Withinsight: October 2009

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

350 on the beach

Well, a group of local teens managed to get about 300 of us out for a march through the city to the park, then a photo in the dark (from the bridge). Anna and I are two of the little candle lights at the bottom of the '5'.

Does it matter? Damn right it does. We all need to act so that we're acting... and so that our leaders begin to follow.

// posted by Gary @ 8:48 pm 9 comments

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Oct 24 Day of Action

You probably have heard of the 350 campaign, but if not, here's the poop...

350.org is an international campaign dedicated to building a movement to unite the world around solutions to the climate crisis--the solutions that science and justice demand. Our mission is to inspire the world to rise to the challenge of the climate crisis—to create a new sense of urgency and of possibility for our planet. Our focus is on the number 350--as in parts per million, the level scientists have identified as the safe upper limit for CO2 in our atmosphere. But 350 is more than a number--it's a symbol of where we need to head as a planet.

Check out this grassroots movement and do something on October 24th if you can. This song is inspirational too (to me at least).

Happy to hear your comments fellow earthlings...

// posted by Gary @ 5:11 pm 5 comments

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Sri Lanka situation desperate ...

Tamils in Sri Lankan Camp

If you followed the Sri Lankan conflict at all you'll know that the bloody internal war has finally ended, with a military victory by the government over the Tamil Tigers (and others). You may not know that there are internment camps now, with more than 250,000 Tamil people, including women and children. Ostensibly in place to sort out the 'bad guys' they are putting thousands of innocent people at risk in horrible conditions.

Check this petition out if you have a few moments (Unlock the Camps).

On a related note, a ship with what might be 76 Tamil men aboard, was intercepted before illegally landing on Canada's west coast. The government is crowing about 'not being an easy target for illegal arrivals' and 'being tough on these queue jumpers' blah blah blah. While we don't want economic migrants or other illegal immigrants arriving this way, here is a NOTE TO MINISTER:

Refugees with a well-founded fear of persecution are not queue jumpers and don't have the opportunity to immigrate as others. They arrive illegally sometimes because they are fleeing for safety. International laws protect them.

These men may or may not have legitimate asylum claims, but let's not be quick to close our sacred doors in fear, and ignore our obligation to review their cases fairly. And for the record... Canada can handle more refugees as well as more immigrants.

Other than our Aboriginal neighbours, that's how we all arrived (or our ancestors).

// posted by Gary @ 2:32 pm 7 comments

Sunday, October 04, 2009

Further north...further west

I'm now on Haida Gwaii, a wonderful other-worldly group of islands in the north Pacific. It truly feels like another land, physically and culturally. Here are a few shots, including from the float plane as we flew over here from the mainland.

On an interesting and exciting note, when I arrived at the B&B in Masset, one of the two other guests was David Suzuki. All Canadians will know who I mean and perhaps others as well. He's a renowned scientist, broadcaster (The Nature of Things on television for e.g.) and ardent and annoying-to-those-in-power environmentalist. He gave a great speech in the local church hall and another one over beer back in the B&B.