Dr. John Stone
Last evening, at our Ottawa South Greens Pub Night, I had the great pleasure of meeting and conversing with a very informed, and concerned scientist. Dr. Stone was in Brussels recently, at the IPCC meetings. And he has an ominous warning. He told me that it is his opinion, and the consensus of scientific opinion, that if we do not very seriously turn the corner on greenhouse gas emission within ten years, it will be too late to save the planet.
That's right. Ten years.
It is a positive step that humans, at least Canadians, are finally waking up to the problems. But we are a long way from demonstrating to the collective attitude just how very dire the problem really is. Time is fast running out.
In short, if Canada and the rest of the world does not implement Kyoto, and more, within a decade, we are all dead. It looks grim, and I cannot say that I like our chances much, but we have to try. How?
Quite clearly, Canadians must elect a government that will bring in Kyoto implementation, and more, immediately. Again, how?
Well, I will tell you one thing. Electing another Stephen Harper government is not how. Ten years left is pretty much the worst case scenario, and we have got to assume that it is true, just in case it actually is true.
Desperate times call for desperate measures. We have nothing to lose but everything.
- Brad Thomson's blog
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Comments
Majority governments of paries other than Greens won't help.
I have seen far more movement recently under minority governments than I have under previous sleeping majority governments. While it doesn't matter as much to me as it does you whether it is a minority Conservative or Liberal government, there needs to be a diversity of voices in the house to push forward on this. This to me suggests that we MUST elect Greens, and that we must ensure that as many people vote green even in ridings where we haven't a chance. We need sleepy politicians from all of the Industrial-era parties (those currently sitting in the house) to recognize that we are breathing down their necks and are ready to replace them if they don't step up to the plate and quickly bat a few home runs.
I know this is an area we disagree on, but I think a pre-election coalition will be extremely harmful towards our goals. I disagree that there is any current villain party that "must" be kept out at the expense of helping a different (in our minds lesser villain at the moment) party to get in. Some members may be short-sighted and not want to move, but every party is already a coalition and there are light-Greens in every party. Every Canadian has the right to vote Green, and we should run a full slate of candidates so that every Canadian has the possibility to express that right.
When it comes to post-election coalitions, I am a strong supporter. It will allow the possibility of true Greens (not light-Greens in other parties clothing) to possibly sit in cabinet positions. I hope that any elected Canadian greens will park any blind partisanship at the door and be willing to work with any government or opposition party to "get the job done" on these critical issues. If this means forming a coalition with the Conservatives, this should be as open as the possibility of forming a coalition with any of the other parties.
BTW: It was great to see you again last evening.
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Russell McOrmond (Constituent, Ottawa South)
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