As a Paul Hellyer enthusiast, I was very glad to see the former Cabinet Minister speaking about the environment at a prestigious international conference recently. If Stephen Harper refuses to stand up for Canada on climate change, then it’s up to statesmen like Hellyer to represent Canada in the world. Here’s a copy of his speech, with some editorial comments added:
“I wish I were in a mood for good humour, but I am not. We are hell-bent in the direction of destroying our planet, and we appear to be doing precious little about it.”
Hear, hear. Someone find this man a seat to run in! Yes, yes, I know he’s dabbled with a few (dozen) other parties since leaving the Liberals, but this could be the biggest comeback since Ed Broadbent!
“Decades ago visitors from other planets warned us about where we were headed, and offered to help. But instead, we, or at least some of us, interpreted their visits as a threat, and decided to shoot first and ask questions afterward. “
Umm…well…maybe not a “safe” seat…
“The inevitable result was that some of our planes were lost; but how many were due to retaliation, and how many were a result of our own stupidity is a moot point.”
OK, I was with him on the US fighter planes shooting down UFOs. Believe me, I’m camping out for X-Files movie tickets. But referring to US planes as “our” planes…well, now he’s slipping into Ignatieff territory.
“It is ironic that the U.S. would begin a devastating war-allegedly in search of weapons of mass destruction- when the most worrisome developments in this field are occurring in your own back yard.
It is ironic that the U.S. should be fighting monstrously expensive wars in Iraq and Afghanistan allegedly to bring democracy to those two countries when it, itself, can no longer legitimately claim to be called a democracy when trillions of dollars have been spent on projects about which both the Congress and the Commander in Chief have been deliberately kept in the dark.”
You know, the weird thing is – Hellyer’s reasoning for opposing the Iraq war isn’t really any weirder than the reasoning used by some for supporting it…
“Even more critical, what progress has been made in the development of clean energy sources that could replace fossil fuels and save the planet from becoming a veritable wasteland? Who has the answers? Someone does, but apparently they aren’t telling either secretaries of defence or presidents because they do not have a need to know.”
Come to think of it, using alien technology to solve the climate change crisis might be an easier sell than a carbon tax.
“It is time for the people of the U.S. to launch a new war against the evil of lies, deceit, and darkness, and go all out to win the victory of truth, transparency, and light.”
…and may the force be with you!
H/T: Big City Lib