Glossary

Biological Warfare: The use of disease-producing micro-organisms, toxic biological products, or organic biocides to cause death or injury to humans, animals, or plants.

Biometric Identifier: Documents such as permanent resident cards, NEXUS, and other travel documents for better security.

Chemical Warfare: Warfare and associated military operations involving the employment of lethal and incapacitating munitions and agents, typically poisons, contaminants, and irritants.

Diplomacy: Skills and techniques with the handling of international relations.

Declaration: An explicit, formal announcement, either oral or written.

Immigrants: A person who leaves one country to settle permanently in another.

Immigration: Come into a foreign country as a permanent resident.

Infrastructure: Places such as airports, bridges, tunnels, roads and pipelines. A country's infrastructure must be safe and secure from terrorism.

Legislation: The act or process of legislating, and lawmaking. A proposed or enacted law or group of laws.

Manifest: A list of cargo or passengers carried by a ship or aircraft.

Multiculturalism: The fostering and encouragement of many cultures within a society rather than in only a mainstream culture.

NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization): An international organization created in 1949 by the North Atlantic Treaty for purposes of collective security.

Nuclear Weapon: A device, such as a bomb or warhead, whose
great explosive power derives from the release of nuclear energy.

Passport: An official document identifying the holder as a citizen of a particular country and entitling them to travel abroad under protection. Canadian passports are now secure documents with a laser-engraved photograph and signature and many other security features, making them virtually impossible to fake.

Peacekeeping: Preserving of peace, especially the supervision by international forces of a truce between hostile nations.

Point of Entry: The geographic point at which an immigrant or refugee first enters a country.

Prosecute: To initiate civil or criminal court action against, to seek to obtain or enforce by legal action.

Refugee: One who flees one country in search of refuge in another country, as in times of war, political oppression, or religious persecution.

Safe Third Country: If a refugee from a first country (ie Afghanistan) is travelling to a second country (ie Canada) and travels through a safe third country (ie United States) along the way, they must apply for refugee status in the safe third country rather than their final destination.

Terrorism: The unlawful use or threatened use of force or violence by a person or an organized group against people or property with the intention of intimidating or harming societies or governments, often for religious or political reasons.

Transponder: A radio or radar transmitter-receiver that is used to help secure Canada's infrastructure as a part of the Intelligent Transportation Systems Technology. A device attached to a vehicle used to track and identify it at the border.

United Nations (UN): An international organization composed of most of the countries of the world. It was founded in 1945 to promote peace, security, and economic development.

Veto: a 'no' vote by a permanent member on the UN Security Council toward any resolution trying to be passed. If any veto vote is made, the resolution cannot be passed, despite the remaining votes.

Visa: An official authorization appended to a passport, permitting entry into and travel within a particular country or region.

Warfare: Making war, a particular form of fighting.

Warrant: Legal document that allows officers to get prior approval for arrests and allows them access to buildings.

Text by The Canadian Approach to Diplomacy Group
Earth photo used with permission from NASA
Athens District High School