| The series of special articles
to follow is reprinted with the kind permission of Eastern
Shore author and publisher Marike Finlay-de Monchy and the
Guysborough
Journal. |
 Retreating
Forward
Dateline: January
2007
4th in the "Inroads" Series
By Marike Finlay - de Monchy
I went reluctantly to the retreat of the Green Party of Nova
Scotia this long weekend past. I would have preferred to use the
time to work on my own writing projects and to enjoy the beautiful
weather outside with my family, hiking and kayaking. But that
was not to be.
One redeeming factor was that Iona had been chosen as the venue
for the retreat. This was because the Green Party wanted to demonstrate
a commitment to Cape Breton, of course, but it also had to do
with Iona's spectacular natural beauty. Situated in the highlands,
overlooking the glistening Bras d'Or Lakes, Iona takes your breath
away. Why bother trying to save the Earth if you don't savour
its beauty?
Some 30 members of the Green Party of Nova Scotia attended the
retreat, along with Green Party leaders from other parts of the
country. They had come to tell us that fielding 52 candidates,
one in every riding, during the last provincial elections, was
a historic feat that had grabbed attention across the country.
This retreat was no vacation; that was for sure. The mornings
were dedicated to seminars on organizing, media strategy, and
fundraising. Members of the Green Party of Nova Scotia had to
work during these sessions-- and worse still, by the end of each,
realized how much more work they were going to have to do in the
future. As I sat indoors on the sunny weekend learning and talking
about party strategy, I cast about in my mind for an acceptable
excuse to leave this foray into politics and return to my private
life. Everyone else there seemed to be unreservedly committed
to doing what it takes.
The evenings were given over to speeches. The first night, Friday,
was kicked off by the Nova Scotia leader, Nick Wright. His speech
was meant to answer the question 'why are we doing what we are
doing?'; it put the rest of the retreat and lectures into a broader
context.
Wright discussed three major challenges facing us both locally
and globally in the years to come:
1. Global Warming and Climate Change
2. Peak Oil-scientific proof that oil reserves are depleted to
the level where they will soon be unable to meet demand
3. The Decline of the "New World Order"
Wright argued that it IS possible to create a new way of living
and doing business today. Our reason for existing as a Party is
in order to bring such alternatives into being.
PEI Green Party leader, Sharon Labchuk, and Alberta Green Party
leader, George Reid, both traveled to Nova Scotia to lend support
to their fellow Greens. Reid very generously shared with us his
vast and impressive knowledge of how to build a party from the
grass roots up.
Jim Harris, outgoing leader of the Green Party of Canada, tracked
the enormous growth of the Green Party's support across the nation:
after garnering 4.5% of the national vote during the 2006 Federal
elections, a recent poll showed the Greens at 9% on June 7th,
2006-the same percentage as the Bloc Quebecois.
Harris joked that Martin Luther King didn't say "I have
a grievance." He said "I have a dream." Harris's
dream is one of an environmentally and economically healthy and
sustainable province, country and world. The dream is increasingly
shared by a majority of Canadians who realize that we cannot afford
not to make it reality.
Finally, Cape Bretoner, Elisabeth May, front runner for the Leadership
of the Green Party of Canada (to be decided August 27th), presented
her vision for the future of Green politics in Canada.
May is a life-time defender of the environment. She successfully
led the campaign against spraying insecticides to combat spruce
budworm in Cape Breton, and, as President of the Sierra Club of
Canada, has worked tirelessly for the clean up of the Sidney Tar
Ponds. As further proof that environmentalism is neither on the
left or the right, May advised Brian Mulroney on environmental
issues.
Inspired by David Suzuki, Moses Coady, and Tommy Douglas, Elisabeth
May showed herself to possess political pragmatism and a savvy
which will take the Green Party of Canada to a place where it
can develop, promote and implement solid policies for environmental
and economic sustainability, for world peace, and for social justice.
Elisabeth May is a brilliant, committed, female politician (Greens
are committed to gender parity in politics) and a gifted communicator
who possesses a command of provincial, national and international
political issues to which she will bring truthful, innovative,
and environmentally sound solutions. She intends to be a constant
presence on Parliament Hill in order to shake things up a bit
in the old boys' club. Watch for her in the next televised leaders'
debate.
Somewhere along the way during this visionary, if taxing, weekend,
I found myself confirmed as the Deputy Leader of the Green Party
of Nova Scotia. Who wouldn't rather have their spare time to relax
in nature with family and friends? But the tasks are too great
and too urgent, the examples set by Wright, Labchuk, Reid, Harris
and May too compelling, to turn ones back on the challenge. I
have accepted to work towards an environmentally and economically
sustainable province, nation and world. It is my hope that many
others in Nova Scotia will join me.
Read Installments - 1,
2, 3,
Coming in February - "to Leave
A Light Burning" 
Marike Finlay - de Monchy taught Communications at McGill University
and abroad, practiced psychoanalysis, carried out development
work in Latin America, and managed an organic farm in Quebec.
Marike sailed to the Eastern Shore and loved it
so much that she has since settled in West Quoddy where she runs
a small writing, editing and publishing business.
Marike and Karin Cope are co-authors of "Casting a Legend
- The Story of the Lunenburg Foundry".
"Casting a Legend - The Story of the Lunenburg Foundry"
Buy the Book Now!
Buy Karin Cope's book
"Passionate Collaborations: Learning to Live With Gertrude
Stein"
|
Where
on Earth is
