Canada and nuclear weapons
MissT @ Mon May 08, 2006 2:42 am
Those that want nuclear capabilities for themselves seem to be the ones who lack the imagination to step outside their own lily-white skins and self-important culture, and imagine what thought processes other countries will be going through as a result of Canada getting nuclear weapons.
If you can stand it for just a second, pretend that you are Pakistani, Indian, Iranian, Turkish or from wherever. Can you do it? Do you wrinkle your nose in disgust and hate yourself? Do you feel contaminated already by just the thought of being surrounded by a darker skin? If not, proceed. (Excuse my sarcasm here the rest of you, it's just that I've been reading some pretty unpalatable commentry on other threads recently.)
Now, we all know, like and respect Canada. Canada has a repulation as an important economic power, that does not have nuclear weapons, and has never initiated major conflict for its own ends (unless you count the separation history.) The fact that Canada does not have nukes speaks volumes for the power of reason, peace and trust. Canada proves that it is possible to have a strong position in the world and to have good relations with all countries, and this goodwill is undelined by the lack of nukes pointing at other countries. While Canada has no nuclear weapons, there is still hope for the world.
How would it be interpreted if Canada suddenly started a nuclear weapons programme? As a middle eastern/ asian country I would feel a sudden chill, a draft of wind that had blown out the candle of trust. If Canada is getting nukes, what does that mean? Do they know something we don't? What are their intentions? Has the state of the world reached this point already? Uh-oh. We'd better start our own weapons programme, or intensify the ones we already have. We don't want to be left behind. Quick, look over your shoulder, who else has got them? They might be pointing at us! We need more! Quick quick.
But why are Canada and the international community telling US we can't have nuclear weapons? They are the ones who have taken that step, and they expect us to just allow ourselves to be trodden on? Hah, these Western hypocrites, they are all the same, they just want the rest of us to be under their control. They see our darker skin colour and are unable to imagine us as a race of equal or mightier strength and importance in the world... Well we shall show them...
Canada has a greater responsibility than most countries to recognise its highly symbolic nuclear-free role in non-proliferation. We are not just any country that can pick and chose according to our own interests or fears. We need to look at the wider impact, and realise that any nuclear "defence" capabilities we pick up will be neutralised by the heightened international threat such actions will prompt.
Canada joining the nuclear arms race will have a greater impact on global nuclear proliferation than you can imagine. If that happens, we'll probably all get blown up anyway. So why bother? Why bother to invest our taxes into nuclear weapons instead of the education, healthcare and infrastructure that we want to make our country even better? Why bother to make ourselves a target? Why bother to raise the level of global antagonism?
Remaining free of nuclear weapons may take more courage, but it is a role that is desperately needed by the international community. Canada is a quiet and mighty leader for global peace. We cannot give into our fear, and we must continue to be the courageous and gentle country that sets an example to the rest of the world.
PJB @ Mon May 08, 2006 7:35 am
MissT MissT:
Those that want nuclear capabilities for themselves seem to be the ones who lack the imagination to step outside their own lily-white skins and self-important culture, and imagine what thought processes other countries will be going through as a result of Canada getting nuclear weapons.
If you can stand it for just a second, pretend that you are Pakistani, Indian, Iranian, Turkish or from wherever. Can you do it? Do you wrinkle your nose in disgust and hate yourself? Do you feel contaminated already by just the thought of being surrounded by a darker skin? If not, proceed. (Excuse my sarcasm here the rest of you, it's just that I've been reading some pretty unpalatable commentry on other threads recently.)
Now, we all know, like and respect Canada. Canada has a repulation as an important economic power, that does not have nuclear weapons, and has never initiated major conflict for its own ends (unless you count the separation history.) The fact that Canada does not have nukes speaks volumes for the power of reason, peace and trust. Canada proves that it is possible to have a strong position in the world and to have good relations with all countries, and this goodwill is undelined by the lack of nukes pointing at other countries. While Canada has no nuclear weapons, there is still hope for the world.
How would it be interpreted if Canada suddenly started a nuclear weapons programme? As a middle eastern/ asian country I would feel a sudden chill, a draft of wind that had blown out the candle of trust. If Canada is getting nukes, what does that mean? Do they know something we don't? What are their intentions? Has the state of the world reached this point already? Uh-oh. We'd better start our own weapons programme, or intensify the ones we already have. We don't want to be left behind. Quick, look over your shoulder, who else has got them? They might be pointing at us! We need more! Quick quick.
But why are Canada and the international community telling US we can't have nuclear weapons? They are the ones who have taken that step, and they expect us to just allow ourselves to be trodden on? Hah, these Western hypocrites, they are all the same, they just want the rest of us to be under their control. They see our darker skin colour and are unable to imagine us as a race of equal or mightier strength and importance in the world... Well we shall show them...
Canada has a greater responsibility than most countries to recognise its highly symbolic nuclear-free role in non-proliferation. We are not just any country that can pick and chose according to our own interests or fears. We need to look at the wider impact, and realise that any nuclear "defence" capabilities we pick up will be neutralised by the heightened international threat such actions will prompt.
Canada joining the nuclear arms race will have a greater impact on global nuclear proliferation than you can imagine. If that happens, we'll probably all get blown up anyway. So why bother? Why bother to invest our taxes into nuclear weapons instead of the education, healthcare and infrastructure that we want to make our country even better? Why bother to make ourselves a target? Why bother to raise the level of global antagonism?
Remaining free of nuclear weapons may take more courage, but it is a role that is desperately needed by the international community. Canada is a quiet and mighty leader for global peace. We cannot give into our fear, and we must continue to be the courageous and gentle country that sets an example to the rest of the world.
If you can stand it for just a second, pretend that you are Pakistani, Indian, Iranian, Turkish or from wherever. Can you do it? Do you wrinkle your nose in disgust and hate yourself? Do you feel contaminated already by just the thought of being surrounded by a darker skin? If not, proceed. (Excuse my sarcasm here the rest of you, it's just that I've been reading some pretty unpalatable commentry on other threads recently.)
Now, we all know, like and respect Canada. Canada has a repulation as an important economic power, that does not have nuclear weapons, and has never initiated major conflict for its own ends (unless you count the separation history.) The fact that Canada does not have nukes speaks volumes for the power of reason, peace and trust. Canada proves that it is possible to have a strong position in the world and to have good relations with all countries, and this goodwill is undelined by the lack of nukes pointing at other countries. While Canada has no nuclear weapons, there is still hope for the world.
How would it be interpreted if Canada suddenly started a nuclear weapons programme? As a middle eastern/ asian country I would feel a sudden chill, a draft of wind that had blown out the candle of trust. If Canada is getting nukes, what does that mean? Do they know something we don't? What are their intentions? Has the state of the world reached this point already? Uh-oh. We'd better start our own weapons programme, or intensify the ones we already have. We don't want to be left behind. Quick, look over your shoulder, who else has got them? They might be pointing at us! We need more! Quick quick.
But why are Canada and the international community telling US we can't have nuclear weapons? They are the ones who have taken that step, and they expect us to just allow ourselves to be trodden on? Hah, these Western hypocrites, they are all the same, they just want the rest of us to be under their control. They see our darker skin colour and are unable to imagine us as a race of equal or mightier strength and importance in the world... Well we shall show them...
Canada has a greater responsibility than most countries to recognise its highly symbolic nuclear-free role in non-proliferation. We are not just any country that can pick and chose according to our own interests or fears. We need to look at the wider impact, and realise that any nuclear "defence" capabilities we pick up will be neutralised by the heightened international threat such actions will prompt.
Canada joining the nuclear arms race will have a greater impact on global nuclear proliferation than you can imagine. If that happens, we'll probably all get blown up anyway. So why bother? Why bother to invest our taxes into nuclear weapons instead of the education, healthcare and infrastructure that we want to make our country even better? Why bother to make ourselves a target? Why bother to raise the level of global antagonism?
Remaining free of nuclear weapons may take more courage, but it is a role that is desperately needed by the international community. Canada is a quiet and mighty leader for global peace. We cannot give into our fear, and we must continue to be the courageous and gentle country that sets an example to the rest of the world.
Right on!
Robair @ Tue May 09, 2006 6:12 am
JustKate JustKate:
CANADA is one of the countries the world does respects.......
And why do you suppose that is?
Indelible @ Wed May 10, 2006 11:28 am
PJB PJB:
JustKate...You and I both live in Saskatchewan so it might be a politically advantageous idea for us to have a few missle silos built here in good ole backasswards SK. Could use the construction jobs and if, heaven forbid, it does happen and we get nuked no one would be the wiser.
Why should Canada add to the multiple times the world can be destroyed by nuclear weapons? Who are we out to impress?
It is, plain and simple, not a good idea and it will never happen. We do not have nuclear capabilities no matter who you talk to and even it we do it is not first strike or deterrent. Personally I do not want to see that great mushroom cloud in the sky and I think that 99.1% of the rest of the world's population thinks the same.
Why should Canada add to the multiple times the world can be destroyed by nuclear weapons? Who are we out to impress?
It is, plain and simple, not a good idea and it will never happen. We do not have nuclear capabilities no matter who you talk to and even it we do it is not first strike or deterrent. Personally I do not want to see that great mushroom cloud in the sky and I think that 99.1% of the rest of the world's population thinks the same.
well, i think you're wrong about the saskatchewan thing.....saskatchewan could be as rich as alberta if they built some of reactors way up in the north where the uranium is, and sold the power to whomever, but silos are something we don't need. you're right about everything else in your post though
Indelible @ Wed May 10, 2006 11:29 am
right on miss t
PJB @ Wed May 10, 2006 8:13 pm
Indelible. Nuclear power could be a godsend for Saskatchewan yet there are so many people who live under the Three Mile Island or Chernobyl visions of nuclear power. We would rather burn coal then use any of that demon Uranium that we have so much of.
MissT @ Thu May 11, 2006 1:57 am
According to that article that was posted yesterday, the problems with Uranium come not just from its radioactivity, but from the fact that it is a heavy metal which binds to DNA, mutates and causes errors in replication. Which of course leads to cancers and illness.
This why there are still suspicions that depleted uranium is thought to be connected to gulf war syndrome, even though people have been saying that depleted uranium is fine because it has low radioactivity.
Wooh, big surprise eh? To quote Figfarmer's comment on the article, "Gooolly. Next thing you know some overpriced egghead is going to discover the effect of bowling balls on toes."
Indelible @ Thu May 11, 2006 2:09 pm
$1:
Indelible. Nuclear power could be a godsend for Saskatchewan yet there are so many people who live under the Three Mile Island or Chernobyl visions of nuclear power. We would rather burn coal then use any of that demon Uranium that we have so much of.
yeah, and that's why saskatchewan is still poor. there needs to be some entrepreneur people there to staqrt this thing and get it going like alberta did with its oil. burning coal is worse for the environment.
tritium @ Mon May 15, 2006 4:28 pm
VitaminC VitaminC:
Interesting to note, I think that Canada is the number one developer of nuclear power in the world, in that we export nuclear power plant designs everywhere......We are highly involved in worldwide nuclear power generation....
Canadian's forget that it was both Canadian and American scientists helped develop the first nuclear bomb during the Manhattan Project.
As usual the USA wants to take all the credit.
It was Canadian uranium that was used to bomb Japan during WW2.
It is also Canadian uranium that has helped the United States become the power they are today.. or at least think they are.
Canada and the Bomb.
I think when 19 hijackers bring your economy to it's knees and hits the heart of the country, and the only response is to attack a sand box in the middle east and the main culprit, Osama Bin Laden to this day eludes capture, doesn't wreak of power.
The American's do not have the resolve previous generations had. They think their freedoms are a given right, without much thought that millions who died to secure it.
There are rumors that Prime Minister John Diefenbaker had developed nuclear weapons are still present. They probably scrapped that under U.S. presure at the time they scrapped the Avro Arrow.
List of countries with nuclear weapons
SireJoe @ Mon May 15, 2006 4:50 pm
That always pissed me off....dropping the Avro project. I watched that documentary aboot it. That would have rocked to be the one with the fastest jet in the world. Would have been something to brag about 
tritium @ Mon May 15, 2006 4:55 pm
SireJoe SireJoe:
That always pissed me off....dropping the Avro project. I watched that documentary aboot it. That would have rocked to be the one with the fastest jet in the world. Would have been something to brag about
oh we had it. It could shoot down a U2 spy plan. So the U.S. afraid that Russia might get the plans pushed us into scrapping it.
U.S. foreign policy.
The Avro Arrow: Canada's Broken Dream
Tricks @ Mon May 15, 2006 5:02 pm
Hmmm, I thought it was because we couldn't afford it.... Don't let Anti-Americanism blind you now...
tritium @ Mon May 15, 2006 5:11 pm
Tricks Tricks:
Hmmm, I thought it was because we couldn't afford it.... Don't let Anti-Americanism blind you now...
Anti-Americanism. Nope.
It was well documented that Russia had spys as employees at the manufacturing and development levels.
This plane was capable of shooting down a U2 spy plane and was a danger to the United States sovereignty.
Why did the Canadian Government send in the military in with saws, torches, etc. to chop up and totally destroy AVRO's Arrow aircraft, engines, drawings, blueprints, dies, molds, etc. in 1959?
But it was nice of the USA to GIVE us 66 used McDonnell F-101 Voodoo jet fighters in exchange for Canadians staffing radar bases on the Arctic's Pinetree Line.
SireJoe @ Mon May 15, 2006 5:41 pm
Ive heard both sides of the story, or at least some of botyh sides. I dunno who to believe. It would have been a sweet sight to see though. Scared Americans running around trying to match our jets capabilities 
Tricks @ Mon May 15, 2006 6:43 pm
You should have read your entire link Tritium....
$1:
Less than a week after the Arrow's first flight, Conservative John Diefenbaker becomes prime minister in a landslide electoral victory, and inherits the Arrow program from Liberal Prime Minister Louis St. Laurent. Diefenbaker distrusts Avro executives and is gravely concerned about the spiralling costs of the Arrow program. In September 1958 he announces that the government will not complete the full run of Arrow production, but will only authorize completion of planes currently in production.
Diefenbaker then announces that the entire Arrow program will be reviewed in six months. Avro president Crawford Gordon goes on the defensive, taking to the airwaves to reassure the public – and Arrow workers – that this does not mean the Arrow program is cancelled.
Diefenbaker then announces that the entire Arrow program will be reviewed in six months. Avro president Crawford Gordon goes on the defensive, taking to the airwaves to reassure the public – and Arrow workers – that this does not mean the Arrow program is cancelled.