https://vimeo.com/430922211

Yves Engler

Canada lost to Norway in its bid to win a seat on the UN Security Council. Many Canadians had signed a petition calling for just that - saying Canada did not deserve the seat. Yves Engler joins Paul Jay on theAnalysis.news podcast.

Note: Thanks to Eric for pointing out I got the facts wrong on the vote. There were two Western seats available, and they were won by Norway with 130 votes and Ireland with 128. Canada lost with 108 votes.

Transcript

Paul JayHi, I'm Paul Jay. And this is theAnalysis.news podcast.

Paul JayOn June 17th, Canada lost its bid to be elected to the UN Security Council. Norway received 130 votes; Ireland came in second with 114; and Canada, a somewhat distant third, with 108 votes. There are more than a few Canadians that were happy to see their government lose. In fact, there was a petition of well-known Canadians calling for Canada's defeat.

Paul JayThe petition says, among other things, Canada ranks among the 12th largest arms exporters, and its weapons have fueled conflicts across the globe, including the devastating war in Yemen. In a disappointing move, they say, Canada refused to join 122 countries represented at the 2017 UN conference to negotiate a legally binding instrument to prohibit nuclear weapons, leading towards their total elimination. And Canada refused to sign that. And for those of you that follow theAnalysis.news, you know that this is a constant topic with us and you know that I'm working with Daniel Ellsberg on a documentary series.

Paul JayTo give this a bit more context, most people that understand and follow the issue of nuclear weapons and the threat of nuclear war believe there is a 100 percent chance—not a chance, I guess, if you're at 100 percent—a certainty that if we continue on the path we're on, of expanding the building of nuclear weapons and not moving towards their elimination—they think it's a certainty. At some point, we are going to have a nuclear war. Whether it starts accidentally or otherwise, and that will be the end. So not to be part of that UN conference to negotiate a legally binding instrument and so on is outrageous.

Paul JayI recorded the following interview just a couple of days before the UN vote. So the tense in a few places might be wrong, but the reasons why people who signed the petition wanted Canada's defeat are very clear.

Paul JayAt any rate, now joining us to discuss the campaign to deny Canada this prestigious U.N. seat is Yves Engler. He is a Montreal-based activist and author. He has published 11 books, including his latest "House of Mirrors: Justin Trudeau's Foreign Policy." He's been dubbed Canada's version of Noam Chomsky. He's been called one of the most important voices on the Canadian left and in the mold of I.F. Stone and lots more good stuff. Thanks for joining us, Yves.

Yves EnglerThanks for having me.

Paul JayJustin Trudeau presents himself as a young, progressive, hip world leader. He even joins some of the protests in Ottawa, supporting the movement against police violence. Shouldn't the world want someone who, at the very least, seems more rational than Trump to have a seat at the UN Security Council?

Yves EnglerWell, more rational than Trump is a pretty low bar. No, I think it's quite clear that Canada doesn't deserve the support of progressive-minded people for a seat on the Security Council. The countries, Ireland and Norway, with which Canada is competing for the two seats for the Western European and Others Group, have much less damaging foreign policies.