Democracy Gone Astray

Democracy, being a human construct, needs to be thought of as directionality rather than an object. As such, to understand it requires not so much a description of existing structures and/or other related phenomena but a declaration of intentionality.
This blog aims at creating labeled lists of published infringements of such intentionality, of points in time where democracy strays from its intended directionality. In addition to outright infringements, this blog also collects important contemporary information and/or discussions that impact our socio-political landscape.

All the posts here were published in the electronic media – main-stream as well as fringe, and maintain links to the original texts.

[NOTE: Due to changes I haven't caught on time in the blogging software, all of the 'Original Article' links were nullified between September 11, 2012 and December 11, 2012. My apologies.]

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Harper heads to China on Feb. 7

Prime Minister Stephen Harper will visit China for the second time from Feb. 7 to 11 this year, according to a statement posted online by China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The visit is an important opportunity for Mr. Harper to strengthen his relationship with Chinese officials. Canada wants to sell its oil and other resources to the country. Mr. Harper is also interested in a bilateral investment protection agreement to give Canadian companies more security when they are doing business with China. In 2010, $44.4-billion in Chinese goods were imported into Canada, compared with $12.9-billion in Canadian exports to China.

China, meanwhile, wants to invest and own more companies in Canada’s oil sands, something to which Mr. Harper’s government appears to be increasingly receptive.

The Chinese statement, posted on Monday, says relations between China and Canada have developed well, citing trade, energy resources, science and education among the areas in which the two countries are co-operating. The statement calls Canada an important country in the Asia-Pacific region in promoting development and maintaining peace and adds that the visit will enhance trust between the two countries.

Mr. Harper’s last visit to Beijing was in 2009, and was considered a turning point in improving a previously sour relationship between the two countries.

Original Article
Source: Globe 
Author: kim mackrael 

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