The following paragraphs are excerpts from Opening & Closing statements at the many All Candidate Meetings I've participated in. Watch the web site this weekend for new video of final ACM and the last week of campaigning. We have striven to run a positive, hopeful campaign and believe we've succeeded in demonstrating what it means to vote FOR your values, rather than against someone else's record/actions/in-actions.
Thanks to all for your support, enthusiasm and great work!
"The Green Party Platform is about finding common Ground. The Green Party is about consensus building and win / win solutions. Electing a Green Party candidate as MP for the Riding will mean having someone representing you who is willing and able to work with the other parties for the common good."
"Why me, Sue Moen? Beyond attributes like I’m a decent public speaker and passionate about what I’m doing, I believe we need a Vancouver Island North MP who is unwilling to accept the status quo – and all three traditional parties are operating within the same paradigm and only offering you the choice of who holds the balance of power. They are all playing PacMan with the planet – cannibalizing the earth in an orgy of mass consumption, while trying to blame the ‘other’. I’m asking for a revolution in a sense. I’m asking for huge changes"
Other important topics of universal importance that are not coming up:
Climate Change; Agriculture and food policy ; Arts and Culture ; Equal rights of citizenship; First Nations; Making
Poverty History; Canada is currently at war in two countries - Afghanistand & Libya; the Militarization of our police forces and the resulting losses to civil liberties (G8/G20)
There are other issues and I urge you to challenge all of us before you tonight, to articulate our visions for Canada, and Vancouver Island North.
Youth for Real climate action say “Here in Canada, it is our responsibility to stand up and make inaction on climate change an indefensible act, because to knowingly perpetuate this crisis is an open threat upon our future, and the future of people across the globe.”
The act of voting is a means of expressing the values that are central to a person’s self-identity. A vote is a statement of conscience. We are fortunate to live in a country in which we can make these values concrete at the voting booth, without fear of political reprisal. Now, it can be tempting to think more ‘strategically’ about voting.
But when we cast a vote solely to block some other candidate or party from gaining power we are endorsing the politics of fear. We believe the big parties spend far too much time trying to scare people into voting for them. As long as we use our votes merely to choose the lesser of two evils we confine ourselves to saying what we don’t want. This squanders the chance to tell our leaders in what direction we think they should be steering the country.”
Political platforms are living documents (at least they should be) to ensure the party is ready at any time to put forward a positive vision, grounded in current realities. So before you place your precious mark on the ballot May 2nd, even if you think you’ve already made up your mind, I’m going to ask you to do two things. First, review all the parties’ platforms and ask yourselves some questions.
Do these promises advance the common good? When implemented, will they advance global peace and security? Address the needs of children? Does the policy ensure Canada’s continued quality of life and economic health? Make families more secure? Protect, enhance and restore the life support systems of the planet? Does it promote systems – cultural, institutional and technological – that are resilient and capable of adapting to shocks in a more unpredictable world?
If the platform answers yes to some or many of these questions then I’m asking that you review the history of the party putting it forward. You will have to look outside Canada to review the Green Party’s history and actions – but it’s there to see. Has the party followed through on previous promises? Has their platform matured, or merely changed based on the current zeitgeist or to curry favour among certain demographics? Has it maintained its principles through every revision?
When all of this has been considered and the questions answered to your satisfaction, I believe Vision Green will stand alone as the promise of hope unto the 7th generation – and not just until the next election. So on May 2nd I’m asking you to Vote. In Vancouver Island North, I’m asking you to vote for a woman. And finally, I would be honoured to receive your vote. It’s time. Vote Green.
"To participate in a positive discussion and learn more about the Green Party platform and our hopeful, practical and comprehensive vision for Canada; to see how electing Green MPs will have a positive effect in Parliament and on the lives of Canadians; I urge you to join us on-line – at the web site, on Facebook and twitter, or by email. I even answer my own phone."
