Canada: a winner on the World Stage!

Really, Rest-of-the-planet, this is making us blush.  More awards!  We’ve been cleaning up yearly on these notable commendations, and we are humbled that you notice our global contributions.

Once more, Canada takes the lead and holds it at the international Climate Talks.

As I write this, Canada has so far earned itself two first place, two second, and one third place medal including an impressive sweep on Day 1 in Durban. Canada is expected to win its 5th consecutive Fossil of the Year.

What made us shine:

1.  Canada said it will not entertain a second commitment period for Kyoto and may even  formally withdraw from Kyoto, the first country to withdraw.

Outstanding!  A precedent setting move!  And if Canada withdraws, not only will it be working against global cooperation on climate change, it will no longer have to post its emissions as per the agreement.  The CONs can then make up their own stats like they do with crime, the economy, and unemployment.

2.  Canada insulted all developing countries with this statement from Kent:

Emerging and developing countries need to stop “wielding the historical guilty card” and asking for a free pass on emissions reductions just because in the past, industrialized countries had more emissions than the rest of the world. 

So Kent and CONsorts think it’s just perfectly fine for industrialized countries to damage the entire planet while taking most of the profits.  So fine, in fact, that those advantaged countries should not be held accountable for the damage they cause to vulnerable countries.

CONs don’t understand responsibility and accountability as displayed by Kent’s belief that creating an emergency fund for poorer countries devastated by climate change amounts to guilty reaction, not owning up to damages caused by our actions or even shared responsibility for the fate of our species.

3. Kent, displaying an ignorance of sematics:  There is an urgency to this. We don’t need a binding convention, what we need is action and a mandate to work on an eventual binding convention.

WTF???!!!

So we don’t need a binding convention, but urgent action is needed to work on a binding convention.  Okay.

4.  Third place award for blinding ignorance:

“The 'informed' and 'survival-driven' award Canada with a 3rd place Fossil of the Day...Kent  stated...that the fossils awarded to Canada this week came from the 'uninformed' and the 'ideologically driven'.       

So the Minister of Tar sands who can’t grasp the role the ozone layer plays in absorbing the sun’s damaging rays celebrates his ignorance at a global event.

This pride for being a moron isn’t exclusive to Kent:

Embracing and Praising Failure and Ignorance -

When Canada’s fossils were announced in the House of Commons, a round of applause broke out.

Among the conservatives.  Seriously.

Ms. Megan Leslie (Halifax, NDP):  I will give the Minister of the Environment kudos for one win that he has had on the environment file. For the third straight day, Canada received a fossil award as the country that has done the most to block progress on climate change.

Some hon. members: Hear, hear! (Applause from the CONsorts)

Ms. Megan Leslie: It is unbelievable that they are applauding that.

Well, not really that unbelievable from a party that elevates ignorance, insults specialists, paints academics as people worthy of derision, and claims Tim Horton “wisdom” is of greater value than any research done by highly trained, impartial scientists and public servants.  Not so surprising from a party that has members who think the planet is roughly 6,000 years old.