Starting up a revolution
Posted by Peter Endisch on October 2nd, 2007 at 22:00 PDT (Reflections)
Not too long ago, I woke up from a slumber. That slumber was simply a life of a regular, North American consumer. Or perhaps it wasn’t. I wasn’t consuming overly too much, had my little veggie garden, even became a vegetarian for all the right reasons and cared for nature. Guess I was “better” then most. Or so I thought.
But then I moved to greater Vancouver, took a stroll in the backyard of my house amongst the huge old rain forest trees and finally I woke up. My awakening was rude and it opened my mind and made my cry. A grown man crying? And even admitting it? What’s wrong with this guy!
Well as it turns out, nothing’s wrong with me. I finally get it. I finally understand what we have got to loose. I tell you, the beautiful nature of BC, home to 1/4 of all rain forests in the world can make you a believer. I finally understand how we’re all connected to the nature, I finally cherish nature like I should and I have a deep respect for her. I cherish every moment I get to hike up her mountains, kayak her beautiful seas and lakes and I thank her for the stars upon the satin-blue night sky as I lay down in my sleeping bag next to my fellow first nation brother, high in the mountains.
When I first woke up from my slumber, immediately after having my mind opened, I panicked. I panicked at the sorry state of our natural environment and I panicked at seeing the world seemingly not caring. So I started to literally bombard all the people I knew with my newfound knowledge. I didn’t go far.
Now I know better. I am starting to learn how to better approach people and I now know that most people deeply care. They just don’t know how to translate that care into action. As I recently heard someone say, “if you give people enough chances, they will surprise you”. I believe that now, having seen it myself.
With 90% of Canadians concerned about the environment, our beautiful country is ripe for a revolution. Revolution of the quiet type, for violence is not necessary, nor desired. People have reached the point where they just can’t stand the bullshit their politicians are feeding them and the promises they keep breaking. This at times when Canadians clearly understand that what we have got to loose is our future – permanently.
Need proof? When the government, a week ago, tried to pull a fast one on Canadians on the issue of Climate Change law in this country, Avaaz, an organization fighting for social, ethical and environmental justice in the world was capable of generating twenty thousand signatures in mere twenty four hours in order to show the government that Climate Change is our foremost issue and that Kyoto needs to be honoured. That is a force to be reckoned with and the government had no choice but to listen.
Revolution is coming. And it’s not coming slowly anymore. It’s coming at a blazing speed and soon enough, people of all ages will raise up and let our corrupt, lying and criminal governments stand accountable for their actions and demand real change for once.
And I will be right there beside them, hand in hand, chanting and freezing in the rain, with a smile on my face, knowing full well that what we’re fighting for is nothing short of the survival of our civilization and the procurement of future for our children and their children.
