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.]

Monday, May 07, 2012

Environmental Review Reform: David Suzuki Foundation, Greenpeace, Others Blast Tories For 'War On Nature'

TORONTO - Canadian conservation groups have launched an anti-budget campaign condemning federal changes that they say will weaken the country's environmental safeguards.

Organizations including the David Suzuki Foundation, Greenpeace and Equiterre have banded together to oppose what they call a Conservative attack on nature and democracy.

In a series of ads today, they're calling on Canadians to black out their websites on June 4 to voice their disapproval for the omnibus federal budget bill that contains sweeping environmental provisions.

They hope individual Canadians and organizations will alter their websites in ways like making their home pages black.

Rick Smith, executive director for Environmental Defence, says the measures have been "shoehorned" into the budget bill in order to avoid debate.

He says the changes will limit Canadians' ability to engage in the public policy process.

"We're very concerned that the federal government is conducting, essentially, a war on nature and democracy," he says.

Under the new federal plan, the government would have 45 days to decide if an assessment is needed for major economic projects.

If so, the review would take a maximum of two years.

Other changes include recognizing provincial assessments if they meet federal standards.

They would also cut the number of agencies responsible for reviews to three, down from 40.

Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver has said the new rules will prevent long delays in project approvals that threaten job-creation and hamper the economy.

The groups are also concerned about a crackdown on charities that they say aims to silencing them.

Original Article
Source: Huff
Author: CP

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