our international role in human security.

1154 Talking about our influences in human rights, etc,

1155, talks about our geography in Canada, that we are part of North America, and that we have 3 oceans, and recognize that our foreign policy should adapt and change...]

1157 BG is telling stories of avoiding Iraq, and the consequences they deal with after with JC at the helm

1159 talks about our role in peace and security via Liberalism in the world, concluding defence policy with foreign policy. strengthen foreign afairs, and not eviscerate it.

1200 gives shout out to Obama identifying pakistan as problem in that region. Obama always gets major applause!!!

1202 BG is talking about taking advantage of new voice that thinks like us in the white house. Putting it to us that we break out of our narrow bounds of trade, that Canadians be ready to increase our global business, and break out of the nafta box.

1204 BG is concluding golden thread that runs through his life, political life, domestic and international issues are no longer divided, Think of domestic not being divorced from foreign affairs.

1206 Denis Codere and Bob Rae, my 2 facebook friends are taking questions!! Send any questions I should get up and ask to COALM at twitter!!

1208 Question about foreign policy, on Canada/Cuba relations. BG answers!?!?!?!? BG makes a joke about helms/castro relationship, isn't really answering question, talking about Obama allowing visitors to Cuba, and that Canadians as Liberals strive to work with Cuba, and that trudeau criticized Cuba while working with them too.


1210 question about UN security Council, and expanding it... Bob thinks the challenge with reforming the Un is that the permanent members have to agree with change. Bob pays tribute to JC and PM, and the g20 and their work to make it an organization, Bob says that the world of the future will be remarkably different, and that we are under no illusions to see the change through on the wold stage.

1213 Question from teacher (history) talking about Canadas past foreign polciy achievement,talking about canada's lack of voice under the Cons. Teachers like to talk, more of statement then a question.

1215 Question about poppy farming in Afghanistan(questions often get off topic in these things)
LA answers the question,talking about poverty in Afghanistan. Talks about thoughtful engagement in the world and not excluding parties from talks and multilateralism. lots of big words.

1218 Question about Haiti
DC answers, talks about accompanying money with proper education, training, not just aid, actually developing and helping out the Haitian people, partnering with them etc.

This Q and A is dragging, got interrupted

1523 Bob is talking about the Cons and where Canada no longer is in terms of International affairs. Sitting next to a guy from Burkina faso, thats pretty cool

1524, Bob says we do it by doing it, identifying issues to be addressed, references both Pearson and Axeworthty (Sp?), then talks about involvement in Sri Lanka and Darfur.Bob is nailing this, will make a great foreign minister.

1527 LA just smackdowned the CONs saying the World needs a Liberal Canada back.


1528. Question about Oil, and how as an oil country we have to import Oil to Eastern Canada...
DC responds with national energy, and some QC nationalist position. I can't seem to blog and translate at the same time, appologies!!!!

1230 Question from a guy from Scarborough, not me, more of a statement on trudeaus role in getting Soviets to talk to Americans. Not a question, more of a statement on disarmament, references obama.

1233 Bob talks about disarmament, and working with NK and Iran, engaging actively and costructively. No figure waging, and lecturing.


1236 My attention span is shot, I just checked my work email. Denis is talking about working with other countries in business etc.

Thats all for me folks!!!thanks for reading.

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