In defence of C a n a d a ' s o i l s a n d s

September–October 2008

‘Mister Justice’ David Kilgour How Canada can help subvert the world’s worst regimes

Plus: The world’s grimmest theme parks

And: Introducing diplomat's new wine columnist

George Fetherling: To Timbuktu and beyond Aaron Shull: Why Canada needs a foreign spy agency Destinations: A special invitation to Brazil Established 1989 CDN $5.95

PM 40957514    ! "#$  !%# & #!'(()  **

                         
       !"#$%&      '(
)#*
+         )  ', -, +./0%1+       2  +   )%(%3))  ( 4        5        , $   
       " 26   

7 " 26%
          
89!"#$%$"  4"   :      

+PIO
.BMDPMN
;FM
-B[PWJD 1BVM
-BWJHOF -JBOH
-JV
1BVM
8BJUF
4BMFT
$POTVMUBOU 4BMFT
$POTVMUBOU 4BMFT
$POTVMUBOU 4BMFT
$POTVMUBOU (FOFSBM
.BOBHFS

4UBS
.PUPST
PG
0UUBXB

8
)VOU
$MVC
3E 
45"3

XXXTUBSNPUPSTDB Lemay, den Ouden, Grimes Consultants

For Sale $749,500 / For Rent $3,750 p/m

Exceptional property in the most prestigous area in Gatineau. 15 minutes from Parliament Hill. 4500 ft. Separation of public and private quarters. Ideal for entertaining and formal receptions.

For further information: 819.962.0033

LDG is specializing in services to the diplomatic corps and expatriates in and around Ottawa. We take care of all you do not have time for yourself such as housing, tax returns, insurance.

The World in Canada

Volume 19, Number 2 PUBLISHER Neil Reynolds ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Donna Jacobs EDITOR Table of Jennifer Campbell ART DIRECTOR Paul Cavanaugh ADVERTISING ADVISOR CONTENTS Cu Van Ha cu@prestoncatalogue com. 1-613-262-4908 or 1-416-600-4908 COPY EDITOR Roger Bird CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Daniel Drolet George Abraham CULTURE EDITOR Margo Roston CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Luis Arias Laura Neilson Bonikowsky Don Cayo DIPLOMATICA| Margaret Dickenson Letters to the editor ...... 7 George Fetherling David Kilgour Verbatim: Jamaican High Commissioner on CARICOM ...... 8 Paulo Cordeiro Pinto Good Deeds: Diplomats help the Canadian Council for the Blind . . 10 Pieter Van den Weghe Diplomatic Agenda: An FTA with Dominican Republic? ...... 11 CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Ulle Baum Q&A: Aaron Shull on the need for a foreign spy service ...... 13 Bruce McCrae Frank Scheme Lois Siegel DISPATCHES| Ben Welland Crusading for human rights and responsible government: Dyanne Wilson Business Management David Kilgour lists the world’s biggest trouble spots ...... 16 Jessie Reynolds Kilgour’s Five-Point Program for dealing with China ...... 23 WEBMASTER Remembering: A tour of the world’s grimmest theme parks . . . . 24 Leslee McCabe DIPLOPORTAL WEB PARTNERS www .diploportal com. Debunking oil sands myths ...... 26 Alastair Sweeny Richard Evers (Northern Blue Publishing) DELIGHTS| PUBLISHER EMERITUS Lezlee Cribb Books: A bevy of African reads starting with Timbuktu ...... 28 ADVERTISING INQUIRIES Books: Short reviews of three books on oil ...... 32 Contact Neil Reynolds or Donna Jacobs Entertaining: The beauty of basic recipes ...... 34 reynolds diplomat@sympatico. ca. jacobs diplomat@sympatico. ca. Homes: Kuwait’s residence is a Rockcliffe wonder ...... 36 SUBSCRIPTIONS Wine: Our new columnist debuts with rosé ...... 38 Diplomat & International Canada is published six Canadiana: William Jackman, rescuer and hero ...... 39 times a year . Subscription rates: individual, one year $35 .70 . For Canadian orders add 5 per cent GST . U .S . Envoy's album ...... 40 orders please add $15 for postage . All other orders New arrivals in the diplomatic community ...... 42 please add $25 . SUBMISSIONS Diplomat & International Canada welcomes DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS ...... 44 submissions . Contact Jennifer Campbell, editor, at editor@diplomatonline .com or (613) 231-8476 . DIPLOMAT & INTERNATIONAL DESTINATIONS| CANADA P .O Box 1173, Station B Brazil’s envoy invites you to visit ...... 49 Ottawa, Ontario Canada K1P 5R2 Phone: (613) 259-3038 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED . The publisher assumes no responsibility for unsolicited material . Fax: (613) 259-5481 No part of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the E-mail: info@diplomatonline .com publisher . The views expressed in the articles are those of the authors . © 2007 ISSN 1190-8343 www.diplomatonline.com Publication Mail # 40957514 . Return undeliverable Canadian copies to: Diplomat Magazine, Published by P O. . Box 1173, Station B, Ottawa, ON K1P 5R2 Sparrow House Enterprises Inc . NEW.%%("( YEAR. +
$,! 228
"NEW 12 CAR. NEW DEAL. SAVE2
23 THOUSANDS 13(-&
ON ANY 3
  NEW VOLVO! 2
23 13(-&
3
 

Get the new year off to a great start. Explore the latest in automotive luxury.Order Order your yournew new custom-built custom-built VolvoOfficial of your Embassy choice andVolvo enjoy and receive
.%% up to on
.%% all packages and options*. Hurry to your Volvo agent to take advantagecurrent Diplomat of this limited-time Pricing offer. After that, all aboard and off you go. PrivilegedLife is better tolived serve together. you. **discountSPECIAL already NEW YEARincluded SAVINGS on S60 OFFERand S80 pricingVOLVO OT INCLUDED). VALID ON posted(METALLIC in this N ad. AND C70 UNTIL S80, S60, V70, XC70, XC90 MARCH 31, 2008.

5.+5.
" 12
@ELHKI=P
2 +$2
LNEREHACA@
PK
OANRA
UKQ DIPLOMATICA|EDITOR’S NOTE

New meaning of ’never again’ by some as amuse- n spite of much earnest talk by gov- ment parks of evil but CONTRIBUTORS ernments, coalitions, and the United he still recommends David Kilgour, cover essay author INations itself, human rights abuses visiting them because persist while the world passively watches . most people treat them It’s a source of great frustration for David with the solemnity they Kilgour, a lawyer and politician who’s deserve . On a personal spent most of his life fighting for interna- jennifer campbell level, his grim travels tional causes . This tall wiry man with the stirred in him a resolve agility and energy of an Olympic athlete to speak out sooner and more strongly . will take up pretty well any cause when Both Mr . Kilgour and Mr . Cayo make he perceives injustice . I remember running the point that while we fervently think into him one evening in Room 200 of the “never again,” we keep seeing atrocities David Kilgour, one of Canada’s longest- West Block . With his trademark lightning “again and again ”. serving MPs, took a hands-on course speed, he gave me the details of a story Human rights were front and centre in international affairs as Secretary of about a young Iranian who was about to this summer thanks to last month’s Beijing State Latin America and Africa (’97-’02) be executed . “Is there anything you can Olympics which also brought attention to and Secretary of State, Asia-Pacific (’02- do?” he asked . “They’re going to kill him another world problem: the environment . ’03) . His domestic experience is equally tomorrow ”. Reporting from the Alberta oil sands, extensive . In the Conservative govern- That’s what David Kilgour does . An writer Laura Neilson Bonikowsky puts ments of Joe Clark and Brian Mulroney, injustice has occurred? Do something pollution caused by that province’s in- he served as parliamentary secretary – now . One of his best-known efforts was dustry into perspective . China, which to the president of the Privy Council, his leadership role in producing an in- accounts for 20 per cent of global emis- minister for CIDA, minister of Indian dependent report, co-authored by David sions, is adding emissions equivalent to and Northern Affairs and minister of Matas, senior legal counsel for B’nai Brith those of Alberta, every single month, she transport . Canada, into allegations of organ harvest- discovers . Since his ‘retirement’ as an MP in 2005, ing of Falun Gong practitioners in China . There’s much else in this issue . Writer he has given speeches and met with pro- But that’s just one example – there are George Fetherling offers a wide-rang- democracy, anti-authoritarian figures . dozens more causes he has championed in ing essay on books about Africa; book He is a fellow of the Queen’s University the name of basic human rights . reviewer George Abraham looks at recent Centre for the Study of Democracy and a In our cover essay, Mr . Kilgour lists publications on oil; food columnist Marga- director of the Washington-based Council the world’s human-rights trouble spots ret Dickenson offers a few culinary tricks for a Community of Democracies (CCD) . and argues that Canada must reassert its while culture editor Margo Roston tours once-good international reputation by the expansive home of Kuwaiti Ambas- encouraging democracy in the planet’s 40 sador Musaed Al-Haroun and his wife, surviving despotic regimes . He also offers Fatma Al-Khalifa . a five-point plan on how Canada can en- And, we introduce a new wine colum- courage democratic revolution in China . nist . Beckta dining & wine customers will In the same package, Diplomat contribu- know Pieter Van den Weghe’s face . He’s tor Don Cayo visits some of the world’s been running the front part of the restau- most troubling places: the Killing Field rant for the past couple of years and took at Choeung Ek, where Pol Pot’s Khmer over as sommelier this year . We’ll miss Rouge killed some 20,000; Auschwitz and Stephen Beckta, who’s been delighting our Pieter Van den Weghe, Diplomat’s new Birkenau, where German Nazis and their readers with his wine knowledge since wine columnist co-conspirators killed as many as 1 .5 2004 . But time pressures involved in open- Pieter Van den Weghe is the somme- million, most of them Jews; and then to ing a second restaurant meant he had to put lier and a service manager at Ottawa’s Rwanda where Hutus hacked hundreds his pen to rest . And, we know you’ll enjoy renowned Beckta dining & wine . At of thousands of their Tutsi neighbours the words of his successor . Welcome, Pieter . Beckta since June of 2006, he had previ- to death . Mr . Cayo discovered that these ously built up more than 13 years of sacred sites of remembrance are treated Jennifer Campbell is Diplomat’s editor . experience serving in and managing restaurants and hosting countless wine events and dinners . Mr . Van den We- UP FRONT ghe is a graduate both of Algonquin Photographer Ben Welland: “I felt I was going into this shoot blind . College’s Sommelier Program and the I hadn’t researched this man at all . I’d forgotten that a month ear- Wine and Spirits Education Trust’s Ad- lier, when researching organ harvesting in China, I’d seen a press vanced Certificate (with a WSET Profes- conference he’d done . I was sure that the guy behind the podium sional Certificate in Spirits thrown in for was the next social awareness prophet . Then, in his garden photo- fun) . Whether it’s looking after guests graphing him, I realized the unthinkable . I’d promised I wouldn’t at Beckta or guiding people through forget . But I did . His name . His cause . Everything . I am a part of a tutored wine tasting, Mr . Van den the problem . I picked the man’s brain . Now I'm a champion for his Weghe’s style of service is warm, infor- cause . People need to know . And I needed to remember ”. mative and subtle .

 september—october 2008 LETTERS|DIPLOMATICA

’The vast majority of Iranians want democracy’

Nazanin Afshin-Jam responds to Diplomat’s interview with Iran’s chargé d’affaires

fter reading an interview with Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and Seyed Mahdi Mohebi, the (former) the Charter of the Rights of the Child – to Achargé d’affaires of the Islamic which Iran is a party – with more than 130 Republic of Iran’s Ottawa embassy in the minors currently on death row? July-August issue of Diplomat magazine, I What other “judiciary” allows its judges shook my head in disbelief . to rule based on elm-‘ghazi (divine knowl- He said: “Iran has turned into a great edge of the judge) as was done in de- country . Just compare for a moment what termining that Makwan Moloudzadeh Iran was before to what it is now – in any engaged in homosexual activity with a 13- arena, whether military, education, wom- year-old boy and so hanged in public? en’s issues, industry . All of these have I was also offended this comment by been changed during these 30 years [since Mr . Mohebi: “We have talked so much the revolution] regardless of enemies, re- about Zahra Kazemi, who was an Iranian gardless of pressure and sanctions . For a national . We have gone through that . It’s a little example, 55 per cent of Iran’s univer- little off the topic now ”. sity educators are women ”. A Canadian citizen was raped, tor- If Iran has “turned into such a great tured and murdered in the hands of Iran’s country,” why would it be experiencing government . Her body has still not been the No . 1 brain drain in the world as docu- returned to her son in Canada . We can mented in IMF’s 2006 report? Why are never talk too much about Zahra Kazemi, thousands of Iranians escaping via dan- even if Saeed Mortazavi, himself, an of- gerous routes through Iraq’s landmine- Nazanin Afshin-Jam, above, mounted a success- ficial implicated in her murder, is tried in infested mountains to try to claim refugee ful campaign to save Nazanin Fatehi who was an international tribunal for crimes against status through the UNHCR? sentenced to hang in Iran in 2007 for defending humanity . herself and her niece during an attempted rape. Iran is one of the wealthiest countries I hope that the readers of Diplomat in the world, but its leaders are more in- recognize that President Mahmoud Ahma- terested in expanding Islam, in supporting dinejad, supreme leader Ali Khamenei and foreign factions such as Hezbollah and How can women’s conditions have im- charge d’affaires Seyed Mahdi Mohebi do Hamas than looking after their citizens’ proved – as Mr . Mohebi suggests – when not represent the voices of the Iranian peo- social welfare . One-third of Iranians live the life of a woman is valued at half of a ple, the vast majority of whom thirst for a under the poverty line and many more man’s life under the law? free, secular, democratic system based on must work two or three jobs just to make Why was Nobel Peace Laureate Shirin human rights and the rule of law . ends meet . This explains the massive un- Ebadi forced to stop practicing as a judge If the contents of this letter were ever employment, excessive inflation, despon- simply based on gender? Women can no broadcast in Iranian media, the station dent population and spike in drug abuse, longer run for the presidency, let alone at- would be shut down and I would most prostitution and HIV/AIDS . tend a soccer match at the local stadium . likely be imprisoned and possibly killed . Iran has the highest number of execu- They must ask permission from their hus- tions in the world per capita . Students who bands or fathers to travel . There is inequal- Editor’s note: Nazanin Afshin-Jam was stand up for freedom, women who de- ity in divorce, custody and inheritance born in Tehran during the Iranian Revolu- mand equal rights and workers who ask laws, to say nothing of the forced veiling tion. Her family was forced to flee and im- for their right to unionize face imprison- of women . Mr . Mohebi credits the current migrate to Canada when her father was jailed ment, torture and even execution . Thou- regime with the success of women’s 55 per and tortured by the Revolutionary Guard sands more are being persecuted daily for cent participation in university teaching . under the new regime. She is an international their ethnicity or religious beliefs . Among Why, then, has a new bill been introduced human rights activist, singer/songwriter, the most oppressed are the Baha’is, whose in parliament to put a quota on admitting actress and former Miss World Canada 2003. seven leaders were recently arrested and women to university? She is co-founder and president of the Stop whose students are not allowed to attend Mr . Mohebi is wrong to claim “Iran’s Child Executions organization and currently university unless they recant their faith . judiciary system is just like any other serves on the board of the Canadian Race Re- While Iran’s founding father, Cyrus the country’s . It’s a system that works inde- lations Foundation. Ms. Afshin-Jam mounted Great, advocated for religious tolerance pendently . It has rules… we. must trust the a successful campaign to save Nazanin and an end to slavery 2,500 years ago, system, the judge ”. Fatehi, 21, sentenced to hang in Iran in 2007 today, Azeris, Kurds, Baluchis, Christians, We cannot trust a system that stones to for defending herself and her niece during an Zoroastrians, Jews, Sunni Muslims and death Jafar Kiani for adultery despite the attempted rape. Ms. Fatehi fatally stabbed Sufis fear the implementation of a new bill order forbidding that execution from the one of their three attackers. Ms. Afshin-Jam calling for the execution of converts and head of the judiciary . received the “hero for human rights award” of bloggers who promote “prostitution, How can we trust a system that executes at the UN, and will be given the UBC alumni apostasy or corruption ”. children in breach of the International global citizenship award this fall.

diplomat and international canada  DIPLOMATICA|VERBATIM

ur Caribbean countries have a unique relationship with THE WORLD OCanada, going back to the ACCORDING colonial past when, for a time, the Atlantic provinces and some TO: Caribbean territories shared Jamaican High the same colonial governor . Commissioner Evadne Trade between the then-British West Indies and the Atlantic Coye, who addressed provinces began well be- the CARICOM reception fore those provinces traded June 4, 2008. elsewhere in Canada . It is not surprising therefore that the fledgling Royal Bank of Canada established its first- ever branch in the Bahamas, while the Bank of Nova Scotia chose Jamaica as the site for its first branch . Nor should it be surprising that the most enduring items of Those who’ll suffer most from the collapse of the Doha round of trade negotiations are small, vulnerable our trade in goods are rum from the Carib- economies such as those in the Caribbean, Ms. Coye says. bean and fish from Atlantic Canada . Today our relations are much more com- people and those with Caribbean ante- We mark the 35th anniversary of the plex than (they were) then . Flowing from cedents in all walks of life in Canada will founding of CARICOM at a time of seri- our shared principles and values, we have attest . We are proud of the contribution ous global economic challenges, chal- many common concerns at the interna- which our people have made, and con- lenges which at best, could slow down the tional and regional levels, concerns which tinue to make, to Canada’s growth as a region’s development . The global prices have seen us join forces to secure mutual major player on the global stage and to of food and energy are causing difficul- objectives . Canada has maintained its sup- the enrichment of Canada’s multicultural ties for countries with stronger economies port of CARICOM development goals not heritage . At the same time, the Caribbean than ours . And, as the impact is felt in only at individual country level, but also diaspora remains engaged with their na- both developed and developing countries, as a regional integration movement . Tour- tive lands and supportive of our region’s any hope for a new development-centred ists from our countries exchange visits, thrust for sustainable development, good global trade agreement recedes further though with the weather in our favour, the governance and the security of our dem- into the gulf of inflexibilities and protec- exchange is also in our favour . ocratic institutions . Here too, as dual tionism . What began so encouragingly as Importantly, though, the people-to- citizens, they are well placed to influence the Doha development round of global people links are not just through tourism, political outcomes of interest to their na- trade negotiations [has now collapsed] . as the substantial presence of Caribbean tive and adopted countries . Among those who could suffer most will

Marking the 35th anniversary of CARICOM were five high commissioners including, from left, Rajnarine Singh (Guyana), Evadne Coye (Jamaica), Brandon Browne (Organization of Eastern Caribbean States), Michael Smith (Bahamas), Camille Robinson-Regis (Trinidad and Tobago), along with Nathalie Ménos, Haitian chargé d’affaires, and Natalie Cox, first secretary of the Barbados high commission.

 september—october 2008 DIPLOMATICA|VERBATIM

be small, vulnerable economies such as ours in the Caribbean . While the deepening of our integration movement into the CARICOM single mar- ket and economy will help to mitigate the D shocks, our openness to external markets OL S 00 will not spare us . If here in Canada it is ST 0,0 JU ,00 said that when the U S. A. . sneezes, Canada $6 catches a cold, CARICOM states could go as far as adding pneumonia to the imag- ery, since we would also catch cold from Marilyn Wilson both Canada and the U S. A. . Sales Representative But this is not about gloom and doom . 165 Pretoria Avenue, It’s about confronting the challenges of the Ottawa, Canada K1S 1X1 future and the strategies which at national [email protected] and regional levels we implement to se- cure our objectives . It’s about recognizing and honing the creative genius of our people and enhancing the opportunities of each sector of our societies to strengthen our development . It’s about effective, co- ordinated response to the socio-economic issues which bedevil our countries . And it’s about the support from, and collabora- tion with, friendly countries to achieve our development goals . It is significant then, that this 35th anniversary also sees the deepening of Canada-CARICOM relations, which took a positive step forward when (Prime Min- ister) Stephen Harper met with Caribbean leaders in Barbados in July last year . We welcome the start of the implementation of the programs for development sup- port which the prime minister pledged in Barbados . His visit marked the renewal of the exchange of high level visits between Canada and the Caribbean . We look for- ward to the Canada-CARICOM summit to be held here later this year and anticipate the continuation of Canada-CARICOM trade negotiations, which should lead to an agreement by the end of 2009 . On behalf of the governments and peoples of the Caribbean community, my colleagues and I and the staff of our re- spective missions affirm to you our vision of a Caribbean whose creative, resilient and skilled people unite successfully in the fight against poverty and for sustain- able development; a Caribbean already renowned for its beauty and generous hospitality, now to be known as centres of excellence in various streams of human endeavour; a Caribbean whose children are drawn back to play their part in a vibrant economy where the rights of all are respected . Our work here in Canada is sustained by that vision .

Evadne Coye is the Jamaican high com- missioner .

diplomat and international canada  DIPLOMATICA|GOOD DEEDS

Dining for the blind

he Canadian Council for the Blind has created a relationship with not Tjust one but several embassies and high commissions in Ottawa . So far, the Indian high commission, the Pakistan high commission and the embassies of Romania, Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon, Kuwait, Azerbaijan, Afghani- stan and Thailand have all helped out the council by hosting fundraisers . Most hosted dinners for 10 to 20 people where the head of mission acted as the host and the council sold tickets to the dinner to raise money for its programs . The council always has a staff member present and usually sends a couple of blind or vision- impaired clients as well . Thai Ambassador Snanchart Devahastin hosted the most recent fundraising dinner for the Canadian Romanian Ambassador Elena Stefoi Council for the Blind. When a blind client needed a drive to the event, he sent his driver to pick her up. held a larger fundraiser at her embassy in her capacity as president of the Ottawa countries and offering to share ideas building with its staff, Mr . Prowse said . Diplomatic Association . The Iraqi embassy, helps,” Mr . Prowse said . “We had a really good showing at under Ambassador Howar Ziad, co-hosted The council, for example, has started a that,” he said . the event which attracted several diplo- computer training program for the blind His group is trying to create an inter- mats, business leaders and politicians, and vision-impaired thanks to the funds national blind curling program and he including House of Commons Speaker raised . That might be something dip- figures it might be something that will Peter Milliken, and received support from lomats would be interested in doing in interest his new diplomatic contacts who Foreign Affairs and International Trade . their countries, Mr . Prowse said . might want to take the program to their “The embassies have shown real gen- “And there are the small things . Peter countries too . erosity,” said Jim Prowse, executive direc- Milliken came to the Romanian event “You never know how these things tor of the council . “The dinners give us a and commented on the wonderful job will grow,” he said . chance to talk to them about our programs we were doing for the blind . That sort of The Thai ambassador hosted the most and it gives them a chance to talk to us thing keeps politicians focused on the is- recent dinner and when one of the coun- and tell us about their organizations ”. sue,” he said . cil’s blind clients needed a drive, Am- Obviously, the council has benefited Many of the dinners came about after bassador Snanchart Devahastin didn’t financially from the relationships . But it’s the Canadian Council for the Blind in- hesitate: He offered to send a car around also gained a lot from the networking op- vited diplomats to take part in its annual to pick her up . And that’s just one of portunities . curling bonspiel . The Finnish embassy many heartwarming stories he could tell, “Just meeting people from different used the opportunity to do a little team- Mr . Prowse said .                 

       

10 september—october 2008 diplomatic agenda|DIPLOMATICA

Dominican-Canadian free trade prospects looking good

and Canadian experts to facilitate placement in the international joining businessmen market .

FIRST NAME: Luis representing the Canadian exports are diversifying a Agrobusiness Board connection that started in the early 18th NAME: Arias LAST and the Dominican- century in the north part of the country CITIZENSHIP: Dominican Republic Canadian Chamber and include cooking oil, fish, industrial AS of Commerce . The equipment, printing paper, chemical PRESENTED CREDENTIALS Oct. 2, 2007 round went well products and the production of Domini- ambassador: a n d c o n c l u d e d can coins by the Royal Canadian Mint .

PREVIOUS POSTINGS: with both par- When it comes to tourism, the Domini- Professor and dean of legal ties thinking the can Republic beckons Canadians to desti- agreement could sciences at University of be fast-tracked Santo Domingo. Political life has been and maybe com- pleted by the end reinforced in recent of 2008 . What started in March 2002 with ex- decades to the point he Dominican Republic, a nation ploratory meetings between Canada and with its share of historical firsts, is the Dominican Republic is now part of where we have an out- Ton the verge of another – this time Canada’s formal effort, starting in 2007, of in its relations with Canada . developing ties with Latin America and standing democratic Quisqueya, as the Dominican Republic the Caribbean countries . Canadian agree- used to be called by its original Tainos ments are on the horizon with Panama, El process thanks to a free inhabitants, is the site of the first perma- Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Guate- nent European settlement in the Americas . mala and the Common Caribbean Market, and transparent elec- In fact, it was the first colony in America known as CARICOM . – colonized by Spain in 1492 – and gained Canada already has a privileged status toral process which has its independence from Haiti on Feb . 27, in the Dominican Republic, particularly in 1844 to become a formal republic . the mining sector, thanks to Barrick Gold’s counted on high partici- Santo Domingo, the national capital, $2 8. billion investment earlier this year in was also the first colonial capital in the Cotui, a small town at the centre of the is- pation from its citizens New World and the site of the first cathe- land . According to official data, Canadian dral, university, European-built roads and investment in our country, between 1996 and support from the in- fortress . and March 2006, reached $645 million, ternational community. The latest first comes in the form of a including mining, finance, tourism, trade partnership with Canada . Final negotia- and services . But trade is growing fast . tions are under way for a free trade agree- The total investment for all of 2006 alone ment (FTA) between the two countries to was $1 .8 billion thanks to large invest- nations like Puerto Plata, Samana, Punta foster economic integration by progres- ments in the mining sector later that year . Cana, Santo Domingo and La Romana . sively eliminating barriers to trade and A Canada-Dominican Republic In 2007, we received 714,000 tourists investment . FTA would be a new stimulus for both from Canada, second only to those from Bilateral trade reached $160 million countries, with heavy equipment exports the U .S ., all of them fulfilling a holiday from January to May, with Canadian ex- from Canada for Dominican infrastruc- dream . Our target is to attract a million ports accounting for most – $112 million ture . Meanwhile, the Dominican Republic annual visitors from Canada in the next – or a 62 per cent increase over the same mainly sends agricultural products and few years . period in 2007 . textiles to Canada . In a globalized world, creating a climate In a regional context, the Dominican Dominican exports to Canada are of confidence and legal protection for for- Republic is among a number of coun- mainly nickel, agriculture products such eign investors is in itself a form of capital . tries completing trade negotiations with as cacao, coconuts, vegetables and cigars, Our country has eased regulations and Canada . Mexico, Chile, Costa Rica, Peru fine stones for jewellery and finished established international standards that and Colombia have already signed agree- products from Canadian investments in correspond to a universal legal framework ments . free zones in electronics, textiles, agro- of protection for foreign investment . The Dominican Republic and Canada industry, medical supplies, cotton and Political life has been reinforced in re- are coming up on their second round of shoes . Dominican’s free zones, like those cent decades to the point where we have negotiations, scheduled for Sept . 29 in elsewhere, receive raw materials imported an outstanding democratic process thanks Santo Domingo . The first round was held free of taxes or tariff and export final to a free and transparent electoral process last December in Ottawa, with Dominican products under a special customs regime which has counted on high participation

diplomat and international canada 11 DIPLOMATICA|diplomatic agenda

from its citizens and support from the in- ternational community . Our country covers 48,442 square kilo- metres and has almost 10 million inhabit- ants . Our highways are among the most modern in the Caribbean, receiving visi- tors and local travellers from eight inter- national airports and 11 seaports situated close to production activities, and harness- ing our state-of-the-art telecommunica- tions . This development has been spurred by OfferingExclusive a decade of intense free trade negotiations . In 1998, Dominican authorities nego- Rates For Diplomat- s tiated the CARICOM agreement, then the Central America Common Market, At Accu-Rate Corporation our For your personal followed by a partial agreement with team of highly experienced currency consultation please call: Panama . Next came the 2004 Dominican traders and foreign banking partners Marie Boivin Republic-Central American Free Trade allow us to negotiate currency prices Managing Director Agreement with the U S. . lower than any other currency dealer 613-596-5505 ext. 101 The Dominican Republic allied itself or commercial institution. [email protected] with CARICOM during negotiations with 25 European Union states in a recently completed agreement . Colombia and MERCOSUR (the Southern Common Accu-Rate Corporation World Exchange Plaza Accu-Rate Corporation Market of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay 2573 Carling Ave. 111 Albert St. and Uruguay) have expressed their inten- Foreign Exchange & International Payment Services www.accu-rate.ca (613) 596-5505 (613) 238-8454 tion to sign a FTA with the Dominican Republic . The main objectives of a free trade agreement (as set out in Article XXIV of the 1994 Customs and Trade Agreement, part of the Marrakech Agreement that Comfort lives in the Market. settles WTO disputes) between Canada Choose furnished or unfurnished suites. and the Dominican Republic are: • regional integration towards a Free Live in the heart of Ottawa’s ByWard Market. Trade Area of the Americas, and You’ll be central to everything, while feeling progressive elimination of trade and hidden away from the downtown crowds. investment barriers; Be at home in one of our furnished or unfurnished • recognition of differences in size and rental suites with granite countertops, solid maple degree of development among coun- cabinetry and air conditioning. Or mix with your tries and equitable solutions to prob- neighbours on the rooftop terrace, in the lounge or lems that arise from these differences; any of the local restaurants and cafés. • promotion, protection and enhance- ment of foreign direct investment All this is Market Living at • diversification of trade; Clarendon Lanes. • efficient bureaucratic procedures . The goals go beyond physical commod- ities . They include immigration concerns, education, labour, professional recognition and environmental considerations . Certainly an FTA with Canada would Visit our Resident Service and contribute to the growth and consolida- Leasing Centre at 24 York Street. Ask about our furnished suites and experience tion of our relations . It would fortify peace the best of Market living in Ottawa. and democracy and strengthen the fight against poverty . Conditions in both coun- 613 728 8549 tries are favourable for negotiating and signing the agreement . Let’s profit from this opportunity . To discover Clarendon Lanes and other Vertica rental properties in Ottawa please visit us at vertica.ca

12 september—october 2008 QUESTIONS Asked|DIPLOMATICA

Why Canada needs a foreign intelligence agency: Even New Zealand has one

Aaron Shull has just graduated with a sible . But I think the reason we need one master’s degree in international affairs and a of these services is fairly pronounced . We law degree which he did through a combined can gain technology- and trade-related program between the University of Ottawa’s intelligence . We can gain political intel- law school and Carleton University’s Norman ligence, which we’re not able to do right Paterson School of International Affairs. now . We’re not able to send an intelligence While at school, he wrote a major research agent overseas to gather intelligence . paper on the need for a foreign intelli- We’re leading a G8 country that doesn’t gence service in Canada. And while other have this capacity . Even New Zealand students flip burgers and pour coffee has it . The fact is that the CSIS act is anti- to pay their tuitions, he’s been work- quated . The reasons that once meant we ing with disarmament expert Trevor didn’t need that foreign focus are no lon- Findlay and former United Nations ger persuasive . deputy secretary-general Louise DM: Could you see both happening – re- Frechette on her nuclear energy writing the CSIS act and establishing this study. He spoke with Diplomat foreign intelligence agency? editor Jennifer Campbell. AS: I think so but what is more likely is that they’ll expand the mandate of CSIS . DIPLOMAT: Is there an argument That was (Stockwell) Day’s position . So for a Canadian Foreign Intelli- they rewrite the CSIS act to allow this gence Agency? Is there a need? agency to collect both security-related Aaron Shull: I think there’s a intelligence through clandestine means push and pull going on with re- – wiretaps, opening mail, things like that spect to foreign intelligence in this – and you also allow them to collect for- country . There’s a push from the eign intelligence as well . The difference current Conservative government . in this country is that we separate foreign In their election platform in 2006, they intelligence and security intelligence . Se- mentioned they were going to pursue this curity intelligence relates to threats against but (Public Safety Minister) Stockwell Day the security of Canada and foreign intelli- has subsequently backed off of this, pub- gence relates to everything else – political, licly . He’s said that they’re going to expand economic and trade-related intelligence . the mandate of CSIS rather than create a All of that would be considered foreign brand new foreign intelligence agency . The intelligence and outside of the mandate pull is from the federal court . There’s a re- of CSIS . cent decision by Justice Edmond Blanchard DM: The CSIS mandate seems pretty nar- that said CSIS wasn’t able to use wiretaps row . Is that a concern? extra-territorially, meaning in another coun- AS: The wording is very vague so as long try, which is something CSIS has done quite as they can show it’s a threat to Canada, frequently . They’ve just never applied for a they had pretty much carte blanche . The warrant before . So, what this means is that director of CSIS is on record as saying the legal regime, governing both the foreign that they have the same types of power as intelligence question and governing CSIS the CIA (Central Intelligence Agency) but generally, is in need of repair . The Conser- this decision from the court would seem vatives’ willingness to move on this file, to gravitate against that . That means the combined with this decision of the federal legislation that gives this agency its inves- court, means the time to amend the CSIS tigative powers is in trouble . Think about act is now . it this way: The case that was before the DM: Do you think Stockwell Day court involved seven individuals under backed off because of the Federal investigation by CSIS while in Canada . Court decision? They subsequently went overseas and we AS: No, I think it was more don’t know where because that was re- a question of money . Simple dacted from the decision . But they go, and money . It’s just too expensive CSIS asks for a warrant and the Federal to establish a new service . And I Court says they’re not allowed to inves- don’t think it would be as politically fea- tigate these individuals . So they could be diplomat and international canada 13 QUESTIONS Asked|DIPLOMATICA

plotting a terrorist attack against us and our security intelligence agency doesn’t have lawful authority to investigate them? You could ask the agency in the country they went to but what if it was Syria, and Syria doesn’t want to help? Based on this federal court decision, that’s all a terrorist would have to do . It’s something that’s not found in any other country in the world and to be frank, if you were to bring this up before any democratic electorate, they would think it was crazy . DM: Let’s talk about your work at the United Nations . AS: I was tasked by Trevor Findlay at NPSIA to undertake a research paper on the international legal regime that deals with nuclear weapons . There was a meet- ing bringing together all sorts of experts on the topic . I was asked to go for the af- ternoon . It was quite a surreal experience because Trevor asked me, after class one Eliminate the day, if I could work for him part-time . I spider veins from said I could do four or five hours a week . your legs and face The following week, he asked if I could fly by simple injection. to the UN for this meeting . It culminated in a well-received study on the topic . It was about how countries are preventing Ultrasound injections the spread of nuclear weapons and how cut the need for varicose they’ve dealt with their nuclear obliga- vein surgery. This exclusive tions . DM: service is available at You’ve worked with Louise Frechette on the nuclear file . How is that? Dr. Beaupré’s Clinics. AS: We’ve had several good discussions about the issue and about what she ONE OF CANADA’S LEADERS thought of my paper . She was at the con- WITH OVER 25 YEARS ference in Australia that I was invited to EXPERIENCE speak at . She’s quite a golfer so I’ve chal- lenged her to a golf game next time we’re both in Waterloo (the project is based there, out of the Centre for International Governance Innovation .) She tells it like it is so she’s a nice person to be around . She’s very charismatic and the stories she tells and the experience she has had are quite amazing . DM: What are your thoughts on the nu- clear situation? AS: The future of nuclear power is going to shape this century for sure . It’s one thing when well-developed countries Dr. Beaupré, M.D. with robust regimes and regulatory frame- works put in a nuclear power plant . It’s a completely different thing if a developing country does, and the difficulty is that 600-1335 Carling Avenue, we’re all in the same boat here because if Ottawa (613) 722- 0101 there’s a nuclear accident in a developing 102-500 boul. de l’Hôpital, country, it will absolutely kill the nuclear Gatineau (819) 561-0561 regime globally . As a feasible, safe power option, it won’t be seen the same way .

14 september—october 2008 15 Di spatches|human rights

16 september—october 2008 human rights|Di spatches

Rebel MP, globe-trotting champion of defenceless people, David Kilgour never stops Never again: This Canadian really means it

avid Kilgour travels the world (more than 100 countries, and counting) as an indefatigable champion of human rights. DHe goes to the places where people live wretched lives — and die wretched deaths. He speaks courageously on their behalf. He confronts the criminal regimes that cause vast suffering. His goal, in two simple words, is responsible government. With 40 despotic governments still in power, he argues that Canada must do more to challenge them and to subvert them. In this special essay for Diplomat magazine, Mr. Kilgour analyses the global grip of malignant government on millions of voiceless people. From genocide in Darfur

diplomat and international canada 17 Di spatches|human rights

to repression and persecution in China, Burma, Zimbabwe, Iran, Vietnam and North Protecting the innocents: Korea, the constituency of the former member of parliament now extends beyond Canada to the world. In his essay, he offers, 40 dictatorships to go as an example, a five-point Canadian strategy to further the cause of democratic The goal: ‘Responsible government’ around the world revolution in China. He brings to his international work a By David Kilgour life remarkably rich in talent, skills and experience. The former Alberta ranch hand ith the Beijing Olympics over, anywhere intended to “destroy in whole and trail guide and Toronto journalist was the world now seems likely or in part members of a racial, national, on the boxing team at the University of Wto examine more c a r ef u l- religious or ethnic group ”. Unfortunately, Toronto while pursuing his law degree. He ly what China does at home and inter- enforcement was and remains its fatal became a Vancouver assistant city prosecu- nationally . Its current record vexes some weakness . No actions were launched un- tor and Manitoba crown attorney before of us who believe that the core values of der its provisions against anyone for most beginning his 26-year, eight-term career as the Olympic Charter and Olympic move- of the six subsequent decades . The World an Alberta MP. He has written four books; ment stand for human dignity and equal- Court dealt the convention a further blow his latest, Uneasy Neighbo(u)rs, co-authored ity for all members of the human family . last year in a decision – almost unanimous with former U.S. diplomat, David Jones. The rise of China in recent years has been – that instruments of the government Mr. Kilgour and his wife, Laura, have four in the opposite direction, whether among of Serbia were not responsible for the grown children. its own people or in countries, such as genocide which occurred in Bosnia in the His international travels and his political Burma and Sudan, which are essentially 1990s . career are perfectly parallel. And tempestu- now parts of its economic empire . Some jurists assert that the UN Geno- ous – he often flies into the storm. As with Many Canadians think our own na- cide Convention is retroactive because it his most recent – and last – act as an MP, tional government should engage more merely codifies pre-existing principles of he puts principle first. In 2005, he resigned effectively with vulnerable peoples . In the from Prime Minister Paul Martin’s Liberal case of the cyclone that ravaged Burma in Party. At the top of his 10-point grievance May, for example, the refusal of the coun- [sudanese president list that he personally presented to Mr. try's military junta to accept external hu- Martin was Canada’s inaction on Darfur manitarian relief left even more Burmese omar] Bashir’s refusal to and his appeal to send Canadian troops to in peril . Did responsible governments stand between murderers and their victims. around the world not have a responsibility accept the UN-proposed He has also sought legal protection for to deliver humanitarian relief to as many roster of troops and Canadian whistleblowers. Burmese victims as feasible, possibly by He champions a sharp increase in dropping food and medicine from aircraft civilian police offered by Canada’s international aid (from 0.025 per covertly? cent to 0.7 per cent of GDP.) Unsatisfied as What of Sudan, where another military a number of governments an MP with the lack of progress, he left the regime heavily under the influence of Liberal party in 2005 to sit as an indepen- the party-state in Beijing has attempted reflects nothing dent, threatening the fragile Liberal minor- for more than five years to destroy a ity government. large community of Africans in Darfur for more or less than his Principles had already propelled him in blatantly racist reasons? and out of the Liberal and Conservative The president of the International politically-based decision parties. In 1987, he was dismissed as Criminal Court – Judge Philippe Kirsch of parliamentary secretary by then Prime Canada – offered one good reason for in- to deny the UN-African Minister Brian Mulroney for criticizing his dicting Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir government’s ethics and its treatment of when he said recently that his court’s con- Union Mission in Darfur Western Canadians. In 1990, after he voted cern is justice, not politics . Canada and 105 against the GST, he was expelled from the other countries, not including China, have the personnel essential Progressive Conservative caucus and sat as by treaty become members of the court an Independent Progressive Conservative and given it jurisdiction over crimes such for an effective peace before joining the Liberal Party in 1991. as genocide, crimes against humanity and What is the common thread that has run war crimes . Unfortunately, Bashir is prob- mission in Darfur. through his enduring national and interna- ably safe from any arrest warrant issued tional activism? from the ICC while he remains president “I hope it’s the view that every single of Sudan . international law . If so, it should apply to human being is equal in the eyes of God the Armenian Genocide of 1915, Stalin’s – and should be in the eyes of the UN and Genocide Convention Ukrainian Famine in the winter of 1932-33 everybody else. But some are more equal Does the UN Genocide Convention of and the Nazi Holocaust, which continued than others,” he once said. “Some are cer- 1948 apply to Darfur as well? It certainly until Hitler’s virtually final days as Fuhrer tainly more equal than others.” appears to apply – criminalizing acts in 1945 . How many lives might have been

18 september—october 2008 human rights|Di spatches

saved if the details of both the Holocaust and Ukraine’s famine had become public knowledge sooner? The essential facts were known about both situations soon enough, but the real problem was the absence of the political will to end these crimes . Thus the “never again” of 1945 became the “again and again” of Rwanda and Darfur . One retired Canadian diplo- mat even said a couple of years ago: Can- ada had no strategic interest in Rwanda, thereby admitting the normally unspoken callousness of too many world diplomats and politicians in 1994 and today . Lest we forget, what follows is a brief roll call of subsequent kindred horrors .

Bosnia-Kosovo With about 60 other governments, Canada deployed soldiers to both parts of the former Yugoslavia in the mid-1990s un- der the NATO banner . The UN Security Council proved unable to act, primarily David Kilgour has traveled to more than 100 countries. He’s shown here with his wife Laura at Machu because Russia threatened continuously Picchu in Peru. to use its permanent veto to protect the government of Serbia . Action came far too late . The ethnic cleansing that persisted in mander he was expected to take Canadian $80 million in weapons, aircraft and spare parts of Bosnia, including the brutal three- peacekeepers with him on his assignment parts to Sudan during 2005 alone . This year siege of Sarajevo, will forever remind – but he could obtain none to take from included an A-5 Fantan bomber aircraft, the world of the lack of political resolve Ottawa . This, in turn, made it even more helicopter gunships, K-8 military attack among European governments and the difficult to persuade other governments to aircraft and light weapons, all of which UN Security Council during those years . provide soldiers . The indifference of our have been found in Darfur, transferred Srebrenica, where 7,000 Muslim men and Foreign Affairs ministry’s senior manage- there in violation of UN resolutions . boys were slaughtered, also must not be ment to what was occurring will remain China’s government has long used the forgotten . a cause of dishonour to our country . threat of its permanent veto at the UN Security Council to block effective UN Rwanda Sudan peace activities in Darfur .It has essentially The catastrophe in Rwanda is described Consider only one of many inci- traded its veto (and many innocent lives) carefully in Romeo Dallaire’s book Shake dents which have occurred in South for cheap oil . Bashir appointed Musa Hi- Hands with the Devil . Suffice it to say here Sudan . On Feb . 26, 2002, the town of lal, the one-time leader of the murderous that – beyond the heroic roles played by Nhialdiu was wiped out to make way for militia, the Janjaweed, to a position in his Gen . Dallaire, Major Brent Beardsley and a Chinese oil well that now operates in government . Mr . Hilal has been quoted the locally-engaged staff at the Canadian nearby Leal . According to James Kynge’s as expressing gratitude for “the necessary mission in Kigali – the performance of award-winning book of 2006, China Shakes weapons and ammunition to exterminate Canada’s politicians, diplomats and other the World, “Mortar shells landed at dawn, the African tribes in Darfur .” Not long officials was deeply disappointing . One followed by helicopter gun ships direct- ago, the Sudanese military ambushed a Rwandan nun told me in 1997 that her ing fire at the huts where the people lived . well-marked UN peacekeeping convoy life was saved when a Canadian priest Antonov aeroplanes dropped bombs and in Darfur, later claiming it was a mistake . confronted a mob armed with machetes roughly 7,000 (Sudanese) government Virtually every independent observer says in rural Rwanda and persuaded them to troops with pro-government militias then it was a deliberate attack . leave . Linda Malvern’s more recent work, swept through the area with rifles and Mr . Bashir’s refusal to accept the UN- Conspiracy To Murder: The Rwandan Geno- more than 20 tanks . ”. About 3,000 of the proposed roster of troops and civilian cide, notes that just before the killing began town’s 10,000 residents perished that day . police offered by a number of govern- one new machete for approximately every The genocide in Sudan’s province of ments reflects nothing more or less than three Rwandan men was imported into Darfur since April 2003 has in all prob- his politically-based decision to deny the Rwanda from China . ability cost the lives of as many as 400,000 UN-African Union Mission in Darfur the From Prime Minister Jean Chrétien and African Darfurians . The party-state in Bei- personnel essential for an effective peace throughout the Canadian government, no jing continues to assist Omar al-Bashir’s mission in Darfur . one can claim any credit for responsible regime in Khartoum, including financing When the active support for the Darfur leadership during the events of April-July and supplying arms in exchange for taking genocide by China’s government caused 1994 . Gen . Dallaire points out in his book, most of Sudan’s oil production at much- serious questions about about the Beijing for instance, that as the UN Force com- reduced prices . China officially sold about Olympics, the party-state launched a

diplomat and international canada 19 Di spatches|human rights

propaganda campaign to re-position itself as a “friend of Darfur .” In this misinfor- mation effort, no mention was made of China’s trivial humanitarian assistance in Darfur or of the fact that numerous water sources in Darfur have been deliberately destroyed by Sudan’s regular forces and by the Janjaweed . Water sources are tar- geted by Khartoum’s bombers; the Janja- weed have often denied civilian access to water points and have raped women and girls seeking to collect water for desperate families . Darfurians themselves now seem well aware of Beijing’s role in their tor- ment and destruction . There is mounting concern that the Khartoum-Beijing alliance will cause the UN peacekeeping force in Sudan to be as ineffective as were the peacekeeping forces in Rwanda and Bosnia . The actions of the government of China across Darfur can only be seen as actively promoting the annihilation of an African people for eco- nomic advantage .

Burma One of the bravest and most principled A shot from the archives, circa 1986: Mr. Kilgour (right) is shown with Natan Sharansky (centre) and Irwin Cotler, former justice minister but then a law professor at McGill and Mr. Sharansky’s lawyer, following leaders has now been under house ar- Mr. Sharansky’s release from a Soviet prison. Mr. Kilgour was then president of Canadian Parliamentarians rest for most of 18 years . In the national for Soviet Jewry. uprising during 1988 in which the army killed an estimated 3,000 civilians, Nobel Peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi made her first speech as an opponent of Burma's military dictatorship . When the junta al- lowed an election in 1990, Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy (NLD) won about two-thirds of the votes cast . The generals allowed none of the elected representatives to take their seats and Suu Kyi has remained under house arrest for most of the past 18 years . The UN Special rapporteur has confirmed as a “state- instigated massacre” the attack on a Suu Kyi procession in May 2003, northwest of Mandalay, when about 100 people were killed, including the NLD photographers; Suu Kyi was herself wounded . In what became more pro-democracy protests last September, junta troops fired automatic weapons at peaceful demon- strators and entered monasteries to beat and murder Buddhist monks who had protested . The junta had earlier received a $1 4. billion package of arms from Beijing – so it seems clear where the fatal bullets and guns were made . At the UN Security Council, the representatives of China and Russia, who had earlier used their ve- Mr. Kilgour in Eritrea with Canadian members of the UN Peacekeeping Force near the demarcation line toes to remove Burma from the council’s following the ceasefire in June 2000 in the Ethiopia–Eritrea War. agenda (after keeping it off its agenda con- tinuously since the country's crises of 1990 and 1988 until late 2005) even prevented

20 september—october 2008 human rights|Di spatches

ple and switch off the lights,” the maga- zine noted in its lead editorial, but added that pressure of any kind was unlikely to persuade Mr . Kim to give up his bomb .

Iran Systematic human rights abuses by the Iranian government currently include the persecution of ethnic and religious mi- norities and women (in a kind of gender apartheid, under Sharia law, the life of a woman is worth half that of a man); and the imprisonment, torture and execution of political prisoners and prisoners of con- science . The regime maintains complete control over the country's media . In trading with Iran, countries legiti- mize its government and help to maintain regime officials in positions of absolute power . Trade and investment from abroad also provide Tehran with funds that often are not used for the health, education and general welfare of Iranians but instead for funding terrorist groups abroad, including Hezbollah and Hamas, under the mantle of “expanding the Islamic Empire ”. Mr. Kilgour in rural Rwanda with orphans of the genocide and their caregiver, an Italian priest. China-Iran trade has grown from $200 million in 1990 to $10 billion in 2005 .It the Security Council from considering after he lost the first round of the recent includes conventional arms and ballistic sanctions . The two governments also man- presidential election was blocked when missiles for Iran despite Tehran’s declared aged to keep the Security Council from dock workers in South Africa refused to hostility to “godless communism” and issuing a condemnation of the junta’s use unload ships carrying the weapons and Beijing’s severe persecution of its Uyghur of deadly force . were supported by the South African Muslims . Beijing simply ignores the re- The Nargis cyclone in the Irrawaddy courts . According to the International alities of theocratic rule in Tehran . A major Delta struck in May, which the junta first Crisis Group (ICG) in Brussels, China now attraction for Tehran is Beijing’s perma- pretended (by continuing to broadcast does about $2 billion in annual bilateral nent seat on the UN Security Council, an opera on government television) had trade and investment with North Korea . which is useful for resisting Western pres- never happened . The regime newspaper About 150 Chinese companies operate in sure on nuclear and other issues . later suggested that foreign humanitarian the country . The ICG asserts that China’s There are indications that China has aid was unnecessary because the victims priorities with the government in Pyong- helped with Iran’s Shahab-3 and Shahab- could live on frogs . Its priority was at- yang currently include: 4 medium-range ballistic missiles . Both tempting to bully citizens into making the • incorporating North Korea into the are capable of reaching any state in the dictatorship constitutional in a referendum development plans of its three north- Middle East; the Shahab-4 could hit signif- on a junta-drafted constitution . eastern provinces to help them achieve icant portions of Europe . Two years ago, Beijing protects the generals in ex- stability; the U .S . government imposed penalties change for most of the country’s nat- • achieving credit in China, in the on eight Chinese companies for export- ural gas . It also has gained the right region and in the U .S . for its help in ing material that can be used to improve to build a $2 billion oil pipeline from achieving a denuclearized North Korea; Iran’s ballistic missile capability . In the Burma’s coast on the Bay of Bengal to • maintaining the two-Korea status Middle East, China’s policy of providing China’s Yunnan province . This will allow quo, as long as it can maintain influ- Iran with nuclear weapons technology is China to take delivery of Middle East ence in both capitals as leverage with injecting a highly-destabilizing element oil without passing through the narrow the U S. . on the Taiwan issue; into the region . Strait of Malacca, which could be shut • and avoiding a situation where a nu- By providing Iran with weapons that down in the case of a serious conflict . clear North Korea leads Japan and/or could be used in support of Islamic funda- Taiwan to become nuclear powers . mentalism, the potential for religious con- North Korea In October 2006, after North Korea had flict becomes greater . Old hatreds between The brutal dictatorship of Kim Jong Il completed an underground test of nuclear Iranian and Iraqi religious groups could rivals that of Robert Mugabe’s Zimbabwe weapons, the Economist magazine called flare up in the future . Nuclear weapons for any “worst governance” gold medal on the U S. ,. China and Russia to make sac- would give Iran a strategic weapons sys- today . It is no coincidence that Beijing sup- rifices to avoid a nuclear arms race in Asia tem that could allow the regime to act even ports both regimes, although its attempt and the Middle East . “The Chinese could, more aggressively . Israel could be brought to ship $70 million in arms to Mr . Mugabe if they wished, starve North Korea’s peo- further into the situation, believing that

diplomat and international canada 21 Di spatches|human rights

the only reason Tehran would want a no pay and little food, with many of them war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes nuclear weapon is to use it against Israel . sleeping in the same room . They made against humanity ”. China’s goal of securing reliable sources export products, ranging from garments No mention was made of natural disas- of oil and gas is probably being hindered to chopsticks to Christmas decorations for ters, but it seems clear that when a regime, rather than helped by its weapons sales multinational companies . such as Burma’s, denied much-needed to Iran by encouraging the Americans to These macabre deaths would not be food and medicine to its people, it was extend their military presence there to de- occurring if the Chinese people enjoyed engaging in a crime against humanity and ter Iran’s use of force . the rule of law and if their government should thus be subject to intervention by Canada initiated the successfully- believed in the intrinsic importance of other governments under R2P . Unfortu- passed UN General Assembly resolution each one of them . In my judgment, it is the nately, military force can be used only with in late 2007, which drew attention to lethal combination of totalitarian gover- the authorization of the often-immobilized numerous human rights abuses in Iran, in- nance and anything-is -permitted econom- UN Security Council . cluding confirmed instances of torture and ics that allows this kind of governance to A major challenge for R2P in the future cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or persist . is that the party-state in China strongly fa- punishment (flogging and amputations) The Chinese Medical Association agreed vours a ‘walled world’ in which sovereign and execution of persons who were under with the World Medical Association quite authoritarian governments can do as they the age of 18 at the time their offence was recently that “organ tourists” will not be wish to their own populations with impu- committed . able to obtain further organ transplants in nity . Over the past three decades, as ap- In recent months, the government in China . Whether this promise was anything proximately 50 countries in various parts Tehran has locked up all seven senior more than public relations intended to of the world have adopted one or another leaders of the country’s 300,000-member benefit the Beijing Olympiad remains to be form of multi-party democracy and the Baha’i spiritual community . Not a word seen . Another worry is that organs seized rule of law, Beijing’s party-state observed was heard about them for almost four from unwilling “donors” across China will this phenomenon with horror . It champi- weeks . It also fired missiles at the approxi- now go to wealthy Chinese patients with ons, finances and protects dictatorships mately 4,000 UN-protected residents, in- the grotesque commerce thus continuing – there are still about 40 of them of dif- cluding about 60 Canadian citizens living in the same volume . fering colourations left around the world in Ashraf city in Iraq . Virtually all independent bodies agree – wherever it has influence . that human dignity across China de- Chinese diplomats do their utmost China teriorated in the run-up to the Games . to persuade governments in developing The list of groups and individuals perse- Because of extensive reporting by the countries that following the China Model cuted across China is long . New victims world’s independent media to their home would free them from the often-painful were added during the Beijing Olympics, countries before and during the Games, social consequences of the stringent eco- including the two women in their 70s sen- however, many are now better informed nomic discipline in place since the financial tenced to one-year terms of “re-education about exploited Chinese workers, official crises in Asia, Latin America and Russia in through labour” for attempting to hold a nepotism and corruption, harassment of 1997 and afterwards, and the rigorous loan legal protest during the Olympics . religions and democrats, and the constant requirements which both the World Bank There is not much doubt, however, that party-state abuse of the natural environ- and the IMF enforce . overall the Falun Gong community is the ment . One-party regimes are thus able to push most inhumanly treated . David Matas, back nowadays with more confidence the Winnipeg-based international human Responsibility to Protect (R2P) against independent media, civil society rights lawyer, and I, concluded our own In all these situations, pervasive indif- groups and human rights organizations . independent investigation last year . We ference from the international communi- Plentiful aid from Beijing for governments found to our deep and continuing concern ty encourages them to continue . Human with natural resources gives options that, since 2001, the government in China dignity on our shrunken planet, however, to leaders who previously had been com- and its agencies have killed thousands is becoming more indivisible by the day . pelled to rely on donor countries that of Falun Gong practitioners, without any The R2P concept is a Canadian concept, insisted on progress on human dignity form of prior trial, and then sold their vital adopted at the 2005 UN World Leaders among their nationals . Canadians, Europe- organs for large sums of money, often to Summit at UN headquarters . ans and others, who favour some pooled “organ tourists” from wealthy nations . We The formal outcome document released sovereignty in institutions like the EU and amassed a substantial body of evidence at the summit said that nations have “the NATO are thus competing increasingly and became convinced beyond any doubt responsibility to protect” their populations with the Great Wall approach of the Bei- that this crime against humanity has oc- “from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleans- jing government . curred and is still happening . (Our report ing and crimes against humanity .” The Complicating the world scene even fur- can be accessed at www .organharvestin- international community’s obligation is to ther is the reality that if “anything goes” in vestigation net). . “help states exercise this responsibility .” the economy of China, “bespredel” (a Rus- Mr . Matas and I interviewed a number R2P can be invoked by the international sian word that means “without limits”) of Falun Gong practitioners sent to forced community through the UN Security appears to be an accurate way to describe labour camps without any form of prior Council “on a case-by-case basis” and Russian foreign policy under Vladimir hearing since 1999, who managed later “in co-operation with relevant regional Putin as prime minister . Georgia’s gov- to leave both the camps and China itself . organizations as appropriate” when ernment, of course, should never have They told us of working in appalling national states are “manifestly failing to attacked South Ossetian’s capital of Tskh- conditions for up to 16 hours daily with protect their populations from genocide, invali with rockets .

22 september—october 2008 human rights|Di spatches

David Kilgour: How Canada should deal with China We should support the freedom aspirations of the Chinese people

1) Zero tolerance for unfair trading practices. There should in future be zero tolerance in Canada when unfair trade practices are used by the government of China or exporters there, including currency manipulation of the yuan, theft of intel- lectual property and the continued refusal to honour commitments made by Beijing to the World Trade Organization upon joining in 2001. Japan, India, South Korea and the other rule-of-law democra- cies in Asia and the Pacific must be our favoured trading partners in the region until the government of China begins to respect the rules of international commerce.

2) Canadian jobs and our own economy must be the priority. According to a fairly recent survey of more than 1,000 Canadian businesses by the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters, one- fifth of Canadian manufacturers responded to the rising loonie by shifting production to China. A Montreal business leader told As a co-chair of the Canada-Tibet Parliamentary Friendship Group, David me that approximately 50 companies from his province would Kilgour hosted the Dalai Lama during his 2004 visit to Canada. not be manufacturing in China now without Export Development Corporation (EDC) financial help. This should stop. No taxpayer money should be going to relocate Canadian jobs to China or 5) Let’s stop listening exclusively to self-interested China busi- anywhere else. Goodyear Tire laid off about 850 employees when it ness lobbies. closed its manufacturing facility near Montreal last year in favour of It is now clear that economic liberalisation in China is not necessar- moving to China, yet tires made in China have since been recalled ily going to lead to the end of political Leninism in Beijing and its elsewhere as safety hazards. client countries. Torture and coerced confessions, party-state killing of Falun Gong practitioners and others extra-judicially, systematic 3) Canadian values must be asserted continuously in dealings with abuse of the Tibetan and Uyghur minorities, nation-wide exploita- Beijing. tion of Chinese workers and families, the lack of any kind of social All rule of law governments, including Canada’s, must cease programs for most Chinese – all are incompatible with human being naive about the party-state in Beijing. The regime continues dignity and the norms of the 21st century. There is no rule of law to rely on repression and brutality to maintain itself in office, but anywhere in China and its "courts" are a sham. The party-state what are Canadian diplomats in China doing effectively to show shows continuing contempt for the natural environment (except in themselves to be the friends of the poor, persecuted and voiceless Beijing before and during the Olympics). Many "experts" on China across China? What are they doing to advance the rule of law and abroad, including Canada, kowtow to the party-state because they human dignity? Fully realizing the differences, Canada might seek a think that their careers require support by the party. It's time to role in China not very different from the one we had in establish- draw conclusions about China from facts on the ground to support ing popular democracy in South Africa in the late 1980s, which is human dignity consistent with the best Canadian values. viewed by some as our country’s finest leadership role internation- ally in many years. Conclusion Despite all, the new China is stirring in the direction of vast and 4) Apply some lessons of non-violent civic resistance elsewhere to profound change. Hundreds of thousands of Chinese students have China. studied abroad and are now an increasingly important part of the There are lessons to be applied very carefully in China (in light of political, economic and social fabric at home. Undoubtedly they the Tiananmen protest experience in 1989 and elsewhere since) return with new ideas and the experience of life in rule-of-law from the non-violent civic resistance which occurred in Russia, and democratic countries. It is hard to see them settling back into Ukraine, the Philippines, Chile, Poland, Hungary, East Germany, authoritarian rule for long. Chinese tourists are now venturing Czechoslovakia, the Baltic states, South Africa, Serbia, Peru, abroad as never before and are seeing for themselves life in differ- Georgia, Romania and other nations. Each situation was different ent socio-political environments. Despite strenuous effort to clamp in terms of boycotts, mass protests, strikes and civil disobedience. down on religion, tens of millions of Chinese are reclaiming their In all, however, authoritarian rulers were delegitimized and their right to believe. Temples, churches and mosques are clandestinely sources of support, including their armed defenders, eventually mushrooming across China. These developments and others will abandoned them. The government of Canada should make it lead demands for greater freedoms by word of mouth. Canada and clear to all that it stands with the oppressed hundreds of millions all friends of the people of China need to recognize this phenom- of nationals in China and its client states elsewhere and seeks a enon and position ourselves to support the new tide of expecta- peaceable transition to the rule of law, respect for all, and demo- tions that a younger generation of Chinese will bring to bear on all cratic governance. these issues. – David Kilgour

diplomat and international canada 23 Di spatches|human rights

Seeking silence at the world’s ‘amusement parks of evil’

Vancouver writer Don Cayo has traveled of late to some of the earth’s vilest places. Not landscapes that are merely ugly or unpleas- ant or unsafe, but places so sullied by evil that they’re no longer fit for ordinary life. First was Tuol Sleng, the high-school- cum-prison in Phnom Penh, and the nearby Killing Fields where Pol Pot’s Khmer Rouge minions murdered 20,000 fellow Cambodians. Then Auschwitz and Birkenau, the death camps in Poland where Nazis – German and kindred spirits from other countries – killed as many as a million and a half people, mostly Jews. Finally two rural churches in Rwanda where machete-wield- ing Hutus beat their way though barred doors and windows, and even brick walls to hack to death thousands of their Tutsi neighbours. He returned home with these reflections:

By Don Cayo

ome people walk through these sites in tears, many in thoughtful Ssilence . But I was saddened to find there are also louts – the loudmouths with their petty dramas to dissect, the guy sneaking a smoke in Auschwitz, the gig- glers with private jokes, the know-it-alls with boring theories, the shameless pic- ture-takers who pop flashes everywhere, even in the Auschwitz crematorium . And then there was Ken . He and I found ourselves in Cambodia, sharing A million tourists flock to Auschwitz each year. Most treat it as the solemn place it is. a table in a busy restaurant after inde- pendently visiting the Killing Field at Choeung Ek – a place of meandering afford that much – I got to shoot a Colt 45. displays . But I understand his point . I was pathways through mass graves that left for just $10 … It was great!” struck by the irony that, at a site infamous me with a powerful need to be alone with This represents the worst of the for the businesslike efficiency with which my thoughts . “amusement park of evil” approach to its victims were murdered, Holocaust re- “Didja go gun-shooting?” the young remembrance . I encountered this phrase membrance is practised on an industrial Australian asked . in a blog entry by Christopher Tuckwood, scale as well . The footfalls of a million No, I said, I did not . I didn’t tell him my a Canadian on the student board on geno- visitors a year are wearing grooves in the reaction when my tuk-tuk driver urged cide prevention of the U S. . Holocaust Me- stairways of the most-visited prison build- me to stop at an adjacent shooting range morial Museum . For some, he noted, such ings, and eroding the paved or cobbled as I left Choeung Ek . I was repulsed by sites are just one more place to go, gawk walkways and roads . And at the exhibits the thought that, having just spent time and get the T-shirt . that should be most powerful, your ears contemplating the work of homicidal ma- Mr . Tuckwood was shocked by the are assailed by the din of competing tour niacs, I’d then pretend to be one . Disneyesque atmosphere he found at Aus- guides lecturing to as many as half a “Too bad,” said Ken, compensating chwitz during a summer visit . I was there dozen close-crowded groups . for my lack of enthusiasm with an excess in winter, a quieter time when I was lucky I got a small taste of this kind of thing at of his own . “You get to empty the clip in enough to encounter no schoolchildren the first stop on my tour of evil, Choeung an AK-47 for 30 bucks U S. . Or – I couldn’t running about and clambering onto the Ek . I made the rounds twice, first early in

24 september—october 2008 human rights|Di spatches

the morning when I walked alone . I read died . Most looked despairing, some as if Keeping track of Atrocities the signs, written in stilted English, but they’d already died inside, though a few poignant nonetheless . And I tried to pro- dared to stare at their captors in defiance . cess this awful information and the dismal These institutional photographs somehow aura of the place . touched me even more than the crisper Then I hired a guide to help me fill shots of happier times – of lives no one in any gaps . He turned out to be a glib knew were soon to end – that I saw in Po- young man who merely destroyed the land and Rwanda . contemplative atmosphere while telling In Auschwitz, I was particularly me nothing I hadn’t read for myself on haunted by a room full of human hair – a the signs . And he horrified me when he tiny percentage of what was “harvested” swung open the glass door of site’s domi- by the Nazis to be woven into blankets . In A Rwandan church, covered by a metal shell nant stupa – a towering memorial built Rwanda, no one – certainly not I – stayed for protection, has been left much as it was. to house recovered bones – and plucked dry-eyed through the last room, a chroni- out two conveniently placed skulls, one cle of the lives of children who died in the Nazi death camps in Poland, the Killing gashed with a machete and one bashed slaughter, in Kigali’s small, but powerful, Fields of Cambodia, the city streets, with a cudgel, to illustrate how economi- memorial building . even churches, homes and schools of cally the victims were dispatched . These experiences did clarify at least Rwanda – these are the sites that spring By that time, late morning, tour groups one thing for me . I’m resolved to speak to mind when most of us think about of chattering tourists were beginning to out stronger and sooner . I shall henceforth modern-day mass murder. arrive . I left . be less tolerant of the myriad excuses that But what happened in these places Tuol Sleng, though busy, was more the “international community” – that’s is in no way unique. According to conducive to reflection . Visitors respected us – falls back on to when a slaughter is Genocide Watch, a non-profit group each other’s space as we went through under way . that works to prevent mass killings classroom after classroom, each now full Some of the shameful inactions of the around the world, the last century's toll of crude little cells, or steel bed frames past are well known – the Allies’ failure includes: on which prisoners were tortured, or gut- to bomb the railway that took more than wrenching official photos of prisoners, a million to their deaths at Birkenau, or n 1.5 million Armenians some of them children . the UN’s inaction in Rwanda . Nor is the n 3 million Ukrainians At both of the Rwanda churches – left world doing better today in places like n 6 million Jews much as they were except, in the case of Darfur or the Congo . n 250,000 Gypsies the smaller one, for an ugly metal shell We need a lower and simpler standard n 6 million Slavs over the original building to protect it of when to say enough is enough, and we n 25 million Russians from the weather – I was the only visitor . need the means and will to enforce it . n 25 million Chinese The guides quietly explained the basic The idea of military intervention to pro- n 1 million Ibos details, then left me on my own . tect a population at risk has taken an aw- n 1.5 million Bengalis Despite the “amusement park of evil” ful hit as a result of the post-invasion mess n 200,000 Guatemalans syndrome that intruded on some of in Iraq . But, like Paul Collier, the Oxford n 1.7 million Cambodians my visits, I recommend these experi- economist who wrote The Bottom Billion, I n 500,000 Indonesians ences . True, too many people tromp believe the right interventions could end n 200,000 East Timorese through some of these small spaces, but evil . Collier cites the example of the Brit- n 250,000 Burundians the thoughtful comments in guest books ish in Sierra Leone . A few hundred troops n 500,000 Ugandans tell me, a few louts notwithstanding, most ended, in short order, a decade-long war n 2 million Sudanese visitors are powerfully affected . that killed at least 75,000 and maimed tens n 800,000 Rwandans It’s almost impossible not to choke up at of thousands . n 2 million North Koreans Choeung Ek’s “killing tree” where Khmer There have been repeated proposals n 10,000 Kosovars thugs bashed babies’ brains out to save the for the UN to mount a standing force that price of a bullet . You can’t overlook the could respond quickly to urgent situa- This adds up to one death every 42 vastness of Birkenau – a place built for the tions . Dr . Collier suggests such a force to seconds – about the length of time sole purpose of killing “weak” Jews and protect fragile governments if they are act- it takes to read this list aloud – all housing strong ones for the short months it ing for the good of their people . I think the day, every day, for 100 years. Not to took to work them to death – without your mandate could include protection of all mention the on-going, slow-motion stomach churning . You can’t contemplate people at risk, even – perhaps especially slaughter in Darfur where at least the rough hole knocked in the wall of the – when the danger they face is the govern- 200,000 have perished. Or the carnage Ntarama church without imagining you ment that should be protecting them . in the Democratic Republic of Congo. hear the Hutu mob running amok, or smell It’s a lie to say “Never again” when we There, five years after the purported the fear of the cowering Tutsi families . settle for “Again and again ”. end of an awful war that has killed 5.4 In Tuol Sleng, what particularly million, the International Crisis Group touched me were the endless ranks of offi- Don Cayo is a columnist for the Vancou- estimates that up to 1,200 people a day cial photographs . These are mug shots, not ver Sun . Visit www .canada .com/vancou- (one every 72 seconds) continue to die artistic in any way . But they’re all that’s versun/news/blogs/ to see his blog on from unabated violence. left to mark the passing of the legions who globalization issues .

diplomat and international canada 25 Di spatches|ENERGY

‘On a global scale, our oil sands are a flyspeck’ Ugly, yes, but with perspective they compare well to other projects

By Laura Neilson Bonikowsky

xtracting bitumen from Alberta’s Bitumen is a viscous oil that does not fields with cattle grazing look picturesque, soil is a dirty business . Media and flow unless heated or diluted with lighter even wholesome . But these new Brazil- Eenvironmentalists have rightly hydrocarbons . It underlies three major ian fields are largely responsible for that called attention to its environmental de- areas of Alberta comprising more than country’s fourth-place ranking in global struction . And these critics continue to 140,200 square kilometres, with roughly carbon emissions . pillory the industry long after we’ve all 420 square kilometres currently disturbed The deforestation of the Amazon basin gotten the point that oil sands operations by surface mining . Oil sands operations is going forward with humanity’s typical emit carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas look horrendous – huge machines belch- lack of foresight . The biofuel industry is that contributes to climate change . ing smoke tear up the earth and dig giant irony writ large . It is doing exactly what Oil sands development is a dilemma . craters, polluted waters pour out of pipes . it is supposed to prevent: producing more It positions Canada to become a world But give it some perspective . Alberta, with global warming . Using land to grow fuel leader in oil supply . Time magazine says 661,848 square kilometres, comprises 6 63. destroys vegetation that stores carbon, these Alberta resources are “Canada’s per cent of Canada . The mining area is 0 3. and these vast tracts of land produce only greatest buried energy treasure” that modest amounts of fuel . The Amazon “could satisfy the world’s demand for pe- rain forest is the planet’s primary carbon troleum for the next century ”. But getting China, which accounts for 20 per warehouse . Destroying it releases carbon at them would place Canada among the cent of global emissions, is adding into the atmosphere, carbon that should top defilers of the planet . an additional Canada’s-worth be stored in its broad leaves and heavy The industry gets a lot of negative press of emissions each year and one trunks . The crops replacing it are minor – and that’s not a bad thing because it substitutes . The current rate of deforesta- Alberta’s-worth of emissions each could keep harmful effects in check . But tion accounts for 20 per cent of the world’s it gets more press than other environmen- month. Are ordinary people aware carbon emissions . tally damaging activity, and that is a bad of all these things? Probably not. As Michael Grunwald explains in Time, thing, because most people only know Information is not easy to find the crops-for-forest effect is “replicating what they’re told . A survey of leading and the media are not helping, itself around the world .” Indonesia has Canadian newspapers shows dispropor- become the world’s third-largest carbon so consumers and voters are not tionate coverage . Over 15 months, four emitter by bulldozing and burning wilder- leading dailies reported on the oil sands’ making informed decisions. ness to grow palm oil trees for biodiesel . connection to climate change in 230 in- Malaysia, following suit, has almost no dividual articles . The equally damaging uncultivated land left . One-fifth of Ameri- Asia-Pacific Gateway initiative to promote per cent of Alberta . On a global scale, the can-grown corn is sold for ethanol, so trade between North America and Asia mining area is a flyspeck and its emissions American farmers are switching from soy- rated only five articles . That’s a ratio of a whisp . beans to corn, and Brazillian farmers are 46:1 and shows the myopic tunnel vision Canada produces two per cent of the expanding their soybean fields to pasture, with which this country views the oil world’s carbon emissions . The oil sands so cattle producers are clearing adjacent sands industry . industry produces four per cent of Cana- forest for grazing land . There is no doubt that environmental da’s emissions . So the oil sands operation A study led by Princeton researcher damage is the inescapable cost of our produces less than 001. per cent of global Tim Searchinger published in Science comfortable, oil-dependent lifestyles . But emissions . magazine in February 2008 confirms that the oil sands represent the tip of a melting Oil sands extraction requires stripping growing biofuels on cropland actually iceberg when it comes to global warming . away trees and brush and removing the increases greenhouse gases, but we didn’t Refusing to look at this industry while topsoil, muskeg, sand, clay and gravel see it coming because biofuel studies ig- ignoring other human activities leaves – what the industry calls overburden . nored the impact of land use . Converting the door open to environmental risks that Its ugliness makes the industry an easy carbon-storing wilderness to agri-fuel pro- might be held at bay by an informed pub- target because the scarred earth provides duction releases “17 to 420 times more car- lic . There is no bright side to the impact of tangible evidence of the harm done . This bon dioxide than the annual greenhouse bitumen extraction . This is not a defence of spectacle contrasts starkly with other gas (GHG) reductions that these biofuels the industry, but demonizing a single ac- human activities that can appear benign would provide by displacing fossil fuels ”. tivity by an industry we rely on and resent but are equally damaging or worse . An Instead of delivering the expected 20 will not solve the problem . If we’re serious example is the conversion of the Amazon per cent carbon saving, corn-based etha- about minimizing our environmental foot- region into savannah, with vast swaths of nol nearly doubles greenhouse emissions print, we need to pull our heads out of the carbon-storing rainforest cut or burned to over 30 years and increases GHG for 167 oil-soaked sand and take a good look at make room for cattle, or soybeans to fuel years . Using American corn land to grow the entire environmental situation . the “clean” energy industry . Vast green switchgrass for fuel increases emissions by

26 september—october 2008 ENERGY|Di spatches

Good changes are happening – slowly . The Globe and Mail reported in May that the federal government is reconsidering ethanol production and rethinking legisla- tion to boost ethanol in Canadian gasoline,

d citing concerns about food shortages and t the environment . Although the Pacific Gateway project is proceeding on sched-

de Canada L ule, China may be changing its ways, cru yn

S announcing the closure of several small

esy power plants in 2008 for environmental urt o

c reasons – though that may also be a re- sponse to coal shortages . Image Closer to home, the Alberta govern- There is no doubt that environmental damage is the inescapable cost of our comfortable, oil-dependent ment in March issued the first oil sands lifestyles but the oil sands represent the tip of a melting iceberg when it comes to global warming. reclamation certificate to Syncrude Can- ada for the 104-hectare Gateway Hill site, a few kilometres north of Fort McMurray, 50 per cent . Ethanol made with sugarcane depends heavily on coal, which produces a former dump site for the overburden is the only biofuel that cuts emissions by 70 per cent of the nation’s electricity, that was scraped away to get at the bitu- more than it costs to produce it . with demand growing in tandem with its men underneath . Advocates of the biofuel industry assert economy . With its own coal sufficient re- Alberta requires oil sands developers that crop yields will increase and use less serves for 100 years, in 2005 it began open- to restore mined areas to their previous land and energy – because the latter will be ing a coal-fired power plant every week, healthy state . Stockpiled topsoil and mus- produced by farm waste . Mr . Searchinger all spewing toxic soot, sulfur and carbon keg are returned to mined-out areas and applauds this possibility, but points out dioxide . Atmospheric scientists such as overburden is used for landscape recon- that growing fuel is an inefficient use of Steven S . Cliff at the University of Califor- struction . The reclamation process con- good cropland, a fact born out by current nia have predicted that China’s coal will tinues throughout the life of the project, global food shortages that are a by-product increase global warming gases to such a and industry must post financial security of converting cropland to grow fuel . degree that they will exceed that of all in- equivalent to the cost of reclamation . Non- Our environmental impact is not re- dustrialized countries combined over the compliance can be penalized in several stricted to energy production . Trade uses next 25 years . The Chinese government ways, including administrative penalties . energy for the ships, trains, trucks and has been reluctant to invest in plants with To qualify for reclamation certification, aircraft that carry goods, and has a huge, expensive advanced technology, allowing reclaimed land must have matured suf- seemingly invisible environmental cost . A older equipment with 75-year lifespans ficiently to be returned to the Crown . To case in point is the Asia Pacific Gateway instead . date, 4,500 hectares have been reclaimed initiative, which will “make Canada the China is the No . 1 emitter of carbon and five million trees and shrubs planted . gateway between North America and dioxide in the world . Given its large popu- It takes decades for an area to be certified Asia for business, trade and investment,” lation, its emissions are lower per capita – for Gateway Hill, nearly three decades . according to the program’s press releases . than in the United States, previously the That’s a long time in human terms, but in Proposed by the Liberal government in highest emitter, but China’s rising stan- the lifespan of the planet it’s a blink . The 2005 and modified by the Conservative dard of living means electricity consump- earth has a remarkable capacity for heal- government in 2006, it was announced as tion is rising . Compare its impact to oil ing, once we stop wrecking it . the Asia-Pacific Gateway and Corridor sands operations . China, which accounts While corporations need to clean up Initiative . for 20 per cent of global emissions, is add- their acts, the public must be involved too . It represents billions of dollars in trade . ing an additional Canada’s-worth of emis- It’s impossible to eliminate human impact It also represents a 300-per-cent increase sions each year and one Alberta’s-worth of on the planet; in truth, if humans were in container volume and a 25-per-cent emissions each month . really committed to doing the best thing increase in bulk cargo shipments at the Are ordinary people aware of all these for Earth, they’d would stop making more Port of Vancouver by 2020 . It will triple things? Probably not . Information is not humans and allow the planet to revert to the number of trucks on highways, and re- easy to find and the media are not helping, its natural state . But that Swiftian modest quire an extensive expansion of the roads, so consumers and voters are not making proposal goes too far . We don’t have to be- bridges, rail lines, and port facilities that informed decisions . The public also has come dumpster-diving freegans or revert support it . Its planners talk about a “green to see beyond the problem to solutions, to the hunter-gatherer economies of our gateway”; its literature includes references because environmental decisions are com- forebears to live environmentally ethical to environmental assessments and wildlife plicated by economics and politics . The lives . But we do have to push for govern- overpasses . But there are no references to Kyoto Protocol is a perfect example . Tar- ment action, demand that media give us the resulting increase in GHG emissions, gets for reducing carbon emissions have all the facts, and look closely at everything and the media have largely ignored it . been at odds with national economies, we do to our environment . Canada’s major partner in the Pacific giving rise to plenty of talk from politi- Gateway will be China, with its ques- cians which suggests the environmental Laura Neilson Bonikowsky is an Alberta tionable environmental record . China risk of political hot air is not really a joke . writer .

diplomat and international canada 27 DELIGHTS|BOOKS

To Timbuktu and beyond: African ins and outs by George Fetherling

ne of the interesting things—one of many—about To Timbuktu for Oa Haircut: A Journey through West Africa (Dundurn, $26 99. paper) is that its author, Rick Antonson, is the president and CEO of Tourism Vancouver, the con- vention and visitors’ bureau . What does he do when he needs to get away from the air of bureaucratic confinement that must inevitably accompany such a high- level position in the tourism industry? He certainly doesn’t become a tourist himself . Instead he assumes the role of a serious traveller, the kind that can turn out a book such as this one, relaying the story of a rough and rugged journey (he loved every arduous minute) while, at the same time, providing the necessary historical, geo- k c o graphical and cultural context, expressed t s with charm and sensitivity . i Of course Timbuktu struggles under the The Great Mosque at Djenne in Mali – near Timbuktu weight of so much old-fashioned romance as to make it an easy place to write about very name gives off a sense “of ‘beyond,’ thereby maximizing the time spent in the badly and an especially difficult one to of ‘difference,’ and ‘silence ’”. The city rose desert . write about well . I suppose all of us have a to greatness as a hub of the trade in salt, For his part, Mr . Antonson began on the mental picture of it, stuck out there in the gold and slaves . It achieved its zenith in Atlantic coast, at Dakar in Senegal, travel- Sahara, an ancient city of low buildings the 14th century, and ever since then its ling to Bamako, the capital of Mali, by with walls made of mud (using a tech- name “has meant ‘can’t get there’ to West- rail . No one he talks to is sure such a train nique the local people called banco) . And erners, and every traveller dreams of hav- even exists . So, having once been on the I suppose most everyone knows by now ing been to such a place ”. Transsiberian Railway, he naturally seems of the uncounted thousands of ancient Timbuktu first appeared on a European to have suspected that he must be ready Arabic manuscripts to be found there, map in 1373 but centuries passed before for anything . He ends up crammed into a many still in private homes, where they’re Europeans actually visited . The 18th cen- tiny compartment with three African men, being eaten away by sand and insects . tury saw the idea of going to Timbuktu one of whom, Ebou, asks him why in the Significant numbers of people in the West, become something of a geographical fad, world he’s going to Bamako . “‘I’m going including Mr . Antonson, are working in somewhat the same way that searching to Timbuktu,’ I said . ‘Tombouctou,’ Ebou against the odds to help Africans preserve for the fate of Sir John Franklin became corrected . And with that he added, ‘It’s these writings, whose presence is perhaps in the late 19th century . In one 21-year very far .’ I listened to them talk among the most vivid reminder of what a great period, 43 expeditions set out to reach the themselves, and noticed my frustration seat of Islamic learning the city was centu- already folkloric city . None made it . The with the West Africans’ French accent . ries ago, when it was also, not in the least name most commonly associated with I asked about French words that Ebou coincidentally, a place of great wealth . this particular ambition is that of Mungo said were not French . They were speak- Added to its appeal for travellers is the Park, a Scot, who nearly but didn’t quite ing Bambara, interspersed with French fact that Timbuktu, although no longer reach his goal in 1795 and again in 1805 . phrases and uttered with a French lilt . forbidden to infidels as it was once upon a Shortly after the second attempt, he either Their conversation and the slapping of time, is still almost absurdly remote, even drowned in the Niger River or was mur- wet branches on our window lulled me in the context of Mali, one of the world’s dered by the Tuareg, a people Antonson to sleep .” Later, he switches to road and poorest countries, with abysmal trans- spends some time with on his way back river travel . portation and communications . As Mr . out into the world . Finally, in 1826, an- Like much of the most rewarding travel Antonson writes, “Although Timbuktu other British explorer, Major Alexander literature, Mr . Antonson’s narrative turns exists, there is a consensus that it is, in fact, Gordon Laing, found his way into the city, out to be more revealing of the terrain nowhere ”. Yet at a certain point in his life, only to be murdered a month later . Many travelled through than of the intended when he was in his late 50s, Mr . Antonson others perished from the journey itself . A destination . He has a good eye . “If you felt there “was no more fitting” or sym- number of the early explorers started out saw a thousand people in Mali, no two bolic a place to visit than Timbuktu . The from Tripoli or Fez on the Mediterranean, would be dressed alike”, he writes . “Occa-

28 september—october 2008 DELIGHTS|Books

slipped them onto a tray beside the stove . We purchased two loaves, breaking pieces from them and eating as we walked . The garnish of sand was subtle ”. In the end, he returns to Canada with self-knowledge as well as information . “Those who call [Tim- buktu] home do not share the foreigner’s fascination,” he writes . “The city’s mys- tique is powerful only until you arrive . I’d like to pretend it’s different, but it isn’t ”. Mali won its independence from France in 1959 (at the same time as Senegal) . Since then, following a coup, it has slowly emerged as one of the most stable na- tions in Africa, a genuine multi-party democracy . This places it in especially stark contrast to its neighbours to the west . Why have most of the countries that touch the Atlantic on the bulbous nose of Africa been mired so often in civil war and related tragedy? A dozen years ago, Robert D . Kaplan, in his book The Ends of the Earth: A Journey at the Dawn of the 21st Century, suggested the answer may lie in a dangerous contradiction: the fact that riv- ers in the region flow east-west whereas tribal allegiances run north-south . If I To Timbuktu for a Haircut Author Rick Antonson’s journey through West Africa began in Dakar, Senegal. interpret him correctly, he was suggesting that European colonialism, which existed sionally they would look similar, but only book for adolescents . The new revised edi- in West Africa only because the rivers by chance . Absent was the Western com- tion (Annick Press, $26 95. cloth) contrasts emptying into the ocean permitted trade, monality of fashion, similarity of suit and contemporary cell-phone-using Africa did not always adhere closely to the other skirt, slacks and jacket . It seemed true, too, with antiquarian Timbuktu while retain- factor when carving the area into political of their personalities . The individuality ing the previous edition’s topics, such as units . Perhaps they felt they had to act as was intense, based on the struggle for life, the position of Muslim women in Malien they did, given all the competition . The the indifference to community judgment, society . Dutch, the Spanish, the Portuguese and and the fact that one ate and wore what No doubt the current confrontation be- the British were quite active and success- was handy . The uniformity of poverty tween Islam and the West is also respon- ful in the region at various times, though seemed to result in an absence of the am- sible for the new edition, the umpteenth the francophone powers were always the bition to conform in dress ”. Antonson will in various languages, of To Timbuktu: A dominant players (and so French remains no doubt be interested in Bogolan: Shaping Journey Down the Niger (Penguin Group the lingua franca) . This slice of history is Culture through Cloth in Contemporary Mali Canada, $17 .95 paper) by the American complicated and more than a little dirty . by Victoria L . Rovine (Indiana University adventure journalist Mark Jenkins . He Consider the Democratic Republic of Press, US$24 .95 paper), which shows the travelled there by kayak and tries to write the Congo . Belgium superimposed its effects of globalisation on the methods and somewhat in the tradition of Hemingway rule on this piece of the map in 1877, sup- motifs of traditional Malien textiles . without stinting on the similes whose planting the various indigenous leaders . Strangely, Mr . Antonson writes very absence is what made Hemingway’s style For a generation beginning in 1885, the little of Timbuktu and Mali in terms of Is- seem fresh in its day . Not all Mr . Jenkins’ territory was called the Congo Free State . lam, though you might expect the impor- books are written this way . Off the Map: Bi- This was during the period when it was in tant role the city once played in spreading cycling across Siberia—also Penguin, $17 95. fact not free in the least, because Léopold Islamic teaching and trade to be another paper—is less hokey, though the means of II of Belgium took personal ownership of key consideration in assessing its present transport it describes is no less contrived . it and ran it as a lucrative private busi- appeal . Surely it is no coincidence that this To see what a more skilled author can do ness venture . In the process, about half is the third Canadian book on the subject with such epics of solitary travel, I recom- of the population met their deaths . It was to come out in as many years . Another is mend Traversa: A Solo Walk across Africa, this fiefdom that Joseph Conrad made the Timbuktu: The Sahara’s Fabled City of Gold from the Skelton Coast to the Indian Ocean setting of Heart of Darkness . The “hor- (McClelland & Stewart, $34 .99) by the by Fran Sandham (Penguin, $30) . ror” referred to in the novella is slavery, a well-respected husband-and-wife team of But I have let myself wander away from practice introduced to wring profit from Marq De Villiers and Sheila Hirtle, who the subject of Mr . Antonson, who can be ivory and rubber . The arrangement was have done other books on Africa as well . quite wry at times . On a Timbuktu street, a major scandal even at the time, so that Then there is 52 Days by Camel: My Sahara he watches as “a lady used a flat pan to even before the king’s death in 1909, the Adventure by Lawrie Raskin, an illustrated remove lumps of bread from the oven and land ceased being a commercial corpora-

diplomat and international canada 29 DELIGHTS|Books

King Leopold II of Belgium ran the Democratic Re- the other only makes Brazzaville Charms: public of the Congo as a lucrative private business Magic and Rebellion in the Republic of Congo venture. In the process, about half of the popula- tion met their deaths. by Cassie Knight (Raincoast, $35) all the more valuable . tion and reverted to colonial status as the Ms . Knight is a British specialist in Af- Belgian Congo . So it remained until its rica who, following the civil war of 1998– hard-fought independence in the early 99, worked for an NGO, Catholic Relief 1960s, whereupon it emerged as the Re- Services, from a base in Brazzaville . Her public of the Congo . More recently, from book’s subtitle is not ironic, for she did 1971 and 1997, it became, as a result of indeed find many of the people charm- one of the numerous coups in the region, ing . Although charm, however scarce, is Zaire . The current name, Democratic Re- universal, those particular individuals no public of the Congo, is not a boast about doubt stood out all the more in a culture the democracy to be found there, for the that must strike many westerners as bi- country has managed to elude such sta- zarre (Bizarreville?) . In thoughtful prose tus . Rather, it is a way to distinguish the that is not overdressed, she also builds Democratic Republic of the Congo from up, gradually, layer upon layer, a picture its next-door neighbour, the Republic of of the country’s decidedly less endearing Congo (without the define article before side, a land where weird occult rituals Congo), which from 1880 to 1910 was are commonly observed and many taller simply the French Congo . Many outsiders residents keep the so-called pygmies as still tend to confuse the two present states . slaves . She is not judgemental, though she For this reason, the pair of them encourage has a serious purpose, as when she writes the informal inclusion of their capital cities of how the president, Denis Sassou- (which are in sight of each other) as part Nguesso, a former communist who filled of the names: “Democratic Republic of the a vacuum brought on by coups and assas- Congo–Kinshasa” (formerly Léopoldville) sinations and was himself deposed, only and “Republic of Congo–Brazzaville .” to elbow his way back to power six years The fact that the latter and much smaller later . The president uses the country’s oil nation lives somewhat in the shadow of revenues to strengthen the military while

STOP WAITING. THE FASTESTAND START LAUGHING. MOST RELIABLE. PERIOD. Proven consistently faster by independent comScore Inc. research.*

RogeRs Hi-speed inteRnet $ 95 19/Mo1 SWITCH NOW FoR As LoW As Plus other fees

1 888 Rogers1 or visit rogers.com/fastestinternet

UP TO 15% DISCOUNT FOR CUSTOMERS WITH MULTIPLE ROGERS PRODUCTS – HOME PHONE, WIRELESS PHONE, INTERNET AND DIGITAL CABLE.2 *Fastest and most reliable speeds claim supported by independent third-party research conducted by comScore Inc., comparing average download speed to the equivalent speeds of the incumbent DSL provider. Testing completed in the Rogers GTA footprint from January 18th 2008 to May 31st 2008. 1. Offer available for a limited time and is subject to change without notice. Rogers Hi-Speed Internet Lite is available for $19.95/month for the first 6 months. Taxes are extra. A $14.95 one-time activation fee and a $3.00 monthly modem rental fee applies. Regular monthly rates apply after promotional period. Installation charges may apply. 2. Discount applies to monthly recurring service fees for eligible services. Minimum 24-month term required. Go to rogers.com/bundles for details. TMTrademark of Rogers Communications Inc. used under license. © 2008

30 september—october 2008 DELIGHTS|Books

exhibiting “an absolute disregard for hu- man life and for human suffering . Like the French before them, [he and his cronies] are interested only in profit [rather than] development . Since independence in 1960 there has been no official enquiry into the conduct of the French administrators and concessionary companies that wreaked so much destruction across the country, and the French similarly turn a blind eye to the wrongdoings of the Congolese govern- ment […]” Various militias roam the coun- tryside, including one headed by a man who claims to be the resurrected Jesus . No Extra Fees “Independence”, Ms . Knight writes, “was not an easy new beginning for Congo ”. for Diplomats - My good fortune in stumbling on Brazzaville Charms leads me to, for ex- Diplomats and embassy employees For your personal ample, The Uncertain Business of Doing may exchange their personal cheques consultation please call: Good: Outsiders in Africa by Larry Krotz, Marie Boivin a Canadian who has written frequently of without paying extra fees. Accu-Rate Corporation specializes in electronic and Managing Director humanitarian projects on that continent 613-596-5505 ext. 101 cheque payments in over 55 currencies. (University of Manitoba Press, $24 95). and  [email protected] Dust from Our Eyes: An Unblinkered Look at Africa (Wolsak & Wynn, $19 paper) by Joan Baxter, another Canadian . Ms . Baxter Accu-Rate Corporation World Exchange Plaza has reported on African matters for the Accu-Rate Corporation BBC World Service and the Sunday Times 2573 Carling Ave. 111 Albert St. in London as well as for the Globe and Mail FILLTHECUP_AD_1-6Horiz3:LayoutForeign Exchange & International Payment Services 1 11-08-2008 15:49 Pagina 1 www.accu-rate.ca (613) 596-5505 (613) 238-8454 and the Toronto Star . In 2002, for instance, she was one of the first journalists to pen- etrate the rebel-held areas of Côte d’Ivoire, another former French colony, during its When you fill his cup, own most recent civil war . Yet another new Canadian book on the you don’t just satisfy his hunger region is Shrines in Africa edited by Allan Charles Dawson (University of Calgary You fill his mind Press, $39 95). . This collection of essays on the roles played by spiritual shrines is part and feed his future of the University of Calgary’s admirable “Africa: Missing Voices” series . A number of other university presses in North Amer- ica, and not always the ones you might Be Part of the Solution: think of first, also publish entire series wfp.org/donate in the field of African studies . One of the best is the “Blacks in the Diaspora” project from Indiana University Press . Among its forthcoming titles is Deep Roots: Rice Farm- ers in West Africa and the African Diaspora f o r s a l e edited by Edda L . Fields-Black (US$34 95),. appearing in December . Looking much farther ahead than that is risky . But don’t be surprised to see mention of several new works on Nigeria, now that the oil fields in that predominately Muslim nation are drawing closer attention from the United Dining room set for 8, made in Brazil in 1962. States (whose military created its first-ever Polished Jacarandá (similar to Mahogany or Africa Command last year) . Rosewood). Set includes polished table 155cm x 105cm with 2 additional leaves of 33cm each; 8 George Fetherling’s most recent book is finely tooled leather chairs; Jacarandá hutch and display cabinet with glass doors. Can.$ 15,000 Tales of Two Cities: A Novella Plus Sto- Frank H. Scheme (613) 562-2161 (viewing by ries (Subway) . appointment).

diplomat and international canada 31 DELIGHTS|Books

Running on empty

George Abraham

ew politicians have emulated the hard to sift fact from ideology . What you public interest and the course adopted by courage that U .S . president Gerald think about oil depends largely on the petroleum companies, offering a slate of FFord showed in January 1975 when constituency you represent: consumers, seven solutions – none of them dramati- he told his astonished nation, “Yes, gaso- corporations, utilities, importers, or oil- cally new – to rescue the U .S . from the line and oil will cost more than they do exporting governments . continuing stranglehold of Middle East now ”. The president warned that “Ameri- Mr . Laxer offers a concise history of the oil . cans are no longer in full control of their The former energy czar traces the own national destiny, when that destiny ebb and flow of American policy since depends on uncertain foreign fuel at high President Richard Nixon launched Proj- prices fixed by others ”. He was referring ect Independence on Nov . 7, 1973, at the to the five-month oil embargo imposed by height of the Arab oil embargo . Compar- Arab oil producers that had ended a few ing this goal to the Manhattan project that months before, in March 1974 . produced the world’s first atomic bomb Mr . Ford’s candour helped in the short and the Apollo mission that launched a run, driving down oil imports and hence man on the moon, Mr . Nixon set this lofty America’s foreign dependency, but in the ambition: “Let us pledge that by 1980, long continuum of history, it made little under Project Independence, we shall be difference . Crude oil imports accounted able to meet America’s energy needs from for roughly 37 per cent of U .S . needs at America’s own energy resources ”. It took the time, but have since increased to 60 several years before this resolve could re- per cent today, with Canada being the sult in actual cutbacks, but between 1977 superpower’s largest and most reliable and 1982, American petroleum imports foreign supplier . According to Jay Hakes, were cut by half . head of the U .S . Energy Information The original oil shock may be a faraway Administration, between 1993 and 2000, the world’s biggest oil consumer spends $1 billion a day on imported fuel to keep its lights burning and its vehicles on the road . There are many who argue that both oil exporters like Canada and importers such as China and India face a moment of truth similar to the oil shock of the early oil industry, starting with its origins on 1970s . With prices at historic highs and the eve of the American Civil War, in 1858, no sign of retreating below $100 a barrel, with the drilling of an oil well in Petrolia, politicians are reluctant to follow the lead Ont ,. followed the next year by another in of Mr . Ford and tell their publics the true Pennsylvania . In the book’s final chapter, story: The days of cheap oil are behind us . the author asks this open-ended question: Further, the convergence of the security, Who will consume the last barrel of oil? environmental and economic implications The author suggests that market forces of the oil trade should force the world to alone should not be allowed to dictate the pause and take stock, but the generally answer because oil corporations work for stoic responses from corporate titans and short-term goals such as quarterly results political leaders convey a sense of busi- and maximizing shareholder value rather ness as usual . than stewarding one of humanity’s most Our selection of books incorporates the precious resources . theme of why oil has provoked more wars and the spilling of more blood than gold, Jay Hakes, A Declaration of Energy diamonds or even water . Independence, John Wiley and Sons, 2008, 252 pages James Laxer, Oil, Groundwood Books, Seeing the world through the lens of memory, but the author warns that the 2008, 145 pages an American policy-maker, Dr . Hakes “panic factor” continues to rule gasoline This book by long-time writer and agrees with Mr . Laxer that the big oil cor- prices . The fact that oil supplies can be cut professor of political science at York Uni- porations cannot be the sole arbiters of the off at several strategic choke points such versity offers a largely neutral primer on public good . Given oil’s complicated rela- as the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf why oil occupies a unique geopolitical tionship to the economy, the environment and sections of the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline, space . “Neutral” is important and helpful and national security, the author calls on aggravate the uncertainty, but the author because when it comes to petroleum, it’s the White House to mediate between the adds to the irrationality of it all by linking

32 september—october 2008 DELIGHTS|Books

oil revenues with the mayhem of 9/11: allowed to determine oil policy . He con- “Without money derived ultimately from tends that the $200 billion invested so far oil, the terrorists could not have struck ”. in tar sands development has not under- gone rigorous environmental, economic or Andrew Nikiforuk, The Tar Sands: social analysis, and aims his most damn- Dirty Oil and the Future of a Continent, ing assertions at the Alberta government . Douglas & McIntyre, 2008, 217 pages Mr . Nikiforuk agrees with other experts This book could have an impact on (the New York Times’ Thomas Friedman, the discourse surrounding this country’s among others) who have postulated that petroleum resources and Canada’s emer- there is an inverse relationship between gence as an “energy superpower” and the price of oil and the quality of democ- the supplier of choice to the Americans . racy in a producing state . This is as true of A provocative writer from Calgary, Mr . Alberta as it is for Azerbaijan . Nikiforuk’s thesis can be summed up in “Oil hinders democracy and corrupts these dire words: “The world’s cheapest the political process through the absence and cleanest oil has been consumed . The of transparent reporting and clear fiscal reality of depletion now demands the accounting . Alberta, a classic petro state, mining of the dirtiest ”. has one of the least accountable govern- The cost of extracting oil from the tar ments in Canada as well as the lowest sands makes it the most expensive fossil voter turnout . Canada increasingly be- fuel mined anywhere on earth . It is three haves like an impervious Middle Eastern times as costly as conventional oil, with state .” Most Canadians would disagree, the author estimating the production cost pares the operation to “burning a Picasso but one cannot help finishing the book at around $32 a barrel . It requires burning for heat ”. with an involuntary “Ouch!” costly natural gas, pumping millions of Mr . Nikiforuk offers compelling evi- litres of precious fresh water, and laying dence to buttress the argument made by George Abraham is Diplomat’s contrib- waste a landscape by excavating enor- both Dr . Hakes and Mr . Laxer, that lais- uting editor . mous amounts of earth . The writer com- sez-faire company executives cannot be

diplomat and international canada 33 DELIGHTS|ENTERTAINING

Back to the basics: Gourmet shortcuts

nyone who cooks has a few and confident in the Avocado Crêpe Rolls tricks for getting the job done kitchen, and more com- Makes 12 rolls (six hors d’oeuvre servings) Amore quickly and with greater fortable about enter- confidence . They may be as simple as taining with more time 1 avocado, ripe (about 9 oz or 250 g) buying pre-chopped garlic in oil, relying available to spend with 12 prepared crêpes (diameter: 4 1/2 on commercial sauces and rubs, or add- their guests . inches or 11 cm) ing a package of this or that to boost the Of course, for many 1 to 1 1/2 tsp (5 to 8 mL) lemon juice flavour . My trick is my inventory of basic of my basic recipes, a 1/4 cup (60 mL) sour cream recipes . Margaret commercial product 2 tbsp (30 mL) Zesty Ginger Mayonnaise Dickenson Perhaps the most frequent question exists and is readily (recipe follows) or plain mayonnaise I am asked is, "Do you cook this way available at local supermarkets . A number 1 tbsp (15 mL) black or red caviar (e .g ., everyday"? My response is always the of readers may have their own versions well-drained lumpfish roe), optional same "Yes, but I never start cooking for at least some of these recipes . 3/4 tsp (4 mL) maple syrup from scratch thanks to my supply of in- I should add that I also keep on hand dispensable basic recipes which can be supplies of other frequently used ingre- 1 . Cut avocado in half, remove stone and prepared in advance in small pockets of dients which do take a few minutes to peel carefully . Cut avocado lengthwise time .” prepare . For example, chopped fresh gar- into 12 thin wedges; bathe lightly in These simple recipes include both sa- lic, chopped and/or toasted nuts are kept lemon juice and set aside . voury and sweet items . Most may be kept in air-tight containers in the refrigerator; 2 . Immediately, lay out crêpes on a clean on hand for weeks or months if appro- grated fresh gingerroot, lemon and orange flat surface . Spread central and bottom priately stored in the refrigerator, freezer zest are in the freezer; chopped ginger in areas of each crêpe with sour cream (1 or a cool dry cupboard . Indeed, open syrup and crushed black peppercorns are tsp or 5 mL) and a touch of Zesty Ginger my refrigerator door and you’ll find a stored in a kitchen cupboard . Mayonnaise (1/2 tsp or 3 mL) . Place one variety of mayonnaises, and vinaigrettes, So, there’s my secret . I never start cook- wedge of avocado in a horizontal posi- chutneys, chocolate cups, balsamic red ing from scratch . My avocado crêpe rolls tion near bottom edge of crêpe; sprinkle wine drizzle, caramel, butterscotch and use two basic recipes – crêpe batter and central area of avocado with caviar (1/4 a slew of other sauces, all ready to be zesty ginger mayonnaise . tsp or 1 mL) and drizzle with a few drops called into service when required . In my Bon Appétit! (i .e ., 1/16 tsp or 0 .3 mL) of maple syrup . freezer, you’ll find small, air-tight, plastic containers standing in tall, long rows, and filled with garlic butter, herb cream cheese, pesto, cooked wild and sushi rice, crêpe batter and even lightly spiced flour for dusting meat . Pastry shells/disks/ squares are kept in a cool dry basement cupboard . These recipes can be used indepen- dently or as a component of other reci- pes, adding flavour and a professional touch . Without these basic recipes at my fingertips, even everyday meal prepara- tion for two (never mind entertaining dozens) would be a bit of a hassle . My basic recipes keep me relaxed, organized and enable me to serve an exciting meal as easily as something more ordinary . These recipes are also versatile . For example, the crêpe batter can be used to make sweet or savoury crêpe recipes from my breakfast crêpes to ice-cream stuffed dessert crêpes, to blinis with caviar, avocado rolls, or pancake coins with goat kenson Dic

Y

cheese and sun-dried tomatoes . RR A A number of friends, colleagues and L readers have adopted this trick . They Margaret Dickenson’s avocado crêpe rolls use two basic recipes. admit to having become more efficient

34 september—october 2008 DELIGHTS|ENTERTAINING

3 . Starting from bottom edge, roll crêpe securely around avocado wedge to form a Besfobmjof!pg!epxoupxo/!Tfsfojuz!pg!b!tvjuf/ roll . Arrange rolls with seam-side down . 4 . If not serving immediately, place rolls in an airtight plastic container and store ¦!!Epxoupxo!mpdbujpo-!dmptf!up!tipqt!'!buusbdujpot! refrigerated for up to three hours . ¦!!Tqbdjpvt!tvjuft!xjui!gvmm!ljudifot-!fotvjuf!mbvoesz! ¦!!Gjuoftt!dfousf!xjui!joepps!qppm-!fyfsdjtf!sppn! To make 1/4 cup (50 mL) of Zesty Ginger ¦!!Dpnqmjnfoubsz!35.ipvs!cvtjoftt!dfousf ¦!!Gsff!mpdbm!dbmmt!'!xjsfmftt!ijhi.tqffe!Joufsofu Mayonnaise, mix together thoroughly 1/4 cup (50 mL) of mayonnaise, 1 teaspoon Jefbm!gps!tipsu!boe!mpoh!ufsn!tubzt" (5 mL) of peeled and grated fresh ginger- root, and 1/3 teaspoon (2 mL) granulated sugar . Store refrigerated . Sftfswf!po.mjof;!xxx/mft.tvjuft/dpn!!0!!!241!Cfttfsfs!Tusffu!¦!724.343.3111!¦!2.911.378.2:9:!!!

Buckwheat Crêpe Batter/Crêpes Makes about about five dozen small crêpes

3/4 cup (180 mL) all-purpose flour 3/4 cup (180 mL) buckwheat flour 1/2 tsp (3 mL) salt 1/2 tsp (3 mL) ground ginger 2 cups (500 mL)* milk 1 1/2 tbsp (23 mL) white vinegar 3 large eggs 3 egg yolks EXPERIENCE L'ART DE VIVRE 3 tbsp (45 mL) molasses 3 tbsp (45 mL) butter or margarine, melted

1 . In a large bowl, sift together flours, salt www.signaturesrestaurant.com and ginger . 453 LAURIER AVENUE EAST 2 . In a medium bowl, combine milk and 613.236.2499 vinegar; set aside for about 10 minutes . Add eggs, egg yolks and molasses to milk mixture . Using an electric mixer, beat in- gredients together . 3 . Make a well in centre of dry ingredients and pour in milk mixture; beat to form a smooth batter . Beat in melted butter . Al- low batter to rest refrigerated for at least 30 minutes . 4 . To make crêpes, stir batter thoroughly and spoon 1 tbsp (15 mL) into a preheated non-stick skillet or griddle over medium- low heat . Immediately (i e. ,. before begin- ning another crêpe), using the underside of the spoon, quickly spread batter in a circular motion to form a small crêpe (di- ameter: 4 1/2 inches or 11 cm) . 5 . Cook crêpes until bubbles on surface burst and batter just sets . Using a pancake flipper, carefully peel crêpe from skillet and turn over; cook second side briefly . 6 . Stack cooked crêpes on a plate, cover with wax paper and place in an airtight plastic bag until ready to use . (Refrigerate if not using until later ).

Margaret Dickenson is author of the international award-winning cookbook Margaret’s Table – Easy Cooking & Inspir- ing Entertaining.

diplomat and international canada 35 DELIGHTS|residences

Kuwait couple relish Ottawa River view

Ambassador's residence a Rockcliffe gem

By Margo Roston

The residence of Kuwaiti Ambassador Musaed Al-Haroun and his wife, Fatma Al-Khalifa, includes several sitting areas.

he Ottawa River sparkles below the is amazing and the terrace is gorgeous and dead ahead, the patio . patio, framed by the Gatineau hills it is a new modern home,” he says . “This is the Arab way of building,” says Tbeyond . Looking east, the eye fol- From the street the house is arresting, the ambassador, “with a big hall .” Huge lows the graceful river towards Montreal . an all-white square edifice with brown windows looking out over the patio and And through the trees, there’s a glimpse of marble exterior detailing, a small dome the glorious view, all highlighted by the the historic boathouse at the Ottawa New and a copper roof . A wrought iron fence interior yellow ochre walls, add to the Edinburgh Club . The patio and its vistas and a large circular driveway lead to a light in the foyer . – its black and gold wrought-iron railing grand entrance arch . The home has three large formal with hanging baskets of red petunias, Built by Kuwait’s first ambassador rooms . A comfortable sitting room with its sense of serenity – is one of the most to Canada, Abdulmohsin Al-Duaij, who floral-print drapes and cream-coloured breathtaking spots in the capital . found the property and oversaw the sofas, is highlighted by a large Iranian The Kuwaiti ambassador’s residence on demolition of the existing house, the $4 carpet, a gorgeous counterpoint to the Acacia Lane, a quiet cul-de-sac in Rock- million residence was designed by Mon- furnishings . The carpet belongs to the cliffe, is situated on one of the premier treal architect Armand Dadoun and was couple and came to Kuwait during the locations in town and the house itself is a finished in 1998 . Iranian revolution . strikingly modern building that is a model Arabic influences are obvious from the “It belonged to a Supreme Court judge of elegance and Arabic detail . exterior, and once inside guests are imme- in Iran and had been in his family for 100 Ambassador Musaed Al-Haroun and diately struck by the details . Through the years . He was happy to liberate it,” says his wife, Fatma Al-Khalifa, say their home imposing front door, a large marbled foyer the ambassador . with its spectacular scenery is “one of the with a huge chandelier and tall arches A bright red “smoking room” is another most wonderful parts of the job . The view leads to the main reception rooms and, feature of the reception space, a room for

36 september—october 2008 DELIGHTS|residences

Clockwise from top: Kuwaiti Ambassador Musaed Al-Haroun and his wife, Fatma Al-Khalifa; an elabo- rate table in the Kuwaiti residence; the view of the Ottawa River from the home on Acacia Lane is unparalleled. relaxing and chatting . “But we can’t call two sons attending high school in Ot- it a smoking room any more,” laughs the tawa and two daughters studying in the ambassador . U .S ., just as their father did many years The dining room with its four crystal ago . The house is managed by a staff that chandeliers dominates the western side of includes two housekeepers, a chef and a the house . Covered in green wallpaper, the chauffeur . The modern kitchen is hidden recessed ceiling was painted gold by the in the basement and the food is sent up- ambassador’s wife, creating an opulence stairs in a dumbwaiter . highlighted by assorted gold-coloured When they entertain, there is often pieces of objets d’arts collected by Ms . Al- Arab food on the menu, mostly classic rice Khalifa and arranged on sideboards and dishes with lamb, and sometimes chicken on the large table . She ordered some of or fish . Some are specialties from Ms . Al- the pieces from Mexico, some she painted Khalifa’s home country of Bahrain . They herself . Her dining room table is covered can easily entertain 60 guests for dinner . with a gold hand-embroidered tablecloth, When the family goes back home to specially ordered from Damascus, Syria . Kuwait, where they are building a house “I had to send it back twice,” she says, for their retirement, it’s a safe bet their Ot- “before it came back perfect .” tawa home and its view will always have Besides its formal reception rooms, the a place in their hearts . house has four bedrooms for the family and three staff bedrooms . The couple has Margo Roston is Diplomat's culture editor .

diplomat and international canada 37 DELIGHTS|WINE

It’s not easy being pink

h, poor rosé . Often dismissed When it comes to and rarely taken seriously, no pairing them with Aother style of wine encounters as food, rosés are ver-

s much prejudice or disregard . Yet hardly satile . Even potential any other style of wine captures bright wine nemeses like

e t freshness, seductive fruit and liveliness of eggs, complex salads

v n character in a single glass . Only a handful or dishes influenced of wines complement as wide a variety by Chinese and Indian

l of foods . Even fewer are as no-nonsense Pieter cuisines will find a

a Van den Weghe

i E tasty on a warm day . And no other wine great dance partner in is as pretty . a rosé . Myself, I like ec Rosé wines are essentially white wines rosé with tartare and, believe it or not,

Sp made with red grapes . The best examples grilled cheese sandwiches . have the crisp freshness of a white and the For a Canadian rosé wine, I always look depth of flavour of a red . forward to the release of Malivoire’s Lady- a There are three ways to make still rosé bug . Year after year, this Niagara winery wine . While it is also possible to create consistently crafts one of the best rosés in rosé by blending white and red wines, this Canada, and the 2007 is a stunner . Made ental.c practice is mostly used for creating pink mostly of Cabernet Franc with a dose of champagne and sparkling wine . Gamay Noir, this wine is brimming with Producing a very pale rosé involves strawberry, rhubarb, and maraschino pressing grapes to free their juice and cherry aromas and flavours . At $16, it’s

.partytimer immediately fermenting that juice as you a steal . Other great producers of rosé in would with a white wine . Though there Niagara include Angels Gate Winery and

www is little contact with skins of the grapes, Flat Rock Cellars . 613.745.9400 a small amount of pigment is carried off Besides Ontario, there are fresh and by the juice to make a delicately coloured delicate Cabernet Franc rosés in France’s wine . These rosés are known as vin gris . Loire region, but, for examples with CALLIGRAMMES The similar saignée (‘to bleed’) method greater depth, head south for the Tavels Galerie d’art moderne et contemporain Modern and contemporary art gallery is the second way to create a rosé wine . and Liracs of France’s Rhône Valley . If 21 Murray, Ottawa, ON, K1N 9M5 Tel./Fax: 613 241.4732 www.calligrammes.com [email protected] This is a useful tool for winemakers to you’re eating rich meat dishes and it’s too increase the skin-to-juice ratio especially hot to drink big reds, these are perfect . after heavy rains occur before harvest and Made from Grenache, they possess a com- the grapes are swollen with too much wa- manding presence and intensity of flavour ter . Here, juice is siphoned off the macerat- rarely seen in other rosés . Though a tad ing skins and pulp, and these bleedings pricier, they’re worth it . For my money, I are fermented separately to create a rosé . recommend Château d’Aqueria . This technique allows for two wines from If it’s value you’re after, check out rosés a single harvest: a charming rosé and a (rosato) from Italy and rosado from Spain . red wine that would otherwise have been Italian rosés from the northeast tend to be weak and lacking depth of flavour . delicate while their southern counterparts The third method is clinically known are richer and gutsier . Spanish rosés come Malgosia Chelkowska, Brown Forest with Yellow Patches, (2007), pastels, 18’’x 23’’, detail as “abbreviated red wine vinification .” mostly from Navarra and Rioja and are Here, the juice remains in contact with usually made with Grenache . Apartment living the crushed grapes for between eight and California, meanwhile, is partly respon- made easy 72 hours depending on grape variety and sible for anti-rosé feelings thanks to its the wishes of the winemaker . For instance, liquid candy known as White Zinfandel . vertica.ca in St-Saturnin in the south of France, the Look to Californian producers like Randall juice traditionally stays in contact for a Graham’s Bonny Doon who make a great single night, leading to the obvious but rosé called Vin Gris de Cigare . still romantic name, vin d’une nuit or ‘wine Though summer is over, there’ll no of one night .’ With modern winemaking doubt be a few more warm evenings to technology and precise temperature con- enjoy a bottle of rosé . Brave wine drink- trol, winemakers can now prolong this ers, willing to stand out, will be rewarded period of juice and skin contact while still when they pick a good one . being able to create wine that is fresh and vibrant in style . Most quality rosés are cre- Pieter Van den Weghe is the sommelier at ated this way . Beckta dining & wine .

38 september—october 2008 CANADIANA|DELIGHTS

William Jackman, Legendary Canadian Hero

By Laura Neilson Bonikowsky

istory and legend have much in around his waist, say, she lived only long enough to kiss common . History refers to events swam to the boat Jackman goodbye . Hof the past . Legend is based on and tied the other The British Royal Humane Society reality, with the drama and pathos en- end to the rail . With awarded Jackman a silver medal . He died hanced over time . At the intersection of the rope and rescu- in 1877, aged 39, because, said many, history and legend reside heroes like Cap- ers’ assistance, he “of the strain his superhuman exertions tain William Jackman, who came to the swam back and forth for over two hours, had placed on his heart ”. The largely un- rescue on October 9, 1867 . rescuing everyone . known Jackman, whom none has “risen to Jackman sailed into Spotted Harbour, He stumbled onto the beach, the record…in immortal verse,” has been re- Labrador ahead of a storm and went hushed crowd watching in disbelief . Jack- membered in a discordant ballad entitled ashore to visit his friend, John Holwell . man was finishing some tea when some- “The Man Who Saved the Day” and by After their “mug-up” they walked along one said a person was missing, the cook Canada Post’s “Legendary Heroes” series the coast despite the gale blowing up . of the Loon, who had been injured in the in 1992 . Labrador City’s Captain William Hearing a gunshot, they rushed up a hill collision with the Clipper . Jackman rushed Jackman Memorial Hospital commemo- and spotted a fishing schooner, the Sea into the towering waves for the 27th time, rates him . Clipper, floundering on a reef 150 metres against the crowd’s objections; the woman A daring man, a desperate situation, (500 feet) from shore . Some versions of was probably dead . heroic deeds—the stuff of legend . And the story report 365 metres (400 yards) . On board, he found her lying in water . history . Jackman and Holwell could see crew and Some stories place her in her berth, about passengers at the rail, or clinging to the to expire . Jackman brought her to shore, Laura Neilson Bonikowsky is the associ- shrouds, depending on the storyteller . but she died two days later . Or, you could ate editor of The Canadian Encyclopedia . It is evident where history becomes leg- end — it is unlikely they could see anyone aboard a boat 300 metres away through the rain and crashing waves of a brutal storm at night . But this is the stuff of leg- end . There were reputedly 27 people crowded aboard, for the ill-fated Clip- per had run down another boat, the Loon, earlier and taken the vessel’s complement aboard before the Loon sank . Holwell ran for help . Jackman kept watch, knowing the impossibility of a life- boat reaching the schooner before it broke up in the vicious storm . Impulsively shed- ding his clothes, he rushed into the frigid water . He tried to swim, but the waves pushed him back . He swam underwater, surfacing to breathe . Taking the first man on his back, he turned shoreward, the waves helping him reach shore . Plunging into the raging surf on i ss i

again and again, Jackman rescued 11 by m r the time Holwell returned with help . Pe

In some versions of the story, Jackman, with ed alone on the beach, guided by fisher’s in- uc od stinct, saw the ship . Knowing that none pr knew its fate, he determined to save the desperate souls clinging to the luckless on {1992}. Re ti a vessel, and sent the first rescued man for r o help . rp Co The dory the rescuers brought was t useless in the rough sea . They tied coils of rope together . Jackman tied one end © Canada Pos

diplomat and international canada 39 DELIGHTS|envoy’s album

1. 2.

5. 3.

4. THIS PAGE 1. Walt Natynczyk, the new chief of defence staff, was installed July 2. • 2. The diplo- matic corps, including (from left) Slovenian Ambassador Tomax Kunstelj, Swiss Ambassador Werner Baumann, Kenyan High Commissioner Judith Bahemuka, Algerian Ambassador Smail Benamara, Ukrainian counselor Igor Kyzym and Zimbabwean Ambassador Florence Chideya, attended his instal- lation. (Photos: Lois Siegel) • 3. House of Commons Speaker Peter Milliken hosted his annual dip- lomatic reception in Kingston in June. A cocktail reception was held at Fort Henry National Historic Site followed by a barbeque at the Royal Military College. Shown from left: Mr. Milliken, Bosnian Ambassador Milenko Misic, Serbian Chargé d’Affaires Dusan Vujacic, British High Commissioner An- thony Joyce Cary and a Fort Henry guard. • 4. Mohamed Taouzri, of Montreal, served Moroccan tea at Ambassador Mohamed Tangi’s national day reception July 30. (Photo: Ulle Baum) • 5. Honduran Ambassador Beatriz Valle attended U.S. Ambassador David Wilkins and his wife Susan’s 4th of July party. (Photo: Frank Scheme)

40 september—october 2008 envoy’s album|DELIGHTS

1. 2.

3.

4.

5.

THIS PAGE 1. Italian Ambassador Gabriele Sardo hosted his annual fundraiser in support of Opera Lyra June 25. Guests ate fresh parmesan cheese, drank Italian wine and enjoyed the music of performers in the opera company (Photo: Frank Scheme) • 2. Early Music Ensemble of Kiili (Estonia) performed at the University of Ottawa July 9th for Estonia’s 90th anniversary. (Photo: Ulle Baum) • 3. Croatian Ambassador Vesela Mrden Korac and her husband, Marko, hosted a national day reception June 10. Shown: Mr. and Mrs. Korac with Deepak Obhrai, left, parliamentary secretary for foreign affairs. (Photo: Bruce MacRae) • 4. Argentine Ambassador Arturo and Maria Angélica Bothamley took part in a private polo game at the club of Kim and David Levy July 26. (Photo: Frank Scheme) • 5. U.S. Ambassador David Wilkins and his wife, Susan, share a kiss before several thousand guests arrived at their final 4th of July party in Canada. (Photo: Frank Scheme)

diplomat and international canada 41 DIGNITARIES|NEW ARRIVALS

New Heads of Mission

Louis Léon Boguy Bony with a master’s in international relations Ambassador of Cote d’Ivoire from the University of London in 1989 . For the following several years, he was a counselor at embassies in London and Brus- sels before being named a human rights advisor to the secretary of state for justice in 1997 . Two years later, he became a dip- lomatic advisor to the minister of defence . In September 2004, he became political counselor at the United Nations’ political department in New York where he stayed until 2006 . For the past two years, he’s been at the ministry, working as director-general on the Africa desk . Mr . Anguilé is married and has four chil- Since then, she’s worked in several areas dren . He speaks French, English, and Ger- including the political, protocol, ASEAN man . and consular affairs departments, the Mr . Bony was at university for 10 years, APEC national secretariat, and the APEC studying economics, law, history, and Iyorwuese Hagher logistics secretariat . She was involved in political science, obtaining a master’s and High Commissioner for Nigeria the establishment of the policy planning other post-graduate certification, before department . he became an instructor at the Université She was posted as second secretary to de Paris in 1986 . Also in Paris, he worked the high commission in London from 1990 briefly for UNESCO and a young Africans to 1993 and as first secretary to the high group before joining the ministry of for- commission in Malaysia from 1994 to 1999 . eign affairs in 1989 . She was then posted as minister-counsellor Since then, he’s held various positions, at the embassy in China . including working on the Europe desk, Ms . Lamit has a bachelor degree in South advising the cabinet, and working on the East Asian studies and social anthropology diplomatic affairs desk . In 2000, he became from the University of Kent at Canterbury a technical consultant to the president and where she studied from 1982 to 1985 . stayed on as advisor to his successor . He Ms . Lamit, 48, is single and has an ad- was given the rank of ambassador in 2004 . opted daughter . Most recently, he’s worked as a special ad- visor to a third president, in charge of dip- Massoud Maalouf lomatic affairs . Ambassador of Lebanon Mr . Bony is married . He speaks English Dr . Hagher is a scholar, poet and play- and French . wright . Over his varied career, he’s also served as a senator, cabinet minister and André William Anguilé – more recently – diplomat . Ambassador of Gabon Dr . Hagher taught leadership studies at St . Clements University . His political career was a successful one as he was an elected senator at the age of 33, after which he served twice as a cabinet minister, once as minister of health and once as minister of power and steel . For a year beginning in 1995, he was also a participant in the consti- tutional conference that formed the current constitution . The envoy studied English and dramatic arts at Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria, Mr . Maalouf joined the ministry of foreign and eventually obtained a PhD . Prior to affairs in 1972 after three years of working this assignment, he had been ambassador for the government . His first posting came to Mexico, Costa Rica, Guatemala and Pan- immediately and for the next five years, ama . he worked at the embassy in Nigeria . That was followed by two years at the consul- This is Mr . Anguilé’s first posting as am- Rakiah Haji Abdul Lamit ate-general in Montreal and later postings bassador . The career diplomat joined the High Commissioner for Brunei Darussalam to Tunisia, the Holy See and Washington ministry of foreign affairs after graduating Ms . Lamit joined the civil service in 1985 . before he was appointed as ambassador

42 september—october 2008 NEW ARRIVALS | DIGNITARIES

Martina Kriemhilde Brink-Bauer, Attaché Reinold Hugo Herber, Attaché to Chile in 1995 . He was ambassador to Rainer Bauer, Attaché Poland in 2003 and non-resident ambas- Helmut Peter Finger, Counsellor sador to Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia at Greece the same time . Georgios Galanos, Defence Attaché Positions he held at headquarters in- Guatemala cluded director of protocol, director of Arab Federico Jose Urruela Arenales, First Secretary affairs in the political and consular depart- Hungary ment and director of economic affairs . Tamas Kiraly, Deputy Head Of Mission Mr . Maalouf, 62, has a master’s degree in economics from Saint Joseph University and India Narinder Chauhan, Deputy High Commissioner speaks Arabic, French, English and Spanish . He is married and has two children . Indonesia Bambang Mulyanto, Deputy Head Of Mission

Jorge Castaneda sor in the same office . In this capacity, he Iran Ambassador of Peru represented Cameroon at several interna- Bahram Ghasemi, Chargé D’affaires tional conferences including at the United Israel Nations, Afr ican Union, Commonwealth Eyal Ben Ary, Counsellor and the Francophonie . Jamaica Mr . Azoh-Mbi studied international re- Georgette Novelet Smith, Attaché lations at the International Relations Insti- Japan tute of Cameroon between 1982 and 1985 . Akiko Muramoto, Third Secretary Prior to that, he studied at the University of Hiroaki Kodama, First Secretary Yaounde, where he received a bachelor de- Jordan gree in history and sociology . Mo’ath A.S. Al Zo’ubi, Third Secretary The career diplomat, 50, is married and Kazakhstan has four children . Zhanbulat Murzalin, Second Secretary Adilzhan Ruziyev, Second Secretary

Mexico Non-Heads of Mission Alberto Lozano Merino, Counsellor Mongolia Amartuvshin Gombosuren, Second Secretary Algeria Ali Iguerguigui, First Secretary Mr . Castaneda’s posting in Ottawa rep- Netherlands El Mouloud Bousbia, Minister-Counsellor resents a return for the career diplomat . Erik Boer, Deputy Head Of Mission Australia While his former wife was posted in Ot- New Zealand Jason Dean Gallagher, First Secretary Mark Roger Smith, Counsellor tawa in 1991, he came along and did a Dorothy Harvey, First Secretary master’s degree in international relations Saudi Arabia Bangladesh Mohsen Marei H. Alshmlany, Attaché at Carleton University . At the time, mar- Monirul Islam, Deputy High Commissioner ried couples couldn’t work at the same Serbia Bolivia mission . Branimir Filipovic, Minister-Counsellor Claudia Maria Alexis Rocabado Mrden, First Secretary Mr . Castaneda, 59, joined the ministry in Sierra Leone Brazil 1970 and his first posting, to Poland, came Rasie Binta Kargbo, Minister-Counsellor Julio Cesar Ferreira Da Silva Junior, Counsellor two years later . Subsequent postings have Saspo Ibrahim Sankoh, First Secretary Bulgaria included the former Soviet Union, United Spain Rumyana Yordanova, Third Secretary States (Houston), Uruguay, Ecuador, Bolivia Ignacio Sanchez De Lerin Garcia-Ovies, Deputy Head Of Mission and Argentina before he returned to Poland Chad Francisco Javier Cuchi Oterino, Counsellor as minister in 1996 and as ambassador three Naimbaye Yelke Dasnan, Attaché Tchouli Gombo, First Secretary Switzerland years later . He also served as ambassador N-Bashir Nurane, Counsellor Bernadette Maria Hurschler, First Secretary to Thailand . The envoy has held numerous Martin Zbinden, Attaché Chile positions at headquarters including director Hector Luis Vera Rivas, Attaché Trinidad And Tobago of human resources in 1995 and undersecre- Patricia Goodridge, Attaché China tary of administration in 2007 . Wenxiong Yang, Third Secretary Tunisia He is married and has four children . Xinyu Zhang, Second Secretary Raoudha Hosni, Attaché Mei Wang, Second Secretary Anu’a-Gheyle Solomon Azoh-Mbi United States Of America Colombia Jeffrey Todd Cooper, Attaché High Commissioner for Cameroon Cesar Felipe Gonzalez Hernandez, Minister-Counsellor Alan Eric Greenfield, Minister-Counsellor Kurt Frederick Van Der Walde, First Secretary Mr . Azoh-Mbi started his diplomatic career Cuba Ricardo Anthony Scheller, Attaché Manuel Rosendo Peterssen Jimenez, Attaché in 1985 as a diplomat in litigations service . James Lawrence Mc Cauley, Coast Guard Attaché Donna Marie Barbano, Attaché Three years later he moved on to work as France Robin Ann Tilsworth, Minister-Counsellor deputy service head for official visits in Simon Robert Moulie, Minister-Counsellor Theresa Cardinal Brown, Attaché the department of protocol . In 1991, he be- Germany Vietnam came an advisor at the secretariat general Angelika Sieglinde Andorfer-Eisl, Attaché Hoanh Nam Nguyen, Minister-Counsellor and four years later, he was a senior advi- Anja Barbara Plagenz, Third Secretary

diplomat and international canada 43 AFGHANISTAN AUSTRIA BENIN BURUNDI His Ex . Omar Samad His Ex . Otto Ditz His Ex . Honoré Ahimakin Her Ex . Appolonie Simbizi Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Embassy of the Republic of Austria Embassy of the Republic of Benin Embassy of the Republic of Burundi Afghanistan 445 Wilbrod Street 58 Glebe Avenue 325 Dalhousie Street, Suite 815 240 Argyle Street Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6M7 Ottawa, Ontario K1S 2C3 Ottawa, Ontario K1N 7G2 Ottawa, Ontario K2P 1B9 TEL 789-1444 FAX 789-3431 TEL 233-4429 FAX 233-8952 TEL 789-0414 FAX 789-9537 TEL 563-4223 FAX 563-4962 Ottawa-ob@bmeia .gv .at ambaben@benin .ca ambabottawa@yahoo .com contact@afghanemb-canada .net http://ambabucanada .le-site .info

c ts con ta www .afghanemb-canada .net AZERBAIJAN BOLIVIA Mr . Farid Shafiyev His Ex . Edgar Torrez Mosqueira CAMEROON ALBANIA Chargé d’Affaires Embassy of the Republic of Bolivia His Ex . Anu’a-Gheyle Azoh-Mbi His Ex . Besnik Konci Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan 130 Albert Street, Suite 416 High Commission for the Republic Embassy of the Republic of Albania 275 Slater Street, Suite 904-C Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5G4 of Cameroon 130 Albert Street, Suite 302 Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5H9 TEL 236-5730 FAX 236-8237 170 Clemow Avenue Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5G4 TEL 288-0497 FAX 230-8089 embolivia04@yahoo .com Ottawa, Ontario K1S 2B4 TEL 236-4114 FAX 236-0804 TEL 236-1522 FAX 236-3885 embassyofalbania@on .aibn .com BAHAMAS BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA His Ex . Michael D . Smith His Ex . Milenko Misic CHILE ALGERIA High Commission for The Embassy of Bosnia and Herzegovina His Ex . Eugenio Ortega Riquelme His Ex . Smail Benamara Commonwealth of The Bahamas 130 Albert Street, Suite 805 Embassy of the Republic of Chile Embassy of the People’s Democratic 50 O’Connor Street, Suite 1313 Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5G4 50 O’Connor Street, Suite 1413 Republic of Algeria Ottawa, Ontario K1P 6L2 TEL 236-0028 FAX 236-1139 Ottawa, Ontario K1P 6L2 500 Wilbrod Street TEL . 232-1724 FAX 232-0097 embassyofbih@bellnet .ca TEL 235-9940 FAX 235-1176 Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6N2 ottawa-mission@bahighco .com www .bhembassy .ca echileca@chile .ca TEL 789-8505 FAX 789-1406 www .chile .ca diplomatic www.embassyalgeria.ca/eng.htm BANGLADESH BRAZIL His Ex . A .M . Yakub Ali His Ex . Paulo Cordeiro Pinto CHINA ANGOLA High Commission for the People’s Embassy of the Federative Republic His Ex . Lijun Lan His Ex . Miguel Maria N . Puna Republic of Bangladesh of Brazil Embassy of the People’s Republic Embassy of the Republic of Angola 275 Bank Street, Suite 302 450 Wilbrod Street of China 189 Laurier Avenue East Ottawa, Ontario K2P 2L6 Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6M8 515 St . Patrick Street Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6P1 TEL 236-0138 FAX 567-3213 TEL 237-1090 FAX 237-6144 Ottawa, Ontario K1N 5H3 TEL 234-1152 FAX 234-1179 bangla@rogers .com mailbox@brasembottawa .org TEL . 789-3434 FAX 789-1911 info@embangola-can .org www .bdhc .org www .chinaembassycanada .org www .embangola-can .org BRUNEI DARUSSALAM BARBADOS Her Ex . Rakiah Haji Abdul Lamit COLOMBIA ARGENTINA His Ex . Edward Evelyn Greaves High Commission for Brunei His Ex . Jaime Giron-Duarte His Ex . Arturo Bothamley High Commission for Barbados Darussalam . Embassy of the Republic of Colombia Embassy of the Argentine Republic 55 Metcalfe St., Suite 470 395 Laurier Avenue East 360 Albert Street, Suite 1002 81 Metcalfe Street 7th Floor Ottawa, Ontario, K1P 6L5 Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6R4 Ottawa, Ontario K1R 7X7 Ottawa, Ontario K1P 6K7 TEL 236-9517 FAX 230-4362 TEL 234-5656 FAX 234-4397 TEL 230-3760 FAX 230-4416 TEL 236-2351 FAX 235-2659 ottawa@foreign .gov .bb bhco@bellnet .ca embajada@embajadacolombia .ca embargentina@argentina-canada .net www .embajadacolombia .ca www .argentina-canada .net BELARUS BULGARIA Mr . Pavel Pustovoy His Ex. Evgueni Stoytchev CONGO (ZAIRE) ARMENIA Chargé d’Affaires Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria Ms . Louise Nzanga Ramazani Mr . Arman Akopian Embassy of the Republic of Belarus 325 Stewart Street Chargé d’Affaires Chargé d’Affaires 130 Albert Street, Suite 600 Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6K5 Embassy of the Democratic Republic Embassy of the Republic of Armenia Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5G4 TEL 789-3215 FAX 789-3524 of the Congo 7 Delaware Avenue TEL 233-9994 FAX 233-8500 18 Range Road Ottawa, Ontario K2P 0Z2 belamb@igs .net BURKINA FASO Ottawa, Ontario K1N 8J3 TEL 234-3710 FAX 234-3444 Her Ex . Juliette Bonkoungou TEL 230-6391 FAX 230-1945 embottawa@rogers .com BELGIUM Embassy of Burkina Faso www .armembassycanada .ca His Ex . Jean Lint 48 Range Road COSTA RICA Embassy of Belgium Ottawa, Ontario K1N 8J4 Her Ex . Emilia Maria Alvarez AUSTRALIA 360 Albert Street, Suite 820 TEL 238-4796 FAX 238-3812 Navarro His Ex . William Fisher Ottawa, Ontario K1R 7X7 burkina .faso@sympatico .ca Embassy of the Republic of Costa Rica Australian High Commission TEL 236-7267 FAX 236-7882 www .ambaburkina-canada .org 325 Dalhousie Street, Suite 407 50 O’Connor, Suite 710 Ottawa@diplobel .org Ottawa, Ontario K1N 7G2 Ottawa, Ontario K1P 6L2 www .diplomatie .be/ottawa TEL . 562-2855 FAX 562-2582 TEL 236-0841 FAX 236-4376 embcrica@travel-net .com www .canada .embassy .gov .au www .costaricaembassy .com

­

44 | EMBASSIES | HIGH COMMISSIONS ‑ | OTHER INTERNATIONAL REPRESENTATIVES september—october 2008 CÔTE D’IVOIRE Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5E7 GUATEMALA INDONESIA His Ex . Louis Leon Boguy Bony TEL . 234-3989 FAX 234-6213 Embassy of the Republic of His Ex . Djoko Hardono Embassy of the Republic of Guatemala Embassy of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire ESTONIA 130 Albert Street, Suite 1010 Indonesia 9 Marlborough Avenue Rasmus Lumi Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5G4 55 Parkdale Avenue Ottawa, Ontario K1N 8E6 Chargé d’Affaires TEL . 233-7237 FAX 233-0135 Ottawa, Ontario K1Y 1E5 TEL . 236-9919 FAX 563-8287 Embassy of the Republic of Estonia embassy1@embaguate-canada .com TEL . 724-1100 FAX 724-1105 acica@ambaci-ottawa .org 260 Dalhousie Street, Suite 210 www .embaguate-canada .com info@indonesia-ottawa .org www .ambaci-ottawa .org Ottawa, Ontario K1N 7E4 www .indonesia-ottawa .org c ts con ta TEL . 789-4222 FAX 789-9555 GUINEA CROATIA embassy .ottawa@mfa .ee Mrs . Hawa Diakité IRAN Her Ex . Vesela Mrden Kora´c www .estemb .ca Counsellor & Chargé d’Affaires Mr . Bahram Ghasemi Embassy of the Republic of Croatia Embassy of the Republic of Guinea Chargé d’Affaires 229 Chapel Street ETHIOPIA 483 Wilbrod Street Embassy of the Islamic Ottawa, Ontario K1N 7Y6 Embassy of the Federal Democratic Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6N1 Republic of Iran TEL . 562-7820 FAX 562-7821 Republic of Ethiopia TEL . 789-8444 FAX 789-7560 245 Metcalfe Street Croatia .emb@mvpei .hr 151 Slater Street, Suite 210 ambassadedeguinee@bellnet .ca Ottawa, Ontario K2P 2K2 www .croatiaemb .net Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5H3 TEL . 235-4726 FAX 232-5712 TEL . 235-6637 FAX 235-4638 GUYANA iranemb@salamiran .org CUBA infoethi@magi .com His Ex . Rajnarine Singh www .salamiran .org Embassy of the Republic of Cuba www .ethiopia .ottawa .on .ca High Commission for the Republic 388 Main Street of Guyana IRAQ Ottawa, Ontario K1S 1E3 EUROPEAN UNION 151 Slater Street, Suite 309 His Ex . Howar M . Ziad TEL . 563-0141 FAX 563-0068 His . Ex . Dorian Prince Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5H3 Embassy of the Republic of Iraq cuba@embacuba .ca Delegation of the European TEL . 235-7249 FAX 235-1447 215 McLeod Street www .embacuba .ca Commission to Canada Ottawa, Ontario K2P 0Z8 diplomatic 150 Metcalfe St . #1900 HAITI TEL . 236-9177 FAX 236-9641 CZECH REPUBLIC Ottawa, ON K2P1P1 Ms . Marie Nathalie Menos-Gissel media@iraqembassy .ca Mr . Stanislav Benes TEL . 238-6464 FAX 238-5191 Chargé d’Affaires www .iraqembassy .ca Chargé d’Affaires delegation-canada@ec .europa .eu Embassy of the Republic of Haiti Embassy of the Czech Republic www .delcan .ec .europa .eu 130 Albert Street, Suite 1500 IRELAND 251 Cooper Street Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5G4 His Ex . Declan Kelly Ottawa, Ontario K2P 0G2 FINLAND TEL . 238-1628 FAX 238-2986 Embassy of Ireland TEL . 562-3875 FAX 562-3878 Embassy of the Republic of Finland bohio@sympatico .ca 130 Albert Street, Suite 1105 ottawa@embassy .mzv .cz 55 Metcalfe Street, Suite 850 Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5G4 Ottawa, Ontario K1P 6L5 HOLY SEE TEL . 233-6281 FAX 233-5835 DENMARK TEL . 288-2233 FAX 288-2244 His Ex . The Most Rev . Luigi Ventura Ottawaembassy@dfa .ie His Ex . Poul Erik Dam Kristensen embassy@finland .ca Apostolic Nunciature www .embassyofireland .ca Royal Danish Embassy 724 Manor Avenue 47 Clarence Street, Suite 450 FRANCE Ottawa, Ontario K1M 0E3 ISRAEL Ottawa, Ontario K1N 9K1 His Ex . Francois Delattre TEL . 746-4914 FAX 746-4786 His Ex . Alan Baker TEL . 562-1811 FAX 562-1812 Embassy of France Embassy of Israel ottamb@um .dk 42 Sussex Drive HONDURAS 50 O’Connor Street, Suite 1005 www .ambottawa .um .dk Ottawa, Ontario K1M 2C9 Her Ex . Beatriz Valle Ottawa, Ontario K1P 6L2 TEL . 789-1795 FAX 562-3735 Embassy of the Republic of TEL . 567-6450 FAX 567-9878 DOMINICAN REPUBLIC www .ambafrance-ca .org Honduras info@ottawa .mfa .gov .il His Ex . Luis Eladio Arias Nunez 151 Slater Street, Suite 805 www .embassyofIsreal .ca Embassy of the Dominican Republic GABON Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5H3 130 Albert Street, Suite 418 His Ex . André William Anguilé TEL . 233-8900 FAX 232-0193 ITALY Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5G4 Embassy of the Gabonese Republic His Ex . Gabriele Sardo TEL . 569-9893 FAX 569-8673 4 Range Road, P .O . Box 368 HUNGARY Embassy of the Italian Republic www .drembassy .org Ottawa, Ontario K1N 8J5 His Ex. Pál Vastagh 275 Slater Street, 21st Floor TEL . 232-5301 FAX 232-6916 Embassy of the Republic of Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5H9 ECUADOR ambgabon@sprint .ca Hungary TEL . 232-2401 FAX 233-1484 Mr . Oscar Felipe Izquierdo Arboleda 299 Waverley Street ambital@italyincanada .com Chargé d’Affaires GERMANY Ottawa, Ontario K2P 0V9 www .italyincanada .com Embassy of the Republic of Ecuador His Ex . Matthias Martin Höpfner TEL . 230-2717 FAX 230-7560 50 O’Connor Street, Suite 316 Embassy of the Federal Republic of www .mfa .gov .hu/emb/ottawa JAMAICA Ottawa, Ontario K1P 6L2 Germany mission .ott@kum .hu Her Ex. Evadne Coye TEL . 563-4286 FAX 235-5776 1 Waverley Street Jamaican High Commission Ottawa, Ontario K2P 0T8 ICELAND 275 Slater Street, Suite 800 EGYPT TEL . 232-1101 FAX 594-9330 Olof Dogg Sigvaldadottir Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5H9 Mrs . Hala Samir El Bishlawy germanembassyottawa@on aibn. com. Chargé d’Affaires TEL . 233-9311 FAX 233-0611 Chargé d’Affaires Embassy of Iceland hc@jhcottawa .ca Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt GHANA 360 Albert Street, Suite 710 454 Laurier Avenue East Her Ex . Margaret Ivy Amoakohene Ottawa, Ontario K1R 7X7 JAPAN Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6R3 High Commission for the Republic TEL . 482-1944 FAX 482-1945 His Ex . Tsuneo Nishida TEL . 234-4931 FAX 234-4398 of Ghana icemb .ottawa@utn .stjr .is Embassy of Japan egyptemb@sympatico .ca 153 Gilmour Street 255 Sussex Drive www.mfa.gov.eg Ottawa, Ontario K2P 0N8 INDIA Ottawa, Ontario K1N 9E6 TEL . 236-0871 FAX 236-0874 His Ex . Rajamani Lakshmi Narayan TEL . 241-8541 FAX 241-2232 EL SALVADOR ghanacom@ghc-ca .com High Commission for the Republic infocul@embjapan .ca His Ex . Rafael Alfaro www .ghc-ca .com of India www .ca .emb-japan .go .jp Embassy of the Republic of El Salvador 10 Springfield Road 209 Kent Street GREECE Ottawa, Ontario K1M 1C9 JORDAN Ottawa, Ontario K2P 1Z8 His . Ex . Nikolaos Matsis TEL . 744-3751 FAX 744-0913 His Ex . Nabil Ali Barto TEL . 238-2939 FAX 238-6940 Embassy of the Hellenic Republic hicomind@hciottawa .ca Embassy of the Hashemite Kingdom embajada@elsalvador-ca .org 80 MacLaren Street, Suite 76 www .hciottawa .ca of Jordan Ottawa, Ontario K2P 0K6 100 Bronson Avenue, Suite 701 Eritrea TEL . 238-6271 FAX 238-5676 Ottawa, Ontario K1R 6G8 His Ex . Ahferom Berhane embassy@greekembassy .ca TEL . 238-8090 FAX 232-3341 Embassy of the State of Eritrea www .greekembassy .ca 75 Albert Street, Suite 610

diplomat and international canada | EMBASSIES | HIGH COMMISSIONS ‑ | OTHER INTERNATIONAL REPRESENTATIVES 45 diplomatic contacts 234-3882 FAX234-3882 TEL .233-1852 5G4 K1P Ontario Ottawa, 1006 Suite Street,130 Albert Macedonia of Republic the of Embassy Nasev Sasko Ex . His OF) (REPUBLIC MACEDONIA FAX567-5458 TEL .567-5315 5G4 K1P Ontario Ottawa, 204 Suite Street,130 Albert Lithuania of Republic the of Embassy Damusis Ginte Ex . Her LITHUANIA info@libya-canada .org FAX230-0919 TEL .230-0683 6K7 K1P Ontario Ottawa, 1000 Suite Street, Metcalfe 81 Jamahiriya Libyan Arab People’s Socialist Great the of Embassy JarrudEx . Ahmed Ali His LIBYA Tel 5G4 K1P ON Ottawa, 1820 Suite Street,130 Albert Lesotho of Kingdom the for Commission High Senyane Mots'eoa Ex . Her LESOTHO www info@lebanonembassy FAX236-5825 TEL .232-1609 3Z5 K1S Ontario Ottawa, Lyon640 Street Lebanon of Embassy Maalouf Massoud Ex . His LEBANON www embassy FAX238-6014 TEL .238-7044 7S8 K1R Ontario, Ottawa, 1200 Suite Street, Sparks 350 Latvia of Republic the of Embassy Mar Ex . His LATVIA FAX780-9999 TEL .780-9905 1J9 K1N Ontario, Ottawa, Drive Sussex 333 Kuwait of State the of Embassy Rashed Musaed Ex . His KUWAIT www FAX244-5010 TEL .244-5034 5A6 K1N Ontario Ottawa, Street Boteler 150 Korea of Republic the of Embassy Kim Soo-dong Ex . His REPUBLIC KOREA, www kenyahighcommission@rogers .com FAX563-1773 TEL .233-6599 6R4 K1N Ontario Ottawa, Laurier Avenue415 East Kenya of Republic the for Commission High Bahemuka Mbula Judith Ex . Her KENYA 46 : 234-0770 : .lebanonembassy .ottawamfagov .emb-korea .ottawaonca .kenyahighcommissionca .canada@mfagov ` gers Krams gers F ax : 234-5665 : .lv .ca .ca Al-Haroun | EMBASSIES

.lv |

HIGH 3 Raymond Street Raymond 3 Madagascar of Republic the of Embassy Horace Constant Simon Ex . His . MADAGASCAR 85 Range Road, Suite 902 Suite Road, Range 85 Myanmar of Union the of Embassy d'AffairesChargé Mr MYANMAR FAX236-7391 TEL .236-6164 8J4 K1N Ontario Ottawa, Road Range 38 Morocco of Kingdom the of Embassy TangiMohamed Ex . His MOROCCO mail@mongolembassy FAX569-3830 TEL .569-3916 5H3 K1P Ontario Ottawa, 503 Suite Street, Slater 151 Mongolia of Embassy Dugerjav Gotov Ex . His MONGOLIA www info@embamexcan .com FAX233-8988 TEL .235-9123 1A4 K1P Ontario Ottawa, 1000 Suite Street, O’Connor 45 States Mexican United the of Embassy Goicoechea Jose Rafael Emilio Ex . His MEXICO www ambassadedumali@rogers .com FAX232-1501 TEL .232-7429 8C8 K1N Ontario Ottawa, Goulburn Avenue50 Mali of Republic the of Embassy Diawara Bandiougou Mamadou Ex . His MALI malottawa@kln .gov FAX241-5182 TEL .241-5214 8Y7 K1N Ontario Ottawa, Street Boteler 60 Malaysia for Commission High Commissioner High Acting Mr MALAYSIA www ambamadcanada@bellnet .ca FAX567-0505 TEL: 567-2882 1A3 K1R Ontario Ottawa, www info@nzhcottawa .org FAX238-5991 TEL .238-5707 6G3 K1P Ontario Ottawa, 727 Suite Street, Bank 99 Commission High Zealand New Lackey Kate Ex . Her ZEALAND NEW Ott-cdp@minbuza .nl FAX237-5030 TEL .237-6471 1A4 K1R Ontario Ottawa, 2020 Suite Street,350 Albert Netherlands the of Kingdom the of Embassy NETHERLANDS meottawa@rogers .com 232-9990 TEL . 8J6 K1N Ontario Ottawa, Maung Maung Maung . Hatimi Abas Mohamed . .

.embamexcancom .ambamalicanadaorg .madagascar-embassy nzembassy COMMISSIONS FAX 232-6999 . com/home .my ‑ .org |

OTHERINTERNATIONAL REPRESENTATIVES .ca . cfm?c=38 www echcc@travel-net .com FAX236-8952 TEL .236-3042 5G4 K1P Ontario Ottawa, 700 Suite Street,130 Albert States Caribbean Eastern of Organization the of Countries the for Commission High BrowneBrendon Ex . His STATES CARIBBEAN EASTERN O/OF www emb .ottawa@mfano FAX238-6571 TEL .238-2765 5B4 K1P Ontario Ottawa, 532 Suite Street, Sparks 90 Norway of Kingdom the of Embassy TorEx . Naess His Berntin NORWAY Tel236-0529 Fax 236-0521 . 1R9 K2P Ontario Ottawa, Street Metcalfe 295 Nigeria of Republic Federal the for Commission High Hagher Iyorwuese Ex . NIGERIA FAX232-4291 TEL .230-9808 8A3 K1N Ontario Ottawa, Blackburn Avenue38 Niger the of Republic the of Embassy Foumakoye Nana Aicha Ex . Her NIGER Brillantes S . Jose Ex . His PHILIPPINES emperuca@bellnet .ca FAX238-1777 TEL .232-3062 5G4 K1P Ontario Ottawa, 1901 Suite Street,130 Albert Peru of Republic the of Embassy HisEx PERU consularsection@embassyofpara FAX567-1283 TEL .567-1679 5H3 K1P Ontario Ottawa, 501 Suite Street, Slater 151 Paraguay of Republic the of Embassy E . Martinez AguirreJuan Ex . His PARAGUAY embassyof panama@gmail FAX236-7177 TEL .236-5775 5G4 K1P Ontario Ottawa, 300 Suite Street,130 Albert Panama of Republic the of Embassy González de Vásquez Romy Ex . Her PANAMA palestinegd@rogers .com FAX:736-0535 736-0053 TEL: 9W1 K1V Ontario Ottawa, Dr Club Country 45 Delegation General the of Head Mr PALESTINE parepottawa@rogers .com FAX238-7881 TEL .238-7296 8J3 K1N Ontario Ottawa, Road Range 10 Pakistan of Republic Islamic the for Commission High Chohan Javed Musa Ex. His. PAKISTAN guay . Amin Abou-Hassira .ca .oecsorg/ottawa/index .html .emb-norway . Jorge Juan Castañeda Mendez .ca ., . com - Georgiy Mamedov Georgiy Ex . His RUSSIA http://ottawa .maero Romania@romanian-embassy FAX789-3709 TEL .789-4365 6A3 K1N Ontario Ottawa, Street Rideau 655 Romania of Embassy Stefoi Elena Ex . Her ROMANIA embportugal@embportugal/ottawaFAX729-0883 TEL .729-4236 0B8 K1Y Ontario Ottawa, Drive Park Island 645 Portugal of Embassy Carvalho Silveira Pedro Joao Ex . His PORTUGAL [email protected] FAX789-0468 TEL .789-1218 6H3 K1N Ontario Ottawa, Daly Avenue443 Poland of Republic the of Embassy Ogrodzinski Piotr Ex . His POLAND embassyofphilippines@rogers .com 233-1121TEL . FAX 233-4165 5G4 K1P Ontario Ottawa, 606 Suite Street,130 Albert Philippines the of Republic the of Embassy Embassy of the Republic of Rwanda of Republic the of Embassy Mukabagwiza Edda Ex . Her RWANDA www rusemb@rogers .com FAX235-4341 TEL .236-6342 8L5 K1N Ontario Ottawa, Street Charlotte 285 Federation Russian the of Embassy www ottawa@slovakembassy FAX749-4442 TEL .749-4989 2A1 K1M Ontario Ottawa, TerraceRideau 50 Republic Slovak the of Embassy Opiela Stanislav Ex . His SLOVAKREPUBLIC www generalinfo@serbianembassy FAX233-6289 TEL .233-7850 8A2 K1N Ontario Ottawa, Blackburn Avenue17 Serbia of Republic the of Embassy Du˘sanEx. His T. Batakovi´c SERBIA ambassn@sympatico .ca FAX238-6392 TEL .238-2695 8E8 K1N Ontario Ottawa, Marlborough 57 Avenue Senegal of Republic the of Embassy Mbacke Issakha Excellency His SENEGAL Tel 1K6 K1N ON Ottawa, Drive Sussex 201 Saudi Arabia of Embassy Royal d’AffairesChargé Mr ARABIA SAUDI www generalinfo@ambarwaottawa .ca 569-5421/5423 : Fax 569-5420/22/24 Phone: 3V1 K1Y Ontario Ottawa, Drive Sherwood 121 Abdullah Saleh A . . Al Abdullah Awwad september

237-4100 .rusembcanada .midru .ottawamfask .serbianembassy .ambarwaottawaca

F ax —

237-0567 october .ca .ca .ca .com

2008 . org

SLOVENIA SWITZERLAND TUNISIA URUGUAY Ex . Tomaz Kunstelj His Ex . Werner Baumann His Ex . Mouldi Sakri His Ex . Alväro M . Moerzinger Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia Embassy of Switzerland Embassy of the Republic of Tunisia Embassy of the Oriental Republic of 150 Metcalfe Street, Suite 2200 5 Marlborough Avenue 515 O’Connor Street Uruguay Ottawa, Ontario K1P 1P1 Ottawa, Ontario K1N 8E6 Ottawa, Ontario K1S 3P8 130 Albert Street, Suite 1905 TEL . 565-5781 FAX 565-5783 TEL . 235-1837 FAX 563-1394 TEL . 237-0330 FAX 237-7939 Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5G4 vot@gov .si vertretung@ott .rep .admin .ch atottawa@comnet .ca TEL . 234-2727 FAX 233-4670

SOUTH AFRICA SYRIA TURKEY VENEZUELA c ts con ta His Ex . Abraham Sokhaya Nkomo His Ex . Jamil Haidar Sakr His Ex . Rafet Akgünay Jose Antonio Manlio Rodriguez de High Commission for the Republic Embassy of the Syrian Arab Republic Embassy of the Republic of Turkey la Sierra Llerandi of South Africa 151 Slater Street, Suite 1000 197 Wurtemburg Street Chargé d’Affaires 15 Sussex Drive Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5H3 Ottawa, Ontario K1N 8L9 Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic Ottawa, Ontario K1M 1M8 TEL . 569-5556 FAX 569-3800 TEL . 789-4044 FAX 789-3442 of Venezuela TEL . 744-0330 FAX 741-1639 www .syrianembassy .ca turkishottawa@mfa .gov .tr 32 Range Road rsafrica@southafrica-canada .ca Ottawa, Ontario K1N 8J4 www .southafrica-canada .ca TAIPEI Economic & Cultural office UGANDA TEL . 235-5151 FAX 235-3205 David Tawei Lee, Representative His Ex. George Marino Abola www .misionvenezuela .org SPAIN 45 O’Connor Street, Suite 1960 High Commission for the Republic His Ex . Mariano Alonso-Burón Ottawa, Ontario K1P 1A4 of Uganda VIETNAM Embassy of the Kingdom of Spain TEL . 231-5080 FAX 231-7112 231 Cobourg Street His Excellency Duc Hung Nguyen 74 Stanley Avenue publicaffairs@on .aibn .com Ottawa, Ontario K1N 8J2 Embassy of the Socialist Republic of Ottawa, Ontario K1M 1P4 TEL . 789-7797 FAX 789-8909 Vietnam TEL . 747-2252 FAX 744-1224 TANZANIA [email protected] 470 Wilbrod Street embespca@mail .mae .es His Ex . Peter Kallaghe www .ugandahighcommission .ca Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6M8 www .embaspain .ca High Commission for the United TEL . 236-0772 FAX 236-2704 diplomatic Republic of Tanzania UKRAINE SRI LANKA 50 Range Road His. Ex. Ihor Ostash YEMEN Mr . Chandrasekara A . H . M . Ottawa, Ontario K1N 8J4 Embassy of Ukraine His Ex . Abdulla Abdulwali Nasher Wijeratne TEL . 232-1509 FAX 232-5184 310 Somerset Street, West, Embassy of the Republic of Yemen Acting High Commissioner tzottawa@synapse .ca Ottawa, Ontario, K2P 0J9 54 Chamberlain Avenue High Commission for the www .tanzaniahighcommission .ca Tel . 230-2961 Fax 230-2400 Ottawa, Ontario K1S 1V9 Democratic Socialist Republic www .ukremb .ca TEL . 729-6627 FAX 729-8915 of Sri Lanka THAILAND www .yemenincanada .ca 333 Laurier Avenue West, Suite 1204 His Ex . Snanchart Devahastin UNITED ARAB EMIRATES Ottawa, Ontario K1P 1C1 The Royal Thai Embassy His Ex . Hassan Al-Suwaidi ZAMBIA TEL . 233-8449 FAX 238-8448 180 Island Park Drive Embassy of the United Arab Emirates His Ex. David Clifford Saviye www .srilankahcottawa .org Ottawa, Ontario K1Y 0A2 45 O’Connor Street, Suite 1800 High Commission for the Republic TEL . 722-4444 FAX 722-6624 Ottawa, Ontario K1P 1A4 of Zambia SUDAN thaiott@magma .ca TEL . 565-7272 FAX 565-8007 151 Slater St ., Suite 205 Her Ex . Dr . Faiza Hassan Taha safara@uae-embassy .com Ottawa, Ontario Armousa TOGO www .uae-embassy .com K1B 5H3 Embassy of the Republic of the Sudan His Ex . Bawoumondom Amelete TEL . 232-4400 FAX 232-4410 354 Stewart Street Embassy of the Togolese Republic UNITED KINGDOM Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6K8 12 Range Road His Ex. Anthony Cary ZIMBABWE TEL . 235-4000 FAX 235-6880 Ottawa, Ontario K1N 8J3 British High Commission Her Ex . Florence Zano Chideya TEL . 238-5916 FAX 235-6425 80 Elgin Street Embassy of the Republic of SWEDEN Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5K7 Zimbabwe Her Ex . Ingrid Maria Iremark TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO TEL . 237-1530 FAX 237-7980 332 Somerset Street West Embassy of Sweden Her Ex . Camille Rosemarie www .britainincanada .org Ottawa, Ontario K2P 0J9 377 Dalhousie Street Robinson-Regis TEL . 237-4388 FAX 563-8269 Ottawa, Ontario K1N 9N8 High Commission for the Republic UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TEL . 244-8200 FAX 241-2277 of Trinidad and Tobago His Ex . David Wilkins Sweden .ottawa@foreign .ministry .se 200 First Avenue, Third Level Embassy of the United States of www .swedishembassy .ca Ottawa, Ontario K1S 2G6 America TEL . 232-2418 FAX 232-4349 490 Sussex Drive ottawa@ttmissions .com Ottawa, Ontario K1N 1G8 TEL . 238-5335 FAX 688-3088 www .usembassycanada .gov

THE NEW

Ottawa900 ST. LAURENT Dodge BOULEVARD

THE NATION’S CAPITAL FLEET HEADQUARTERS

BRUCE McCAFFERY Fleet & Lease Manager We provide concierge services Centrally located at 900 St. Laurent Blvd., Ottawa, ON • www.ottawadodge.com [email protected] • EMBASSY SPECIALISTS • 613-745-7051

diplomat and international canada | EMBASSIES | HIGH COMMISSIONS ‑ | OTHER INTERNATIONAL REPRESENTATIVES 47 Marketplace

at The Ottawa arriottM Hotel 100 Kent Str. Luncheon $ 22.00

frankscheme.zenfolio.com

BRITTONS

“Your magazine specialists” Glebe 846 Bank St Over 4,000 international magazines and (613) 237 6116 newspapers, as well as best-selling book Westboro titles.Inquire about our contract delivery 352 Richmond Road service (613) 237 6116 (613) 729 0551

48 september—october 2008 DESTINATIONS|THE LAST WORD on ti za i gan Or sm uri an To ili az r e B th TUR, A BR EM Tos: O LL PH A

Rio de Janeiro, the Marvelous City, is so beautiful that even the baianos, such as Ambassador Cordeiro Pinto who is from Bahia, “recognize its eminence,” he writes.

A special year to visit Brazil

By Paulo Cordeiro de Andrade Pinto Ambassador of Brazil to Canada

his year, Brazil Humour aside, it is an expression of truth . region) . He stayed in Brazil until 1821 . The celebrates the The 1807 Portuguese evacuation was long permanence of the Court led to the T200th anniver- massive . The whole European Royal establishment of central government insti- sary of the arrival of Court, with more than 15,000 people, plus tutions in Rio, including a Ministry of For- the Portuguese royal the royal library, the navy, marine corps, le eign Affairs . It provided a centre of gravity family to the-then Cabinet des medailles for the first time ever, for the collection of colonies established small town of Rio de crossed the Atlantic as unwilling tourists during the previous three centuries . (Por- Janeiro . Queen Ma- to settle in a green, sunny, lush tropical tuguese navigators, on their way to India, ria I and João (John), land . had found the coast of Bahia in 1500 ). 40, the Prince Regent, They rediscovered their South Ameri- In 1822, King John’s son, the Crown had to leave Lisbon to escape Napoleon’s can colonies, “the Brazils,” and to their Prince Pedro, proclaimed Brazil’s inde- French troops and suffered the fate of surprise, many of them liked it . And the pendence from Portugal and proclaimed many European monarchs – they lost their Prince Regent liked Brazil most of all . himself Pedro I, Emperor of Brazil . In 1889, crowns and sovereignty . Portugal was then In 1814, Wellington defeated Napoleon Brazil became a republic . This unique his- a small European power whose world em- at Waterloo and everybody in Lisbon and torical event in the Americas can still be pire comprised the 19 administrative cap- London wanted the Portuguese Royals seen in the mountain city of Petropolis, taincies of Portuguese America, as well as to return to Europe . In 1815, John raised 60 kilometres southwest of Rio de Janeiro, settlements and factories in Africa, India, Brazil from the low status of colony to a where King John’s descendents still live China and Oceania (East Timor) . kingdom equal in stature to Portugal . close to the old emperor’s summer palace, My son, João, who lives in Rio, recently Queen Maria I died in Rio and John was now the Imperial Museum . helped to set up a museum exhibition sacred King John VI of Portugal, Brazil While its Spanish-speaking South named “1808 – Rio, Capital of Portugal ”. and the Algarves (a southern Portuguese American neighbours formed 10 inde-

diplomat and international canada 49 DESTINATIONS | THE LAST WORD

pendent republics, Portuguese America kept its unity . This cohesiveness has made Brazil today’s fifth-largest country in the world, with a total area of 8,547,403 .5 square kilometres or half of the landmass of the South American continent . For the country’s more than 186 million people, Portuguese is the official language . In 1807, it took Prince John almost three months to sail from Lisbon to Salvador de Bahia . Today, it is much easier to visit Brazil’s many attractions that welcome tourists from every part of the world, all year long . The diversity of culture and the scenery are the country’s strong points . But the best part – the one you only get to know when you arrive there – is the Bra- zilian people . One of the most fascinating character- istics of the Brazilians is their generous, compassionate spirit, buoyed by their good and irreverent sense of humour . This vast country welcomes people with open arms . And while Brazilians have arrived from around the world, Africans, Amer- indians and the Portuguese form the core of our nationhood . During centuries of immigration, Italians, Japanese, Spaniards, Germans, Syrians, Lebanese, Ukrainians, Koreans, Chinese, Poles, Spanish-speaking South Americans, Armenians and Ango- lans have continued to join our population . They integrated with our culture surpris- ingly harmoniously to make Brazil even richer and more fascinating . In combina- tion, these qualities make Brazil the ideal destination for visitors who seek both a beautiful and welcoming environment . Recently, a prominent travel maga- zine celebrated Brazil’s “7,000-kilometre beach ”. It is almost true, as we have a long coastline dotted with bays and islands, enchanting paradises of sandy beaches and green and turquoise waters . Among the most visited are the famous beaches of Ipanema and Copacabana on Rio de Janeiro’s coast; Joaquina, near Florianopo- lis in southern Brazil and famous for its national and international surfing cham- pionships; Praia do Forte, on the northern coast of Bahia; and the marvelous beaches of Fernando Noronha archipelago, one of the best places for scuba diving . The heart of Brazil also reserves natural treasures that enchant and surprise even Brazil has 7,000 kilometres of beach coastline. Shown here, Lagoa Azul near Natal, the City of Sun. the most experienced travelers . Among these rarities is Foz do Iguaçu (Iguazu Falls), a city located along the triple border And we must not forget the Ama- 5 .5 million square kilometres . It occupies of Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina whose zon, one of the world’s icons of ecology 61 per cent of the Brazilian territory and greatest attraction is the impressive row and biodiversity and the world’s largest expands beyond . The tourists who arrive of 275 waterfalls cascading more than 60 equatorial forest, located in the north of there have much to do, from boat trips metres . the country and covering approximately over the region’s rivers to a variety of

50 september—october 2008 DESTINATIONS|THE LAST WORD

expeditions, with guided hikes and trails . For those who do not want to participate in adventure, just relaxing and appreciat- ing the stunningly rich flora, fauna and scenery of the Amazon delights the eyes and rests the soul . In Brazil, exuberance is everywhere . You find it in the immensity of the desert- like white sands of Lençois Maranhenses, in the rivers so wide they look like seas, in the 250,000 square kilometres of Mato Grosso Swamplands . Beauty also reigns in 44 national parks that preserve the ecosystem, in the long rows of coconut trees that line the seashores of Alagoas, the Chapada Diamantina, Bahia and Pico Itati- aia in Rio de Janeiro . At the National Park of the Serra da Capivara, a well-known The magnificent Iguaçu Falls, in Southern Brazil, in the state of Paraná, plunge 269 feet (52 metres) into UNESCO World Heritage Site in the State Iguaçu River. of Piauí, one can admire 33,000 rock paint- ings in 360 archeological sites, that show that man has inhabited the Americas for the last 48,000 years, challenging the ac- cepted belief that man had crossed the Bering Strait much later . Architecture is one of the most lasting manifestations of a people’s history, as buildings reveal an era’s customs, trends and techniques . With a large historical- cultural heritage, Brazil has attracted a great number of tourists interested in strolling through large museums or city streets, to learn a little of the nation’s past . Many Brazilian cities and sites have been declared as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO . They include:

Historic city of Ouro Preto, State of Minas Botafogo is one of Rio de Janeiro’s most traditional neighbourhoods. It was named after Joao Pereira de Gerais Souza Botafogo, one of the first residents of the area. This city holds on its stone roads a small piece of Brazil’s history . Founded by the end of the 17th century, it remains as proof of the 1700s gold rush prosperity, and of the exceptional talent of the Baroque sculptor and architect, Aleijadinho, a humble mulatto leper who turned out to be a master of the Baroque style .

Historic city of Olinda, State of Pernambuco Olinda was founded in the 16th century . Occupied by Dutch invaders from 1630 to 1654 and rebuilt afterwards, this twin city of Recife, capital of the State of Per- nambuco, has kept a harmonious balance between baroque churches, convents, small chapels, buildings, gardens and monuments, which have given this city a unique charm .

Ruins of São Miguel das Missões The Metropolitan Cathedral of Brasilia was designed by architect Oscar Niemeyer. Construction began in Located in the southern State of Rio 1960 and it was dedicated 10 years later. Grande do Sul, these ruins hold valuable

diplomat and international canada 51 Destinations|The LAST WORD

remains of the Jesuit Missions that once centre of unique Afro-Brazilian culture, Historic centre of Diamantina City, State of thrived in the area . They were built in the rooted in the old Kingdom of Dahomey, Minas Gerais indigenous lands of Guaranis between the now the African republic of Benin . Founded during the diamond rush of the 17th and 18th centuries and stand out for 18th century, it’s a testament to human, their variety of shapes and exceptional Bom Jesus Sanctuary, in Congonhas do cultural and artistic triumph over the ad- state of conservation . Campo, State of Minas Gerais versities imposed by its location . Built in the second half of the 18th century, Historic Centre of Salvador, it consists of a church filled with magnifi- Historic centre of Goiás City, State of Goiás State of Bahia cent rococo-style adornments, of Italian in- Former capital of the State of Goiás, it per- First capital of the country, from 1549 spiration . Aleijadinho’s famous sculptures fectly represents the colonial occupation of to 1763, Salvador preserves, until today, of the biblical prophets decorate its stair- central Brazil in the 18th century . countless renaissance and Baroque-age way . There are also seven chapels illustrat- These World Heritage Sites are ser- buildings, with more than 180 ancient ing the passion of Christ, with scenes that viced by some large international hotel Catholic churches, colonial-era fortresses, might have inspired Mel Gibson's feature chains that have been operating in Brazil and 30 kilometres of urban sandy beaches . film The Passion of the Christ . for some time, as well as by Brazilian hotel A peculiarity of the old city is the wealth companies and quaint “bed and break- of colours of its colonial mansions . Salva- Brasília, the federal capital fasts” known as pousadas . Certain areas, dor may be the most important centre of In contrast with other examples of Brazil’s such as the Green Coast, in the south of the Afro-Brazilian culture – a feast for the heritage, it was given the title “world the State of Rio de Janeiro or the Sauípe eyes and the palate . heritage site” for being a unique example Coast, near Salvador de Bahia, or Natal, of innovation, a truly modern city, in the Recife and Fortaleza, boast international- Historic Centre: São Luis, State of Maranhão aesthetic sense of the word . Brasília com- quality resorts . Founded by the French in the beginning of bines the bold design of urbanist Lúcio In describing the marvels of Brazil, we the 17th century, it was later occupied by Costa and the creative buildings of archi- should not forget the city of São Paulo, the Portuguese and invaded by the Dutch . tect Oscar Niemeyer . It is a watershed in with 18 million inhabitants in its metro- As the Portuguese reclaimed it perma- the history of planned cities . Brazil has politan zone and capital of the State of nently, they preserved the original plans of built many planned cities such as Goiania, São Paulo, the industrial powerhouse of the city, and characteristically covered their capital of Goiás, conceived as an art deco Brazil . Excellent museums and restaurants houses with multi-colored tiles . São Luis is city in the 1930s and Belo Horizonte, capi- can be found there, as well as a vibrant the gateway to the Lençois Maranhenses tal of Minas Gerais, built in the 1890s in an cultural life . National Park, and it is also an important eclectic style . Rio de Janeiro, the Marvelous City, is so beautiful, that even we the baianos (I am from Bahia) recognize its eminence . Porto Alegre, Florianopolis, Curitiba are world-class cities . Manaus and Belém, in the Amazon, have old opera houses and organized festivals . Brazil gives to its ambassadors abroad l’embaras du choix . If you go there, you might feel like King John VI who went to Brazil as a scared Prince Regent and left as King of Portugal, sad to leave a land he learned to love . Brazil is still a developing country with its share of problems, including a large Offering Free dose of urban violence, infrastructure that is far from perfect and social, economic - Courier Service and regional inequalities . Since indepen- dence in 1822, the building of democracy, Always ensuring the best service for For your personal rule of law and the full enjoyment of hu- the diplomatic community, Accu-Rate consultation please call: man rights have been goals to be attained . Corporation offers free courier service Marie Boivin We are getting closer to fulfilling them . for embassy currency exchanges and Managing Director President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, payroll conversion. 613-596-5505 ext. 101 or “Lula,” as most Brazilians call him,  [email protected] with his September 23rd visit to Canada, opens what we hope will be a new chap- ter in the already good Canadian-Brazil- Accu-Rate Corporation World Exchange Plaza ian relationship . What a perfect time for Accu-Rate Corporation you to visit Brazil! 2573 Carling Ave. 111 Albert St. Foreign Exchange & International Payment Services www.accu-rate.ca (613) 596-5505 (613) 238-8454 Paulo Cordeiro de Andrade Pinto is Brazil’s ambassador to Canada .

52 september—october 2008 Floating Glass The Drama of Your Dream Kitchen

®Registered trademark/TM Trademark of Jenn-Air, U.S.A.©2008. All Rights reserved.

Our exclusive Jenn-Air® Floating Glass brings the drama of your dream kitchen to life. Available in black, this versatile style can either blend into or contrast with your décor. The high gloss front surfaces clean easily, and are complemented with the right touch of gleaming stainless steel. In a lead or supporting role, Floating Glass shines.

Discover the possibilities of Jenn-Air® Floating Glass at Universal Appliances.

1915 Bank Street, Ottawa • 613-521-5002 www.universalappliances.com Vorsprung durch Technik www.audi.ca

Diplomacy has its perks.

Introducing the Audi Diplomat Sales Program. Receive special diplomat pricing on a great range of vehicles from the powerful S8 to the unmistakable Audi Q7 to the luxurious A8. Contact Liza Mrak at Mark Motors for more details.

611 Montreal Road 295 West Hunt Club Road Ottawa | 613-723-1221 | www.markmotorsaudi.com Ottawa | 613-723-1221 | www.markmotorsaudi.com

European model shown. “Audi,” “Audi Q7,” “A8,” “S8,” “Vorsprung durch Technik” and the four rings emblem are registered trademarks of AUDI AG. © 2008 Audi Canada. To fi nd out more about Audi, see your dealer, call 1-800-FOR-AUDI or visit us at www.audi.ca

LOWE ROCHE 260 Queen Street West, suite 301, Toronto, Ontario M5V 1Z8 416 927 9794 Client: Audi File Name: ACPO-1019_A8_Diplomat.indd Page: 1 Production Artist(s): WD Business Manager: Andrew Carty Creative Team: Paul/Michelle Production Contact: Terri Vegso, Ext. 256 Publication(s)/Description: A8 Diplomat & International Canada (mag) First Ins. Date: May Issue Ad #: ACPO-1019-A Final Trim/Ad Size: 8.25"W x 10.875"H Bleed: 8.75" x 11.25" Live/Safety: 7.25" x 10.125" Visible Opening: N/A File Scale: N/A Other Info: N/A Colours: Cyan Magenta Yellow Black