My faith in democracy was renewed last Sunday while helping the party of my choice canvass for the Nanaimo-Ladysmith byelection that will be held on May 6.
A lot is being said these days about 鈥渇ailing democracy.鈥� It is an argument heated to a boiling point by partisan, divisive party politics.
That day, I saw citizens more concerned with the health and survival of this planet taking to the Ladysmith streets to knock on doors, sacrificing their Sunday: Democracy 鈥渂orn again.鈥�
Sadly, or more tragically, climate change and our environment 鈥� our science with it 鈥� have been hijacked for the sake of a party line or orthodoxy.
It鈥檚 no longer a matter of red, blue, orange or green politics; nor is it about our democracy鈥檚 status.
That day, I saw citizens taking to the streets armed not with weapons, but with information and knowledge ready for the purest democratic act there is: Dialogue.
I鈥檓 convinced there is a collective consciousness growing worldwide, divesting itself of political self-interest, ready to work together to save our planet.
Bill Murray in Meatballs says: 鈥淚t just doesn鈥檛 matter; it just doesn鈥檛 matter; it just doesn鈥檛 matter.鈥�
I鈥檓 Green Party, and it just doesn鈥檛 matter what party: 鈥淚t just doesn鈥檛 matter; it just doesn鈥檛 matter.鈥�
We鈥檙e talking about saving this beautiful planet.
Glen Russell
Ladysmith
