The following is a Letter to the Editor published in the May 11 edition of the Minden Times.
Keeping the planet on the ballot
To the Editor,
“Political campaigns are designedly made into emotional orgies which endeavour to distract attention from the real issues involved, and they actually paralyze what slight powers of cerebration man can normally muster.” – James Harvey Robinson (1863-1935)
What blend of fact vs. fiction will be served up to us during the coming Ontario election campaign? We all know that COVID-19 and its variants have delayed action addressing critical social and environmental justice challenges including the climate crisis. The UN’s recent Code Red for Humanity report confirms that the opportunity for a middle ground climate response disappeared long ago.
As the blanket of fossil fuel pollution enveloping our planet continues to push global temperatures ever higher, many of us are frightened for our communities, for people around the globe, and for the world we leave our children. It’s easy to feel powerless – that anything we do is insignificant against the causes of climate change.
Even the darkest cloud may have a silver lining, if only we take the time to look beyond the surface. As physicist Neil Bohr (1885 – 1962) once stated, “Every great and deep difficulty bears in itself its own solution. It forces us to change our thinking in order to find it.”
The non-partisan Ontario Climate Emergency Campaign, promoting awareness on the climate crisis along with other environmental and related social justice issues, provides an overview of our individual and collective ‘silver lining’ opportunities. For more information and ways to take action, see ontarioclimateemergency.ca. How much of their Climate Action Plan will your vote support?
The provincial election on June 2 presents all Ontario’s voters with an important opportunity. Let’s ensure that candidates for all parties are aware of and actively respect our voice as we call for truly effective and timely action for ourselves, our children, grandchildren, and good old Mother Earth.
Whatever the outcome when our votes are counted, it will be upon us to hold all elected politicians’ feet to the climate fire.
“You can’t be neutral on a moving train!” – Howard Zinn (1922 – 2010)
John Gibb
Minden
