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Forget 'panda diplomacy'; it's the Journey of Nishiyuu that deserves our full attention
...Hundreds of supporters, Indigenous and non-Indigenous alike, will be on hand today in Ottawa to greet them. Members of the labour movement and other civil society groups will be there to show their support. Some Members of Parliament, from opposition parties, will be there when the group arrives on Parliament Hill shortly after 1p.m. EST today.
Stephen Harper, meanwhile, will be in Toronto, rolling out the right carpet for two pandas arriving on loan to Canadian zoos from China.
In other words, on this historic day where Indigenous issues should have the full attention of the national media and politicians, Harper has skipped town, in order to preside over the carefully scripted culmination of his "panda diplomacy" with the government of China.
In other words, on this historic day where Indigenous issues should have the full attention of the national media and politicians, Harper has skipped town, in order to preside over the carefully scripted culmination of his "panda diplomacy" with the government of China.
Harper's decision to spend today with Rob Ford and the pandas in Toronto is, to my mind, perfectly fitting. It amounts to snubbing the Nishiyuu youth -- by being out of town and by putting the media focus elsewhere. But what else could we have expected, given the Conservative government's stance on Indigenous issues and their general response to Idle No More?
http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/derrick/2013/03/forget-panda-diplomacy-its-journey-nishiyuu-deserves-our-full-attenti
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If there is one thing that gives me a glimmer of hope about everyday Canadians, its from the comment sections in our national media. Although the comments are usually partisan in nature, in recent years there is a growing backlash against photo-ops, and fluff stories. A heavy dose of cynicism is in the air and people are demanding more information, and less optics.
These articles are tripe, but some of the comments are priceless.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2013/03/22/f-panda-obsession.html
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/story/2013/03/24/toronto-giant-pandas-arrive-pearson-canadian-visit-starts.html
