Good Sunday Morning and a happy March,
“In like a lion, out like a lamb.” Let’s hope the Mango Mussolini’s roar (adopting brilliant Toronto/Nicaraguan comedienne Martha Chavez’s nickname for the US President) is replaced by a lamb of peace by April. Little hope, but we need hope!
At the opening gala for the 25th anniversary Salt Spring Film Festival, a sold-out, jam-packed gathering at Gulf Island Secondary School on Friday night, I found myself unexpectedly not a member of the audience, but asked to help field questions. The opening night film The Giants: The Extraordinary Story of Bob Brown and the Forest is a compelling and inspiring telling of the fight for the forests of Tasmania, through the story of my friend and founder of the Green Party of Australia, Dr. Bob Brown. David Suzuki’s wisdom in snippets of interviews throughout the documentary was the main attraction for the Q and A. I think I was added when they realized I had bought tickets and latterly that I must know Bob too, as a fellow Greens leader. The documentary also included the bravery of my dear friend Christine Milne who succeeded Bob as Australian Green leader, and so many other brave souls who fought so many battles for the forest, for justice, for love.
Given the horrors caused by fresh assaults on basic decency in torrents from the White House, a shadow was cast over the gathering of strong community members. The organizer suggested I might be able to find some hope where David does not.
Luckily, a generous constituent had dropped off a book she thought I would like, Life After Doom: Wisdom and Courage for a World Falling Apart, by Brian McLaren.
It has a great bit on page one, quoting comedian Dave Barry: “So at the moment the situation appears grim. And yet there are plenty of reasons to feel hopeful about the future. To name just a few: (NOTE TO EDITOR- Please insert some reasons to feel hopeful about the future, if you can think of any.)”
I think if we cannot find reason for hope we will essentially surrender to the deep darkness that surrounds us. Being hopeful against reason is not helpful and can lead to other problems such as self-medication and fits of delusion. The best course is to recognize the strength of resistance, dig deep enough to imagine a future for this precious planet and the living creatures, including our species, that we love. This requires a fairly steely determination.
For me it comes from seeing that the horrors of the world’s fascist oligarchy are no longer operating by stealth but are living in full colour. In response, we are witnessing a global and nearly miraculous resolve from people. (I hate the term “ordinary people” because who is ordinary?) Let’s say “the citizenry”, now enraged, is awake and involved in an increasingly active resistance. Canadians in particular are stepping up and encouraging the best from our leaders.
On Wednesday, Jonathan Pedneault revealed our Green Party of Canada plan to resist. See also this February 26 Youtube of presser: Green Party of Canada Unveils Plan to Protect Canadian Sovereignty.
I am convinced we can and will emerge as a more united, self-sufficient and self-reliant nation, one fully committed to protecting our only home from the worst of what the climate emergency might deliver. This requires a rapid and fundamental transformation of our economy.
The reason for hope is that our number one obstacle to Canada achieving any government’s political climate pledges has been the enormous power of the status quo. The strength and dominance of the fossil fuel lobby, the unquestioned assumptions that the capitalist and corporatist market system was immovable and unshakable. Now the centre is not holding. There is no power in the status quo. Across multiple planes of the global poly-crisis, things falling apart opens possibilities. When things are in disequilibrium rapid and fundamental change is possible. In fact, disruptive change is inevitable. The challenge for social movements is to point the way forward so that those changes lead us to greater fairness, to sanity, living in harmony with Mother Earth and following her laws. All of this is scary, but we must not be afraid. Only calm determination can prepare us for the moment when, at long last “the meek inherit the Earth.” The plunderers will run for cover. At least that is my plan. Pack your bags Elon and the Donald, your one-way ticket to Mars awaits!
Today I am on the rails from Montreal to Manhattan, getting to United Nations headquarters for the third meeting of the Parties for the Treaty to Prohibit Nuclear weapons. Canadian Peace activists from the Peace Train campaign of 2024 are on board as well!
Parliamentarians from around the world will meet all day Monday to keep pressing more governments to join the effort. So far, Canada does not even plan to send observers.
In other events, join if you can!
March 2, 4:00 pm, Film and Discussion Panel
SGI Greens and the BC Environmental Film Festival are presenting a film, “Flight of the Swans,” at the Star Cinema.
Tickets are $13 at the door, or buy tickets online ahead of the event.
After the one-hour film, Sonia Furstenau, Ann Nightingale and Nathalie Chambers will discuss how the film relates to swans and other migratory birds in SGI and B.C. Come and join in the discussion!
March 6 , 2:00 – 3:30 pm
Speakers Event: Goward House, 2495 Arbutus Road, Victoria.
Come hear me speak to the topic “Why the world needs Canada- now more than ever!”
Saturday March 8, 7-9 pm.
St. George’s Church 99 Woolwich, Guelph, ON.
If you can join me for International Women’s Day, please do! I am so thrilled to be joining the next MP for Guelph, Green candidate Dr. Anne Marie Zajdlik for her campaign launch. See you there!
For now, much love, stay sane and committed to solidarity movements wherever you find them. Build community. Love everyone. And do recall that people who are hateful really hate it if you love them. Drives them nuts, so there is that fringe benefit to helping hold your own sense of inner peace!
Talk next Sunday morning!
Elizabeth
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