Iran

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Tuesday, February 5, 2013By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad ready to go into space

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has declared he is prepared to risk his life and become the first human to be sent into space by his country’s fledgling space programme.

Iran declared last week it had successfully launched a monkey into space and retrieved it alive, which officials hailed as a major step towards their goal of sending humans into space.

The launch added to western concerns about Iran’s space programme because the same rocket technology could potentially be used to deliver a nuclear warhead on a ballistic missile.

“I am ready to be the first human to be sent to space by Iranian scientists,” Ahmadinejad told a group of scientists in Tehran gathered to celebrate the country’s space achievements, according to the semi-official Mehr news agency. Ahmadinejad was speaking at an event organised for the anniversary celebration of the 1979 Islamic revolution.

“Sending living things into space is the result of Iranian efforts and the dedication of thousands of Iranian scientists,” he said.

It was unclear if the suggestion was a serious one, but one group of Iranians declared they would do everything in their power to help Ahmadinejad achieve his goal.

Within minutes of the news breaking, a Facebook page was set up called “In support of sending Ahmadinejad into space”. (Source: The Guardian)

Tuesday September 11, 2012

By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator, Tuesday September 11, 2012

Canada abruptly cuts off ties with Tehran

The Harper government’s surprise decision Friday to suspend diplomatic relations with Iran is being seen as a pre-emptive move in anticipation of tougher action against the Islamic Republic.

Exactly what that will entail is unclear, with analysts predicting everything from Canada listing the infamous Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist group to preparing for an Israeli military strike against Iran.

The unexpected decision has prompted mixed reactions at home and abroad, with Israel’s prime minister offering applause but former Canadian ambassadors warning Canada has lost a vital “window” into what’s happening inside the Islamic Republic.

Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird, in Russia attending an APEC summit with Prime Minister Stephen Harper, announced Friday that Canada was closing its embassy in Tehran, primarily over concerns for the safety of Canadian diplomats.

“Our diplomats serve Canada as civilians and their safety is my Number 1 priority,” he told reporters. “They don’t sign up to be put in harm’s way.”

In addition, Baird said all Iranian diplomats in Canada had been ordered out of the country within the next five days.

The government also officially listed Iran as a terrorist state, meaning victims of terrorism can sue the Islamic Republic under Canadian law.

Baird did not specify what threats Canadian diplomats are facing, prompting rampant speculation among analysts. (Source: Ottawa Citizen)

 

Monday February 27, 2012

By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator, Monday February 27, 2012 Canada claims win in EU oilsands vote The Conservative government and Canadian energy sector are girding for several more months of intense lobbying after European Union officials Thursday blocked a draft fuel law that would label the oilsands a dirtier form of crude. The Canadian government is trumpeting the outcome - which saw more EU officials reject the fuel directive than support it - as a temporary victory in its ongoing efforts to persuade European Union countries not to slap a higher carbonemissions rating on oilsands crude compared toÊconventional oil. It also means Canada's threats of launching a trade war with the European Union and taking the proposal to the World Trade Organization are on hold for now. But the result has environmental groups digging in their heels in the "dirty oil" fight and even more determined to prevent bitumen-derived fuels from being used in Europe. With many of Canada's allies abstaining from the vote, European Union countries supporting the proposed Fuel Quality Directive failed to win enough support at a Thursday committee meeting of technical experts to have it pass. However, there also wasn't enough support to kill the measure, so a council of EU ministers will now vote on the fuel directive, likely in June - but not before the Conservative government and petroleum producers ratchet up their efforts to quash it outright. "There was a sound win," federal Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver said in an interview. "We will continue to advocate our position. It has obviously resonated."Ê(Source: Ottawa Citizen) Canada, European Union, EU, Oil, crude, Alberta, Stephen Harper, Vladimir Putin, Bashir Assad, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Russia, Syria, Iran, Otto Dix, seal hunt. Europe, pageant, runway, fashion

By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator, Monday February 27, 2012

Canada claims win in EU oilsands vote

The Conservative government and Canadian energy sector are girding for several more months of intense lobbying after European Union officials Thursday blocked a draft fuel law that would label the oilsands a dirtier form of crude.

The Canadian government is trumpeting the outcome – which saw more EU officials reject the fuel directive than support it – as a temporary victory in its ongoing efforts to persuade European Union countries not to slap a higher carbonemissions rating on oilsands crude compared to conventional oil.

It also means Canada’s threats of launching a trade war with the European Union and taking the proposal to the World Trade Organization are on hold for now.

But the result has environmental groups digging in their heels in the “dirty oil” fight and even more determined to prevent bitumen-derived fuels from being used in Europe.

With many of Canada’s allies abstaining from the vote, European Union countries supporting the proposed Fuel Quality Directive failed to win enough support at a Thursday committee meeting of technical experts to have it pass.

However, there also wasn’t enough support to kill the measure, so a council of EU ministers will now vote on the fuel directive, likely in June – but not before the Conservative government and petroleum producers ratchet up their efforts to quash it outright.

“There was a sound win,” federal Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver said in an interview. “We will continue to advocate our position. It has obviously resonated.” (Source: Ottawa Citizen)