Here’s a good one. The headline reads “U.S. Forces In Iraq Want More Green: Frontline Commander Calls For Renewable Energy Sources To Reduce Risks.”
I don’t usually do this, but I’ll just let that one sit without comment. (Of course, that doesn’t mean you have to.)
Yesterday was the fifth anniversary of when I moved into my current apartment; my “box in the sky.”
The next morning, I was listening to the radio while getting ready for class at Ryerson. I remember Andy Barrie becoming distracted at one point, and then explaining that he was watching television images of a plane that had crashed into one of the World Trade Center towers.
Having no TV, I decided to walk to Ryerson early to see this on the cafeteria TV. When I arrived, the image on the screen made no sense. I’d been picturing the damage of a small plane in one tower, but now both towers had been transformed into massive smoke stacks.
I didn’t know what to make of it, and don’t know how long I sat there before walking over to class. What I do remember is that by that point there was only one tower left. As our class entered the TV studio (our classroom — we were television students), we greeted each other awkwardly. “Everyone’s turned on a TV today, right?” Some of us hadn’t seen each other all summer, but “good to see you” wasn’t working today.
For the first — hour? few hours? — of class we watched Newsworld on two screens that had been wheeled in by the professors. When the second tower collapsed and Peter Mansbridge emphasized that these were live images, not a replay of the first tower falling, I was sure he’d made a mistake. I remember thinking, “if I saw this in a movie, I’d roll my eyes at how unrealistic it was.”
I wanted to write about those next few days, weeks, and months, but I never did until now. I’d wanted to record all the little details, only some of which I remember: the sign on the now-out-of-business NYC Store on Yonge Street that said “closed due to pesky terrorist kids,” the rumours that a plane was headed for Toronto, how many weeks past before I saw another TV commercial, the American flag network bugs that lasted for months.
I hold in my head the false choice between mourning the dead and lamenting what’s been done in their name since. “With us or with the terrorists” also continues to be a false choice. I have nothing new or wise to say on this fifth anniversary.
Instead, I’ve tried to find some comfort in another anniversary. One hundred years ago today, Mahatma Gandhi began his non-violence movement, and helped to change the world forever. All I can say is, we could really use another Gandhi right about now.
Today, for what I’m pretty sure is the first time, the Green Party of Canada hit 10% in a national poll. This reflects positively on our message and our new leader. It reflects negatively on the status quo parties who are failing to offer leadership.
For your reference, in 1993 with only 6.88% of the popular vote, the NDP elected 9 MPs.
Over the coming months, as the Green Party launches a series of policy conferences across the country, expect to see our popularity and credibility continue to rise.
Can I get a yip yip?
You’ve probably heard that the Conservatives are currently developing their “Green Plan II” by focus group. Apparently someone told them that this “environment stuff” is really popular right now. (That’s not a joke — it is, and there are a number of indications that Harper’s real number one priority is upgrading his government to a majority.)
Let’s just ignore the fact that focus groups are no way to lead. Oh, and the fact that the government is paying for it instead of the Conservative party. (Really? Do I have to ignore that? Ok…)
I wish I held out hope that this plan will be much more than a greenwash, but I don’t. And I’d be more specific if we were allowed to see the details, but we’re not. All we know for sure is that polluters are going to have a big say, that regulations are most likely going to voluntary, and that the plan will focus on air pollution instead of climate change (aka, the biggest threat facing our country in the foreseeable future).
We also know that the plan could take five years to develop and come into effect. Now, I don’t mean to be alarmist, but maybe they should read James Lovelock. The clock is ticking folks.