UN Envoy Condemns Canada for its Food Policy

[plymouthhater]

http://www.sunnewsnetwork.ca/sunnews/canada/archives/2012/05/20120516-114017.html

Olivier De Schutter, UN Special Rapporteur on the right to food speaks to the media at the National Press Theatre in Ottawa, May 16, 2012 after his tour of Canada. Credits: Andre Forget / QMI AGENCY

Ottawa is fighting back after a UN envoy lectured "self-righteous" Canada for its approach to food issues, saying Canada should be "ashamed."

Olivier De Schutter, special rapporteur on the right to food, witnessed "very desperate conditions and people who are in extremely dire straits" during an 11-day mission to Canada.

He added Canada has an "appallingly poor" record of enacting recommendations from UN human rights agencies.
Immigration Minister Jason Kenney fired back Wednesday, saying Canada is "a world leader in food aid."

"It would be our hope that the contributions we make to the United Nations are used to help starving people in developing countries, not to give lectures to wealthy and developed countries like Canada and I think this is a discredit to the United Nations," Kenney said
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Canada gives a ton of money and food aid to developing nations... I guess the Harper Govt should reply to UN that they are absolutely correct and since "charity begins at home" we will no longer be giving any money or food aid to Third World countries and will instead keep the money at home for Canadians to address the identified issues.

[Mr._Hankey]

The UN is irrelevant.

[Dina_E]

UN
same organisation that puts IRAN in charge of womens rights.

yep seems like a legit organisation we should we taking advice from.

[webdoctors]

Olivier De Schutter should go to Burma and give a lecture on food rights.

I'll respect him if he returns with all his fingers intact.

[NG]

Man with so many UN haters Canada is quickly turning into the redneck American south.

Well at least other parts of the world aren't as pathetic and with reports like this Canada will be recognized as the embarrassment it's become.

[rommelrommel]

The UN is a joke, it's mostly made up of dictators and pseudo-democratic leaders. It's a giant make work project for people that aren't able to do anything useful. Like was said, any organization that puts Iran at the head of a women's rights commission is a total joke.

There are people in Canada that need help but we don't need some dippy bureaucrat spending our contributions to come and condemn us. I've always figured if the UN disapproves of it you're probably doing things right.

[hugh_da_man]

Canada gives a ton of money and food aid to developing nations... I guess the Harper Govt should reply to UN that they are absolutely correct and since "charity begins at home" we will no longer be giving any money or food aid to Third World countries and will instead keep the money at home for Canadians to address the identified issues.

I agree. If there are human rights issues at home we should be using our money to address them. There is a pretty significant global recession going on that's hurting a lot of people and we need to make sure people at home are taken care of before giving our money to help others.

[CRAZYBUBBA]

The issue with the UN is the hemegenous power of countries who have permanent status on the security Council and can veto anything, all else is secondary.

[whampoa]

UN
same organisation that puts IRAN in charge of womens rights.

yep seems like a legit organisation we should we taking advice from.

Wait, is that the same org that voted Daffy Duck Libya into the UN human right council?

[NorthYorker]

I truly enjoyed irony of Canadian Conservatives complaining about "out-of-towners who don't have a clue but dare to judge us" and ordering bomb runs on other countries based on conclusions of out-of-towners who does not have a clue. I trust UN's commission on Libya, Israel or Syria much less than I trust their conclusions on Canada, to tell you the truth.

[dragon_drift]

Who cares about the UN? Protecting the world, my @$%

[NorthYorker]

Who cares about the UN?Mr. Kenney and Mrs. Aglukkaq obviously do. Otherwise they would just ignore De Schutter's comments.

[NG]

I trust UN's commission on Libya, Israel or Syria much less than I trust their conclusions on Canada, to tell you the truth.

+1. It's seems that the middle east issue they're operating on a Neville Chamberlain model of playing nice with the monsters that walk among us simply to keep them in the UN.

I understand they're logic that having them being engaged in the international community is better than them being isolated but I'd contend it's doing more harm than good.

Now when it comes to a country like Canada...they can be more frank since those who'd want us pulled out of the UN are nutjobs who happened to gain power here thanks to divining the non-con vote.

[ever1221]

Man with so many UN haters Canada is quickly turning into the redneck American south.

Well at least other parts of the world aren't as pathetic and with reports like this Canada will be recognized as the embarrassment it's become.

I know!!! thanks to harpy and his supporters.

[NorthYorker]

I understand they're logic that having them being engaged in the international community is better than them being isolated but I'd contend it's doing more harm than good.This is not what I meant. I was trying to point at obvious fact that a Belgian has, by definition, much more understanding of ways Canadian society operates than s/he has about, let's say, Arab society. Or Arab-Israeli conflict. However, we accept UN findings on 3rd world as undisputable truth while bristling at suggestion that an European understands Canada :)

[Nook]

Man with so many UN haters Canada is quickly turning into the redneck American south.

Well at least other parts of the world aren't as pathetic and with reports like this Canada will be recognized as the embarrassment it's become.
http://i.imgur.com/D0hZA.jpg

[MrKap]

Article says...


Canada is flunking international obligations by failing to prevent hunger and obesity nationwide

As if the whole world isn't getting fat.

Maybe Canada should stop sending cash overseas, for warlords to intercept and keep it strictly to food?

What good is a UN criticism if they offer no solution? My guess is the UN is infiltrated by the elite 1% who is interested in making a global land grab.


In any event, according the wiki anyway, 2001. These are the top killers.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_preventable_causes_of_death




Cause Number of deaths resulting (millions per year)
Hypertension 7.8
Smoking tobacco 5.0
High cholesterol 3.9
Malnutrition 3.8
Sexually transmitted diseases 3.0
Poor diet 2.8
Overweight and obesity 2.5
Physical inactivity 2.0
Alcohol 1.9
Indoor air pollution from solid fuels 1.8
Unsafe water and poor sanitation 1.6


So unsafe water an infrastructure is on there, but extremely minor by comparison, and sure malnutrition is on there too, but these are things the powerful and mighty United Nations should be able to stomp out in a manner of years. What's the hold up UN?


Let's say 3.8 Million people die of starvation a year. So how much should it cost each and every year to prevent 3.8 Million people from dying without food a year.

Let's imagine it costs $3.00 to feed someone to prevent starvation a day. 3.8 x 365 x 3.00 = 4,161,000,000

So 4.1 Billion is quite a lot of money. However, it looks like according to this, Canada is dumping over 5.16 Billion in aid.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2012/04/01/f-international-aid-federal-budget.html


As part of its effort to cut the federal deficit by $5.2-billion in 2015, roughly 7.5 per cent, or $377.6 million, will be eliminated from the government's $5.16-billion international assistance envelope by that year.

Let's imagine it's been happening for a couple decades. Why are people still starving? Probably has more to do with failed UN policies than a lack of G20 nation support.

[ddp]

UN
same organisation that puts IRAN in charge of womens rights.

yep seems like a legit organisation we should we taking advice from.

Um the head of woman's rights in the UN isn't run by a country, it's run by a person and shes
From Chile.

[MrKap]

Um the head of woman's rights in the UN isn't run by a country, it's run by a person and shes
From Chile.

Aren't they the same people that asked G20 nations to drop ordinance over top of Lybia?


I guess if the weapons are humane, then it's an okay way to wage war. If it ever resorts to killing pows or using inhumane weapons, well, those aren't the rules that gain public opinion and favor.

[Sgt_Strider]

The UN is a joke. There are much worse offenders in this world and this guy have the guts to call us out. Why isn't China being singled out? No country is perfect and we're never going to have a perfect food policy and it's pathetic for the NDP to jump on this. They're not going to fix the problem overnight either.

[Sgt_Strider]

The UN is a joke, it's mostly made up of dictators and pseudo-democratic leaders. It's a giant make work project for people that aren't able to do anything useful. Like was said, any organization that puts Iran at the head of a women's rights commission is a total joke.

There are people in Canada that need help but we don't need some dippy bureaucrat spending our contributions to come and condemn us. I've always figured if the UN disapproves of it you're probably doing things right.

It's crazy because we're ranked #6 on the UN's list. It was stated in a article on the CBC (I think). #6 is still pretty damn good and yet this guy have the guts to condemn us. I believe there are 192 members in the UN. I don't understand why he's not spending his time going after the other 186 members who are ranked below us.

[fakishan]

Canada is not helping anyone buts its own economy with their food aid. Buying food at overpriced prices (our taxes) from the middleman (political connections) in the farming business and dumping it to foreign countries at lower prices then what their own farmers sell for.

What it does is, firstly it doesn't let the natural food supply of a country regulate its population, instead we keep them alive in agony and a broken economy.

Teach a man to fish...



Food aid should be only for those who had a temporary setback in food supply, not a permanent setback. At the same time we have our precious Christians over there telling them NOT to use condoms, so their populations and disease rates keep rising in an unsustainable manner.

[spike1128]

Canada is not helping anyone buts its own economy with their food aid. Buying food at overpriced prices (our taxes) from the middleman (political connections) in the farming business and dumping it to foreign countries at lower prices then what their own farmers sell for.

What it does is, firstly it doesn't let the natural food supply of a country regulate its population, instead we keep them alive in agony and a broken economy.

Teach a man to fish...



Food aid should be only for those who had a temporary setback in food supply, not a permanent setback. At the same time we have our precious Christians over there telling them NOT to use condoms, so their populations and disease rates keep rising in an unsustainable manner.

You are right. We should stop providing anything to another countries. We should take care our own before others, the natives are still so poor and we Canada call ourselves 1 world nation but with a 3rd world population.

I have to correct you on this. We have our precious "Catholics" telling them not to do birth control, so their populations and disease rates keep rising in an unsustainable manner (that's why South/Middle America countries are so dirt poor).

[NG]

The UN is a joke. There are much worse offenders in this world and this guy have the guts to call us out. Why isn't China being singled out? No country is perfect and we're never going to have a perfect food policy and it's pathetic for the NDP to jump on this. They're not going to fix the problem overnight either.


Yes China and Iran should be called out as well in the diplomatic community but that doesn't negate the Canada's intentional failings for the poor.

This government hates the poor and they don't care if they starve. This is what the UN was calling out.

[Sgt_Strider]

Yes China and Iran should be called out as well in the diplomatic community but that doesn't negate the Canada's intentional failings for the poor.

This government hates the poor and they don't care if they starve. This is what the UN was calling out.

What don't you understand? Despite the fact that the UN called us, we're still in the top 10 of their index. It doesn't make any sense at all. Intentionally failing the poor? What do you want? Government handouts then?

[NG]

What don't you understand? Despite the fact that the UN called us, we're still in the top 10 of their index. It doesn't make any sense at all. Intentionally failing the poor? What do you want? Government handouts then?

Ummm I believe part of the report expressed concern about access to food like produce in remote native communities. Is making sure they have access to food at a comparable price to what we pay in the cities a handout?

In addition ending the monopolistic systems like the dairy board and bring in foreign competition to lower costs also wouldn't be considered a hand out. Canadians pay some of the highest dairy prices in the world thanks to the milk cartel.

[stealth]

Man with so many UN haters Canada is quickly turning into the redneck American south.

Well at least other parts of the world aren't as pathetic and with reports like this Canada will be recognized as the embarrassment it's become.

In actuality,it was the UNs total impotence at the time Bush went into Iraq that symbolized the end of its usefulness and credibility among other UN acts others have mentioned.
It's basically a BS organization like the IOC.

I wouldn't trust the fools and crooks at the UN to be able to tell me what day of the week it is.

[DearSummer]

Ummm I believe part of the report expressed concern about access to food like produce in remote native communities. Is making sure they have access to food at a comparable price to what we pay in the cities a handout?

Yes, that would be a handout because the only way to achieve that would be a big fat subsidy.


In addition ending the monopolistic systems like the dairy board and bring in foreign competition to lower costs also wouldn't be considered a hand out. Canadians pay some of the highest dairy prices in the world thanks to the milk cartel.

Yup, the government-mandated monopolies we have in Canada gouge the consumer. The dairy board is a perfect example.

[NG]

In actuality,it was the UNs total impotence at the time Bush went into Iraq that symbolized the end of its usefulness and credibility among other UN acts others have mentioned.
It's basically a BS organization like the IOC.

I wouldn't trust the fools and crooks at the UN to be able to tell me what day of the week it is.

I'm not sure if I can agree with what you're saying but your logic certainly is sound.

[NG]

Yes, that would be a handout because the only way to achieve that would be a big fat subsidy.


By that logic all those people in rural areas are taking hand outs because us in the city pay extra on our phone and internet bills to expand coverage in rural areas.

But, hey, rural Canadians largely vote Conservative so I guess hand outs like that are kosher.

[DearSummer]

By that logic all those people in rural areas are taking hand outs because us in the city pay extra on our phone and internet bills to expand coverage in rural areas.

But, hey, rural Canadians largely vote Conservative so I guess hand outs like that are kosher.

Yes, that is also a handout and results in higher costs for most Canadians.

[Sgt_Strider]

Ummm I believe part of the report expressed concern about access to food like produce in remote native communities. Is making sure they have access to food at a comparable price to what we pay in the cities a handout?

In addition ending the monopolistic systems like the dairy board and bring in foreign competition to lower costs also wouldn't be considered a hand out. Canadians pay some of the highest dairy prices in the world thanks to the milk cartel.

I'm pretty sure that's not what the report was addressing. No country is going to be perfect. Even the country that's ranked first will have its own issues. However, it's just pathetic to call us out where there are even worse offenders out there. I'm not absolving our responsibility to the poor either. Having said that, this shouldn't be construed as my support for government handouts. I never did nor will I ever support government handouts or policies to ensure the poor eat as well as I do. If they want a better life for themselves, they'll have to work for it.

[NG]

I'm pretty sure that's not what the report was addressing.

It's not - I was expanding on his comments on government handouts to see where/what she would or wouldn't support.



I never did nor will I ever support government handouts or policies to ensure the poor eat as well as I do. If they want a better life for themselves, they'll have to work for it.

I don't believe that's what the report was addressing.

Eating well is different than having nutritional needs met. There's a difference between steak for dinner at night and a peanut butter sandwich but both will give you enough protein.

[NG]

Yes, that is also a handout and results in higher costs for most Canadians.

If you'd agree that corporate welfare/subsidies also should go I see where you're coming from but still it always works out that the corps/rural Canadians will get handout from the government while the homeless guy rots in the street.