Lindsay (![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} onelessthing) wrote,@ 2009-03-26 17:04:00 |
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St-Pierre residents lobby for return of freighter link with Newfoundland
I would of course say something of this sort, having studied there at the Francoforum for three months*, nonetheless: Bonne chance aux Saint-Pierrais et les Miquelonais pour cet effort!** Then again, it should be an easy enough opinion to be held by anyone from this province, regardless of ties to the French archipelago.
I don't know what if any role Canadian officials might play in applying pressure on the French government to replace the Cap Blanc*** but if there is any means for this province to lend itself to this endeavour to maintain the traditional and economic link between Newfoundland and Saint-Pierre, I say it should be done. The commerce of a tiny string of islands with not much more than 6000 people in total population mightn't seem like much, but in these times there are towns in this province that cannot afford to lose the income. Which is to say nothing of the priceless nature of the historical connections of sentiment and tradition that exist between these communities.
All that being said, I don't imagine it likely that I'll find a very powerful chorus of support in championing the Saint-Pierrais cause on this particular front, but I intend to do so nonetheless:
France, Canada poised for battle over Atlantic seabed rights
The Canadian federal government, along with the Newfoundland and Labrador provincial government will naturally fight tooth and nail to stop this issue from even being reopened, let alone negotiated -- as well one would expect. Once we get into this, it's natural to assume that France will exploit every means possible to obtain the greatest profit possible in its own best interest. However, saying I think it incumbent upon our governments to do battle with the French government in order to prevent them from claiming too much, is not the same as saying I hope that the French, and specifically the Saint-Pierrais, score nothing in this.
I have considerable sympathy for the Saint-Pierrais and Miquelonais, and not just because I spent some time there. For my part, I see in the struggles of the Saint-Pierrais many echoes of longstanding fight of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians to win our own place; seeking improved economic conditions on our terms from the environment that has shaped us (and which we have shaped) for centuries. It occurs to me that, more than just self-interest and callousness implied by Newfoundland involvement in outright quashing the efforts of the Saint-Pierrais, such a stance is to invite hypocrisy as well.
The French government cannot be allowed to make a resource grab such that France displaces our own exploitation of the seabed off our coasts, but that's not to say that there isn't room for negotiation. If there is a means of settling this dispute that will lead to increased prosperity for the people of Saint-Pierre-Miquelon, without harming the overall prosperity of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, I would welcome it.
_____
*the spokesperson for the Saint-Pierre lobby group quoted in this story is one of the profs working there, as it happens.
*Translation: Good luck to the people of St-Pierre-Miquelon for this effort!
*The French cargo ship that serviced St-Pierre-Miquelon from ports in Newfoundland until it foundered early last December, when I was in Saint-Pierre. All four crew members -- Saint-Pierre locals -- were lost.
I would of course say something of this sort, having studied there at the Francoforum for three months*, nonetheless: Bonne chance aux Saint-Pierrais et les Miquelonais pour cet effort!** Then again, it should be an easy enough opinion to be held by anyone from this province, regardless of ties to the French archipelago.
I don't know what if any role Canadian officials might play in applying pressure on the French government to replace the Cap Blanc*** but if there is any means for this province to lend itself to this endeavour to maintain the traditional and economic link between Newfoundland and Saint-Pierre, I say it should be done. The commerce of a tiny string of islands with not much more than 6000 people in total population mightn't seem like much, but in these times there are towns in this province that cannot afford to lose the income. Which is to say nothing of the priceless nature of the historical connections of sentiment and tradition that exist between these communities.
All that being said, I don't imagine it likely that I'll find a very powerful chorus of support in championing the Saint-Pierrais cause on this particular front, but I intend to do so nonetheless:
France, Canada poised for battle over Atlantic seabed rights
The Canadian federal government, along with the Newfoundland and Labrador provincial government will naturally fight tooth and nail to stop this issue from even being reopened, let alone negotiated -- as well one would expect. Once we get into this, it's natural to assume that France will exploit every means possible to obtain the greatest profit possible in its own best interest. However, saying I think it incumbent upon our governments to do battle with the French government in order to prevent them from claiming too much, is not the same as saying I hope that the French, and specifically the Saint-Pierrais, score nothing in this.
I have considerable sympathy for the Saint-Pierrais and Miquelonais, and not just because I spent some time there. For my part, I see in the struggles of the Saint-Pierrais many echoes of longstanding fight of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians to win our own place; seeking improved economic conditions on our terms from the environment that has shaped us (and which we have shaped) for centuries. It occurs to me that, more than just self-interest and callousness implied by Newfoundland involvement in outright quashing the efforts of the Saint-Pierrais, such a stance is to invite hypocrisy as well.
The French government cannot be allowed to make a resource grab such that France displaces our own exploitation of the seabed off our coasts, but that's not to say that there isn't room for negotiation. If there is a means of settling this dispute that will lead to increased prosperity for the people of Saint-Pierre-Miquelon, without harming the overall prosperity of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, I would welcome it.
_____
*the spokesperson for the Saint-Pierre lobby group quoted in this story is one of the profs working there, as it happens.
*Translation: Good luck to the people of St-Pierre-Miquelon for this effort!
*The French cargo ship that serviced St-Pierre-Miquelon from ports in Newfoundland until it foundered early last December, when I was in Saint-Pierre. All four crew members -- Saint-Pierre locals -- were lost.
