Ethical Oil and Freedom of Speech
September 22, 2011 | 3 Comments
I’m with the editors of the Ottawa Sun on this:
The oil the Arabian sheiks produce for pocketed billions — “conflict oil” as it is rightfully described by critics of the dictatorship — is as dirty as it comes when the kingdom’s many human rights violations are tossed on the scales of judgment. All the ad compares is the treatment of women in Canada to the treatment of women in Saudi Arabia, where they can’t drive, can’t vote, or even seek medical care without the permission of their male overlords.
The editors are responding to this story. Saudi Arabia isn’t happy about an ad by Ethical Oil called ‘Conflict Oil’, and they’ve lawyered up. The ‘offending’ ad highlights both the amount of oil Canada purchases from Saudi Arabia, and all the wretched human rights abuses within the kingdom. Unfortunately, their bully tactics have already had an affect; CTV has already pulled the ad.
It should be made clear that there is absolutely nothing wrong with this ad… at least nothing that would warrant infringing on Ethical Oil’s freedom of expression. Saudi Arabia’s response is completely in line with the transgressions highlighted in the ad. They have no concern for human rights; they have no concern for people.
Immigration Minister Jason Kenney was pretty much on point with his response, “Canada is a champion of freedom of speech. It’s a constitutional right. And we don’t take kindly to foreign governments threatening directly or indirectly Canadian broadcasters or media for giving voice to freedom of speech.”
Anyway, here’s the ad:
Tags: Conflict Oil > Ethical Oil > Freedom of Speech > Jason Kenney > Ottawa Sun > Saudi Arabia > Tar Sands
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3 Responses to “Ethical Oil and Freedom of Speech”
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September 23rd, 2011 @ 1:37 pm
I’m starting to feel a little sorry for Saudi Arabia. Nobody, left or right, ever seems to want to stick up for them. Sure they have a medieval system of government, and to say they are thin on the ground on human rights would be an understatement, but they are far from the most oppressive or murderous state in the region. Plus for we monarchists, they are a dream, as every second citizen seems to be a prince.
All in all, I prefer Canada, but Levant’s argument is so off-the-wall it’s embarassing.
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September 24th, 2011 @ 5:25 pm
It is quite humorous that such an ad appears thirty years too late; if this is a sample of ‘Ethical Oil’s’ attempts to market the Oil Sands, then it will take a lot more than this petty blood diamond approach. Levant is either high off those Albertan fumes, or genuinely believes the precipice of Saudi oil can be toppled by exposing its archaic rule. These humanitarians should acknowledge the foundation of U.S. hegemony is predicated by the unjust rule of sheiks that will bow to their demands, specifically access to cheap ‘blood oil’. I am certainly not a fan of Saudi Arabia, but this callous, pathetic, and ignorant undertaking tarnishes our already battered reputation in the Region.
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September 24th, 2011 @ 11:32 pm
The problem with the ad isn’t criticism of Saudi Arabia – it’s the assumption that any sort of oil is ethical.
Given what we know about climate change, there just isn’t any such thing as ‘ethical’ oil, regardless of the source.
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