Lighting
the Lamps of the Globe
Notes for remarks by
Hon. David Kilgour, Secretary
of State (Latin America
& Africa), M.P. Edmonton
Southeast
to Divali Nagar and Festival
of Lights, Shakuntule Benevolent
Foundation
October 16, 1999, Ukrainian
Hall, Ottawa
It is a great pleasure
to join you in celebrating
Divali and Festival of Lights,
the defeat of evil by good.
On behalf of the Government
of Canada, I bring greetings
to members and friends of
the Shakuntule Benevolent
Foundation.
I am struck not only by
the very ancient origins
of this Hindu celebration,
but by its international
aspects. Although its beginnings
are in India, it is celebrated
by other nationalities,
cultures and creeds in a
number of ways.
Divali has travelled with
Hinduism from India to communities
in the Caribbean, notably
to Trinidad and Tobago,
Guyana, and other countries
with East Indian populations.
A South Asian culture has
percolated for generations
in the Caribbean and now
comes to Canada in an even
richer expression. What
could be more Canadian than
a Divali celebration in
a Ukrainian Hall?
There are, of course, commonalties
in all the great faiths
of the world. A sense of
community and a spirit of
charity are common threads
among all major religions.
Whether prays in a Hindu
temple, a Muslim mosque,
a Sikh gurdwara, Buddhist
shrine or Christian church,
we are all connected to
each other by common bonds
– our sense of the
importance of family and
community, our belief in
the sanctity of human life,
and our love for our common
Creator.
Your foundation, through
its charitable work among
disadvantaged peoples in
the Caribbean, especially
children, embodies these
shared religious values.
The Divali celebration signifies
the triumph of light over
darkness. By helping the
orphanages, underprivileged
and disabled children in
Trinidad and Tobago, tonight’s
event is lighting lamps
of the globe and making
our world a little brighter.
These days we often hear
the expression "globalization"
in reference to increased
international trade and
investment, and the mobility
of capital, people and culture.
In this hemisphere, the
countries of the Americas
are increasingly tied to
one another. I welcome Canada’s
participation in the hemispheric
project of developing a
Free Trade Area of the Americas
by 2005. Through such initiatives,
I believe, we can raise
the standard of living throughout
the hemisphere. For smaller
countries of the Caribbean
especially, we are helping
to shift the emphasis from
aid to trade.
Globalization, if it is
to benefit all of us, must
mean far more than merely
increased economic ties.
There must also be a shared
sense of community between
peoples, and an outward-looking
orientation of Canadians
toward fellow citizens of
the hemisphere. Canada is
greatly enriched by many
immigrant communities who
help us to build these global
links. The internationalism
displayed by your foundation
– its charitable work
and promotion of international
culture – is an excellent
expression of this human
side of globalization to
which I refer.
In a very short time, we
will be entering the 21st
century. I say that knowing
full well that in the Hindu
calendar this important
milestone was passed a number
of millennia ago. Nonetheless,
January 1st will mark a
psychological turning point
for many and is a time to
look ahead. Last week the
Government of Canada set
out its vision of the future
in the Speech from the Throne.
I was happy to see that
speech reaffirm some of
the internationalist principles
I have just mentioned.
To quote just a few lines:
"Canada is an outward-looking
country, with a trade-oriented
economy and a population
drawn from every corner
of the globe … Canadians
recognize that their quality
of life depends in part
on the quality of life of
their neighbours –
those who share this planet
with us. A world where people
are secure is a world where
fewer people are forced
to flee their homes, where
there is less crime and
terrorism, and where there
is a reduced threat of disease
and pollution."
This is not the expression
of an inward-looking country
withdrawing into isolationism.
Rather, it is a Canada prepared
to meet the challenges of
international human security,
and to face up to such global
threats as conflict, economic
crisis, natural disaster,
the exploitation of children,
illegal drugs, threats to
human rights, disease and
environmental degradation.
The government has now
pledged to increase Canada’s
international development
assistance and to work in
innovative ways to enable
the poor countries to improve
the quality of life of their
citizens. We are also committed
to supporting the diversity
of cultural expression in
countries around the world.
These are aims, I am sure,
with which you can all identify
through your own great efforts.
International participation
is not built at the level
of government-to-government
relations alone. Challenges
to human security are multi-faceted,
and therefore must involve
a wide variety of participants
– especially non-governmental
organizations and other
citizens’ groups. By
engaging in international
development, poverty alleviation
and expression of cultural
diversity, the Shakuntule
Benevolent Foundation is
in harmony with Canada’s
own international goals.
Divali signifies the triumph
of light over darkness,
of good over evil, justice
over injustice and intelligence
over ignorance. These are
aims with which we can all
share – regardless
of our cultural or religious
backgrounds. May Mother
Lakshmi bring prosperity,
abundance and generosity
to all of you. Let us together
light the lamps of our common
and ever-shrinking globe.
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