[{"topic":"North America","id":"44063","proposer":"10383","edm":"2955","session":"2010-12","title":"Shaker Aamer","text":"That this House welcomes the demonstration in Parliament Square held on 16 April 2012 by the Save Shaker Aamer campaign to highlight the fact that British resident Shaker Aamer has been imprisoned without trial or charge for over 10 yearsin Guantanamo; and calls for a new initiative by the Government to secure his release and his return to his British family in the UK, given the worrying concern that his health is now seriously deteriorating to the point that his lawyers havestated that he is gradually dying in Guantanamo.","date":"2012-04-16","status":"o"},{"topic":"North America","id":"43732","proposer":"11093","edm":"2635","session":"2010-12","title":"Gabrielle Giffords","text":"That this House salutes the courage and leadership of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords over the last year; believes that she has been a shining example of democracy to people across the world and an example to all in her brave recovery; wishes her speed and success in completing her recovery over future months and years; and looks forward to her future re-involvement at the heart of US politics.","date":"2012-01-24","status":"o"},{"topic":"North America","id":"42093","proposer":"24910","edm":"1093","session":"2010-12","title":"Guantanamo Bay","text":"That this House notes with regret that President Obama's pledge to close the US Military Detention Centre at Guantnamo Bay by January 2010 is almost one year overdue and little closer to realisation; welcomes gestures by other European States to accommodate and receive innocent prisoners who have been cleared for release to help close the facility; notes with dismay that on 11 January 2011 the detention facility will have been open for nine years and that British resident Shaker Aamer has now been held there without charge or trial for almost the same length of time; urges the Government to step up its action to secure his release without further delay; and further notes the case of Ahmed Belbacha, previously resident in the UK and facing the imminent threat of forced return to his native Algeria where there are fears he will face abuse of his human rights; applauds the lead taken by countries such as Ireland, France, Spain, Germany and Bulgaria, who have accepted prisoners cleared for release from Guantnamo Bay by the US authorities on humanitarian grounds but who cannot return to their country of origin; and urges the Government to take similar measures to accept a number of such cleared prisoners.","date":"2010-11-25","status":"o"},{"topic":"North America","id":"42076","proposer":"24784","edm":"1085","session":"2010-12","title":"Detainees In Guantanamo Bay","text":"That this House is concerned about financial pay-outs, potentially of millions of pounds, to 16 terror suspects who were Guantanamo Bay detainees; notes for the record that many of the detainees have now admitted that they trained in terrorist camps in Afghanistan, with the intention of planning bomb plots, or other actions hostile to the UK; and is deeply concerned that the scale of the financial pay-outs is likely to dwarf any compensation paid to UK soldiers wounded in battle.","date":"2010-11-24","status":"o"},{"topic":"North America","id":"41854","proposer":"10141","edm":"873","session":"2010-12","title":"National Express And Trade Union Rights","text":"That this House deplores the continuing anti-union behaviour of management at UK-based National Express Group's North American yellow school bus subsidiaries; notes that National Express Group have declined to introduce a freedom of association policy, in order to protect the human rights of their employees as they seek to join a trade union of their choice; urges National Express Group to follow the example of their largest UK-based competitor in North America, First Group and adopt a freedom of association policy with independent oversight in its North American operations; and calls on the Government to take into account when tendering public contracts, or handing out public subsidies paid for by the taxpayer thebehaviour of companies that breach accepted international labour standards by refusing to recognise trade unions.","date":"2010-10-21","status":"o"},{"topic":"North America","id":"41833","proposer":"10383","edm":"854","session":"2010-12","title":"Justice For Oscar Grant Rally","text":"That this House sends a message of solidarity to the rally organised by the International Longshore and Warehouse Union to be held on 23 October 2010 to demand justice for Oscar Grant, a young black man killed by the Police at Fruitvale BART station in Oakland, California on New Year's Day 2009; and expresses its support for the call for justice in this case.","date":"2010-10-18","status":"o"},{"topic":"North America","id":"41313","proposer":"11199","edm":"373","session":"2010-12","title":"Canada Day","text":"That this House joins the people of Canada in celebrating their national day on 1 July 2010, which this year is taking place during the twenty-second visit to Canada by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II; notes that Canada Day celebrates the anniversary of the formation of the union of British North America provinces in a federation under the name of Canada on 1 July 1868; recognises the shared heritage and special relationship between the peoples of the UK and Canada; and calls upon the Government to continue to work to strengthen the close political, economic and cultural ties that bind together these two great nations and Commonwealth members who share Her Majesty the Queen as head of state and sovereign.","date":"2010-06-30","status":"o"},{"topic":"North America","id":"41210","proposer":"10220","edm":"278","session":"2010-12","title":"Bp And Bhopal","text":"That this House notes the US administration's insistence that BP set up an escrow fund of $20 billion to compensate the families of the 11 victims who died in the Deepwater Horizon disaster and to pay the full clean up costs as well as the indirect losses arising to US coastal businesses and livelihoods; recalls the Bhopal Gas tragedy in India where over 15,000 people died and approximately half a million people have suffered serious injury and long-term illness as a result of a leak of methyl isocyanate at the plant of American-owned Union Carbide Corporation and where a total settlement of less than half a billion dollars was made by the company; expresses its profound concern that the victims' recent request to President Obama for the extradition of Union Carbide Corporation CEO, Warren Anderson, has been rebuffed; and urges the US administration to show by its action that the same standards of corporate responsibility that apply to non-US companies in dealing with American citizens apply equally to American companies dealing with non-US citizens, and that the value of a life in India is worth no less than in the United States.","date":"2010-06-21","status":"o"},{"topic":"North America","id":"41122","proposer":"11309","edm":"199","session":"2010-12","title":"Us Administration And Bp","text":"That this House notes with concern reports that the US administration is seeking to stop dividend payments to shareholders of BP amid anger over the Gulf of Mexico oil spill; further notes the huge exposure of UK pension funds to BP; believes that the company must honour its commitment to the people affected by the disaster; and further believes that the Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs should intervene to raise their concerns with the UK's US allies.","date":"2010-06-10","status":"o"},{"topic":"North America","id":"41061","proposer":"24910","edm":"142","session":"2010-12","title":"Bp And Criminal Investigation Into The Deepwater Horizon Disaster","text":"That this House notes that following the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon rig off the Louisiana coast, which killed eleven rig workers, an estimated 504,000 to 798,000 gallons of oil are leaking into the Gulf of Mexico every day and to date at least 20 million gallons have spilled into the Gulf, affecting more than 70 miles of Louisiana's coastline; further notes that White House energy advisers have described this as the worst environmental disaster the United States has faced; welcomes the announcement that BP will be subject to a criminal investigation; and believes that BP must take full financial responsibility for both the short and long-term effects of the disaster.","date":"2010-06-03","status":"o"},{"topic":"North America","id":"41045","proposer":"10614","edm":"129","session":"2010-12","title":"Extradition Of Gary Mckinnon","text":"That this House welcomes the announcement of the Home Secretary that she is to review the medical evidence in the case of Mr Gary McKinnon prior to making a decision on his extradition to the United States; notes that this is in keeping with the unanimous recommendations of the Home Affairs select committee in the last Parliament which concluded that the Home Secretary does have the legal power to prevent this extradition, and the legal evidence submitted by Mr McKinnon's constituency Member of Parliament, the hon. Member for Southgate; and hopes that this review can be concluded as a matter of urgency to avoid any further anxiety for Mr McKinnon and his family.","date":"2010-06-02","status":"o"},{"topic":"North America","id":"40446","proposer":"10620","edm":"846","session":"2009-10","title":"Us Air Force's Kc-X Aircraft Tanker Programme","text":"That this House celebrates the important and longstanding historical ties between the UK and the US and the two nations' important strategic relationship in defence, security and trade; notes that defence trade between the US and UK amounts to approximately $2.5 billion per year and that the balance of US-UK defence exports is around 2 to 1 in the US's favour; further notes that the United States Air Force is currently seeking to procure a new fleet of air-to-air refuelling tankers known as KC-X and had selected a bid led by Northrop Grumman involving Airbus aircraft; further notes that these aircraft will be built in the US using wings and landing gear that are designed and manufactured by Airbus in the UK and refuelling systems supplied by Cobham in Dorset, thereby supporting high-value manufacturing jobs and skills in this country, as well as parts from more than 230 US suppliers spread across all 50 states; is concerned that US Air Force's decision has been overturned as a result of lobbying by Boeing; deplores such moves towards protectionism in the United States; and calls on the Government to urge the Obama administration to conduct the KC-X procurement in an open and transparent manner so that all contractors are able to compete on level terms and the best bid can win.","date":"2010-02-09","status":"o"},{"topic":"North America","id":"40125","proposer":"10363","edm":"547","session":"2009-10","title":"Release Of Shaker Aamer, Last British Resident In Guant\u00c1namo","text":"That this House welcomes President Obama's commitment to close Guant\u00e1namo and his appeal to European countries to take in released detainees; supports the representations by the UK Government for the release and return of Shaker Aamer, the last British resident held in Guant\u00e1namo; notes that Mr Aamer has been detained for nearly eight years without trial or charge; further notes that he was a UK resident before his detention and that his wife and children have always lived in this country; and urges the Government to make renewed representations to the US to secure his release and return to this country.","date":"2010-01-06","status":"o"},{"topic":"North America","id":"39779","proposer":"11427","edm":"236","session":"2009-10","title":"Vale Inco","text":"That this House notes that since its privatisation in 1997, the global mining giant Vale Inco has undermined health and safety standards in Brazil; further notes that it is also undermining health and safety standards in Canada, despite over $13 billion net profits in 2008; supports 3,500 mineworkers who are members of the United Steelworkers union and have been on strike in Canada since July; and supports the decision by LabourStart to launch the first ever global union Twitter petition campaign urging Chief Executive Officer Roger Agnelli to return to negotiations and make fair offers in Brazil and Canada.","date":"2009-11-25","status":"o"},{"topic":"North America","id":"39625","proposer":"10614","edm":"88","session":"2009-10","title":"Guant\u00c1namo Bay","text":"That this House welcomes the efforts being made by President Obama to close Guant\u00e1namo Bay; notes the common legal heritage between Great Britain and the United States especially in regard to the writ of habeas corpus; further notes that the issue of Guant\u00e1namo Bay is before the United States Supreme Court for a fourth time; and supports an effective remedy for those prisoners who have been found by a competent court to be innocent of any wrongdoing, but who continue to be held.","date":"2009-11-18","status":"o"},{"topic":"North America","id":"39234","proposer":"11589","edm":"2005","session":"2008-09","title":"Senator Edward Kennedy (No. 2)","text":"That this House expresses its deep sadness at the death of Senator Edward M. Kennedy on 25 August; recognises his peerless devotion to public service, both in the US and internationally, and his prolific contribution as a legislator over many decades; commends his tireless efforts in the promotion of social justice, universal healthcare and human rights; acknowledges his consistent opposition to violence and his outstanding contribution to the Northern Ireland peace process; and mourns the passing of an inspirational US senator.","date":"2009-10-12","status":"o"},{"topic":"North America","id":"39118","proposer":"10828","edm":"1896","session":"2008-09","title":"Union Rights In The Us","text":"That this House notes that the US has not yet ratified International Labour Organisation Conventions 87 or 98 on freedom of association and free collective bargaining, and that harassment of workers trying to form trade unions is widespread and leads to 30,000 sackings every year; believes that the Employee Free Choice Act currently before Congress would give US workers the choice about whether to belong to a trade union which can collectively bargain with their employers; and calls on UK companies operating in the US publicly to support the Employee Free Choice Act and on hon. Members' colleagues in Congress to enact the Employee Free Choice Act without delay.","date":"2009-07-15","status":"o"},{"topic":"North America","id":"38994","proposer":"11199","edm":"1794","session":"2008-09","title":"Canada Day","text":"That this House joins the people of Canada in celebrating their national day on 1 July 2009; notes that Canada Day celebrates the anniversary of the formation of the union of British North America provinces in a federation under the name of Canada on 1 July 1868; recognises the shared heritage and special relationship between the peoples of the United Kingdom and Canada; and calls on the Government to continue to strengthen the close political, economic and cultural ties that bind the two nations together along with the pride of both nations in sharing Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II as Head of State.","date":"2009-07-01","status":"o"},{"topic":"North America","id":"38960","proposer":"11350","edm":"1761","session":"2008-09","title":"Air Passenger Duty On Flights To The Caribbean","text":"That this House notes the Government's plans to introduce a new banding system for air passenger duty; believes that any duty should be based on the level of carbon emissions produced by flights rather than arbitrary zones based on location of a country's capital city; notes that actual distance travelled is a good approximation for carbon emissions; further notes that the new banding system will result in flights to the Caribbean incurring a higher tax than flights to the West Coast of the United States, despite being closer in distance to the UK; is concerned that this will disadvantage the many people who have friends and family in the Caribbean, while also failing to effectively curb carbon emissions; further notes that replacing the air passenger duty with a per plane tax would be fairer for passengers flying on busy routes; and calls on the Government to abolish the air passenger duty and replace it with a per plane aviation duty based on the actual distance travelled.","date":"2009-06-29","status":"o"},{"topic":"North America","id":"38776","proposer":"10133","edm":"1598","session":"2008-09","title":"United States Nuclear Non-Proliferation Policy And The United Kingdom","text":"That this House warmly welcomes the statement on 5 May 2009 on behalf of the US administration by Rose Gottemoeller, Assistant Secretary at the US State Department's Bureau of Verification, Compliance, and Implementation and Head of the US Delegation to the Preparatory Committee of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) review conference held at the UN Headquarters in May 2009; additionally welcomes President Obama's personal statement in support of progressive non-proliferation measures conveyed to the Preparatory Committee, particularly his statement that `we must define ourselves not by our differences, but by our readiness to pursue dialogue and hard work to ensure the NPT continues to make an enduring contribution to international peace and security'; notes that President Obama has stressed that the US prioritises the agreement on a new treaty that verifiably ends production of fissile materials intended for use in nuclear weapons, called a Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty; believes that existing so-called civil stockpiles of plutonium, including the 108,000 kilogrammes at Sellafield, must be covered by such a treaty; further welcomes the US administration's call that nuclear weapons states outside the NPT be brought inside the Treaty with, in Ms Gottemoeller's words, `universal adherence to the NPT itself - including by India, Israel, Pakistan and North Korea - a fundamental objective of the United States'; and calls on the Government to work in partnership with the US administration to achieve a secure world without nuclear weapons.","date":"2009-06-04","status":"o"},{"topic":"North America","id":"38697","proposer":"11565","edm":"1527","session":"2008-09","title":"Uk-Us Extradition Treaty","text":"That this House notes that under the Extradition Act 2003 and UK-US Extradition Treaty, the United States is not required to provide prima facie evidence when requesting extradition from the UK, although the United Kingdom is still required to provide evidence to satisfy the US constitution's probable cause requirement when seeking extradition from the US; further notes that the Extradition Treaty was agreed without any recourse to Parliament; and calls on the Government to renegotiate the Extradition Treaty immediately to reinstate the requirement for prima facie evidence, and to reform the Royal Prerogative so that international agreements can no longer be entered into without meaningful reference to Parliament.","date":"2009-05-19","status":"o"},{"topic":"North America","id":"38616","proposer":"10383","edm":"1451","session":"2008-09","title":"Trade Union Recognition By National Express In North America","text":"That this House is concerned to learn about the anti-union behaviour of management at UK-based National Express Group's North American yellow school bus subsidiaries; notes that when US and Canadian National Express workers seek to organise collectively in trade unions they are faced with a management that behaves in a manner that seriously undermines the fundamental human rights of its employees to choose a union and engage in collective bargaining; is appalled that the company's executive board of directors, despite having been alerted to these serious violations, has failed to take action in support of the company's own corporate social responsibility policy; believes that employee representation in the workplace is an individual and collective right; further believes that in recognition of this, and as an encouragement to industry to promote harmonious employee relations, companies that breach accepted international labour standards and former Department of Trade and Industry framework guidance by refusing to recognise trade unions or actively campaign against them, whether in the UK or in subsidiaries abroad, should have their track record in this area taken into account when deciding rail franchises, bus quality contracts and school bus contracts or procurement agreements by central or local government or their agencies; urges National Express to adopt and enforce a Freedom of Association Policy and a Compliance Monitoring Programme along the lines of that already introduced by FirstGroup, their major competitor in North America.","date":"2009-05-07","status":"o"},{"topic":"North America","id":"38428","proposer":"13735","edm":"1290","session":"2008-09","title":"Nuclear Disarmament And Relations With The United States","text":"That this House agrees with President Obama's statement in his joint press conference at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 1 April 2009 that the United States and United Kingdom share a kinship of ideals; strongly supports this reformulation of the special relationship; notes that the United States and Russia are pressing ahead with negotiations first to reduce, and finally abolish nuclear weapons; rejects the Government's assertion that it is able to maintain very properly within the terms of the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty its minimum nuclear deterrent; and calls on the Government to act upon this kinship of ideals and enter Britain into multilateral negotiations on the abolition of weapons of mass destruction.","date":"2009-04-20","status":"o"},{"topic":"North America","id":"38373","proposer":"11374","edm":"1249","session":"2008-09","title":"Senator Edward Kennedy (No. 2)","text":"That this House notes with concern the decision to confer an honorary knighthood upon Massachusetts Senator Edward Kennedy, despite the clouds that still hang over him due to his expulsion from Harvard and his role in the events at Chappaquiddick; further notes that Senator Kennedy has consistently supported the political wing of the IRA which for many decades killed a great number of innocent civilians; further notes that he opposed the sale of US arms to the RUC at the height of the terrorist onslaught; believes that it is in extremely poor taste that Senator Kennedy is being awarded a knighthood for services to the UK-US relationship and services to Northern Ireland despite the fact that he has for many years supported the break-up of the United Kingdom and has explicitly sought to deny the wishes of the majority of people in Northern Ireland by supporting calls for Northern Ireland to cease to exist and become part of the Republic of Ireland; further notes that he offended many in Northern Ireland by calling for Protestants to go back to Britain; and calls on the Government to reconsider the conferral of his honour.","date":"2009-04-01","status":"o"},{"topic":"North America","id":"38252","proposer":"10057","edm":"1123A1","session":"2008-09","title":"John Rae And The North-West Passage","text":"leave out `regrets' and insert `understands'.","date":"2009-03-19","status":"o"},{"topic":"North America","id":"38235","proposer":"10785","edm":"1123","session":"2008-09","title":"John Rae And The North-West Passage","text":"That this House records its admiration for all those in the 19th century who contributed to the exploration of the North-West Passage in Canada; congratulates Billy Connolly on his recent programme, Journey to the Edge of the World, retracing their steps; further congratulates Mr Connolly on his conclusion that it was not in fact Sir John Franklin but John Rae who was the first to discover the final link to the passage while searching for the lost Franklin crew in 1848; regrets that memorials to Sir John Franklin outside the Admiralty headquarters and inside Westminster Abbey still inaccurately describe Franklin as the first to discover the passage; and calls on the Ministry of Defence and the Abbey authorities to take the necessary steps to clarify the true position.","date":"2009-03-18","status":"o"},{"topic":"North America","id":"38212","proposer":"10096","edm":"1101","session":"2008-09","title":"United States Policy On Cluster Munitions","text":"That this House commends the new US administration for including in the 2009 Omnibus Appropriation Bill a provision to prohibit the sale or transfer by the US of cluster munitions that cause unacceptable harm to civilians; recognises that this represents a major policy shift from the position of the previous administration that described this type of ordnance as `legitimate weapons with clear military utility'; acknowledges that the US military arsenal still contains 5.5 million cluster bombs with 728 million bomblets; and urges the US administration to renounce the use, stockpiling and transfer of all such weapons by signing the Convention on Cluster Munitions, which more than half the countries in the United Nations have already done.","date":"2009-03-17","status":"o"},{"topic":"North America","id":"38052","proposer":"10079","edm":"968","session":"2008-09","title":"Senator Edward Kennedy","text":"That this House warmly welcomes the awarding of an honorary knighthood to Senator Edward Kennedy for services to US-UK relations and to the peace process in Northern Ireland; recognises the contribution he has made over 46 years in the US Senate to advancing the cause of human rights, universal healthcare and a more just society; and acknowledges that his contribution to public service has established him as one of the finest and most effective US senators in the history of that august body.","date":"2009-03-04","status":"o"},{"topic":"North America","id":"38043","proposer":"10780","edm":"961","session":"2008-09","title":"Churchill Bust In America","text":"That this House notes the decision of the new US President not to retain in the White House the gift of a bust of Winston Churchill; expresses the hope that this decision may now allow, in appropriate circumstances, a display of the bust in the United States for millions of Americans and others to see what courage, leadership, vision and determination is in a political leader, who helped steer not just his nation but the free world to victory over fascism and terror on a worldwide scale; and further expresses the hope that some day soon a leader coming close to Churchill's stature will emerge in the United States who can do likewise.","date":"2009-03-03","status":"o"},{"topic":"North America","id":"37935","proposer":"11489","edm":"858","session":"2008-09","title":"Elizabeth Prosser","text":"That this House notes with concern that US authorities have made a request to extradite Mrs Elizabeth Prosser on charges of child abduction and obtaining money by deception; further notes that Mrs Prosser is charged with abducting her own daughter and that as such the case is highly emotive, that there are significant mitigating factors and that the sums of money involved are negligible; acknowledges that because of concerns over Mrs Prosser's health, the Home Office has delayed its decision; further notes that recent medical reports show that her condition would be worsened and that substantial damage to her health would be done by extraditing her; recognises that the Government has rejected attempts to extradite Mrs Prosser previously; believes that given her health problems and the mitigating factors surrounding the offences of which she is accused, extraditing Mrs Prosser would neither be humane nor in the public interest; and urges the Home Office to intervene.","date":"2009-02-24","status":"o"},{"topic":"North America","id":"37780","proposer":"11522","edm":"725","session":"2008-09","title":"Vice-President Biden And American Foreign Policy","text":"That this House gives a hearty welcome to Vice-President Biden's comments on providing a new tone to America's foreign policy.","date":"2009-02-09","status":"o"},{"topic":"North America","id":"37565","proposer":"13735","edm":"538","session":"2008-09","title":"New United States Foreign Policy And Cuba, Iran And North Korea","text":"That this House fully endorses the sentiments expressed by President Obama in his inaugural speech as 44th President of the United States on 20 January 2009 when he said that the United States is a `friend of each nation and every man, woman and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity'; is encouraged by President Obama's assertion that his administration is `ready to lead once more'; and looks forward to the United States normalising diplomatic relations with Cuba, Iran and North Korea and working positively to help restore the full return to the international community of these states so that their citizens can enjoy the benefits of friendly international relations.","date":"2009-01-21","status":"o"},{"topic":"North America","id":"37540","proposer":"10614","edm":"515","session":"2008-09","title":"Inauguration Of President Obama","text":"That this House congratulates Barack Obama on his inauguration as the 44th President of the United States; recognises the significance of his election as the first black President; further recognises the progress the United States has made in terms of integration and equality; and looks forward to the positive impact he will have on relations between the United Kingdom and the United States and on relations between the United States and the wider world.","date":"2009-01-20","status":"o"},{"topic":"North America","id":"37541","proposer":"12004","edm":"516","session":"2008-09","title":"PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA'S ADMINISTRATION AND MACNEIL OF BARRA","text":"That this House warmly congratulates President Barack Obama, 44th President of the United States; notes that while he was studying at Harvard Law School 20 years ago his law professor, Iain Roderick MacNeil of Barra, Chief of Clan MacNeil, noted to his wife, Nancy, that he may indeed have the first black president of the United States in his class; and hopes that President Obama's administration will exploit its talents to seek peace.","date":"2009-01-20","status":"o"},{"topic":"North America","id":"37511","proposer":"10166","edm":"487","session":"2008-09","title":"Gary Mckinnon Extradition","text":"The Status of this EDM is Suspended.","date":"2009-01-19","status":"o"},{"topic":"North America","id":"37518","proposer":"10780","edm":"494","session":"2008-09","title":"New President And Heroism Of Captain Sullenberger In America","text":"That this House notes the commencement of the Presidency of the United States of America of Barack Obama; wishes him well in his endeavours not just in the US but across the world; salutes the present day heroism of people like Captain Chesley B Sullenberger III, as by his actions 155 passengers survived the US Airways plane landing on the Hudson River; and urges both the people and President of the US not to forget the heroic actions in the past of those hardy and innovative souls who helped establish, build and develop the fledging US by their Ulster Scots ingenuity and passion.","date":"2009-01-19","status":"o"},{"topic":"North America","id":"37381","proposer":"10339","edm":"366","session":"2008-09","title":"Us Missile Defence","text":"That this House notes the concern across Europe, including the UK, at the Bush Administration's plans to install further missile defence bases on the continent; welcomes the support for nuclear disarmament initiatives from Barack Obama; further notes that Mr Obama has made no commitment to missile defence until the technology is proved to be workable; further notes that this House has not had a debate on missile defence since January 2003; and calls on the Government to scrutinise US missile defence deployment plans in the UK and their implications for UK and European security as a whole.","date":"2008-12-18","status":"o"},{"topic":"North America","id":"37363","proposer":"10012","edm":"352","session":"2008-09","title":"Use Of Music As An Instrument Of Torture","text":"That this House notes and objects to the incessant playing of high volume music by United States interrogators as a form of psychological torture used to break prisoners; further notes that the existence of this practice has been acknowledged by the US's Psychological Operations Company; defends the human rights of all human beings as laid out by the Geneva Convention; and therefore believes that torture, including this practice of using music, is inhumane and a breach of these rights; further believes that the particular practice of using music as an instrument of torture is an infringement of creator's rights; supports the Musician's Union's principled protest, through the Zero dB initiative, against this practice; and urges the Government to exert whatever diplomatic pressure is available to end this practice and the practice of torture in all countries.","date":"2008-12-17","status":"o"},{"topic":"North America","id":"37312","proposer":"13735","edm":"303","session":"2008-09","title":"Us And Iraq","text":"That this House notes with understanding the protest made by Mr Muntader al-Zaidi, a reporter with the Al-Baghdadiya TV channel, in hurling his shoes at United States President George W. Bush during the President's valedictory visit to Baghdad's high security green zone on 14 December; notes that in Arabic culture throwing shoes is regarded as a serious insult against the person at whom they are thrown; strongly believes there was every justification for the anger shown by the journalist who complained his country had been destroyed by the invasion, led by Mr Bush and backed by the present British Labour Government along with the majority of the Conservative opposition, which has directly resulted in over 500,000 deaths of entirely innocent civilian Iraqis; further notes with disgust that President Bush thought it fit to make a joke of the sincere protest; and looks forward to President Obama's commitment, from a politician who was wise enough, along with hundreds of millions of protesting marchers across the globe, to oppose the illegal invasion, to right the wrongs done to Iraq and its benighted people.","date":"2008-12-16","status":"o"},{"topic":"North America","id":"37010","proposer":"11420","edm":"18","session":"2008-09","title":"British Home Children In Canada","text":"That this House notes that many Canadian citizens are descendants of British Home Children who were sent to Canada from the early 1870s to the late 1940s; further notes that these descendants are wondering about their origins but have some difficulties in obtaining information at a reasonable cost; and calls for the Government to liaise with the British Home Children and Descendants Association in Nova Scotia and the Nova Scotian government to identify how best to achieve progress in this matter.","date":"2008-12-03","status":"o"},{"topic":"North America","id":"36874","proposer":"11245","edm":"2418A1","session":"2007-08","title":"President-Elect Barack Obama","text":"leave out from `States;' to end and add `and, while it hopes for improvements in relations between the United States and other countries around the world, universal healthcare for American citizens and a tax cut for the middle classes, recognises the need for balanced and reasonable expectations, once the euphoria has settled.'.","date":"2008-11-10","status":"c"},{"topic":"North America","id":"36850","proposer":"10062","edm":"2419A1","session":"2007-08","title":"Barack Obama And The Office Of President Of The United States Of America","text":"at end add `; and particularly welcomes the election of an African-American President on his own merits without the use of positive discrimination.'.","date":"2008-11-06","status":"c"},{"topic":"North America","id":"36852","proposer":"10968","edm":"2428A1","session":"2007-08","title":"Us Presidential Election And Uk-Us Relations","text":"after `the', insert `previous Conservative Governments'.","date":"2008-11-06","status":"c"},{"topic":"North America","id":"36813","proposer":"10079","edm":"2418","session":"2007-08","title":"President-Elect Barack Obama","text":"That this House congratulates Senator Barack Obama on his convincing election as President-Elect of the United States; and looks forward to improved relations between the United States and other countries around the world, universal healthcare for American citizens, a tax cut for the middle classes and, through working with a greatly enhanced Democratic US Congress, an end to the disastrous and divisive policies of the George W Bush Presidency.","date":"2008-11-05","status":"c"},{"topic":"North America","id":"36814","proposer":"10614","edm":"2419","session":"2007-08","title":"Barack Obama And The Office Of President Of The United States Of America","text":"That this House congratulates Barack Obama on his election as the 44th President of the United States of America; recognises that first and foremost his election is an endorsement of his skills as a leader, an orator and a politician; notes that even a few years ago it would have been unimaginable for an African-American man to run for President let alone win; identifies him as a shining example of how far America has come in respect of integration and equality; welcomes the record level of turnout during this election and its positive impact on democracy; and looks forward to a new era in the relationship between our two countries and the wider world.","date":"2008-11-05","status":"c"},{"topic":"North America","id":"36821","proposer":"10541","edm":"2427","session":"2007-08","title":"OBAMA'S GREEN NEW DEAL","text":"That this House congratulates Barack Obama on his historic victory in the US presidential election; welcomes, in particular, his proposals for a Green New Deal, investing $150 billion and delivering five million jobs in turning the US into a sustainable energy economy; and calls upon the Government to initiate a similar programme in the UK.","date":"2008-11-05","status":"c"},{"topic":"North America","id":"36822","proposer":"10009","edm":"2428","session":"2007-08","title":"Us Presidential Election And Uk-Us Relations","text":"That this House congratulates Senator Barack Obama on his victory in the race to become President of the United States; commends Senator John McCain on the dignified manner in which he conceded defeat; notes that the previous Labour Prime Minister and the current Labour government have slavishly followed the lead of the outgoing United States President George W Bush, with often disastrous consequences for the UK and for the world; and hopes that in future British Prime Ministers will put British interests first and take a real lead in domestic and world affairs.","date":"2008-11-05","status":"c"},{"topic":"North America","id":"36802","proposer":"11672","edm":"2408","session":"2007-08","title":"New President Of The United States And Withdrawal From Iraq","text":"That this House expresses the hope that the election of Barack Obama as President of the United States will lead to the commencement, as soon as is practically possible, of a safe, phased, withdrawal of US troops from Iraq; and further expresses the hope that this will lead to a similar withdrawal of British troops from that country.","date":"2008-11-04","status":"c"},{"topic":"North America","id":"36811","proposer":"10785","edm":"2417","session":"2007-08","title":"Death Sentence On Troy Anthony Davis (No. 2)","text":"That this House welcomes the decision by the United States Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit, delivered on 24th October 2008, to issue a 25 day stay of execution for Troy Davis; notes with concern that Mr Davis' case has now appeared before 29 judges in seven types of review; further notes this is the third time in 16 months that a stay of execution has now been ordered in the case; and calls upon the Georgia Supreme Court to allow Troy Davis a new hearing.","date":"2008-11-04","status":"c"},{"topic":"North America","id":"36777","proposer":"11573","edm":"2388","session":"2007-08","title":"Extradition Of Gary Mckinnon","text":"That this House notes the accepted practice of the governments of Israel and the Netherlands of requiring assurances from the US Administration prior to their nationals being deported to face trial in the United States in cases involving defendants suffering from medical or mental health disabilities, that those nationals will be repatriated to serve any sentence imposed by the relevant United States court; and urges the Home Secretary not to permit the extradition to the United States of Mr Gary McKinnon of Palmers Green, London, an Asperger's syndrome sufferer charged with computer misuse in the United States, until such time as she receives express assurances from the US Administration that in the event of his being found guilty and sentenced to a term of imprisonment that administration agrees to the immediate repatriation of Mr McKinnon post trial to serve any such sentence in the United Kingdom.","date":"2008-10-30","status":"c"},{"topic":"North America","id":"36750","proposer":"12004","edm":"2316A1","session":"2007-08","title":"Us Presidential Election","text":"at end add `and the end of George W. Bush's term as US President.'.","date":"2008-10-28","status":"c"},{"topic":"North America","id":"36684","proposer":"11522","edm":"2316","session":"2007-08","title":"Us Presidential Election","text":"That this House looks forward to the election of Senator Barack Obama as President of the United States of America.","date":"2008-10-21","status":"c"},{"topic":"North America","id":"36664","proposer":"10123","edm":"2296","session":"2007-08","title":"Pay And Bonuses In Us Banks","text":"That this House notes the report in the Guardian newspaper of 18th October 2008 that pay and bonuses to be paid by Wall Street's top banks are set to exceed $70 billion, a substantial proportion being in bonuses; further notes that this is equivalent to 10 per cent. of the US administration bail-out package; and considers that, by their slackness and propensity to succumb to greed, the US authorities are not pulling their weight in the global rescue efforts.","date":"2008-10-20","status":"c"},{"topic":"North America","id":"36512","proposer":"11522","edm":"2162","session":"2007-08","title":"Us-Uk Defence Trade Co-Operation Treaty","text":"That this House regrets that Congressional ratification of the US-UK Defence Trade Co-operation Treaty has not been secured before the US Congressional elections.","date":"2008-10-06","status":"c"},{"topic":"North America","id":"36322","proposer":"10012","edm":"1991","session":"2007-08","title":"Use Of Music As An Instrument Of Torture","text":"That this House notes the use of recorded music by United States interrogators, involving the incessant playing of high volume music in order to break resistance through sleep deprivation and exposure to lyrics that prisoners would find culturally offensive; further notes this practice has been acknowledged by the US's Psychological Operations Company; defends the human rights of all human beings as laid out by the Geneva Convention; and therefore believes that torture, including this practice of using music, is inhumane and a breach of these rights; further believes that the particular practice of using music as an instrument of torture is an infringement of creator's rights; supports the Musicians' Union's principled protest against such a practice; and urges the Government to exert whatever available diplomatic pressure to end the practice of torture in all countries.","date":"2008-07-08","status":"c"},{"topic":"North America","id":"36280","proposer":"10133","edm":"1957","session":"2007-08","title":"Us Military Bases In Iraq","text":"That this House notes that, according to an article in The Independent on 5th June, the US administration is attempting to negotiate an agreement with the Iraqi government to maintain 50 permanent US military bases in Iraq; further notes that this would create a permanent occupation of Iraq, a state of affairs which has no legal or moral basis; and calls upon the Government to resume and complete the withdrawal of British troops from Iraq to demonstrate opposition to the US administration's unacceptable policy.","date":"2008-07-03","status":"c"},{"topic":"North America","id":"36198","proposer":"10487","edm":"1880","session":"2007-08","title":"Air Force One And Heathrow Airport","text":"That this House is appalled to learn that the arrival of President Bush at Heathrow Airport forced the cancellation of over 60 flights affecting the travel plans of over 40,000 passengers and delayed for over 30 minutes the departure of a further 260 planes; sympathises with British Airways, which cancelled 53 short-haul flights; notes with astonishment that one of the Airport's two runways was closed for rehearsals for the arrival of the Presidential party and again for its actual arrival and departure; agrees with BA's Chief Executive, Willie Walsh, that a military airport should have been used to receive the flight of two 747s, one Boeing 757 and four helicopters; and urges the Government to use a military airfield for all future arrivals of Air Force One.","date":"2008-06-24","status":"c"},{"topic":"North America","id":"36146","proposer":"10295","edm":"1837","session":"2007-08","title":"Greenland Whaling","text":"That this House notes with concern the report by the World Society for the Protection of Animals which has found that a quarter of Greenland's whale catch during last year was traded for profit through a private food company; recognises that under current rules whaling is permitted under the banner of subsistence hunting; recognises that this has to be monitored very closely and cannot be allowed for commercial purposes; and calls on the International Whaling Commission, which meets next week in Santiago, to ensure that a stop is put on moves towards commercial whaling by Greenland.","date":"2008-06-19","status":"c"},{"topic":"North America","id":"36121","proposer":"11420","edm":"1817","session":"2007-08","title":"British Home Children In Canada","text":"That this House notes that many Canadian citizens are descendants of British Home Children who were sent to Canada from the early 1870s to the late 1940s; further notes that these descendants are wondering about their origins but have some difficulties in obtaining information at a reasonable cost; and calls for the Government to liaise with the British Home Children and Descendants Association in Nova Scotia and the Nova Scotian government to identify how best to achieve progress in this matter.","date":"2008-06-17","status":"c"},{"topic":"North America","id":"36097","proposer":"10123","edm":"1793","session":"2007-08","title":"Oil Interests Of Us President Bush And Vice-President Cheney","text":"That this House notes reports that based on US official returns, due to `imprecise ranges' President Bush and Vice-President Cheney could have investments of $20 and $100 million respectively; further notes that the US President has at least $1 million of investments held in a blind trust; further notes that none of the official returns indicate oil interests or investments but believes that both the President and Vice-President have had extensive such interests in the past; considers it very likely that they still have investments in oil, via blind trusts, and that they would very likely be aware of that; further notes that they are likely to resume ownership of oil shares when their terms of office conclude; further notes past campaign contributions from the oil industry; further notes that they have presided over policies which have led to a massive rise in the price of oil and that President Bush, in his latest London visit, gave an interview expressing coolness to the Prime Minister's proposal to bring down the world price of oil; and considers that there is prima facie evidence to consider that President Bush and Vice-President Cheney have acted in a way that lines their own pockets in a way only marginally more sophisticated than dictators of some developing countries in the past.","date":"2008-06-16","status":"c"},{"topic":"North America","id":"36028","proposer":"10123","edm":"1742","session":"2007-08","title":"Bush Administration Financial Practices In Iraq","text":"That this House is appalled at the corruption, waste and theft associated with the US occupation of Iraq; takes note of the BBC Panorama programme of 10th June which disclosed that there are currently over 70 whistleblower cases involving $23 billion about which the US Justice Department has issued gagging orders; sympathises with the US public at the corruption and waste facilitated, tolerated and covered-up by the Bush Administration; and further notes that there has been much more waste and theft of Iraqi resources which, reasonably, the US should pay back.","date":"2008-06-10","status":"c"},{"topic":"North America","id":"35948","proposer":"10057","edm":"1667","session":"2007-08","title":"Krishna Maharaj","text":"That this House asks respectfully that the Florida Board of Executive Clemency led by Governor Charlie Crist grant the application for release by Krishna Maharaj, the British national imprisoned for 22 years of which 10 were on death row; recognises that the role of clemency can have results similar in effect to the British process of the Criminal Cases Review Commission; thanks the Florida authorities for granting the waiver that has allowed the hearing on 5th June and welcomes the recent understanding letter by the British Foreign Secretary to the Governor that followed the letter last year giving the British Government's support for Mr Maharaj's clemency plea; knows that the clemency hearing is not a new trial that was not ordered by the appeal courts but understands that in retrospect it is agreed that there have been unusual numbers of difficulties and unanswered questions in the detection, prosecution, witness evidence, trial, sentencing and legal representation following the undoubted crimes; remembers that Mr Maharaj has been an exemplary prisoner, always calmly maintaining his innocence; and requests that the sentence be reduced to a length that allows the release of this elderly man in ill health so he would return to the United Kingdom.","date":"2008-06-02","status":"c"},{"topic":"North America","id":"35949","proposer":"10057","edm":"1668","session":"2007-08","title":"Florida And UK Visitors","text":"That this House acknowledges that Florida and its citizens provide a warm welcome to many United Kingdom visitors each year; and thanks the Governor and all in government at every level who contribute to the Florida experience enjoyed by so many so often throughout the year and over many years.","date":"2008-06-02","status":"c"},{"topic":"North America","id":"35914","proposer":"11589","edm":"1632","session":"2007-08","title":"Senator Edward Kennedy","text":"That this House expresses its best wishes to Senator Edward M. Kennedy on the news of his illness; joins all his Congressional colleagues in saluting him as a towering legislator; commends his tireless ability which has earned him such regard across the aisle and across the Atlantic; applauds him as a powerful orator of the time; appreciates his unswerving opposition to violence and human rights abuses in Northern Ireland, from any quarter; recognises that the resolve, energy and fighting determination he has brought to so many causes will now be called upon again; and looks forward to his political passion and articulate compassion offering inspiration and enlightenment throughout the elections in the United States.","date":"2008-05-22","status":"c"},{"topic":"North America","id":"35790","proposer":"10295","edm":"1522","session":"2007-08","title":"Border Between Spain And Gibraltar","text":"That this House notes with concern that excessive Spanish restrictions enforced at the Spain-Gibraltar border delayed the arrival of vital equipment needed by the US nuclear submarine USS Florida, and that Spain continues to impose unwarranted restrictions on both military and civilian freight moving in both directions across the Gibraltar border; further notes that the limitations are contrary to the North Atlantic Treaty and threaten to escalate to a diplomatic issue between Spain and the UK and the USA; calls on the Government to act on reports released from the Foreign Affairs Select Committee in March citing an increase of such incidents; and asks the Government to increase pressure on Spain to recognise the legitimacy of Gibraltar's role as a port for military vessels and to revise the policy decision in place surrounding military freight crossing the border.","date":"2008-05-08","status":"c"},{"topic":"North America","id":"35747","proposer":"10499","edm":"1481","session":"2007-08","title":"Multilateral Action Against Climate Change And World Hunger","text":"That this House notes that China is the fastest growing major economy in the world and India the second fastest; further notes that China will soon overtake the United States as the world's single biggest source of carbon emissions; expresses its concern at the role played by the growing demand for biofuels in world food price increases; is alarmed at the World Bank's prediction that food price inflation could set the fight against Third World hunger back by seven years; urges the Government to do all it can to help tackle global food poverty; recommends that the UK leads on change to regulations to drop any requirement to divert crops to fuel, as arable land is needed for food; further recommends that the Government uses its leverage to persuade the US, China and India to proceed on a multilateral basis to tackle climate change; and recognises that if the UK proceeded unilaterally it could drive fuel-intensive industries into jurisdictions with less stringent regulatory and fiscal regimes, which would cost British jobs whilst failing to reduce the world's total carbon output.","date":"2008-05-06","status":"c"},{"topic":"North America","id":"35714","proposer":"10383","edm":"1452","session":"2007-08","title":"INTERNATIONAL LONGSHORE AND WAREHOUSE UNION'S ACTION FOR PEACE CAMPAIGN","text":"That this House commends the decision of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) to stop work for eight hours in all West Coast ports in the United States of America on 1st May to call for an end to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan; recognises the proud history of the San Francisco Longshore Union of internationalism and active opposition to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan; is concerned that the US maritime companies are pursuing legal attempts to prevent the Longshore Union's right to demonstrate; and calls upon workers in the US, United Kingdom and around the world to join in solidarity with the ILWU in support of this courageous action in the struggle for peace.","date":"2008-04-29","status":"c"},{"topic":"North America","id":"35595","proposer":"10079","edm":"1351","session":"2007-08","title":"40th Anniversary Of Death Of Senator Robert Kennedy","text":"That this House notes with sadness the 40th anniversary of the death of Senator Robert Kennedy, assassinated in Los Angeles on 5th\/6th June 1968 following his victory in the California and South Dakota primary elections; agrees with his brother, Senator Edward Kennedy, that he should be remembered `simply as a good and decent man, who saw wrong and tried to right it, saw suffering and tried to heal it, saw war and tried to stop it'; applauds his life because he gave his strength for those who were weak, gave his voice for those who had no special interest to speak for them and always remembered those who were forgotten; and believes that the tragedy of his death is best summed up by his friend the composer John Stewart who said `when a chill wind takes the sky, we should remember the years he gave us hope, for they can never die'.","date":"2008-04-21","status":"c"},{"topic":"North America","id":"35537","proposer":"10285","edm":"1301","session":"2007-08","title":"Canadian Seal Hunt","text":"That this House condemns the cruelty of the Canadian seal hunt; notes that over 1.5 million seal pups have been bludgeoned or shot to death since 2003; notes with concern that the hunt is subsidised and protected by the Canadian government; further notes that regulations to curb the suffering of these creatures are unenforceable; embraces the UK and EU ban on imports of harp and hooded seal products; and urges the Government to take a stand against senseless violence against seal pups.","date":"2008-04-01","status":"c"},{"topic":"North America","id":"35463","proposer":"10785","edm":"1236","session":"2007-08","title":"Death Sentence Of Troy Anthony Davis","text":"That this House notes with concern the conviction of Troy Anthony Davis on a charge of murdering the police officer Mark MacPhail in Georgia in 1989; notes that Mr Davis is facing the death penalty in Georgia and that there are substantial concerns and questions being raised by campaigning organisations regarding the safety of his conviction; further notes that 127 individuals have been released from death rows across the United States due to wrongful conviction; and therefore urges the UK Government to make representations to the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles for a demonstration of its strong commitment to fairness and justice by commuting the death sentence of Troy Anthony Davis.","date":"2008-03-19","status":"c"},{"topic":"North America","id":"35380","proposer":"10487","edm":"1160","session":"2007-08","title":"Democracy 250 In Nova Scotia","text":"That this House notes that 2008 marks 250 years of parliamentary government in Nova Scotia, the first in Canada; recognises the efforts of Democracy 250 in Nova Scotia in educating the electorate and especially the young on the importance of participation in the electoral process; further notes the contribution of veterans and all cultures to democracy; and congratulates Nova Scotia on its many activities during its year-long celebrations and in particular its efforts to gather and make accessible key documents held in the United Kingdom which encouraged the development and growth of democracy in Canada in 1758.","date":"2008-03-11","status":"c"},{"topic":"North America","id":"35177","proposer":"10077","edm":"982","session":"2007-08","title":"Fidel Castro","text":"That this House commends the achievements of Fidel Castro in securing first-class free healthcare and education provision for the people of Cuba despite the 44 year illegal US embargo of the Cuban economy; notes the great strides Cuba has taken during this period in many fields such as biotechnology and sport in both of which Cuba is a world leader; acknowledges the esteem in which Castro is held by the people and leaders of Africa, Asia and Latin America for leading the calls for emancipation of the world's poorest people from slavery, hunger and the denial of human rights such as the right to life, the right to shelter, the right to healthcare and basic medicines and the right to education; welcomes the EU statement that constructive engagement with Cuba at this time is the most responsible course of action; and calls upon the Government to respect Cuba's right to self-determination and resist the aggressive forces within the US Administration who are openly planning their own illegal transition in Cuba.","date":"2008-02-20","status":"c"},{"topic":"North America","id":"35106","proposer":"10327","edm":"925","session":"2007-08","title":"Presidents Of The United States And China","text":"That this House notes that the President of the United States plans to meet the President of China when visiting the Olympic Games in Beijing later this year; and further notes that these two presidents have much in common to discuss, including indiscriminate use of capital punishment, torture of political prisoners and blatant violations of international law.","date":"2008-02-18","status":"c"},{"topic":"North America","id":"35028","proposer":"10123","edm":"852","session":"2007-08","title":"Extraordinary Rendition And Diego Garcia","text":"That this House calls upon the US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to provide full details of her country's extraordinary rendition programme, including whether Diego Garcia has been used as part of it.","date":"2008-02-04","status":"c"},{"topic":"North America","id":"34944","proposer":"11350","edm":"780","session":"2007-08","title":"Guant\u00e3namo Bay Detention Camp","text":"That this House congratulates and supports the worldwide demonstrations marking the sixth anniversary of the opening of the Guant\u00e3namo Bay Detention Facility by the Bush administration and regrets that the camp remains a devastating scar on America's human rights; condemns the refusal to offer prisoners a free and fair trial and considers this to be in breach of the fundamental principles of American justice and the democratic values the war on terror purports to defend; believes that evidence gained under torture is both immoral and unreliable and expresses concern that prisoners include former child soldiers such as Omar Khadr who was seized at the age of 15 years; supports the United States Administration's stated wish to close the camp but notes that this is only possible if foreign governments agree to accept back their own citizens and residents; and calls on the British Government to take a stronger line on human rights abuses perpetrated by the US and to step up diplomatic pressure on the international community to work with the US to have Guant\u00e3namo Bay closed.","date":"2008-01-24","status":"c"},{"topic":"North America","id":"34711","proposer":"10123","edm":"568","session":"2007-08","title":"Fraud Prosecutions","text":"That this House congratulates the US corporate fraud prosecuting authorities upon the conviction of Conrad Black; notes the failure of the equivalent UK authorities to secure convictions in high-profile cases; and remains concerned that the City of London Corporate Fraud Unit is not as effective as its American counterpart.","date":"2007-12-12","status":"c"}]