Recent Articles on Canada's Reputation

I'm working on a blog post about a conference I recently attended as well as travel to see temple ruins, elephants and monkeys! In the meantime to evoke voting spirit, here are two recent articles regarding Canada's international reputation. Results: a mixed bag. Bad news first should be a great motivator to go out and vote on May 2nd.

Canada's international reputation taking a hit: International Human Rights: Canada's Role Dwindling

"There was a time when the world turned to Canada for inspiration and leadership on human rights. Today, it’s inclined to look away. That’s the troubling conclusion of a report by Amnesty International highlighting this country’s dwindling role as a human rights champion. It should worry everyone interested in maintaining Canada’s global reputation.
Misguided policies of the federal Conservative government are responsible for most of the slippage — but not all of it. Canadians would do well to consider which political party, vying for seats in the current federal election, is best positioned to reverse this damaging trend."

At the UN Copenhagen summit Canada received the "Fossil award" for doing the most to delay and disrupt negotiations on coming to an agreement on a global reduction in carbon emissions. This is pretty embarrassing considering we initiated the Kyoto Protocol...and then bailed because it was really just a "socialist scheme" according to Harper. 
A nice review of his work: Shit Harper Did
In my mind Canada is still a pretty rad country...
We're apparently the World's Friendliest Country which is rated based on how welcoming we are and ease of which people are able to befriend locals, learn the language, integrate themselves into the community and fit into the new culture. I have a soft spot for New Zealand and am surprised they didn't make the list, some of the friendliest people I've met while travelling by far. 
Rankings Top 10 Friendliest Countries:

2. Bermuda
3. South Africa
4. United States
5. Australia
6. Spain
7. France
8. United Kingdom
9. Malaysia
10. Germany

Peer pressure- You should vote cause all the cool kids are doing it.