Here in Ontario, we are facing a municipal election this fall, and a provincial one next fall, with a question of a federal election somewhere in there. Six years ago, I saw a need and I decided to try to fill it: I realized that one of the biggest problems in our society is that often people don't run for election who are good, caring, peaceful, big picture thinkers, organizers and communicators.

 

I've tried hard to figure out why. I've heard many reasons why people don't offer themselves for this type of community service, and I’ve been advised by some people I look up to with very different perspectives to run, not run, run for the top, don’t waste too much time. I’ve got to admit: they go through my head sometimes too, most recently when trying to decide if I’ll run again (spoiler alert: I decided to be a leader).

 

Here are the negative thoughts that could go through your head if you think of running:

 

1)   You can get more done faster outside government & its bureaucracy, particularly when you’re interested in a particular topic or like to run under the radar

2)   ‘Politicians are corrupt’: therefore, if you become one, people will think you are corrupt, will treat you differently, or you’d be put in the position of not being able to speak against things that seem wrong

3)   Your views can be broadcast wrong, with a bad spin, and rumours and gossip may fly

4)   It’s a big time commitment, particularly in areas where it’s not a full-time job

5)   In governments, almost always you have to start out being a follower of a leader (mayor, premier, prime minister, etc.) who may not be someone you want to support or work with, or even seem to support for the chance that you are misleading the public who knows you

6)   The compromises needed to be effective in order to keep respect and the ability to sway opinions can be unethical and unacceptable to you or the public

7)   Once elected, since the unspoken mandate is to get re-elected, every single thing you do or don't do has dire consequences: you could lose the next election and the ability to have a voice at the table

8)   You're tied into a system that has obvious flaws, can be misused, manipulated or just screwed up

9)   Your private life for you and your family will be gone, because you’ll be stopped at the grocery store, the beach, everywhere!

10)                  The money is never what your time is worth: you could make more money and get better results spending time doing other things instead, and people will always argue that you get paid too much or that you should do more since you’re paid to do it

11)                  People will have unrealistic expectations and ask you to do things you are either incapable of affecting or not the best use of your time

12)                  You’re not sure who you’ll be elected with, so you don’t know how difficult it will be to work with them or whether they share your values and vision

13)                  Unless the chairperson is acclaimed, it’s hard to know if things will be run properly, with good procedures and policies

14)                  People will be angry with you for things that don’t make sense, and not value what you do

15)                  You’ll have to learn about and deal with a lot of issues you are not interested in or you don’t have the same priorities as your fellows

16)                  People assume that you’re in politics for an ulterior motive of some sort: money, power, greed, control!

17)                  The staff members own culture and direction will affect your ability to create change

18)                  It’s hard to balance out being a leader, being persistent in what you think is best, and allowing democratic processes to work effectively

19)                  Politics is frustrating, slow, mundane, pervasive, and sometimes even boring!

20)                  Being a leader is like herding cats!

But, there are also strong positives!

1)   You are looked up to in your community as someone who is willing to sacrifice their personal life for the good of the community

2)   You have the ability to put forward ideas that can create positive change

3)   There is an opportunity to work with like-minded people as well as a diversity of opinions

4)   Your civic responsibility to your community would be met in spades

5)   Your community will have a voice through you

6)   You can make influential decisions on things that matter

7)   Once elected, you are part of a culture of politicians that accords at least some respect to you around the world

8)   Problems can be resolved by sharing your knowledge, expertise, and using your connections

9)   Issues you care about can be addressed by being put on the table by you

10)                  You can tie the threads together and help present the big picture

11)                  Being elected can give you a stronger voice at other levels of government and in other places, like the corporate world

12)                  Future generations will thank you for looking after their interests, especially when you address climate change

 

But, the biggest consideration of all is: who will be leading when people like you who care don’t run for election? Are you willing to risk your kids and grandkids’ future?

 

 

 

Sharon Barfoot, the Director of the Southampton Art School, recently emailed me with a link to two websites: Bonnie deVarco's Scale Independent Thought, and Chris Jordan's photographic arts site. Some of Chris' amazing photography is from Midway, an island about 2000 miles from the nearest continent, where baby albatross are dying at a high rate from ingested garbage. The photos of the dead babies with the plastic showing from their stomachs is heart-rendering. 

Bonnie's article on Visioning Sustainability is one of the most thought-provoking and connective articles I've read, and I highly recommend it, particularly because of the discussion of Ehux phytoplankton blooms that can create an albedo effect, cooling the oceans. In the article, she mentions a number of neat initiatives around the world, and I'll mention a few here:

The Buckminster Fuller Challenge has a fully searchable database of socially-responsible initiatives, in all stages of development, in need of further funding and support, with ideas from a Barefoot College, Fundred dollar bill project, and BK Farmyards.

 

Because tomorrow is World Environment Day, I thought I'd write a quick blog about a few current issues.

First of all, the Canadian government released it's Climate Change Plan for the Purposes of the Kyoto Protocol Implementation Act - 2010. Check out the Climate Action News this week for more on information on this, progress with the G8/G20 meetings, and action you can take in Canada.

Also, Ontario is very unique around the world to have Conservation Authorities that are organized by watershed in order to protect lives and properties around water issues. In our area, they are in the middle of consultations over Drinking Water Source Protection, and their recent Assessment Report for my region of Ontario. Strangely enough, they have deemed the Great Lakes to have no significant threats, and so neither shipping spills, nuclear nor coal plant incidents are being addressed in the process. Comments must be made in writing by June 10 to mail@waterprotection.ca.

One last thought: Corrina and I are really excited about going down to Nashville for Al Gore's first presentation training for his solutions book "Our Choice" from June 26-8 for Climate Project presenters. We're looking forward to sharing more about it with you later.

Happy Environment Week~what actions are you taking?

 

 

 

On Thursday, 255 members of the US National Academy of Sciences wrote an open letter in defence of climate research, and I think it is very important for everyone to read it. Please pass this link on so the truth about the climate crisis can rise to the top of the minds of people around the world.

The letter opens with "We are deeply disturbed by the recent escalation of political assaults on scientists in general and on climate scientists in particular. All citizens should understand some basic scientific facts. There is always some uncertainty associated with scientific conclusions; science never absolutely proves anything. When someone says that society should wait until scientists are absolutely certain before taking any action, it is the same as saying society should never take action. For a problem as potentially catastrophic as climate change, taking no action poses a dangerous risk for our planet."

This is their list of basic conclusions that aren't arguable:

(i) The planet is warming due to increased concentrations of heat-trapping gases in our atmosphere. A snowy winter in Washington does not alter this fact.

(ii) Most of the increase in the concentration of these gases over the last century is due to human activities, especially the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation.

(iii) Natural causes always play a role in changing Earth's climate, but are now being overwhelmed by human-induced changes.

(iv) Warming the planet will cause many other climatic patterns to change at speeds unprecedented in modern times, including increasing rates of sea-level rise and alterations in the hydrologic cycle. Rising concentrations of carbon dioxide are making the oceans more acidic.

(v) The combination of these complex climate changes threatens coastal communities and cities, our food and water supplies, marine and freshwater ecosystems, forests, high mountain environments, and far more.

Although we are already late, we cannot ignore the consensus and need to start believing the real scientists and not the climate deniers with thir spin doctoring and distortions.

This morning, I needed to find an inspiring story, and I came across the Mother Nature Network's story and pictures of the the world's 10 oldest living trees.

Take a look at the descriptions from across the globe, and imagine what history these awesome trees have witnessed.

It was sad to hear that one of the oldest trees was cut down by a student, and it reminds me that with the current rate of species extinctions, we will never know what we are losing.

In the end, it helps me to take heart through all the trials and tribulations of being an outspoken advocate for the future, that these trees hold a testament to incredible strength, tenacity and stalwart power!

Much to the dismay of some climate deniers, conspiracy theorists and anti-environmentalists like Ron Stephens (who has flattered me by wasting his time on the first conspiracy/wacky video directed at me, besides flat out lying that I won't debate him~more later maybe), I'm looking forward to participating in Earth Hour and helping to save the planet tomorrow. I actually think it's pretty 'cool' that Tim Hortons is also participating and encouraging people to reuse their mugs.

Earth Hour is an inspirational event where large groups around the world act on their commitment to addressing climate change by turning their lights out for an hour from 8:30-9:30pm the last Saturday of March, which this year falls tomorrow on the 27th.

Here in Saugeen Shores, the Town has signed up with WWF as an official participant, and is ready to go to shut off all non-emergency lighting. There is a 'cool' event happening at Independent Grocer where the Planeteers from the high school and the Bruce County Astronomical Society are holding a night sky viewing and serving cookies & refreshments~if you're near here, come join the fun with me and Corrina! Otherwise, find your own party!

Before I sign off, can someone fill me in on the group that Ron says I'm following...if it mean fans of my family friend Eugenie, I'm all for it~go Eugenie go!

Letter to the editor of the Sun Times, a daily newspaper in Owen Sound, Ontario in reference to a column by Dennis Thomsett.

“Apathy is the glove into which evil slips its hand”~Bodie Thoene

After a full day promoting projects that strengthen communities and address the reality of our changing world, I finally had time to read the Sun Times. For the second time in a few weeks, I was surprised by the ignorance and depressing message that some of your writers are sending to our children.

 

Since I was young, while organizing environmental programs that caused me to win OSCVI’s Citizenship award, I knew that global warming, the greenhouse effect, and climate change, are real and accelerated by humans; we need to be responsible and turn this around. Since the 70s, climate change science has been strong, and now even our esteemed CBC no longer has discussions about the reality of the science because the only debate is how bad it will get and how fast.

 

I’ve always believed that by educating people, we can make our communities a better place for ourselves, other living creatures, and leave a legacy of a beautiful world for future generations.

 

Instead of sending powerful, positive community-building messages like this to your readership, your paper has been publishing some sad, uneducated, unscientific and destructive articles spreading misinformation about what the educated world knows is the reality of climate change. The March 10 column from Dennis Thompsett is just one sad and awful example, and if I were the publisher, I would never print another word from him. I could easily win any argument about the reality and seriousness of climate change with your misguided authors, but it’s a waste of time. No wonder people are comparing this type of ridiculous spin to the 70s argument that smoking doesn’t cause cancer.

 

“We can’t change anything important and we certainly can’t make much of a lasting difference on God’s green earth, for good or ill.” If this is the kind of message you want to send, then put your head in the sand, stay home and do nothing more destructive than you’ve already done. Maybe then those of us who care enough about the world can be allowed to create a brighter future for our grandchildren without that kind of interference and negativity. Making more money selling controversial content should not be more important than ethics, truth and good journalism.

 

My 13-year-old daughter Corrina has spoken about addressing climate change to over 25,000 people around the province, will be receiving one of the Ontario Junior Citizens of the Year Awards from the Lieutenant Governor, and will be speaking on Earth Week to over 5500 students. Most people would want her to feel empowered, to know she is making a difference, but not Dennis. She read the article, and her response was: “He probably still smokes too.”

 

I find it extremely sad that your publishers, editors and writers are promoting disempowerment and taking so lightly the future of our planet. What is the world coming to?

Bill McKibben, the organizer of the fabulous international movement 350.org of International Day of Action on Climate Change fame, has written a great article called: Climate change skeptics present their case too well. In it, he talks about how the science showing the human causes of climate change are varied and solid, but the deniers have been able to create more doubt in people's minds. James Hoggan and Richard Littlemore wrote a great book called Climate Cover Up: the Crusade to Deny Global Warming and have shown how the spin doctors have shifted the debate from how bad global warming is to whether it is real.

It's really too bad that all our citizens don't  read enough to really understand these important issues: we could save our world if we all took the time to educate ourselves enough to make informed decisions and act accordingly.

WWF has a great blog Miracle in your pocket by Zoë Caron (co-author of Global Warming for Dummies with Elizabeth May): It seems that iPhone has come out with another application that makes me drool, this one from Skeptical Science (getting skeptical about global warming skepticism).  It allows you to look at the main arguments from the denier camp and shares the real science in an easy, accessible way. They're asking people to download it and give them feedback, so the next version will be even better!

Maybe now my husband will give in and let me buy an iPhone! Maybe if I beg? Say it's for ClimateSphere (of course I might enjoy it a little)? Please, if I can help to save the world?

First of all, Happy 20-10!

The New Year is always a good time to review our assumptions and think about how we want to change our lives for the next year. Umair Haque, in the Harvard Business Review, has a great discussion of how 'leaders' lead makes a difference in how effective our leadership is, with thoughts on building a different paradigm for the 21st century. Here's an excerpt:

"The 21st century doesn't need more leaders - nor more leadership. Only Builders can kickstart the chain reaction of a better, more authentic kind of prosperity.

How can you become one? Here are the ten principles of Constructivism (contrasted with these principles of leadership).

1. The boss drives group members; the leader coaches them. The Builder learns from them.
2. The boss depends upon authority; the leader on good will. The Builder depends on good.
3. The boss inspires fear; the leader inspires enthusiasm. The Builder is inspired — by changing the world.
4. The boss says "I"; the leader says "we". The Builder says "all" — people, communities, and society.
5. The boss assigns the task, the leader sets the pace. The Builder sees the outcome.
6. The boss says, "Get there on time;" the leader gets there ahead of time. The Builder makes sure "getting there" matters.
7. The boss fixes the blame for the breakdown; the leader fixes the breakdown. The Builder prevents the breakdown.
8. The boss knows how; the leader shows how. The Builder shows why.
9. The boss makes work a drudgery; the leader makes work a game. The Builder organizes love, not work.
10. The boss says, "Go;" the leader says, "Let's go." The Builder says: "come." "
    

It's time to build a better society, with a better system for economics not based on growth, on caring most about the individuals in our community's health and happiness.

It's time for new leadership resolutions!