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Canada Successfully Destroys Parody Websites
Climate Policy Remains Deplorable
The government of Canada has used strong-arm tactics to shut down two parody websites criticizing Canada's poor environmental policy, taking down 4500 other websites in the process.
The Canadian image has been well-tarnished by its current climate policies and especially egregious, in the eyes of environmentalists, is Canada's defense of its tar sands industry. (Greenpeace image) The two websites, "enviro-canada.ca" and "ec-gc.ca", are "directly connected to a hoax which misleads people into believing that the Government of Canada will take certain actions in relation to environmental matters," wrote Mike Landreville from Environment Canada in an email to the German Internet Service Provider (ISP) Serverloft. "We trust you appreciate the importance of avoiding confusion among the public concerning Canadian governmental affairs and that you will assist us in preventing this hoax from spreading further."
In a remarkable overstepping of bounds, Landreville also asked the ISP to "make every effort to prevent any further attempts concerning other environment-related domains (enviro, ec-gc, etc.) originating from your servers."
In response to Environment Canada's request, Serverloft immediately turned off a whole block of IP addresses, knocking out more than 4500 websites that had nothing to do with the parody sites or the activists who created them. Serverloft was shown no warrant, and never called the web hosting company about the shutdown.
"We are sorry to see that the Canadian government will not 'take certain actions' that could help stave off catastrophic climate change," said Mike Bonanno of The Yes Men, one of the groups that performed the "sophisticated hoax" two weeks ago that involved the fake sites. "And we are also sorry to see that they don't care so much for free speech."
"Surely the Canadian government has better things to do than shut down thousands of websites, beg the US for photo opps, and berate NGOs for things they haven't done," said Andy Bichlbaum of The Yes Men. "They could instead figure out reasonable ways of responding to their growing legion of critics."
The websites that Canada shut down were part of an elaborate "identity correction" carried out by anonymous Canadian activists, the Climate Debt Agents of Action Aid, and The Yes Men. They used press releases and fake websites to announce that Canada would adopt science-based emission targets - reducing emissions by 40% over 1990 levels by 2020 and 80% by 2050 - and would pay the countries most impacted by climate change a proportional amount of the $600 billion total recommended by the United Nations to mitigate and adapt to climate change. They even used a replica of the UN conference center podium to show "Uganda" reacting with glee to the plan, before seeing their "tragic hopes" dashed.
Canada had prepared for just such an eventuality by creating a so-called "Climate Change War Room," a special office tasked with delivering rapid-response messaging to any negative media coverage around Canada's role at the Copenhagen climate change negotiations. Despite these efforts, last week's flurry of parody announcements, which the prime minister's office called a "childish prank," received enormous media attention across Canada and caused at least two embarrassing media moments for Canadian high officials.
Canada has been heavily criticized for its increasingly deplorable climate policy, and this year in Copenhagen was awarded the "Colossal Fossil" prize for worst behavior in the COP-15 negotiations. The group giving the award, the Climate Action Network, is a global coalition of more than 500 organizations working on climate change.
52 Comments so far
Show AllRetaliation is suggested. Can we organize a way to take down Canadian government websites? Or will the Mounties be pounding on our doors?
The RCMP doesn't have the budget for that.
Harper is a fascist, but understand that once he is out of power the next head of state will not likely make the same errors concerning the environment. The image of Canada has been dragged through the mud and as a Canadian I think it is a good thing: we need to have the world understand that the actions of our government are deplorable and, in the 21st century, completely unacceptable. If international brow-beating is required than I say give em hell. I didn't vote for Harper. I didn't ask for this, but if a beating is needed to get things back on the compassionate path than bring it: We can take it.
Mark, what makes you so sure that the next PM "will not likely make the same errors concerning the environment"? In my humble opinion, that's what most Americans thought when they put Obama in power. No further elaboration is necessary. We know what happened in Copenhagen.
see my comment at the top.
As soon as the industrial growth society patriarchs feel threatened they will increase your taxes, borrow more from the unborn, and GIVE the RCMP the budget for that.
I see that Canada has decided to follow the US into the realms of fascistic depravity.
q
Canadian Prime Minister Harper is doing Obama, Dubya and other US fascists proud !
Just(ly) Cuck the Fanucks!
It was only a short while ago that our brother up north was young and innocent.
He's growing up to be quite the darling fascist.
They should have let the French take over. English speakers the world over can be touchy and snotty. It must be something in the language.
Does Canada have the guillotine? just asking.
america and canada...those wacky, runaway british bastard-ingrates...
when they 'discovered' this continent, the phrase New World was appropriate in more ways than one...
Gd work Yesmen! Liked your stunt.
Still there's no surprise they took them down; they "should" take them down. That's their job after all. So you'll find a new way.
Hmmmm, I question your figure about 4500 other sites removed. Smells like a new yesmen hoax? How could anyone come up with a figure like that? Disinformation's not the same as parody. If that happened say something about who said it. We're all trying to get at reality here.
The only way to tell anything is to see the raw data. CD, or someone, please give links so we can see the original sites, parodies and (a sampling of) the sites shut down, in archived form, new pages from the Yes Men, etc.
I appreciate the satire and social comment accomplished by the fake websites, but if the sites are making fraudulent claims about a government's plans and policies, doesn't the government have a right and an obligation to set things straight?
That said, I'm not surprised that the Harper government dealt with things in such a heavy handed fashion. It's their usual style.
As long as the claims or website are such that it is recognizable as parody by a reasonably informed person, they definitely DO NOT! In the US anyway, parody is not only protected free speech, but it is "fair use" under copyright law, with considerable precedent.
In the US you are correct, it would be protected yet in Canada it is not and Canada is a more free place than the US? Seems a lot the same or worse just now.
I expect this will have its run through the courts and might well be declared Unconstitutional.
A recnt court case on libel vastly expanded what Jouranlists are allowed to say in an investigation, this extended by the courts to Bloggers as well.
I agree. The sites would seem to be protected by the recent Supreme court decision relating to fair comment, although to really determine that it would be necessary for the government to sue the Yes men for libel/defamation and to have the case heard in Federal court.
Clearly the real culprit here is the German ISP who on the basis of a "please take down the sites" on government letterhead just caved in.
Why should the government have an obligation to set things straight in that fashion? They are free and have ample resources to make corrections, to come out and say "We have no intention of doing anything effective about global warming" or "We do not plan to cut emissions" or "We really want the oil in the shale" or "That website is very misleading". The real dangers to the public are the lack of a good policy, the capricious extra-legal shutting down satirical criticism, and the collateral damage to other websites.
If false representations were a reason for shutting down enterprises, we would not have an industry or a politician left standing.
Joe
Yes, Joe, you've got it! Now we have a way to shut down the US and Canadian governments, Monsanto, Exxon, et al. Somebody get to work on that immediately!
get over yourself max
Small surprise. Canada being corrupted by oil dollars.
Of course, if they had refused to destroy their land for a few barrels of oil, we would have no choice but to invade and get that oil from them. Welcome to 21st Century politics. Oil over everything. Until it runs out and we're screwed on a hot planet with nowhere to go.
No need to invade you already own us lock stock and barrel
you mean they own Alberta. BC, Onterrible, and the Territories (not that too many people live there of course) aren't going to allow America to take over without some form of resistance.
when you ask for and get speech codes, don't whine when it bites YOU in the -ss!
Pity the poor Canadian, in Canada the USA mini-me.
This is an encouraging article for several reasons:
1. The power of the web and its ability to reach over, around, and beyond "official sources of information".
2. The paranoia of a government that can't tolerate being mocked or satirized.
3. The lingering suspicion that maybe this entire story is a pr hoax and that we are being conned yet again by the yes men as a preemptive ploy to publicize their next anticipated gag.
It sure beats readeing about the latest shenanigans from the Congress or the daily mental flatulence of the White House. Carry on yes men what we need in this time of cold darkness are some more good belly-laughs!
Poet
The good news is that Harper is now an even bigger embarrasment to the entire country, and his minority of neandeathals will not survive another election.
Yeah, but are the Tweedledee Liberals much better? Even the NDP is rather compromised. Maybe the Bloc could do the job...
"[Canada created] a so-called 'Climate Change War Room,' a special office tasked with delivering rapid-response messaging to any negative media coverage around Canada's role at the Copenhagen climate change negotiations."
Mmmmm. One would think that a conscious and conscientious government would create such an office to combat climate change.
Good one, WTF.
And next week Exxon will announce it is shutting down all worldwide oil facilities, and West Virginia is planning on becoming carbon neutral by 2012.
According to a Charleston, WV billboard put up by Walker Machinery, they’re already mining "Clean, Carbon Neutral Coal," which I imagine must be something akin to dehydrated water.
Hacktivists are listening !
I LOVE IT. HOPE IT CATCHES ON. WE NEED MORE OF THEM!
People who object to the spreading of malignant falsehood ('actual malice': reckless disregard for truth or falsity) fail to comprehend that, like all rights, the right of Free Speech is not absolute - with all rights come responsibilities. The classic example is that no one has the right to falsely shout "Fire!" in a crowded theater then claim it was just a joke or a 'parody'. This is the law in all free nations regardless of what ignorant SHOUTING gossips may contend as a defense to defenseless ignorant, malignant, gossip.
Get over yourself!
Arouete,
You're right of course---in principle---but what meaning do laws like this have when government and business collaborate in not only ignoring their responsibility but back up their lies with enormous wealth, control of mass media and draconian punishment?
And from another angle, the only rights you have are the ones you demand. Like invoking the 5th amendment when asked to testify against yourself. If this is a true story of censorship there should be some mechanism of recourse for redress of grievences. There is a fair use (comedy exclusionary) rule. But this is not a copyright infringement. I think this situation gets more into the realm of propaganda, but WTF do I know?
It is complicated more by international entities that do or may not subscribe to the US Constitution and the BOR. There must be some cooperation of international law enforcement, however, because recently some Russian guys who hacked into CitiCorp got nailed. http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2009/dec/22/russian-hackers-citigroup-cyber-security
Well, maybe not "nailed"....
Take down Canadian websites? For this minor problem?
It seems more reality oriented to take down US.gov sites...after all we have almost 50 years or more of lying to the American public...and just look at the last 10 and now Obama's already growing legacy of war mongering...and lying more egregiously.
Oh, my, Canada has so much to catch up with...we are leagues ahead and already fascist...just no body is looking up the definition and seeing that the reality of our geopolitical/corporate controlled life fits the definition.
Canada? Small potatoes...at least for awhile. I wonder what they will say when we force ourselves on them for oil?
Get "The" kit, as they say in the ER. "Get the kit!!"
The US is already getting most Canadian oil, and Americans have owned most Canadian business for several decades.
Should Canadians want independence from USA-an empire, action would seem past due.
Canada Canada,Such a disappointment these days.
At the start of the Iraq war,Canada sent one of their ancient battleships to join in,seemed even with reluctance,which broke down and had to return while somewhere far out in the ocean.I was very impressed by their humour and stance on the war .They also have consistently welcomed our vets who refuse to be deployed.However they have succumbed to a warwhore obama style weakling greed position
Canada seems to have a more tolerant attitude towards CUBA.
Still,I am regularly surprised by their nastiness.(I mean their GOVERNMENT ) not the fine Canucks.OBOMBA'S FIRST VISIT WAS straight to Canada,whereupon the moron called Canada "sexy" Some examples of their fascism,
(1)Brit MP George Galloway, has been BANNED from Canada
(2)They thuggishly mistreated righteous Amy Goodman.
(3)Their appalling WELCOMING WITH THE OPEN ARMS OF THE BUSHITELY WAR CRIMINAL, allowing him to make speeches for profit and arresting a Canadian who was trying to make a citizens arrest(the Canada I admire) and now they swipe at the beloved YES MEN.What is becoming of you Canada of the cold tundra? Could it be bleak blasts of sub zeros, altering your fine dispositions.
Harper government bought Canadians by cutting two cents off the GST.
Don't be absurd. Harper's government doesn't buy off anyone here: they do whatever they want. We've seen the only legitimate opposition (Liberals) crumble completely due poor leadership. Canada will become a world leader again in stewardship, sustainable development, and environmental protection once the Conservatives are out of power. The other parties know where the future lies and they are not about to repeat Harper's errors (favoring outmoded business interests at the cost of ecological health).
We long for the days of the government of Pierre Trudeau
Oh, Canada!
In a few years it will go back to Alberta being the black sheep, Ontario the glutton, Newfoundland the ignored, and the rest of this country doing its best to move forward.
Canada is a shallow fiefdom ruled by Big Oil,Banksters and CanWest Global. Canadians,and I am one, are spoiled brats too pre-occupied with hockey,inter-net porn,facebook,and sweatshop electronics to be bothered with issues concerning the environment and Afghanistan. Hey, as long as our teams win at hockey and the oil and beer are cheep enough, our Conservative Gov't can do whatever it wants. This country really is pathetic.
It's more pathetic - no downright idiotic - to paint an entire group of people with one brush. I'm Canadian and I don't give a damn about your silly list. Don't be such a fool. Get out and talk to people for crying out loud and you might learn that your pessimistic attitude is not helping things in any way shape or form.
Ok, so maybe the NEXT PM will be a stooge to business interests, but somewhere down the line some one is going to stand up and put his or her life on the line by demanding a new path and they will have overwhelming support from an educated and concerned citizenry. Right now it is quite clear that all contenders for leadership are frauds who will not sway from business as usual. Look at the liberals: if Ignatieff is the best they have to offer than they are hopeless. The NPD have Layton who can say whatever he wants since there is likely no way he'll ever see popular support. The Green leader was a tool and basically gave up on her own party when she decided to run in a riding she had 0% chance of winning. These people are not leaders. Leaders make sacrifices and not one of the old guard are prepared to do that. What I am sure of is change brought on by youth maturing and taking over responsibility older generations. Sustainability is profitable and the new guard are going to recognize this and seize upon it, mark my words, we will see positive sweeping changes and unfortunately they are likely based solely on pecuniary considerations.
Like what happened in Rome as Republic became Empire, markus? For a while the oligarchic Senate and repressive dictatorships (which started as a temporary, appointed position) alternated with reformist movements, but it became increasingly violent, the reformist periods ending first with assassinations and then with massacre.
For a while, even during the rule of the first few emperors there were calls and movements for restoration of the Republic, but after a while most of that died down and the corruption and militarism got not-quite steadily worse for centuries, even as it collapsed from within and was chipped away from the outside. Read the history. The parallels will amaze you. Many put their lives on the line, but after the first few swings back and forth Roman character hardened and there was never any chance of real reform.
As Mark Twain said, history may not repeat itself, but it certainly rhymes. It's up to us for now, but for how long do we have a real chance of restoring democracy above or below the border?