GREEN PARTY CONVENTION MAJOR SUCCESS

Last weekend I had the pleasure of attending my seventh Green Party of BC convention. This time around Royal Roads University played host my political party of choice. The event was attended by about 150 delegates from all over BC, California and Ontario.

Recharging ones own political batteries is the name of the game at this event and mine were in serious need of a boost. Given that I live in prime NDP territory, Green support in East Van is minimal between elections. Add to the fact I get in trouble at work for telling people they should recycle more, turn off lights and double side their printing and you can see why I run out of steam. [I work at SFU].

I had the pleasure of staying over at the Sterk residence for the weekend and was treated to a great dinner on arriving Friday night by the Sterk's. It turned out my bike trek from Swartz Bay to their house in Esquimalt took twice as long as I originally expected. A 32km trip for some reason took over three hours, which is slow even for me. I took the Lochside Trail south from the ferry terminal; I got lost twice and there was far more dirt and mud on the trail than I expected. Once I got in to the Greater Victoria area the trail was paved and I got up to more speed and the near flatness of the route was a breeze. In summer this would be a great trail to completion all the way out to Sooke.

The convention itself was well done, apart from the usual organisational glitches. Jim Harris [former federal leader] did his great rousing speech routine, which always inspires no matter how many times I hear variations on it. Whistler Mayor Ken Melamed spoke on the the challenges of being Green and being the Mayor of an Olympic host venue. Originally Ken stood against the Olympics in 2010, so it was interesting to hear how he came to terms with it. His hope is to make the Whistler portion of the 2010 Olympics as green as possible and from what he said he seemed to be happy enough with the results so far. Yet he did acknowledge the limited scope of his own powers in respect to the IOC in particular.

The highlight of the weekend was the election of my good friend and colleague Dr Jane Sterk as leader of the party. Since this was the first leadership race since 2000, at which Adriane Carr took over from Stuart Parker; this leadership was contested between five worthy candidates ALL capable of accepting defeat graciously. It was literally a heart thumper to hear interim leader Chris Bennett announce Jane as the new leader. I know she will be the best leader to take us in to the 2009 BC election. She also has a great partner in Walter Mayer Zu Erpen as party chair, Walter also lives in the capital region and together they will forge a Green team unlike any before it; force to be reckoned with in 2009.

If the media attention given so far is any indication both the Liberals and NDP are in for a rough ride in 2009.

Can We Buy Our Way Out of Global Climate Change ?

IAN GREGSON

Vancouver seems to be playing a central role in the movement towards developing consumer-driven solutions to avoid global climate change.



Two recent events of note were the EPIC (Ethical, Progressive, Intelligent, Consumer) show at Canada Place and the publication of a new magazine "Granville" from the publishers of BC Business magazine. Both these not so distantly related events promoted spending our way out of the global climate crisis - a solution that is doomed to fail.

The principle of spending your way out of a recession is all too familiar: a government pours millions, often billions, of taxpayer's money into projects that provide employment and thus stimulate the economy - a sort of jump start for a run down economic battery. This principle has been used by many levels of government in the last century, from the work projects of the 1930's to the hosting of the Vancouver Olympics in 2010.

This same principle is being applied to the environmental crisis that faces our planet. Some would have us believe that we can spend our way out of global climate change. We see strong messages from the private sector that claim to address the problem. The messages range from "ethically produced coffee" to "environmentally sound homes" to "cars that run on virtually no gas". All marketed at the consumer that has some level of global conscience and the deep pockets to make an investment. Sometimes the marketing is just plain ludicrous.

At the EPIC event we saw the Porsche SUV, one of the most environmentally unfriendly vehicles on the road today, being touted as a solution. A leasing company was offering as an incentive the planting of trees in Mission to offset the carbon emissions of the vehicle! Yet the marketing did not address the manufacturing process of the vehicle, the thousands of kilograms of metal, plastic and unrecyclable material in the vehicle. And while this was an extreme example, there were many similar "guilt reduction" strategies being employed at the event.

Similarly the new magazine "Granville", published by Peter Legge* (see footnote), is attempting to profit by marketing solutions to the upcoming environmental catastrophe. The magazine's mission is to inform and entertain, while providing a medium for their advertisers to flog "green choices" to readers. The message is that your lifestyle doesn't have to change a bit, just keep on spending! Ads for Toyota and other large manufacturers abound in the magazine. Even the most carbon reducing car is still a car, its manufacturing process still requires vast amounts of raw material -an issue most people neglect to consider in an environmental footprint.


Taking environmental issues at face value is not going to stop the impending climate change. People have to start taking into consideration all the factors that bring products and services into our lives. How far did that tomato travel to get to your kitchen counter ? What manufacturing processes did that knife go through in order to be in your kitchen ? How far did your kitchen counter travel to be in your kitchen ? Until we start looking at every single item we consume in a more responsible way, we will continue to rape the planet of its resources and in time we all will have to pay the price.

While at first glance the task of tracking all our consumables seems onerous, if it is made part of a more transparent manufacturing process via the manufacturer's web site then the onus rests with manufacturer not wholly on the consumer. However, it will be the consumer who ultimately decides on how transparent the process is and who will use his or her buying power to decide which products meet the mark.

We cannot allow ourselves to remain passive consumers any longer. We all need to take some responsibility for the products we consume; starting with their use of raw material, manufacturing, employment standards, transportation, packaging and ultimate disposal after use. What we will find is that all of a sudden we do not need as many products as we once thought, and we will consume less.

Footnote:
For more than 40 years, Peter Legge has embodied the gutsy spirit of the entrepreneur. A savvy businessman with an uncanny ability to identify opportunities, Peter successfully developed what began as a small-circulation television listings magazine called TV Week into the foundation of a top Canadian enterprise. As President and CEO of Canada Wide Magazines and Communications Ltd., Peter leads the largest independently owned publishing company in Western Canada, producing more than 30 titles, with annual revenues in excess of $25 million. (from http://www.peterlegge.com)

The Road to San Francisco [and back] Part 1

A few weeks back my family and I took a five day trip down to San Francisco. Being the enviro types, we decided on the Amtrak train as our main method of transportation - turns out it was a pretty good trip all around.



Due to various economic and geographical factors getting around by train in North America has long been a challenge in comparison to air travel. However, in talking to several people it sounded like the train was an option in this case. The price was $89 one way for adults, this did not include the sleeper car, which is at least double the price. Having grown up in the UK and travelled the length of the island by train I was looking forward to the 24 hour plus train trek.




Starting in Vancouver in the early Monday AM [5.30] we took the bus to Seattle in order to catch the 9.45am Amtrak Coast Starlite Express from King Street station. The Seattle station is in the process of renovation, its roof needs help. Soon enough we were on our way south out of Seattle. Once out of the downtown area the train sped up. The various stops throughout Washington and Oregon saw the train eventually fill up to near capacity.


The train itself had comfortable seats in the E Z Boy style; you are free to walk up and down, take in the views in the viewing car. My only quibble with the train itself was the physical reality on being on the top deck of a double deck - the constant to and fro was disconcerting for several hours. The problem was far less noticeable on the lower deck, which can also be booked.


As the scenery flew by one could spy wildlife along the south end of Puget sound, however once the line turns inland the land stays flat, sheep cows and horses abound. It was not until climbing the 8000 feet in to the Cascades did the scenery become truly breathtaking.

Sadly it became dark just about the same time we entered the higher regions of the Cascades, however on the return trip we caught much of what was missed. By about 11pm most of the coach was sleeping, some loudly. I found one was able to catch enough sleep to still be functional the next day.



By sunrise at 6am we were already just outside Sacramento. Getting off the train in Sacramento was a needed break. Checking out their new transit extension was cool. Turns out they have only just linked the seven blocks from the last tram station to the Amtrak station, nineteen years overdue.


The trek from Sacramento in Emeryville saw an increase of industrialisation particularly around Martinez. My camera caught a familiar sight to Eagle Ridge Bluffs protestors at the south end of the Benicia-Martinez bridge. However, that was contrasted with the stop we had just south of Fairfield and north of 680 where this photo was taken, in the far distance is a large windfarm.


Our arrival in to Emeryville and subsequent bus ride in to San Francisco got us to the Opal hotel at Van Ness and Geary at around 11am on Tuesday morning.

The Stealing of a Flag....

The Stealing of a Flag....

Whilst not a major crime on the usual scale of things, depending on the flag, its location and the symbolism of such a gesture.

Last week the media, practically fell over itself with a focused attention on the corner of Cambie and 12th; for once not exactly at city hall over a faux pas, but at the theft of the Olympic flag.

Later in the week a group of native youths declared they had stolen the flag in the name of Harriet Nahanee. The media attention was not as hot to that story, as it was so for Harriet's death a few weeks back.

The audacity and bare faced cheek of stealing such a prominent symbol of the Olympic flag captured the attention. No Quake 3 puns intended, but capturing the flag could be a new olympic sport.

Now there will be more security - on the same day the Globe and Mail announced the 2010 Olympics will be the largest "security sic military" operation in Canadian history. Not since the NDP debacle at Gustafsen Lake will we have tanks, anti aircraft guns, even more helecopters [why does a helecopter fly over my house every night between 11 and 11.30pm anyway], military personnel, foreign advisors, FBI, CIA, MI5. Don't these people know we are home to some of the most savage and aggressive great grannies in the world ? The heightened security at Betty's sentencing on 5th was a shape of things to come.

So what to do with a stolen Olympic flag ? I suggest cutting it up in to 5000 pieces and sell each one for a dollar and send the money to Betty K in Alloutte Pen. If some kid can make a million selling pixels on his web site, surely this can work. Betty K needs your money, $2 for a simple phone call.

Although it is a rather tactless image, I see us standing on the edge of a toilet bowl looking in, down there at the bottom is the 2010 Olympics, beyond it is an endless vacuum of nothingness. It's not the vision I expected for my children, nor is it you expected for yours. Nonetheless, its all about I can see at the moment.

People tell us the Olympics are coming regardless. Whilst this is certainly true, it does not give the Liberals or their cronies free reign to exploit the people and land within the boundaries of this province. It does not give them the right to throw people in jail for protesting whilst ignoring the environmental consequences of their own actions. It does not give them the right to spend billions of dollars in our name when the vast majority of people fail to benefit directly from this "project".

We need to remember all of this on May 19th, 2009. The downfall of a government started with the theft of a flag....

Remembering Harriet and Pierre

Last week the BC environmental movement lost two of its foot soldiers in the shape of Harriet Nahanee and Pierre Rovtar.

Harriet was instrumental in the Eagle Ridge bluffs protest and at 71 had been sent to prison for 14 days for simply not apologising to the construction company at Eagle Ridge Bluffs. Along with fellow protestor Betty Krawzyk, Harriet took a stand on the bluffs overlooking West Vancouver, like Betty she was arrested for breaking the will of a judge who simply issued a piece of paper.

It is a statement of our times to see pictures of Harriet on the blockade holding in one hand a piece of paper originally written 200 years ago; the other hand in hand with a West Van RCMP officer. Our court system refuses to acknowledge such an old document, even if it was written in the King's hand. Today a court order can overrule the word of a long dead king with a simple signature.

Betty and Harriet as great grandmothers have memory of the days when Madam Justice Brown never had the opportunity to sit in her current position. Justice Brown is in her position today because women of the past suffered, got arrested and sometimes died to fight for the right for her right to be recognised. Today a construction company has more right to make a buck than people have the right to protest said companies immoral activities.

Make no mistake, Harriet Nahanee died in her attempt to save Eagle Ridge Bluffs, she maybe the first casualty of a new war in the woods.



I knew Pierre Rovtar from his time running for the Green Party in the BC election of 2005. Unlike many GP candidates Pierre did not dissapear from the radar after the election. In fact Pierre raised his profile significantly by raising a Surrey based fight to stop the BC Liberals Gateway Plan; ironically set in motion by Kevin Falcon, who Pierre ran against in 2005.

Pierre's stand against the Gateway Plan would certainly not have been an easy one. The vast majority of residents south of the Port Mann were originally in favour of the plan. However, thanks to Pierre [and others] hard work and dedication to the realities of increased traffic, Surrey, Langley, Cloverdale residents and their local media are now questioning the logic of the Gateway Plan; particularly in light of the Liberals green speech of several weeks back.

As far as I know Pierre Rovtar and Harriet Nahanee never met, yet their commonality is obvious. From each end of the freeway expansion these two warriors fought the fight of so-called "progress". We shall remember them both as such.

Surrey fashions are different from those in East Van

Surrey fashions are different from those in East Van


In the BC election of 2005 you would be hard pressed to find a would be MLA south of the Port Mann speaking against the Gateway Plan and the subsequent twinning of the bridge. On the televised leaders debate all but one leader spoke in favour of the Gateway Plan.

However, times change and now there seems to far more opposition to the Gateway Plan in Victoria than ever before - or is there ?

As a candidate in the 2005 election I often found myself the single opponent of the freeway expansion, particularly in several televised debates on Ch 10. [NOW TV] with Doug Kooy. [May 17th, 2005] In that debate candidate Bruce Ralston of the NDP voiced his support of the Gateway Plan. Jagrup Brar was quoted in the Surrey Now in support of the plan and even leader Carole James voiced her support for the plan both in the Surrey Now and on the leaders tv debate.

However, that was way back in 2005 and political winds doth change. At the 2005 NDP convention Vancouver Kensington put forward a motion [I have a copy if you want it]

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the NDP oppose unilateral plans for the expansion of Highway 1 & the twinning of the Port Mann bridge in favor of assessing the most effective means for lasting solutions to traffic congestion that are consistent with adopted local and regional policy including but not limited to:

introducing improved transit options
increasing use of HOV lanes and introducing HPV lanes
introducing new rail options
implement congestion pricing and ramp signals
implement transportation demand management
[R2005-02 Lower Mainland Transportation]

The NDP in Abbotsford Clayburn put forward a motion:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the BC NDP press the provincial government to implement a comprehensive public transit strategy for the Fraser Valley which gives serious consideration to the utilization of existing rail facilities in the Fraser Valley on the south side of the Fraser River.[ R2005-04 Public Transportation in the Fraser Valley]

The reality of politics is that had the NDP had this policy in place prior to the 2005 election it may not have elected as many new MLA's. Policy changes tend to be a reflection of the current fashion of a political party - they can remain in the closet but never get worn out in public.

So it is with great interest we now observe a step up in the political rhetoric around the Gateway Plan. One begs to ask the question, how many Surrey NDP MLA's will be wearing their transportation policy out in public, particularly south of the Port Mann bridge ? What transportation policy fashion will the NDP leader be wearing in 2009 ?

As a resident of East Van who lives a mere 50 meters from Hwy 1, I am well aware of the NDP opposition to Gateway; but then just about every politician of every stripe is against the Gateway Plan in East Van, [as they should be]. However, it is those politicians over in Surrey, where support for Gateway is fashionable, that I am most concerned about. We never hear from Messrs Brar and Ralston on the issue; we never see them out in public wearing their NDP transportation policy suits and ties.

The logical question arising from this ambiguity [flip flopping] is: Should we trust the NDP to hold the course and wear their policy in public, leading up to the 2009 election ? History tells us political parties will do just about anything to get elected, including pushing their fashionable attire back in to the closet to gather dust, only to brought out when politically expedient.

Many of us have worked hard and long on opposing the Gateway Plan. To put our eggs in one political basket, namely the NDP, is risky. They have a long history of turning their backs on the people who supported them in the past. Maybe it is time for the NDP to wear unfashionable clothing at election time and damn the consequences, you never know people just might follow suit.

The Rights and Wrongs of being Betty

Today environmental elder Betty Krawczyk returned to court to face a yet another jail sentence. Without knowing the predictable outcome, Betty has garnered more and more support for causes, specifically the need to amend the law so that protestors can be charged under the criminal code.

As it stands environmental protest fall between the cracks in the justice system. If, like Betty and the 20 or more protestors of Eagle Ridge Bluffs, you are charged with "contempt of court" then your legal rights are severely diminished compared to a straight criminal court case.

The intention of which is to completely dissuade protestors for becoming inspired in the first place. Imagine if you knew you would have a fair trial for your protesting activities, wouldn't that inspire you to go live outside for 30 days in a tent beside a busy freeway ? Of course not !

It is interesting to look at the perception of public protest in BC over the last twenty years. Under the BC NDP government, environmentalists were labelled as the "enemies of progress" by the premier of the day [Glen Clark]. Under the Liberals, protests have become more common place, yet more marginalised. The Liberals have not taken on the protestors in the media but in the court rooms. Yet, in East Vancouver particularly, the notion of protest has never been so prevalent has never been so strong, yet how far are protestors willing to go for their cause ?

Are we willing to go to jail to stop the freeway expansion ? Are we willing to risk a strip search in order to protest against the 2010 Olympics ? Are we willing to risk rough treatment from the VPD in order to stop the gentrification on yet another DTES hotel ?

Everyone has their limit - Betty K's limit involves going to jail in order to protect our future. However, not everyone is a Betty K in the making. Betty's age and demeanour is directly related to how successful she has been in bringing attention to her causes. Would a twenty year old have the same success ? Would a twenty year old get the same treatment by police ?

We should not let an unfair justice system stop us from acting, in fact we should seek inspiration from such a system to act even more; like Betty we must risk our personal freedoms in order to save what we value most.