Canadian Peacekeeping

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Kurtis Clark Mrs. Vendrimini May 13th 2015 CHC2D Canada- UN Activities and Canadian Identity In the United Nations (UN), Canada plays a very important role in peacekeeping operations, foreign aid and in international agreements. Canada has been a member of the UN since 1945. Canadian, Lester. B. Pearson invented UN peacekeepers as a response to the 1956 Suez crisis but Canada has been participating in peacekeeping missions early as 1946(Wood1-2). When it comes to international agreements, Canada is an active participant and has signed various treaties over the years. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) is an example of an environmental treaty Canada has signed. The Mine Ban Treaty is an example of a human rights…show more content…
Peace keeping was founded in 1956 as a solution to the Suez crisis (Wood1). Since the start, Canada has demonstrated its commitment to peacekeeping. As of 2003 Canada has contributed 125000 Canadian peacekeepers to UN mission all over the world and has been part of 53 missions, 35 of them in the 1990s era (Wood1-3). Two current missions are operation Gladius and Artemis. Operation Gladius has 3 Canadians participating in observing a ceasefire on the Israel-Syria border. Operation Artemis has 6 Canadian ships patrolling the Maritimes on an anti-terrorism mission. With respect to research and development, Canada has done its share. Canada has complied for the study of the UN making 20 recommendations, 14 were accepted (Wood2). In 1994 Canada setup a training camp in Nova Scotia for peacekeeping for Canadians as well as international peacekeepers. Over the years Canadians have either been recognized for there contributions to the UN for peacekeeping or holding important leadership positions on missions (UN Post 1956 1, 4). In 1957 Lester B Pearson won a Nobel Peace Prize for his solution to the Suez crisis. Canadian Lt. Gen. Romeo Dallaire led the UN peacekeeping forces into Rwanda. The reason was to find peace between the two warring sides, the Tootsies and Hutus. Peacekeeping has had both positive and negative impacts on the Canadian identity. Some of the positive impacts are that the Canadian Gov. Gen. handed out 89…show more content…
The analysis below will point out three initiatives: environmental, human rights and cultural. The United Nations convention on the law of the sea (UNCLOS) is an environmental treaty that governs the many aspects of ocean affairs including fisheries, navigation, marine pollution and ocean research. The treaty was signed by Bill Graham on November 6th 2003. It was put into effect November 16th 1994. The impact on the Canadian identity is that it shows Canada cares but it also gives Canada a voice on important decisions regarding the issues surrounding the oceans (Law of the sea1-2). The Mine Ban treaty is a human rights treaty that’s bans all use and production of mines and the group enforcing this is the International Campaign to Ban landmines. The treaty was signed in Ottawa 1997 and put into effect on March 1st 1999.the impact is positive as Canada is the inventor and one of the biggest contributors to the safety of this world so it only makes sense to sign it in the capital and Canada signed it because it continues to show how Canada cares for the safety and wellbeing of others

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