Saturday 16 June 2018
The American Resistance has many faces and this is just one of them .......(22)
This is a political cartoon by Rob Rodgers, who until 15 June 2018 was employed by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - ciruculation 317,439 - a subsidiary of Block Communication Inc.
On that day he was apparently sacked for being critical of US President Donald J. Trump.
Labels:
censorship,
fascism,
media,
Trump Regime
Friday 15 June 2018
What I learnt about NBN Co this week
It is easy to lose track of what federal government-owned NBN Co is up to these days, so I did a quick search of mainstream media reports and the company website. This is what I found.
In the nine months up to 31 March 2018 NBN Co listed $1,413 million in revenue, up from $665 million for the same period last year. Nevertheless it appears the company is operating at a loss.
NBN Co’s CEO
earns est. $3.62 million per annum — approximately six times more than Prime Minister Malcolm
Turnbull.
Million-dollar
salary packages are paid to another four top executives.
More than 480
of NBN Co’s staff are on $200,000-plus salaries and 120 earn more
than $300,000.
NBN Co
paid $66 million in bonuses to its staff last financial year.
In February
and March 2018 the company’s three top executives spent almost $40,000 on
business-class flights and accommodation during a trip to Spain to attend a
conference.
Although NBN plans are advertised with speeds such as 25Mbps or 50Mbps, performance on fixed wireless drops in the evening and the CEO has stated that "We don't have the money to invest in this to take it above 6Mbps” – which means that many customers cannot get a decent image when streaming videos or live entertainment.
NBN Co has
fobbed off customers 80,000 times since July last year – nine per cent of
all scheduled appointments.
There were at
least 42,510 formal complaints made about NBN services from January to December
2017.
More than one
third of NBN users wish it had never happened, according to new research by finder.com.au released
on 8 June 2018. Only 43 per cent of respondents still on an ADSL or cable
Internet connection said they were looking forward to switching to NBN.
The basic NBN service is being redefined and entry-level retail prices for NBN broadband are set to rise.
Labels:
#TurnbullGovernmentFAIL,
information technology,
Internet,
NBN
The gall of this disgraced former NSW Nationals politician takes my breath away
Feigning ignorance Steven Rhett Cansdell seeks to re-enter politics.....
The Daily Examiner, 14 June 2018. p.1:
Former Clarence MP Steve Cansdell’s
return to public life began with an apology.
“Firstly I want to nip
things in the bud,” Mr Cansdell began when he spoke yesterday at the Grafton
Hotel to reveal why he would stand for the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party
at the 2019 NSW Election.
“Seven years ago I
stuffed up through ignorance, but ignorance is not an excuse,” he said.
“I had to resign. It was
the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life, to resign from parliament, and the
people I served and expected things from me, to let them down.
“To them I apologise.”
Mr Cansdell resigned
from Parliament in September 2011 after he revealed he had illegally signed a
statutory declaration six years earlier to avoid a speeding ticket and loss of
his driver’s licence.....
The Shooters Fishers and
Farmers party MLC Robert Brown said the party had recruited Mr Cansdell about
two months ago.
“Somebody who knows him
knew he was thinking of having another crack,” Mr Brown said.
“So they put him in
touch with us.
“We met with him in
Sydney two months ago then we danced around it a bit because I don’t think he’d
made up his mind yet and we hadn’t made up our mind.
“As we got to know him
we decided if we’re going to have a go in the Clarence, this is the sort of
bloke we’d campaign for and we think he has a shot.”
Thursday 14 June 2018
The journey towards a name change for Coutts Crossing begins.....
In November 1847 Clarence Valley grazier Thomas Coutts disgruntled by what he thought was a failure of local authority to act on his complaints, angry that his cattle herd had diminished over the space of eight years allegedly due to cattle theft and irritated at the size of his wages bill - all of which he blamed on local Aboriginal family groups living on 'his' property - decided to take action.
According to media reports at the time it soon became common knowledge that Coutts "had poisoned some aborigines" and this was eventually reported to the Commissioner of Crown Lands who, after visiting the group who had been given poisoned flour, hearing their account, arrested Thomas Coutts based on an affidavit sworn by one of his servants.
On the 17th January 1848, Thomas Coutts was committed for trial by Forster and Mylnes, local Justices of the Peace, on a charge of wilful murder, and was sent to Sydney for trial before the Supreme Court.…… On the 10 May the Attorney General decided not to proceed with the case due to lack of evidence and Coutts was discharged.
Stating; "there is not sufficient legal evidence to sustain the prosecution although I am sorry to say that the suspicion is very strong that the prisoner is not guiltless of the dreadful deed charged against him.....This is one of the many cases from which the defect of the present law, in excluding altogether the evidence of the Aboriginal natives, is apparent."
Stating; "there is not sufficient legal evidence to sustain the prosecution although I am sorry to say that the suspicion is very strong that the prisoner is not guiltless of the dreadful deed charged against him.....This is one of the many cases from which the defect of the present law, in excluding altogether the evidence of the Aboriginal natives, is apparent."
Coutts Crossing could
have two names and a memorial to the 23 Aboriginal people murdered by the man
the town is named after, following a meeting called to discuss proposals to
rename the village.
Prospects for a name
change for the village have gathered pace since Daily Examiner indigenous
columnist Janelle Brown’s article two weeks ago detailed how colonial settler
Thomas Coutts murdered 23 Aboriginal people with arsenic-laced flour he gave as
payment for work on his property at Kangaroo Creek in 1848.
Yesterday, about 40
people – indigenous and European – met at the Gurehlgam Centre in Grafton to
discuss the next steps in proposing a name change for the village. The meeting
did not produce formal resolutions, but the debate uncovered key areas to work
on.
These included a
proposal to include a traditional twin name for the village and to build a
memorial in the village for the victims of the atrocity.
“I didn’t know I would
get the amount of kick back from the article,” said Ms Brown, who led the
meeting.
“But it’s good. It’s
time to have these conversations and look at things like a name change for
Coutts Crossing.
“What happened at
Kangaroo Creek was a horrendous thing and not good for the Clarence Valley.
“It’s not good for a
town to be named after a mass murderer.”
She said research into
Gumbaynggir language revealed the original name for the area had been Daam
Miirlarl, which meant a special place for yams.
However, she was
reluctant to push this name as an alternative until there was further
discussion among indigenous people about it.
Coutts Crossing resident
Cr Greg Clancy said yesterday’s meeting was an initial step to move toward a
name change.
“It’s not something that
is going to happen next week,” he said.
Cr Clancy also made an
apology for the deputy mayor Jason Kingsley, who was also the council’s
delegate to the Aboriginal Consultative Committee. He said working through the
council committee could be the best way to bring the push for a name change to
the council.
Cr Clancy said the work
of local historian and environmentalist John Edwards left no doubt Thomas
Coutts murdered the 23 Gumbaynggir people with poisoned flour.
“In his book The
History of the Coutts Crossing and Nymboida Areas, the chapter on the Kangaroo
Creek massacre has all the transcripts from the court case,” he said.
“Its evidence is
conclusive, but the case could not go ahead because the court at the time could
not hear evidence from Aboriginal witnesses.”
The current owner of the
property on which the massacre occurred, John Maxwell, had nothing positive to
say about the original owner.
“What he did was cynical
beyond belief,” Mr Maxwell said. “To poison 6kg of flour and give it to people,
knowing they would take it home and kill a huge number more of their family, is
too terrible to consider.”….
Labels:
Australian society,
Clarence Valley,
crime,
history,
murder,
racism,
reconciliation
About that 12 June 2018 North Korea-United States summit when a arrant fool and a murderous dictator met....
U.S. President Donald J. Trump and the leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea Kim Jong-un met for a one day summit in Singapore on 12 June 2018.
There was little doubt that the world was willing to support this move.
The Guardian, 12-13 June 2018:
The UN secretary
general, António Guterres, has welcomed the summit as an important first step
and urged both sides to compromise.
A statement
issued by his office said: “The Secretary-General welcomes the holding
of the Summit between the leaders of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
and the United States as an important milestone in the advancement of
sustainable peace and the complete and verifiable denuclearization on the
Korean Peninsula.”
“As the
Secretary-General noted in letters to both leaders before the Summit, the road
ahead requires cooperation, compromise and a common cause. Implementing today’s
and previous agreements reached, in accordance with relevant Security Council
resolutions, will require patience and support from the global community.
The
Secretary-General urges all concerned parties to seize this momentous
opportunity and reiterates his readiness to fully support the ongoing process.”
When the summit ended this joint statement was released to the media on 12 June 2018:
Joint statement of
President Donald J. Trump of the United States of America and Chairman Kim Jong
Un of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea at the Singapore Summit
President Donald J.
Trump of the United States of America and Chairman Kim Jong Un of the State
Affairs Commission of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) held a
first, historic summit in Singapore on June 12, 2018.
President Trump and
Chairman Kim Jong Un conducted a comprehensive, in-depth and sincere exchange
of opinions on the issues related to the establishment of new U.S. - DPRK
relations and the building of a lasting and robust peace regime on the Korean
Peninsula. President Trump committed to provide security guarantees to the
DPRK, and Chairman Kim Jong Un reaffirmed his firm and unwavering commitment to
complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.
Convinced that the
establishment of new U.S. - DPRK relations will contribute to the peace and
prosperity of the Korean Peninsula and of the world, and recognizing that
mutual confidence building can promote the denuclearization of the Korean
Peninsula, President Trump and Chairman Kim Jong-un state the following:
The United States and the
DPRK commit to establish new U.S. - DPRK relations in accordance with the
desire of the peoples of the two countries for peace and prosperity.
The United States and
the DPRK will will join their efforts to build a lasting and stable peace
regime on the Korean Peninsula.
Reaffirming the April
27, 2018 Panmunjom Declaration, the DPRK commits to work toward complete
denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.
The United States and
the DPRK commit to recovering POW/MIA remains, including the immediate
repatriation of those already identified.
Having acknowledged that
the U.S. - DPRK summit - the first in history - was an epochal event of great
significance in overcoming decades of tension and hostilities between the two
countries and for the opening up of a new future. President Trump and Chairman
Kim Jong Un commit to implement the stipulations in this joint statement
fully and expeditiously. The United States and the DPRK commit to hold
follow-on negotiations, led by U.S. Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, and a relevant
high-level DPRK official, at the earliest possible date, to implement the
outcomes of the U.S. - DPRK summit.
President Donald J.
Trump of the United States of America and Chairman Kim Jong Un of the State
Affairs Commission of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea have committed
to cooperate for the development of new U.S. - DPRK relations and for the
promotion of peace, prosperity, and security of the Korean Peninsula and of the
World.
Then journalists started to report on what Trump was actually saying, which raised doubts about his negotiating ability and whether he could stay on course.
Trump says there’s no need to verify what was said today because “I have one of the best memories of all time” #TrumpKim— Michael Koziol (@michaelkoziol) June 12, 2018
"I think honestly he's going to do these things," Trump says of Kim Jong Un, then expresses doubt, saying he may stand before us in 6 months and admit he was wrong. Then adds: "I don't know that I'll ever admit that I was wrong. I'll find some kind of excuse."— Jennifer Jacobs (@JenniferJJacobs) June 12, 2018
At his post-summit press conference Trump keep stating that he ran out of time to lock-in detail and confirm any sort of timeline for undertakings in the statement.BREAKING: Trump says he talked up North Korea's real estate, beachside hotel opportunities in Kim Jong Un meeting.— AP Politics (@AP_Politics) June 12, 2018
He reverted to distortion of known fact when discussing denuclearisation, such as the destruction of the North Korean nuclear/missile test site by a rapid series of underground earthquakes:
“Because there’s no
time. I’m here one day. We’re together for many hours intensively. The process
will take place. I would be surprised, Mike, if they have not started already.
They have started. They blew up their sites. They blew up their testing site…”
Of Kim Jong-un Trump states; "He is very smart" and “He’s got a very good personality, he’s funny, and he’s very, very smart….He’s a great negotiator, and he’s a very strategic kind of a guy…I think at the right time, he’ll absolutely be coming to the White House” as well as “I do trust him, yeah. … He trusts me, I believe, I really do.”
Of Kim Jong-un Trump states; "He is very smart" and “He’s got a very good personality, he’s funny, and he’s very, very smart….He’s a great negotiator, and he’s a very strategic kind of a guy…I think at the right time, he’ll absolutely be coming to the White House” as well as “I do trust him, yeah. … He trusts me, I believe, I really do.”
The Washington Post observed on 12 June 2018:
A joint statement said Mr. Kim “reaffirmed his firm and unwavering commitment to complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.” That language is actually weaker and less specific than what Pyongyang offered in several previous agreements — which it then flouted. North Korea’s definition of denuclearization, as laid out in numerous previous talks with U.S. officials, envisions a far-reaching U.S. strategic retreat, including the removal of the American defense umbrella from both South Korea and Japan. There was no mention in the statement of U.S. terms for disarmament: not a word about verification, or irreversibility, or timelines.
All North Korean leader
Kim Jong Un really needed from his unprecedented summit with U.S.
President Donald Trump on Tuesday was to keep his nuclear arsenal
intact for the time being and get a decent handshake photo to show he has truly
arrived on the world stage.
To probably even his own
surprise, he got that and a whole lot more.
While offering no solid
promises to abandon his hard-won nuclear arsenal any time soon, Kim got to
stand as an equal with the leader of the world’s most powerful nation, received
indications that the future of joint U.S.-South Korea military maneuvers may be
in doubt and was showered with effusive praise from a president who just last
year derided him as “little rocket man.”
If he was forced to
negotiate by U.S. pressure, it certainly wasn’t obvious. And if any skeptics of
the diplomatic campaign he launched with his neighbors early this year remain
inside his regime back home, the summit went a long way toward sidelining them
even further.
All of this from a
34-year-old leader who was widely written off as too young and too
inexperienced to last very long when he assumed power after his enigmatic
father, Kim Jong Il, died in late 2011....
Though the leaders
mentioned in a joint statement the need for the complete denuclearization of
the Korean Peninsula, the wording is ominously vague and, it could be argued,
doesn’t go any further than the North’s previous promises. Whether Trump’s
claim that Kim is devoted to the process remains to be seen.
And, it’s safe to
assume, that is just fine with Kim.
He got other gifts from
Trump as well…..
Meanwhile the odd political meme popped up and cartoons began to appear poking fun at Trump's claims.
Meme found at Twitter, cartoons by Sean Leahy, Cathy Wilcox and Matt Golding.
Labels:
US-North Korea relations
Wednesday 13 June 2018
Trump versus the world
US President Donald J. Trump attended all photo opportunities on first day of the G7 Summit in Canada, but reportedly appeared inattentive during some of the working sessions, arrived late for a working breakfast and left the country before dinner on the second day of three day gathering.
His early departure avoided further climate change discussions, challenging interactions such as this image caught on camera and, being still physically at the summit when he publicly refused to sign the 44th G7 Communique set out below.
Photograph by Jecsco Denzel
Before boarding the plane to leave this summit Trump threatened an all-out trade war.
It appears Economics 101 is a little beyond the intellectual reach of Donald Trump. Though I am certain one section of the Executive Office of the President of the United States, the Office of the United States Trade Representative, would at least have attempted to inform his senior staff that the economic loss to America in the type of trade war he is threatening would be in the trillions of dollars, with an accompanying reduction in consumer choice and a probable rise in unemployment.
44th G7 Communique
LA
MALBAIE, Quebec (Reuters) - 1. We, the Leaders of the G7, have come together in
Charlevoix, Quebec on June 8–9, 2018, guided by our shared values of freedom,
democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights and our commitment to
promote a rules-based international order. As advanced economies and leading
democracies, we share a fundamental commitment to investing in our citizens and
meeting their needs and to responding to global challenges. We collectively
affirm our strong determination to achieve a clean environment, clean air, and
clean water. We are resolved to work together in creating a healthy,
prosperous, sustainable and fair future for all.
Investing
in Growth that Works for Everyone
2.
We share the responsibility of working together to stimulate sustainable
economic growth that benefits everyone and in particular those most at risk of
being left behind. We welcome the contribution of technological change and
global integration to global economic recovery and increased job creation. The
global economic outlook continues to improve, but too few citizens have
benefited from that economic growth. While resilience against risk has improved
among emerging market economies, recent market movements remind us of potential
vulnerabilities. We will continue monitoring market developments and using all
policy tools to support strong, sustainable, balanced and inclusive growth that
generates widespread prosperity. We reaffirm our existing exchange rate
commitments. We commit to promoting smart, sustainable and high-quality
investments – such as in infrastructure – to boost growth and productivity and
create quality jobs. Economic Growth is fundamental to raising living
standards. We also recognize that economic output alone is insufficient for
measuring success and acknowledge the importance of monitoring other societal
and economic indicators that measure prosperity and well-being. We are
committed to removing the barriers that keep our citizens, including women and
marginalized individuals, from participating fully in the global economy. We
endorse the Charlevoix Commitment on Equality and Economic Growth which
reinforces our commitment to eradicate poverty, advance gender equality, foster
income equality, ensure better access to financial resources and create decent
work and quality of life for all.
3.
In order to ensure that everyone pays their fair share, we will exchange
approaches and support international efforts to deliver fair, progressive,
effective and efficient tax systems. We will continue to fight tax evasion and
avoidance by promoting the global implementation of international standards and
addressing base erosion and profit shifting. The impacts of the digitalization
of the economy on the international tax system remain key outstanding issues.
We welcome the OECD interim report analyzing the impact of digitalization of
the economy on the international tax system. We are committed to work together
to seek a consensus based solution by 2020.
4.
We acknowledge that free, fair, and mutually beneficial trade and investment,
while creating reciprocal benefits, are key engines for growth and job
creation. We recommit to the conclusions on trade of the Hamburg G20 Summit, in
particular, we underline the crucial role of a rules-based international
trading system and continue to fight protectionism. We note the importance of
bilateral, regional and plurilateral agreements being open, transparent,
inclusive and WTO-consistent, and commit to working to ensure they complement
the multilateral trade agreements. We commit to modernize the WTO to make it
more fair as soon as possible. We strive to reduce tariff barriers, non-tariff
barriers and subsidies.
5.
We will work together to enforce existing international rules and develop new
rules where needed, to foster a truly level playing field, addressing in
particular non-market oriented policies and practices, and inadequate
protection of intellectual property rights such as forced technology transfer
or cyber enabled theft. We call for the start of negotiations – this year – to
develop stronger, international rules on market-distorting industrial subsidies
and trade distorting actions by state-owned enterprises. We also call on all
members of the Global Forum on Steel Excess Capacity to fully and promptly
implement its recommendations. We stress the urgent need to avoid excess
capacity in other sectors such as aluminum and high technology. We call on the
International Working Group on Export Credits to develop a new set of
guidelines for government supported export credits, as soon as possible in
2019.
6.
To support growth and equal participation that benefits everyone, and ensure
our citizens lead healthy and productive lives, we commit to supporting strong,
sustainable health systems that promote access to quality and affordable
healthcare and to bringing greater attention to mental health. We support
efforts to promote and protect women’s and adolescents’ health and well-being
through evidence based healthcare and health information. We recognize the
World Health Organization’s vital role in health emergencies, including through
the Contingency Fund for Emergencies and the World Bank’s Pandemic Emergency
Financing Facility, and emphasize their need for further development and
continued and sustainable financing. We recommit to support our 76 partners to
strengthen their implementation of the International Health Regulations,
including through their development of costed national action plans and the use
of diverse sources of financing and multi-stakeholder resources. We will
prioritize and coordinate our global efforts to fight against antimicrobial
resistance, in a “one health” approach. We will accelerate our efforts to end
tuberculosis, and its resistant forms. We reconfirm our resolve to work with
partners to eradicate polio and effectively manage the post-polio transition.
We affirm our support for a successful replenishment of the Global Fund in
2019.
7.
Public finance, including official development assistance and domestic resource
mobilization, is necessary to work towards the achievement of the Sustainable
Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda, but alone is insufficient to support the
economic growth and sustainable development necessary to lift all populations
from poverty. As a result, we have committed to the Charlevoix Commitment on
Innovative Financing for Development to promote economic growth in developing
economies and foster greater equality of opportunity within and between
countries. We will continue to invest in quality infrastructure with open
access. Given rising debt levels in Low Income Countries and the importance of
debt sustainability, we call for greater debt transparency not only from Low
Income Debtor countries, but also emerging sovereign lenders and private
creditors. We support the ongoing work of the Paris Club, as the principal
international forum for restructuring official bilateral debt, towards the
broader inclusion of emerging creditors. We recognize the value in development
and humanitarian assistance that promotes greater equality of opportunity, and
gender equality, and prioritizes the most vulnerable, and will continue to work
to develop innovative financing models to ensure that no one is left behind.
8.
We are resolved to ensure that all workers have access to the skills and
education necessary to adapt and prosper in the new world of work brought by
innovation through emerging technologies. We will promote innovation through a
culture of lifelong learning among current and future generations of workers.
We will expand market-driven training and education, particularly for girls and
women in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields. We
recognize the need to remove barriers to women’s leadership and equal
opportunity to participate in all aspects of the labor market, including by
eliminating violence, discrimination and harassment within and beyond the
workplace. We will explore innovative new approaches to apprenticeship and
vocational learning, as well as opportunities to engage employers and improve
access to workplace training.
9.
We highlight the importance of working towards making social protection more
effective and efficient and creating quality work environments for workers,
including those in non-standard forms of work. Expanding communication and
collaboration between governments and businesses, social partners, educational
institutions and other relevant stakeholders will be essential for preparing
workers to adapt and thrive in the new world of work. To realize the benefits
of artificial intelligence (AI), we endorse the Charlevoix Common Vision for
the Future of Artificial Intelligence. We recognize that a human-centric
approach to AI has the potential to introduce new sources of economic growth,
bring significant benefits to our societies and help address some of our most
pressing challenges.
Advancing
Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment
10.
We recognize that gender equality is fundamental for the fulfillment of human
rights and is a social and economic imperative. However, gender inequality
persists despite decades of international commitments to eliminate these
differences. We will continue to work to remove barriers to women’s
participation and decision-making in social, economic and political spheres as
well as increase the opportunities for all to participate equally in all aspects
of the labor market. Our path forward will promote women’s full economic
participation through working to reduce the gender wage gap, supporting women
business leaders and entrepreneurs and recognizing the value of unpaid care
work.
11.
Equal access to quality education is vital to achieve the empowerment and equal
opportunity of girls and women, especially in developing contexts and countries
struggling with conflict. Through the Charlevoix Declaration on Quality
Education for Girls, Adolescent Girls and Women in Developing Countries, we
demonstrate our commitment to increase opportunities for at least 12 years of
safe and quality education for all and to dismantle the barriers to girls’ and
women’s quality education, particularly in emergencies and in conflict-affected
and fragile states. We recognize that marginalized girls, such as those with a
disability, face additional barriers in attaining access to education.
12.
Advancing gender equality and ending violence against girls and women benefits
all and is a shared responsibility in which everyone, including men and boys,
has a critical role to play. We endorse the Charlevoix Commitment to End Sexual
and Gender-Based Violence, Abuse and Harassment in Digital Contexts, and are
resolved to end all forms of sexual and gender-based violence. We strive for a
future where individuals’ human rights are equally protected both offline and
online; and where everyone has equal opportunity to participate in political,
social, economic and cultural endeavors.
Building
a More Peaceful and Secure World
13.
We share a responsibility to build a more peaceful and secure world,
recognizing that respect for human rights, the rule of law, and equality of
opportunity are necessary for lasting security and to enable economic growth
that works for everyone. The global security threats we face are complex and
evolving and we commit to working together to counter terrorism. We welcome the
outcome of the international conference on the fight against terrorist
financing held in Paris April 25-26, 2018. Foreign terrorist fighters must be
held accountable for their actions. We are committed to addressing the use of
the internet for terrorist purposes, including as a tool for recruitment,
training, propaganda and financing, and by working with partners such as the
Global Internet Forum for Counter Terrorism. We underscore the importance of
taking concrete measures to eradicate trafficking in persons, forced labor,
child labor and all forms of slavery, including modern slavery.
14.
Recognizing that countries that are more equal are also more stable, more
peaceful and more democratic, we are resolved to strengthen the implementation
of the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda. Gender-sensitive measures that
include women’s participation and perspectives to prevent and eradicate
terrorism are vital to effective and sustainable results, protection from
sexual and gender-based violence, and preventing other human rights abuses and
violations.
15.
We commit to take concerted action in responding to foreign actors who seek to
undermine our democratic societies and institutions, our electoral processes,
our sovereignty and our security as outlined in the Charlevoix Commitment on
Defending Democracy from Foreign Threats. We recognize that such threats,
particularly those originating from state actors, are not just threats to G7
nations, but to international peace and security and the rules-based
international order. We call on others to join us in addressing these growing
threats by increasing the resilience and security of our institutions,
economies and societies, and by taking concerted action to identify and hold to
account those who would do us harm.
16.
We continue to call on North Korea to completely, verifiably, and irreversibly
dismantle all of its weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and ballistic missiles
as well as its related programs and facilities. We acknowledge recent
developments, including North Korea’s announcement of a moratorium on nuclear
testing and ballistic missile launches, a commitment to denuclearization made
in the April 27 Panmunjom Declaration – assuming full implementation – and the
apparent closure of the Punggye-ri nuclear test site on May 24 but reiterate
the importance of full denuclearization. The dismantlement of all of its WMD
and ballistic missiles will lead to a more positive future for all people on
the Korean Peninsula and a chance of prosperity for the people of North Korea,
who have suffered for too long. However, more must be done and we call on all
states to maintain strong pressure, including through full implementation of
relevant UNSCRs, to urge North Korea to change its course and take decisive and
irreversible steps. In this context, we once again call upon North Korea to
respect the human rights of its people and resolve the abductions issue
immediately.
17.
We urge Russia to cease its destabilizing behavior, to undermine democratic
systems and its support of the Syrian regime. We condemn the attack using a
military grade nerve agent in Salisbury, United Kingdom. We share and agree
with the United Kingdom’s assessment that it is highly likely that the Russian
Federation was responsible for the attack, and that there is no plausible
alternative explanation. We urge Russia to live up to its international
obligations, as well as its responsibilities as a permanent member of the UN
Security Council, to uphold international peace and security. Notwithstanding,
we will continue to engage with Russia on addressing regional crises and global
challenges, where it is in our interests. We reiterate our condemnation of the
illegal annexation of Crimea and reaffirm our enduring support for Ukrainian
sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity within its internationally
recognized borders. We maintain our commitment to assisting Ukraine in
implementing its ambitious and necessary reform agenda. We recall that the
continuation of sanctions is clearly linked to Russia’s failure to demonstrate
complete implementation of its commitments in the Minsk Agreements and respect
for Ukraine’s sovereignty and we fully support the efforts within the Normandy
Format and of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe for a
solution to the conflict in Eastern Ukraine. Should its actions so require, we
also stand ready to take further restrictive measures in order to increase
costs on Russia. We remain committed to support Russian civil society and to
engage and invest in people-to-people contact.
18.
We strongly condemn the murderous brutality of Daesh and its oppression of
civilian populations under its control. As an international community, we
remain committed to the eradication of Daesh and its hateful ideology. In Syria
we also condemn the repeated and morally reprehensible use of chemical weapons
by the Syrian regime and by Daesh. We call on the supporters of the regime to
ensure compliance with its obligation to declare and dismantle remaining
chemical weapons. We deplore the fact that Syria assumed the Presidency of the
Conference on Disarmament in May, given its consistent and flagrant disregard
of international non-proliferation norms and agreements. We reaffirm our
collective commitment to the Chemical Weapons Convention and call on all States
to support the upcoming Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons
(OPCW) special Conference of States Parties and to work together to strengthen
the ability of the OPCW to promote the implementation of the Convention. We
call upon those who have yet to do so to join the International Partnership
Against the Use of Chemical Weapons. We call for credible, inclusive and
non-sectarian governance in Syria, facilitated by free and fair elections held
to the highest international standards of transparency and accountability, with
all Syrians, including members of the diaspora, eligible to participate.
19.
We remain concerned about the situation in the East and South China Seas and
reiterate our strong opposition to any unilateral actions that could escalate
tensions and undermine regional stability and the international rules-based
order. We urge all parties to pursue demilitarization of disputed features. We
are committed to taking a strong stance against human rights abuse, human
trafficking, and corruption across the globe, especially as it impacts
vulnerable populations and we call upon the international community to take
strong action against these abuses all over the world. We welcome the recent
commitments made by Myanmar and we pledge to coordinate efforts to build
lasting peace and support democratic transition in Myanmar, particularly in the
context of the ongoing Rohingya crisis, to allow safe and unhindered
humanitarian access and the safe, voluntary, and dignified return of refugees
and displaced people. We are deeply concerned about the lack of respect for
human rights and basic democratic principles in Venezuela, as well as the
spiraling economic crisis and its humanitarian repercussions. We express our
concern at the continuous deterioration of the situation in Yemen and renew our
call for all parties to fully comply with international humanitarian law and
human rights law.
20.
Recognizing the threat Iran’s ballistic missile program poses to international
peace and security, we call upon Iran to refrain from launches of ballistic
missiles and all other activities which are inconsistent with UNSCR 2231 –
including all annexes – and destabilizing for the region, and cease proliferation
of missile technology. We are committed to permanently ensuring that Iran’s
nuclear program remains peaceful, in line
21.
We remain concerned about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, especially in the
light of recent events. We support the resumption without delay of substantive
peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians aimed at achieving a negotiated
solution that ensures the peace and security for both parties. We stress the
importance of addressing as soon as possible the dire and deteriorating
humanitarian and security situation in the Gaza strip.
22.
Africa’s security, stability, and sustainable development are high priorities
for us, and we reiterate our support for African-led initiatives, including at
a regional level. We reiterate our commitment to work in partnership with the
African continent, supporting the African Union Agenda 2063, to realize
Africa’s potential. We will promote African capabilities to better prevent,
respond to, and manage crisis and conflicts and to strengthen democratic
institutions. We reiterate our commitment to the stabilization, unity and
democracy of Libya, which is key for the stability of the Mediterranean region
and of Europe. We support the efforts of the Special Representative of the UNSG
Salamé in pursuing an inclusive political process founded on his Action Plan
and we encourage all Libyan and regional actors to uphold their constructive
engagement as outlined in the June 2018 UNSC Presidential statement. We support
the efforts of the Presidency Council and the GNA to consolidate State
institutions.
Working
Together on Climate Change, Oceans and Clean Energy
23.
A healthy planet and sustainable economic growth are mutually beneficial, and
therefore, we are pursuing global efforts towards a sustainable and resilient
future that creates jobs for our citizens. We firmly support the broad
participation and leadership of young people, girls and women in promoting
sustainable development. We collectively affirm our strong determination to
achieve a clean environment, clean air, clean water and healthy soil. We commit
to ongoing action to strengthen our collective energy security and demonstrate
leadership in ensuring that our energy systems continue to drive sustainable
economic growth. We recognize that each country may chart its own path to
achieving a low-emission future. We look forward to adopting a common set of
guidelines at UNFCCC COP 24.
24.
Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the European
Union reaffirm their strong commitment to implement the Paris Agreement,
through ambitious climate action, in particular through reducing emissions
while stimulating innovation, enhancing adaptive capacity, strengthening and
financing resilience and reducing vulnerability, as well as ensuring a just
transition, including increasing efforts to mobilize climate finance from a
wide variety of sources. We discussed the key role of energy transitions
through the development of market based clean energy technologies and the
importance of carbon pricing, technology collaboration and innovation to
continue advancing economic growth and protect the environment as part of
sustainable, resilient and low-carbon energy systems, as well as financing
adaptive capacity. We reaffirm the commitment that we have made to our citizens
to reduce air and water pollution and our greenhouse gas emissions to reach a
global carbon-neutral economy over the course of the second half of the
century. We welcome the adoption by the UN General Assembly of a resolution
titled “Towards a Global Pact for the Environment” and look forward to the
presentation of a report by the Secretary-General in the next General Assembly.
25.
Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the European
Union will promote the fight against climate change through collaborative
partnerships and work with all relevant partners, in particular all levels of
government; local, Indigenous, remote coastal and small island communities; as
well as with the private sector, international organizations and civil society
to identify and assess policy gaps, needs and best practices. We recognize the
contribution of the One Planet conferences to this collective effort.
26.
The United States believes sustainable economic growth and development depends
on universal access to affordable and reliable energy resources. It commits to
ongoing action to strengthen the worlds’ collective energy security, including
through policies that facilitates open, diverse, transparent, liquid and secure
global markets for all energy sources. The United States will continue to
promote energy security and economic growth in a manner that improves the health
of the world’s oceans and environment, while increasing public-private
investments in energy infrastructure and technology that advances the ability
of countries to produce, transport, and use all available energy sources based
on each country’s national circumstances. The United States will endeavor to
work closely with other countries to help them access and use fossil fuels more
cleanly and efficiently and help deploy renewable and other clean energy
sources, given the importance of energy access and security in their Nationally
Determined Contributions. The United States believes in the key role of energy
transitions through the development of market-based clean energy technologies
and the importance of technology collaboration and innovation to continue
advancing economic growth and protect the environment as part of sustainable,
resilient, and clean energy systems. The United States reiterates its
commitment to advancing sustainable economic growth, and underscores the
importance of continued action to reduce air and water pollution.
27.
Recognizing that healthy oceans and seas directly support the livelihoods, food
security and economic prosperity of billions of people, we met with the heads
of state or government of the Argentina, Bangladesh, Haiti, Jamaica, Kenya,
Marshall Islands, Norway, Rwanda (Chair of the African Union), Senegal,
Seychelles, South Africa, Vietnam, and the heads of the United Nations, the
International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, and the Organisation for Economic
Co-operation and Development, to discuss concrete actions to protect the health
of marine environments and ensure a sustainable use of marine resources as part
of a renewed agenda to increase global biodiversity protection. We endorse the
Charlevoix Blueprint for Healthy Oceans, Seas and Resilient Coastal
Communities, and will improve oceans knowledge, promote sustainable oceans and
fisheries, support resilient coasts and coastal communities and address ocean
plastic waste and marine litter. Recognizing that plastics play an important
role in our economy and daily lives but that the current approach to producing,
using, managing and disposing of plastics and poses a significant threat to the
marine environment, to livelihoods and potentially to human health, we the Leaders
of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, and the European Union
endorse the G7 Ocean Plastics Charter.
Conclusion
28.
We share the responsibility of working together to stimulate sustainable
economic growth that benefits everyone, and, in particular, those most at risk
of being left behind. We would like to thank our citizens, civil society, the
Gender Equality Advisory Council, the Formal G7 Engagement Groups and other
partners for their meaningful input to Canada’s presidency. We welcome the
offer of the President of France to host our next Summit in 2019 and his pledge
to continue G7 leadership on our common agenda.
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