One year on, Hong Kong politics yet to settle down - Anadolu Agency | Canada News Media
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One year on, Hong Kong politics yet to settle down – Anadolu Agency

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ANKARA 

A pro-Beijing lawmaker was elected to lead a key committee in Hong Kong’s Legislative Council (LegCo) on Monday, raising concerns that the legislature will clear the path for bills that aim to control basic human rights.   

Starry Lee of the DAB party, dubbed a “Beijing favorite,” was elected House Committee chairperson with an absolute majority of the vote amid protests from opposition democrat lawmakers, the Hong Kong Free Press website reported.   

The committee decides about business of the legislature.   

“There is concern right now among people that the new committee will prioritize the National Flag and National Emblem Bill,” said Chien-Yu Shih, who teaches politics and international relations in Hong Kong.  

He said the controversial bill, if passed, would make deliberate alterations to the anthem and derogatory performances punishable. Violators will be fined and jailed.  

Hong Kong, an autonomous region under China since 1998, has been witnessing protests since early June against the Carrie Lam administration’s move to legalize extradition to mainland China.   

The fresh resentment among people comes amid the novel coronavirus pandemic and follows months of protests in 2019 over the now dumped extradition bill brought by the Lam administration that left the city reeling, with international financial observers expressing concern over the economic prospects of the business hub.  

“Besides, there is a law which draws its inspiration from Article 23 of the Hong Kong Basic Law that calls on Hong Kong’s LegCo to pass its own National Security Law,” said Shih, who is also executive secretary of the Taiwan-based Association of Central Asian Studies.   

The article stipulates that Hong Kong “shall enact laws on its own to prohibit any act of treason, secession, sedition and subversion against the Central People’s Government (CPG) or theft of state secrets, to prohibit foreign political organizations or bodies from conducting political activities in the region, and to prohibit political organizations or bodies in the region from establishing ties with foreign organizations or bodies.”

“What we are witnessing over some time now is that the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government [China] in Hong Kong is increasingly interfering in the affairs of Hong Kong,” said the academic, “something that was not seen in past…Hong Kong authorities once attempted to justify the power of ‘supervision’ of the liaison office supervising Hong Kong affairs.”  

“Beijing is thinking to strike hard and with a heavy hand, and the time is near,” he said.   

He argued that the law regarding national security was delayed for years. 

“Why is there urgency now? That is why we have seen that lawmakers representing democrats, supporting the democracy movement have been arrested and are being sued…That is the first step towards mowing down dissent.”   

“If such a law is passed, there is fear among people, even those who work in government, that basic human rights will possibly be stripped away,” he said.   

He claimed the Chinese authorities were “working to purify, cleanse Hong Kong from those who express dissent…or at least scare others as not to speak in the future.”

China has held sovereignty rights over Hong Kong under the “One Country, Two Systems” policy ever since the UK handed over the city to Beijing in 1997.

“This policy is a Chinese strategy for integration. But from the Hong Kong side, it is an instrument to protect their own way of living. Hong Kong society in general and even government officials share a certain attitude as such. However, they pretend to be submissive to Beijing because they are part of their system,” he maintained. 

“There is a perception gap between Beijing and Hong Kong, and it is more visible than ever.”



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RFK Jr. says Trump would push to remove fluoride from drinking water. ‘It’s possible,’ Trump says

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PHOENIX (AP) — Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a prominent proponent of debunked public health claims whom Donald Trump has promised to put in charge of health initiatives, said Saturday that Trump would push to remove fluoride from drinking water on his first day in office if elected president.

Fluoride strengthens teeth and reduces cavities by replacing minerals lost during normal wear and tear, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The addition of low levels of fluoride to drinking water has long been considered one of the greatest public health achievements of the last century.

Kennedy made the declaration Saturday on the social media platform X alongside a variety of claims about the heath effects of fluoride.

“On January 20, the Trump White House will advise all U.S​. water systems to remove fluoride from public water,” Kennedy wrote. Trump and his wife, Melania Trump, “want to Make America Healthy Again,” he added, repeating a phrase Trump often uses and links to Kennedy.

Trump told NBC News on Sunday that he had not spoken to Kennedy about fluoride yet, “but it sounds OK to me. You know it’s possible.”

The former president declined to say whether he would seek a Cabinet role for Kennedy, a job that would require Senate confirmation, but added, “He’s going to have a big role in the administration.”

Asked whether banning certain vaccines would be on the table, Trump said he would talk to Kennedy and others about that. Trump described Kennedy as “a very talented guy and has strong views.”

The sudden and unexpected weekend social media post evoked the chaotic policymaking that defined Trump’s White House tenure, when he would issue policy declarations on Twitter at virtually all hours. It also underscored the concerns many experts have about Kennedy, who has long promoted debunked theories about vaccine safety, having influence over U.S. public health.

In 1950, federal officials endorsed water fluoridation to prevent tooth decay, and continued to promote it even after fluoride toothpaste brands hit the market several years later. Though fluoride can come from a number of sources, drinking water is the main source for Americans, researchers say.

Officials lowered their recommendation for drinking water fluoride levels in 2015 to address a tooth condition called fluorosis, that can cause splotches on teeth and was becoming more common in U.S. kids.

In August, a federal agency determined “with moderate confidence” that there is a link between higher levels of fluoride exposure and lower IQ in kids. The National Toxicology Program based its conclusion on studies involving fluoride levels at about twice the recommended limit for drinking water.

A federal judge later cited that study in ordering the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to further regulate fluoride in drinking water. U.S. District Judge Edward Chen cautioned that it’s not certain that the amount of fluoride typically added to water is causing lower IQ in kids, but he concluded that mounting research points to an unreasonable risk that it could be. He ordered the EPA to take steps to lower that risk, but didn’t say what those measures should be.

In his X post Saturday, Kennedy tagged Michael Connett, the lead attorney representing the plaintiff in that lawsuit, the environmental advocacy group Food & Water Watch.

Kennedy’s anti-vaccine organization has a lawsuit pending against news organizations including The Associated Press, accusing them of violating antitrust laws by taking action to identify misinformation, including about COVID-19 and COVID-19 vaccines. Kennedy is on leave from the group but is listed as one of its attorneys in the lawsuit.

What role Kennedy might hold if Trump wins on Tuesday remains unclear. Kennedy recently told NewsNation that Trump asked him to “reorganize” agencies including the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health, the Food and Drug Administration and some agencies under the Department of Agriculture.

But for now, the former independent presidential candidate has become one of Trump’s top surrogates. Trump frequently mentions having the support of Kennedy, a scion of a Democratic dynasty and the son of former Attorney General Robert Kennedy and nephew of President John F. Kennedy.

Kennedy traveled with Trump Friday and spoke at his rallies in Michigan and Wisconsin.

Trump said Saturday that he told Kennedy: “You can work on food, you can work on anything you want” except oil policy.

“He wants health, he wants women’s health, he wants men’s health, he wants kids, he wants everything,” Trump added.

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Danielle Smith receives overwhelming support at United Conservative Party convention

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Danielle Smith receives overwhelming support at United Conservative Party convention

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America’s Election: What it Means to Canadians

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Americans and Canadians are cousins that is true. Allies today but long ago people were at loggerheads mostly because of the British Empire and American ambitions.

Canadians appreciate our cousins down south enough to visit them many millions of times over the year. America is Canada’s largest and most important trading partner. As a manufacturer, I can attest to this personally. My American clients have allowed our firm to grow and prosper over the past few decades. There is a problem we have been seeing, a problem where nationalism, both political and economic has been creating a roadblock to our trade relationship.

Both Democrats and Republicans have shown a willingness to play the “buy only American Made product” card, a sounding board for all things isolationist, nationalistic and small-mindedness. We all live on this small planet, and purchase items made from all over the world. Preferences as to what to buy and where it is made are personal choices, never should they become a platform of national pride and thuggery. This has brought fear into the hearts of many Canadians who manufacture for and service the American Economy in some way. This fear will be apparent when the election is over next week.

Canadians are not enemies of America, but allies and friends with a long tradition of supporting our cousins back when bad sh*t happens. We have had enough of the American claim that they want free trade, only to realize that they do so long as it is to their benefit. Tariffs, and undue regulations applied to exporters into America are applied, yet American industry complains when other nations do the very same to them. Seriously! Democrats have said they would place a preference upon doing business with American firms before foreign ones, and Republicans wish to tariff many foreign nations into oblivion. Rhetoric perhaps, but we need to take these threats seriously. As to you the repercussions that will come should America close its doors to us.

Tit for tat neighbors. Tariff for tariff, true selfish competition with no fear of the American Giant. Do you want to build homes in America? Over 33% of all wood comes from Canada. Tit for tat. Canada’s mineral wealth can be sold to others and place preference upon the highest bidder always. You know who will win there don’t you America, the deep-pocketed Chinese.

Reshaping our alliances with others. If America responds as has been threatened, Canadians will find ways to entertain themselves elsewhere. Imagine no Canadian dollars flowing into the Northern States, Florida or California? The Big Apple without its friendly Maple Syrup dip. Canadians will realize just how significant their spending is to America and use it to our benefit, not theirs.

Clearly we will know if you prefer Canadian friendship to Donald Trumps Bravado.

China, Saudi Arabia & Russia are not your friends in America. Canada, Japan, Taiwan the EU and many other nations most definitely are. Stop playing politics, and carry out business in an unethical fashion. Treat allies as they should be treated.

Steven Kaszab
Bradford, Ontario
skaszab@yahoo.ca

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