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Continue readingTag: diplomacy
Alberta Politics: It’s good the Two Michaels are on their way home – but let’s not forget they weren’t the only hostages
Surely most Canadians rejoiced last night when they learned the Two Michaels were on their way home from their long imprisonment in China. It’s equally certain that some very well-placed officials in the Canadian government rejoiced to know Meng Wanzhou was gone from Canada, heading home to China almost the
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: The China dilemma—global warming or human rights?
If anything scares China’s formidable president, Xi Jinping, it’s probably democracy. The idea of the Chinese people choosing their own president must be nightmarish to the new emperor. His current suppression of democracy in Hong Kong is testament to his intolerance of any such notions among the masses. Indeed, he
Continue readingAlberta Politics: Canadians want answers about tragic Iran air crash, but Canada has little influence with no embassy in Tehran
In the wake of yesterday’s air tragedy in Iran that took the lives of at least 63 Canadians, nearly half of them from Edmonton, and many others bound for Canada, all Canadians want and deserve answers to what caused Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS 752 to crash. Likewise, it is
Continue readingAkaash Maharaj - Practical Idealism: A Dream Worth Fighting For
The arc of history may bend towards justice, but there is nothing inevitable about progress. Societies can and do regress as well as progress. They can be dragged backwards by their lowest fears, as well impelled forward by their highest ideals.
Continue readingAlberta Politics: Another week in the Annals of Diplomacy: in stormy times, half a loaf is better than none
From the sublime to the ridiculous, it would appear, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government will do anything to keep Donald Trump sweet. Consider the dissimilar cases of Meng Wanzhou and Stephanie Clifford. The first we won’t allow to leave Canada, the second we won’t allow to visit. Both, obviously, because
Continue readingAkaash Maharaj - Practical Idealism: The Arc of History – Podcast
All of us can wield a power that those who would divide us will never know: an ability to make common cause out of our common humanity and our common dignity, and a determination to join hands across the divisions that beset the human condition, to create a better world
Continue readingAkaash Maharaj - Practical Idealism: The Mosaic Institute and the Arc of History
While the arc of history may bend towards justice, there is nothing inevitable about progress. Societies can and do regress, as well as progress; they can be pulled backwards by their lowest fears, as well impelled forward by their highest ideals.
Continue readingAlberta Politics: What’s the appropriate response to Riyadh’s diplomatic hysterics? How about reopening our embassy in Tehran?
Is there an appropriate response by Canada to the bizarre events of the last few hours on the diplomatic circuit? It’s not just that Canada’s ambassador has been kicked out of Saudi Arabia for Tweets by Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland and an official in her department that by
Continue readingAlberta Politics: Do we need a Canadian version of the Logan Act to put a stop to dangerous freelance diplomacy?
Most observers of Canada-U.S. politics and the two countries’ unexpectedly fraught trade relationship would agree former prime minister Stephen Harper’s no-longer-secret visit to the White House on Tuesday is unlikely to do much good and has the potential to do harm. What Mr. Harper, now just another private citizen in
Continue readingBabel-on-the-Bay: Ceding civility.
It is the same in every country. It is obvious that simple civility is missing in our politics. Whether elected or self-appointed, our politicos are turning nasty. We are even electing cretins who think the thing to do is revile rivals, turn on their own, reject diplomacy, dispatch pacts, and
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: Joint Statement from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and President Donald Trump
On Monday, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met for the first time with US President Donald Trump at the White House. Read the two leaders’ joint statement. The post Joint Statement from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and President Donald Trump appeared first on The Canadian Progressive.
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: Canadians expect Trudeau to stand up to Donald Trump: Poll
A new Nanos poll found that most Canadians expect Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to have the spine to defend Canada against Donald Trump’s aggressive America-first strategy. The post Canadians expect Trudeau to stand up to Donald Trump: Poll appeared first on The Canadian Progressive.
Continue readingAlberta Politics: Deep irony in the deep state: Some thoughts about those post-Christmas American ‘spy’ expulsions
PHOTOS: A couple of Russian “intelligence operatives” pensively contemplate the news they’re about to be kicked out of the United States for acting like journalists. Actual GRU deep cover agents may not appear exactly as illustrated. Below: Russian President Vladimir Putin disguised as well-known journalist Clark Kent; U.S. President-elect Donald
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: “Cold War deja vu” as President Barack Obama expels 35 Russian diplomats
Two weeks after promising to respond “at a time and place of our choosing” to Russia’s alleged interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, Barack Obama expelled 35 Russian diplomats. The Russian embassy in London smells “Cold War deja vu”. The post “Cold War deja vu” as President Barack Obama
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: Proverbial Royal Cold Shoulder: Justin Trudeau Snubbed By Prince George
Prince George snubbed Justin Trudeau after the Canadian prime minister tried to high five him upon the three-year-old future king’s arrival in Canada in the company of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and Princess Charlotte.
The post Proverbial Roya…
The Canadian Progressive: President Barack Obama’s address to the Canadian Parliament
U.S. President Barack Obama visited Ottawa this week for “The Three Amigos Summit” and addressed the Canadian Parliament. A pleasurable speech that had our legislators applauding again and again, it was.
The post President Barack Obama’s addres…
Akaash Maharaj - Practical Idealism: Huffington Post: An Open Letter from the World’s MPs to David Cameron
The Panama Papers starkly revealed that Britain’s Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies have become the venues of choice for the anonymous corporations that facilitate tax evasion, organised crime, and terrorist financing. Indeed, more than half …
Continue readingAkaash Maharaj - Practical Idealism: An Open Letter from the World’s MPs to David Cameron
The Panama Papers starkly revealed that Britain’s Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies have become the venues of choice for the anonymous corporations that facilitate tax evasion, organised crime, and terrorist financing. Indeed, more than ha…
Continue readingAkaash Maharaj - Practical Idealism: National Post: NATO and the Judgement of Paris
The lessons of Afghanistan were purchased at a bitter cost: the war claimed more lives, more years, and more money than any other campaign in NATO’s history. Unless the alliance takes those lessons to heart, a war in Syria and Iraq to extinguish D…
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