“The leading cause of death in Afghanistan is not bombs; it is not bullets—it is pregnancy,”

quote by John Rafferty, NDP critic for international cooperation and CIDA

“It is important to make contraception available, whereas our government’s policy is not to include reproductive health in any kind of maternal-health program,” Banerjee (who led CIDA’s mission in Afghanistan from 2003 to 2006) said. “That I consider to be a major drawback.”

Remember those brutal quotes back in March when opposition was pushing harper & co. to include family planning in their big G8 boast about focusing on maternal and child health internationally?

Bev Oda pointedly left birth control off the list of aid projects the government intended to support, saying that “saving lives” was more important than family planning.

Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon made clear that the maternal-health priority “does not deal in any way, shape or form with family planning.”

And today we find out that harper  has been named co-chair of a UN commission that will track pledges and resources for maternal and children's health in developing countries.

Right. 

That explains his no vote on C-510 (h/t to  Dammit Janet!)

Unbelievable that the UN selected him.  I suspect it's because of the amount of mooney he promised to the cause.  Too bad.  I doubt it'll end up where it should.

Harper says fuck you to foreign aid recipients

They don`t vote for him anyway, so what the hell.

Bad enough when you publicly accuse someone of being anti-Semitic in public.  Even worse when that affects a group`s funding and ability to perform, labeling them in the eyes of the world.

The United Church of Canada and other Canadian churches are demanding Prime Minister Stephen Harper explain why one of his cabinet ministers accused them of being anti-Semitic.

The United, Catholic and Anglican churches are part of KAIROS, an aid group that was shocked to hear Immigration Minister Jason Kenney say its funding was lifted as part of the Conservatives' effort to cut off anti-Semitic organizations.

Shocked doesn`t cover it.  Labeling them as an anti-Semitic organization?  That's lawsuit territory, CONs.

Who are these racists, these anti-Semites?

Besides the United and Anglican churches, Toronto-based KAIROS's members include the Presbyterian Church in Canada, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Mennonite Central Committee - Canada.  Working with 21 partner organizations around the world, KAIROS sponsors projects promoting social and economic justice in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East.

KAIROS is committed to relieve suffering across the planet, regardless of creed or colour.  Because they made some statements opposing the CON support of countries engaging in human rights violations (mining) and because they expressed concern over some of the actions committed by the Israeli army, and because they spoke out about the destruction caused by oilsands development, they have become yet another group on the growing list of people and agencies targeted by Harper`s campaign to silence anyone who does not promote his narrow ideology and personal, political goals.

The cost of allowing this war on anything but Harper to continue is high.

Gerry Barr, president of the Canadian Council for International Co-operation, said Kenney's remarks have compromised the integrity of the Canadian International Development Agency's entire foreign aid funding operation.

"There needs to be a larger discussion about CIDA's decision-making than merely what's happened to KAIROS, but KAIROS would be the classic example," said the Liberals' John McKay.   Based on KAIROS's experience, McKay said, a non-governmental organization "could be absolutely welded to the 'priorities' of the government as stated by Minister Oda, but if you fall outside of the government's particular dictum of political correctness, you're toast."

So it`s fuck you to people in desperate need of help if anyone connected to that aid dares to tell the truth about Harper`s human rights violations.