Views From Around the World

2013 09 25 – Views From Around The World

People have been asking me how the fasters are doing.  So far so good.  Those who have been on broth only, tell me they have whitish tongues and some physical discomfort.  They are appreciating the ever-simmering pot of pureed vegetable soup on the stove.  They claim the stomach is shrinking.  Without a belt their pants are falling off.   Feelings of hunger vary from day to day but on day 5 they are reporting not being hungry.  They come home deeply tired after a long day in the sun and work till midnight doing the communication and making new plans.  They seem to be surviving on hope and passion for our cause.  Those of us who are partially food fasting and carbon fasting are a little stronger.  We’re still getting about on our bikes and loving it.   All of your support and actions are keeping us going.  Thanks to so many of you who have sent encouraging messages and told us about what you are doing.

Visits on the hill included people from all over the world.  We met two young families with children whose parents are deeply concerned about the lack of action of this government.  We learned what was happening overseas.  In England the Conservative government does not support renewable energy and people are resisting windmills.  In Germany one couple told us people are complaining about high prices and the speed of change to renewable energy.  They said renewable energy is unaffordable and the technology is changing so fast.  Other Germans talk proudly of the solar collectors on most houses and buildings.  In Switzerland an older couple were concerned about glaciers melting and receding snow caps.  They can no longer ski where they once did as children, and never will again.  The melting has resulted in rockfalls, making driving dangerous.  They were encouraged by the good progress they were making in renewable energy.  The country is very aware and supporting the transition. 

The Libyan family was very interested in what we are doing.  They, of course, experience the severe droughts.  A Dutch couple was very well informed.  They’ve had a lot of experience with changes because so much of Holland is below sea level.  Their technology for mitigating the negative effects of climate change is well developed.  Vietnam is having more flooding and more pollution and they can’t drink the water without boiling it.  People are not very aware about climate change and the government is doing little.  One Vietnamese young man recognized the 350.org button and has friends who are working on the issues.  People in Mexico and Brazil and most of Central America also can’t drink the tap water.  A BC young family travelling across Canada went to see the Kokanee glacier and found it gone.  An Australian man understands the issues because he does environmental work.  Australia is also exporting coal, like Canada.  He thought Australia and Canada were two of the worst governments on the environment at this time. Another Australian couple told us their new PM is a redneck who will bring Australia back to the sixties.  He doesn’t believe in climate change.

The visitors from France were the most impassioned of all.  People there are very aware because of the very topsy turvy weather this past year.  They had snow where it has never been in the South of France and exceptional heavy rains everywhere.  Torrential rains caused damage and destruction of homes along the coast followed by a hot, dry summer.  The government does little or nothing.  One woman talking to us was astounded at the way Canadians waste water -- inefficient showers and people standing pouring water down the drain while they brush their teeth.  “We must have a lot of water to waste,” she said.

There were curious young people who were eager to know more about climate change and other young people who were satisfied and complacent with the way things are.

All in all a very interesting day.