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Post by blueskye101 on Nov 21, 2013 21:54:16 GMT -5
Anyone seen the hub bub on trying to get the U.S. to sign the United Nation Disability Treaty. Saw a speech yesterday by John Kerry who was behind this. Pretty interesting. Seems like a good deal world wide. Many other Countries have ratified it. Last time it came up, it lost by 5 votes. Here's a much shorter version. Kerry's speech east to google if want to read it all. I am wondering if this passed, would it actually make a huge impact in disabled acessability in all countries. As we have discussed, there is a wide range. www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=121194
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Post by darthoso on Nov 22, 2013 3:15:57 GMT -5
International Relations theory is largely in 2 schools of thought: realism and idealism. The short and dirty of each being there is no power but the power of the state meaning for realists the world is a giant chess board and idealists believe states cooperate to promote stability within the international system (UN, Free Trade, Collective Security). Both theories have their merits and were accurate in their time (realism got us through the Cold War but is why the world hates us and idealism only works when both sides put down the guns). Super crazy Realists generally don't like stuff like this because legally a treaty ratified by the Senate has the same weight as a Constitutional Amendment. They don't like "surrendering" sovereignty unless it is in our mutual interest to do so and increases our national power (think treaties to end war, etc). Same crowd who think UN Peacekeepers are gonna take over the US (which is lolz when you look at their record of success). I will give the Senate Leadership credit though, if I recall right they forced every Senator to walk past President George HW Bush who's in a wheelchair before casting their vote.
As to the weight of a treaty like this globally, its a symbol more than anything. Countries with the resources to do what the treaty asks likely already have laws in place domestically which do it (such as the ADA), countries without will sign it anyway because international law isn't enforceable like national law. As much as I disagree with realists they ultimately are right, there is no power but the power of the state, and these days only US Navy Tomahawk cruise missiles are the force that overrules that state power making international law, law.
Sorry for the downer IR lesson.
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Post by blueskye101 on Nov 22, 2013 22:04:09 GMT -5
Thanks for the info. Well, you know we DO have to monitor the rest of the world, right? with huge expensive weapons.
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Post by Pony on Nov 23, 2013 10:17:16 GMT -5
wow, i haven't heard of this before, but it's really interesting…wonder why it wasn't on World news! I'm always grateful i'm in this country and not a 3rd world, like Philippines. Man, it's got to be tough in those countries…nothing accessible, lack of equipment, services, programs, etc. It's about time for a worldwide effort to improve the lives of those people.
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Post by darthoso on Jul 21, 2015 1:12:33 GMT -5
So yesterday I spotted an article that apparently this thing is getting some talk again despite crashing and burning in the Senate last year. I can't find that article but did find a few saying this thing was dead. Given the make up of the Senate I'm somewhat in agreement. Plus Obama didn't mention it at the 25th anniversary of ADA, generally a bad sign (what any President says and doesn't say is a careful process handled by the Communications Office and Speech Writing Staff).
But that fact that I did find articles saying it was dead, written this month, might mean it actually isn't completely dead.
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Post by JW on Jul 21, 2015 17:34:06 GMT -5
Unfortunately, like darthoso said, something like this would be largely symbolic and would be nearly impossible to enforce. Poorer and less powerful countries like mine would sign such a treaty just to stay in the good graces of the richer more powerful nations, but would never plan on doing anything to live up to such a treaty. Since we don't have the money or the general desire to make sweeping changes which would affect how most public or private sector companies are run (in terms of having adequate wheelchair parking, accessible entrances etc.), nothing would really get done unless companies choose to make changes on their own. Hell, I've been to a few doctor's offices that don't even have proper wheelchair parking spaces and even a medical center where one of the doctors routinely parks in the only wheelchair parking space provided. How could we ever expect a regular company to make changes if doctors and medical professionals aren't even that concerned themselves. The reality is, third world countries like mine have a long list of problems which affect a larger section of the population which need to be addressed and unfortunately, rights and access for the disabled generally fall very low down on that list. For example, every hurricane season there are stories of torrential rains or thunderstorms which flood out or wash away the homes of poor people who built their houses on the mountainside or near to one of our gullies. These are poor people who have nowhere else to live and are generally clamoring for some kind of assistance, but rarely get any. I feel bad for those people. At least, I live in a good secure area of the city and I have a job and decent place to live. The fact of the matter is people in wheelchairs are rarely ever seen in public, so are rarely thought about by the general public here in Jamaica. Until I became paralyzed myself, I had never seen a person in a wheelchair out in public. Of course, now I know that this is because there are not many places we can go that are accessible. So, unfortunately the same lack of access results in a lack of visibility, which results in a lack of political will or desire since this issue doesn't come up as much in political debates or discussions. If we were a rich country, things would probably be different..... but we're not.
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torpedro
New Member
Posts: 21
Gender: Male
Dev Status: Disabled Male
Relationship Status: Single
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Post by torpedro on Feb 15, 2016 22:44:55 GMT -5
Aaayyyyeee...Its the thought that counts, right?! Haha yea right!
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