China on the UN Human Rights Council raises concern (interview)
With China now being appointed to the Human Rights Council and the 'consultative group’ there is concern by several countries that human rights abuses will not be investigated or properly condemned.
China has itself has regularly been accused of abuse and this could now further increase concerns that the Council has become as politicized and ineffective as its predecessor.
Colin Robertson is a former Canadian diplomat to China and to the U.N.
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Critics of China’s human rights record accuse the country of efforts to derail human rights resolutions whether directed at them or at others.
Colin Robertson, now with the Global Affairs Institute, is a former Canadian diplomat to China and to the U.N. (supplied)
In July last year, 22 western nations signed a letter to the U.N about China’s arrests and incarceration of Uyghurs, and dissenters. This was followed by a letter from 37 nations, including N. Korea, Russia, Saudi Arabia and others, many of whom have human rights abuses of their own people with accusations of the ‘politicization’ of human rights issues and supporting China’s actions.
Robertson says this latest appointment is part of a systematic programme of the Chinese government to seek influential positions and influence wherever it can. This is to push their global strategy of expanding Chinese interests globally beyond current aspirations in the South and East China sea, limit international criticism, and extend their power.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping has been aggressively promoting Chinese influence at the U.N. where it can shape policies (Thomas Peter-Reuters)
In an email to RCI he also wrote “The UN is the global parliament and it reflects national interests. We had hoped after the fall of the Soviet Union that the liberal international order would become the norm for all but it has not and it was naive to think it would. Russia and China see global affairs in traditional terms: as a concert of great powers each with their own spheres of influence with tributary and vassel nations within that sphere”.
He says it is unfortunate that the U.S has backed away as it leaves a vacuum and weakens the international concept of multilateralism and western ideals of ‘rule of law’.
With China now at the head of four of 15 specialized U.N. committees, there are concerns that China will not move towards a more westernized mindset, but that the world will be influenced more towards a Chinese mindset, which some critics have long said runs counter to western ideals. Germany’s foreign minister once said for example in February 2018 at the Munich security conference, ““China is developing a comprehensive system alternative to the Western one, which, unlike, our model, is not based on freedom, democracy and individual human rights”.
Additional information
The Conversatio: Matthews/ McCuaig-Johnston: China must now shape the future of human rights at the U.N.
The Diplomat: E.Albert: Apr.8/20: China appointed to influential human rights council panel- concern about agenda
The Conversation: A. Faiz: Jul.18/19: China is building a global coalition of human rights violators to defend its record in Xinjiang – what is its endgame?
The Economist: D.Bell: Jun 12/18: China’s political meritocracy vs Western democracy
CBC; G.Reaume: Nov 27/219: China is on a mission to re-make the world
17 Mar 2020
What to do, or not do, in times of financial uncertainty
Stock markets are tumbling, people are losing huge value on their investments as panic selling sets in.
The drop in value is such that automatic systems have halted trading on at least a couple of stock markets.
But what should people do in this most unusual situation?
Jessica Moorhouse (AFCC) is Millennial Money Expert, Financial Counsellor & Podcast Host
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Several situations have converged in the last many months.
Jessica Moorhouse, financial consultant (supplied)
Jessica Moorhouse, financial consultant (supplied)
We have ongoing conflicts in some areas, trade disputes, notably the U.S and China, as well as China and Canada, there’s the Brexit uncertainty, recently the oil war between the Saudis and Russia which has drastically cut the price of oil, but the latest big uncertainty affecting domestic and global economies is the corona virus pandemic from COVID-19.
Stock markets took another hit this morning as panic continues.
The rapid decline in market value triggered and automatic halt to the TSX this morning, other markets also fell in Monday trading. (TSX-twitter)
Moorhouse says, it is not wise to panic sell, but probably also not the time to take your savings and invest in hopes of making a better return as the stocks eventually rise. She says if you have regular contributions to your investment set up, that is something that you should keep doing.
As to when the economy and stock values might “eventually” recover, she says that could take months or even a year or more as recovery could be slow once the virus risk fades and that itself is an unknown and might not be for weeks or months. Thus a full recovery might be a couple of years away.
She also suggests that If you don’t have a high interest savings account, that is something you should set up as an emergency fund to cover such things as job loss, or a cut back in hours.
additional information
NY Times: Mar 16.20: Wall Street Plummets Despite the Fed’s Support: Live Updates
12 Mar 2020
Coping with Covid, federal government pledges $1 Billion
With the declaration of a Covid-19 pandemic, and the first recorded death from the virus in Canada, the federal government pledged a billion dollars to both fight the virus and mitigate the effects on society.
Ian Culbert, is the executive-director of the Canadian Public Health Association. He explains how the money will be used, and the unique aspects of this ‘new’ virus.
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The government plan includes money sent to the provinces to purchase medical supplies and cope with increased needs in hospitals and other institutions.
Ian Culbert, executive-director of the Canadian Public Health Association
Some $275 million has been earmarked for research into such things as anti-virals to combat COVID-19.
Culbert points out that although there are many types of corona virus, such as the ones causing the common cold, they are nonetheless distinct. As such an anti-viral that may work to fight one virus, may very likely not work to combat another.
He notes that this virus which originated in an animal source and has jumped to humans is an entirely new virus of the corona family.
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