Sheerly by accident, I ran into Premier Ed Stelmach while walking home from buying groceries yesterday. Like many other members of CAUSE, I'd been getting from daily notices of his itinerary in Calgary for several days via email from Leila Darwish at the Sierra Club. I deleted yesterday's without even looking at them, however, because my day was looking too full. But when I saw his tour bus on my way to The Urban Baker (they have more interesting and fresher bread than Co-op.... and they were sold out, as I soon learned) I decided to stop and say hello.
I walked into Leah Lawrence's campaign office, which held a couple or three dozen friendly and confident sounding Tories; I expect that most of them hold a different vision than I of what Alberta could and should look like; at least that's what it felt like. I don't doubt that my visit may have felt and unfolded differently if I'd gone in with an attitude of fellowship rather than adversity towards them. Now, there's a project for next time!
I approached Premier Stelmach when he had a moment. I introduced myself as a member of CAUSE, and said I don't like the idea of producing the most toxic and lethal waste ever devised by mankind right here in Alberta, and said I'm passionate about energy sustainability. As we talked about various wasteful habits of Albertans and I brought up the value of BC's new carbon tax, I was interrupted by Ms. Lawrence popping up to introduce herself. I already knew who she was, and I asked her to let me finish my conversation with Mr. Stelmach. It didn't last long, as he proceeded to give me his "bottom line", before lining up with Ms. Lawrence and their supporters for some photos.
I left feeling dismissed. I felt a bit disappointed in myself for perhaps being rude to Ms. Lawrence. And I felt small and very ineffectual. In oil-rich Alberta, in a critical time for action against climate change, a couple of months after Stelmach told us there will be no "touching the brake" of development - including the oilsands - in Alberta, and two days away from our provincial election, it seems we cannot afford ineffectual opposition. On this Saturday afternoon, I walked home heavy of heart and wishing I could have done more; wishing I could be more. I stayed in that space for a couple of hours and then, later in the evening, I took some comfort remembering a couple of my favorite quotes.
Author Lloyd Alexander wrote, "A twig can turn a flood, but the twig must be well placed." I realized a couple of years ago that being well placed means more than being in the right place and right time. Proper placement begins in my own heart with an attitude of acceptance rather than judgement of myself; recognizing that I have a place in the world and I need not be other than what I am, whether stronger or smarter, more articulate or influential; these judgements are what disable my joy and my opportunity for long-term effectiveness. Being well placed also means being one of many twigs, supporting each other and doing together what none can do alone. I am glad to participate in CAUSE, giving what gifts I have to oppose plans for nuclear power plants in Alberta, knowing that nuclear power is neither safe, nor efficient, nor cost-effective, nor necessary. And I trust that others will take up the work when I have done what I can.
I remembered writer and activist Danusha Veronika Goska, who wrote "When we study the biographies of our heroes, we learn that they spent years in preparation, doing tiny, decent things before one historic moment propelled them to center stage and used them to tilt empires." Was this not true of Rosa Parks, who spent years in the civil rights movement, who had repeatedly sat in front seats on buses before she was arrested in Montgomery, Alabama? Was it not true of Mahatma Gandhi who walked his talk for decades, who walked many hundreds of miles on his salt march to the sea? Was it not true of British Parliamentarian William Wilberforce, who put forward proposals 27 times to abolish the slave trade, and finally saw it succeed on the 28th? So I continue doing my tiny, decent things each day and trust that there are forces and events afoot in the world that I do not yet see, but which will turn the tide someday.
I will leave you with one last quote which I'd forgotten until sitting down at my computer tonight. Bonaro Overstreet, too, gives me comfort and strength.
To one who doubts the worth of doing anything if you can’t do everything. You say the little efforts that I make will do no good: they never will prevail to tip the hovering scale where Justice hangs in the balance. I don’t think I ever thought they would. But I am prejudiced beyond debate in favor of my right to choose which side shall feel the stubborn ounces of my weight. Bonaro W. Overstreet
The thought of Nuclear Power Plants in Alberta,is very scarey. It is catering to big business. A family member who WAS a chemical engineer in a nuclear power plant. He was young with a young family. It took him six months to die a miserable ugly death from radiation poisoning. Darlene Konduc Edmonton
It is amazing when you look at the supression involved in the majority of things that are good for us. Take a look at the inventors that try and bring clean solutions for our energy needs. Paul Pantone, Stan meyers John bedini and others have had many experiences in this area. Having talked in person with Paul.P he has told me and others in his classes with GEET technology how he has been hushed. The technology is there, but.......
4 comments:
Sheerly by accident, I ran into Premier Ed Stelmach while walking home from buying groceries yesterday. Like many other members of CAUSE, I'd been getting from daily notices of his itinerary in Calgary for several days via email from Leila Darwish at the Sierra Club. I deleted yesterday's without even looking at them, however, because my day was looking too full. But when I saw his tour bus on my way to The Urban Baker (they have more interesting and fresher bread than Co-op.... and they were sold out, as I soon learned) I decided to stop and say hello.
I walked into Leah Lawrence's campaign office, which held a couple or three dozen friendly and confident sounding Tories; I expect that most of them hold a different vision than I of what Alberta could and should look like; at least that's what it felt like. I don't doubt that my visit may have felt and unfolded differently if I'd gone in with an attitude of fellowship rather than adversity towards them. Now, there's a project for next time!
I approached Premier Stelmach when he had a moment. I introduced myself as a member of CAUSE, and said I don't like the idea of producing the most toxic and lethal waste ever devised by mankind right here in Alberta, and said I'm passionate about energy sustainability. As we talked about various wasteful habits of Albertans and I brought up the value of BC's new carbon tax, I was interrupted by Ms. Lawrence popping up to introduce herself. I already knew who she was, and I asked her to let me finish my conversation with Mr. Stelmach. It didn't last long, as he proceeded to give me his "bottom line", before lining up with Ms. Lawrence and their supporters for some photos.
I left feeling dismissed. I felt a bit disappointed in myself for perhaps being rude to Ms. Lawrence. And I felt small and very ineffectual. In oil-rich Alberta, in a critical time for action against climate change, a couple of months after Stelmach told us there will be no "touching the brake" of development - including the oilsands - in Alberta, and two days away from our provincial election, it seems we cannot afford ineffectual opposition. On this Saturday afternoon, I walked home heavy of heart and wishing I could have done more; wishing I could be more. I stayed in that space for a couple of hours and then, later in the evening, I took some comfort remembering a couple of my favorite quotes.
Author Lloyd Alexander wrote, "A twig can turn a flood, but the twig must be well placed." I realized a couple of years ago that being well placed means more than being in the right place and right time. Proper placement begins in my own heart with an attitude of acceptance rather than judgement of myself; recognizing that I have a place in the world and I need not be other than what I am, whether stronger or smarter, more articulate or influential; these judgements are what disable my joy and my opportunity for long-term effectiveness. Being well placed also means being one of many twigs, supporting each other and doing together what none can do alone. I am glad to participate in CAUSE, giving what gifts I have to oppose plans for nuclear power plants in Alberta, knowing that nuclear power is neither safe, nor efficient, nor cost-effective, nor necessary. And I trust that others will take up the work when I have done what I can.
I remembered writer and activist Danusha Veronika Goska, who wrote "When we study the biographies of our heroes, we learn that they spent years in preparation, doing tiny, decent things before one historic moment propelled them to center stage and used them to tilt empires." Was this not true of Rosa Parks, who spent years in the civil rights movement, who had repeatedly sat in front seats on buses before she was arrested in Montgomery, Alabama? Was it not true of Mahatma Gandhi who walked his talk for decades, who walked many hundreds of miles on his salt march to the sea? Was it not true of British Parliamentarian William Wilberforce, who put forward proposals 27 times to abolish the slave trade, and finally saw it succeed on the 28th? So I continue doing my tiny, decent things each day and trust that there are forces and events afoot in the world that I do not yet see, but which will turn the tide someday.
I will leave you with one last quote which I'd forgotten until sitting down at my computer tonight. Bonaro Overstreet, too, gives me comfort and strength.
To one who doubts the worth of doing anything if you can’t do everything.
You say the little efforts that I make will do no good: they never will prevail
to tip the hovering scale where Justice hangs in the balance.
I don’t think I ever thought they would.
But I am prejudiced beyond debate
in favor of my right to choose which side
shall feel the stubborn ounces of my weight.
Bonaro W. Overstreet
submitted March 2nd '08
Roger L. Gagne
The thought of Nuclear Power Plants in Alberta,is very scarey. It is catering to big business.
A family member who WAS a chemical engineer in a nuclear power plant.
He was young with a young family. It took him six months to die a miserable ugly death from radiation poisoning.
Darlene Konduc
Edmonton
It is amazing when you look at the supression involved in the majority of things that are good for us. Take a look at the inventors that try and bring clean solutions for our energy needs. Paul Pantone, Stan meyers John bedini and others have had many experiences in this area. Having talked in person with Paul.P he has told me and others in his classes with GEET technology how he has been hushed. The technology is there, but.......
Kobyn ~ peace river
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