“China uses the death penalty universally, there is no due process, white-collar criminals and others of non-capital crimes are regularly put to death, one way or another, sometimes by neglect, sometimes by torture, mistreatment, by organ harvesting. And in other cases, it is a formal execution… We don’t understand why they are bothering to discuss, or talk, or negotiate at all.” ~ Conservative critic Peter Kent
Trudeau playing part as China’s patsy
“Justin Trudeau’s recent statements about considering an extradition treaty with China, a military dictatorship that executes more ‘criminals’ than any other country, and hoping to get a free trade deal with China to double trade by 2025 are both troubling.” Once again, he is showing poor judgment when it comes to China and has done so before. Bill Tieleman for The Tyee.
China’s damming of the river: A policy in disguise
China’s dam-building spree on the Tibetan Plateau has given Beijing immense leverage as controller of the region’s “blue gold” and with that power comes responsibility. For starters, to permit an open assessment of the impacts of these projects – particularly given the region’s vulnerability to seismic risk – and to share those findings with neighboring countries and the people most directly affected by dam construction upheaval.
It’s alarmingly clear now that the EU trade deal is toxic for Canada
The EU sees trade as a mechanism through which its political goals can be met. That’s why it still insists that its trading partners agree to everything from welfare policies to open borders — it even demands this of the U.K. in any new trade deal that Britain strikes after it leaves the EU.
The Three Gorges Dam: Do recent floods indicate flaws?
The Three Gorges Dam’s flood control performance continues to generate scrutiny. Jonathan Green for The Market Mogul asks how effective has the dam been period.
Disgorging
More on the Three Gorges Dam’s flood control capabilities and its performance in one of the wettest seasons for China since the record-breaking El Niño event of 1997-98. In this report, The Economist concludes the country’s weakened river pulse is “in danger not only from floods but from its flood controls.”
Why is the flood control capacity of the Three Gorges Dam project being questioned again?
Because the project’s flood control capacity doesn’t work.
Expropriation for Scarborough subway extension an unnecessary evil
A common test of whether a proposed expropriation is legitimate is whether it is “fair, sound, and reasonably necessary.” Expropriations for the Scarborough extension fail all three tests.
Brexit is already proving to be a huge victory for global free trade
World trade, Canada’s included, is beating a direct path to the British market.
The EU has no choice but to give the U.K. whatever deal Brexiteers want
The EU needs the U.K. much more than the U.K. needs the EU.
Brexit was the U.K.’s vote against a new socialist empire
The UK’s decision to leave the European Union continues the Great Unwinding of multinational states that began with the collapse of empires after the First World War.
Chalillo Dam dispute goes before Inter-American Commission on Human Rights
The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights has given the government of Belize three months to respond to allegations filed 12 years ago by BELPO, an organization representing the Maya people and affected communities.
IACHR considers human rights violations regarding Chalillo dam
More than 10 years after its completion in September 2005, the Americas’ official human rights watchdog has opened a case against the government of Belize to consider the impacts of the country’s long controversial, Canadian-owned Chalillo dam.
Dispute between CNOOC and Toronto-listed Husky and Primeline could impact China-Canada trade
This terrific article by the Financial Post echoes the warning signs of an earlier Post piece by Probe International’s Patricia Adams on trade with China and, in particular, China’s state-owned enterprises.
World Bank caution to Tanzania criticised
These comments by Tanzanian economics professor Humphrey Moshi serve as quite an indictment of the wayward World Bank. When China — no stranger to poor practices itself — is your “saviour” from bad World Bank policies … The Daily News reports.


