Canadian Mining and Human Rights in Asia: Building an Advantage or Dismantling Competitiveness?
Memo #16 – On September 20, 2010, Canada’s House of Commons will give third reading to the Private Members Bill, C-300. If passed, it will have significant implications for the Canadian extractive industry’s nearly $9 billion worth of mining assets throughout the Asia-Pacific region. It is expected to draw fierce opposition from the Conservative side of the House. Although the proposed law has sparked a much-needed debate on mining and human rights, it is deeply flawed.
Susan Ritchie speaks about the Canada-DPRK news service (CanKor), humanitarian aid, and the future of North Korea
Memo #9 – Susan Ritchie is the Founder of First Steps, a Christian humanitarian NGO addressing childhood malnutrition in North Korea. In this interview, she speaks about the usefulness of the newly launched CanKor blog for humanitarian work. She also discusses how CanKor is an important Canadian source for comprehensive analysis of the DPRK. The Canadian government’s approach to North Korea will only improve with a better understanding of the concerns of Korean Canadians. Overall, she is optimistic about North Korea’s future.
Erich Weingartner speaks about the re-launch of the Canada-North Korea news service
Memo #3 – Erich Weingartner, Editor of CanKor, speaks about North Korea and the new version of The CanKor Blog. This Canada-North Korea news service “aims to provide information and analysis that does not get the attention it deserves in the commercial media”.
Thai Academics Are As Polarized And Dispirited As Their Nation
Memo #1 – The recent images of the G20 protests in Toronto were disturbing. But they pale in comparison to the scale and implications of the street protests in Bangkok earlier in the summer.