Gratitude

Blog 2013 09 23 - Gratitude

We have been so fortunate this ClimateFast to have support from many groups and individuals.  Many people have responded from their hearts to what we are doing and I occasionally see tears in their eyes. 

Today USC Canada stepped up with a contribution of colour posters so we could get the word out about our movie nights.  Two weeks ago it was Council of Canadians who did the same, and today they gave Rita office access all day to work on her strategy to contact MP’s.  Ecology Ottawa put out the movie nights on their list and three people came to see Energy Autonomy, Revolution 4 as a result.  Unitarians have shown up to the hill and helped in many small ways.  Bob Stevenson provided a table and chairs for our booth at the car free day.  Alastair Henderson and the Global Justice group helped organize the pot luck for Do the Math and our partner, 350.org provided the film.  North Shore Unitarian and Kelowna Unitarian are both doing Sunday services on theme and Thunder Bay as well.  Kelowna held a movie night and showed Revolution.  My friend Michael, from Transforming Communities, is helping us get all our poster boards and banners to the hill every day.  I think maybe there are tears in my eyes at the loving support and kindness of so many friends, old and new.

We learned today that both the Liberals and the NDP showed up on the hill for one day when parliament was scheduled to open, got their picture taken in an empty house, and then went back to their ridings to meet with their constituents.  This is an excellent time to find your MP at home.  I hope everyone will consider trying to make an appointment with their MP to talk about a focus on renewable energy and away from fossil fuels.  The National Post ran an article saying Justin Trudeau is really criticizing Harper for not getting the XL Pipeline done.  What a disappointment.  His dad would be rolling over in his grave.  I hope people in his riding will make a special point of writing him about his bankrupt energy policy.

Monday was a very slow day on the hill, but that left more time and availability for deeper conversations and people did respond to our invitation to come over and talk.  We were glad to have a visit with Leilani Schaefer-Loo, Lead Now volunteer coordinator.  A big thank you to Lead Now for their endorsement and support. 

We had a nice visit with a couple from Iran visiting the hill for the first time.  We chatted about the problems in that country and the challenges of building a democracy in a culture that hasn’t had that system.  He promised to put the word out on facebook to his Iranian friends.  Margaret had a good visit with people from France who told her all about the flooding and torrential rain they’ve been dealing with there.  People have been told they will never be able to return to land their families have lived on for a hundred years.

Keep writing your letters.  Our politicians at all levels need to hear that we are hungry for climate leadership.