urbngreen

If someone thinks that love and peace is a cliche that must have been left behind in the Sixties, that’s his problem.

Love and peace are eternal.

John Lennon

I was down at the the Occupy Vancouver movement  on the lawn of the Vancouver Art Gallery again today. It was a nice day, dry, and my six year old daughter Ava was with me. We made a donation to the food tent, Girl Guide cookies, of which we have an ample supply. We walked around the “tent city” and visited the healing tent and free people’s library. Then Ava had to climb the stairs all the way to the lion and sit on the outer most ledge, for the “best view”.

We made our way back down to the fountain and someone gave us some side walk chalk. We proceeded to draw stars and flowers and  a hop scotch. Other people joined us and we all decorated some of the concrete there. Lots of people mingled around. Many people were eating, dogs and  poy spinners were there, an especially good roller skater was doing some tricks,  there was music playing. People were arriving and setting up signs and posters. People in business suites where there, people in ripped, dirty camouflage were there.

The place had a feeling about it that was part carnival, part camping comradery, and part exciting platform of change.

That is what is going on at Occupy Vancouver.

What does a movement that will change history look like?  This.  If you accept we are already  living in a new paradigm.  If you have been waiting for a message to arrive there couldn’t be a clearer one. People want change. We can’t continue to marginalise people and stand by while corporate greed is rewarded.

While I was on the Occupy Vancouver grounds I was approached by a member of the media. A female reporter and her camera man came over and asked me if I would answer some questions. Always happy to give my opinion I agreed.

It turns out the “Santa Clause Parade” which is known as the “Rogers Santa Clause Parade” in Vancouver,  has decided to move the route, instead of strolling down the same street that currently is the domain of the Occupy Movement. I was asked how I personally felt about the route being moved ” being this is the biggest fundraiser for the food bank of the year” somehow implying that this movement was impeding the collection of donations? I was also told my presence there was representing the 99%, and I corrected her with the fact that I was only representing my self there.

. The reporter told me some people “would not feel comfortable bringing their children there.”   I couldn’t think fast enough of all the clever retorts I could come up with over the next few hours. I was able to say  it felt like a safe place to me, I had my child there.  It seemed to me they didn’t need to reroute in my opinion. But the implied fact was we couldn’t let the families see people and tents in the middle of a cold and damp November day.Apparently  that does not make happy shoppers!?

What is the message?  They are not going away.  All People deserve to be treated equally.  A corporation is not a person, and should not be pandered to by our “elected officials” and others who stand to profit at the expense of our environment,the rights of people, jobs , food security, biodiversity and the list goes on.

What the reporter failed to realise is that the food bank exits for the very people who are out protesting the state of world affairs. The irony that this parade and food collection can not co-exist on the same street as the Occupy Vancouver movement goes to show how narrow minded people still are. It is time to rise up and Occupy some deep thoughts about the kind of world we are creating.

October 16th is World Food Day.  Developed by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of The United Nations, the purpose is to raise awareness about food security issues, agriculture, poverty and hunger around the world.

Each year a different focus is taken in an attempt to encourage dialogue, highlight areas of concern, and as a call to action. In 2011 the theme is Food Prices -From Crisis to Stability. Food Security is on the minds of everybody these days. From shopping local at farmers markets and growing food in community gardens, to  buying sustainable and fairly traded foods.  The media is saturated with stories and images about hunger, from the horn of Africa to our local elementary schools.The story is the same, poverty leads to food insecurity and in the poorest nations, death.

Yesterday I went down town to Occupy Vancouver, to stand in solidarity, and bear witness to this important movement.

What do the Occupy Protests have to do with food security?  The movement is a voice for us all, it is students, and families and seniors. It is the unemployed, and the underemployed. It is a global call to action for every person who feels the system needs to change, starting now.Occupy Wall Street is the direct result of the dissatisfaction felt by  millions of people.

The issues are varied, but one message is clear; We can not continue to consume and exploit natural resources.

The famine that exists today is a direct result of greed. Will we allow this to continue?  Sometimes these issues seem far away and we can feel overwhelmed and helpless to make a difference. Action speaks louder then words.  Grow some of your own food, volunteer in any capacity working with food. Help people in your own neighbourhood, donate to local food banks, and organisations around the world that are helping the most vulnerable. You can make a difference.

Hungry No More _ ONE Campaign_ Take action now!

It  is really overwhelming watching the hunger crisis unfold on the other side of the world, while here in Canada we are so insulated from anything even close to this. Hungry No More form the ONE campaign uses pop culture icons to appeal to our senses and asks us to sign this petition;

Dear World Leaders,

The famine in Somalia could kill 750,000 in the coming months, and tens of thousands have already died. When you meet at the Group of 20 (G20) Summit in November, you have the opportunity to break the cycle of famine and ensure people are hungry no more. Lives are in your hands. Please keep the promises you have made to the 2 billion poor people who depend on farming for their livelihoods.

From what I have read and heard it is already too late. When cholera and disease that always come with the wet season hits these people their chance of survival will be slim. They are malnourished, and even with food aid now they will die. Thousands of children everyday day are dying.

My “Western Guilt” surely gets to me. I feel like I honestly try to work towards food security in my own backyard, still I feel helpless when it comes to the unimaginable human tragedy that exists in the world today – October  8th 2011.

The stock market fluctuates, Occupy Wall Street – and other streets- rages on. Is this the revolution?  I want to believe things could change.

Is this the beginning ? Or will we all continue with our blinders on. What do our  “important” schedules and appointments today mean while while millions of people around the world live on less then $3 a day and  struggle to exist.

I consciously send out love and peace to all the people of the world who do not know the security I take for granted everyday.

This Thanksgiving – which in Canada is this weekend – Please send your thoughts and prayers to the most vulnerable people. Do everything in your power to try and help them. Everything you do can make a difference. Give your time, your money and your attention to this issue. These are our brothers and sisters and what we do to them we do to ourselves.

When you live in a big city you often see people moving in and out of houses and apartment buildings. One casualty of many movers is furniture and electronics left abandoned near apartment building dumpsters at the end of the month. Luckily there is a huge network of people ready to rummage through castaway treasures on every other street corner too.

“Binners” or “dumpster divers” are recyclers roaming the city on bikes and pushing shopping carts. Although many of these people collect mainly bottles to take to the recycle depot, transfer stations, or Encorp Return it centres, these places  will also accept electronics. This helps in the reduction of hazardous toxins in landfills, and reduces the amount being shipped over seas to be processed by workers who’s health and very lives are put at risk  in the name of  “Ewaste recycling.“

Toxins like Lead, Cadmium, Mercury, Chromium, and Polyvinyl Chlorides (PVC) are found in many common electronic devices today. When they become obsolete the items are discarded, leading to  these toxic materials being released back into the environment during the process of reclaiming more valuable components.

People today are more aware of the issues and Extended Producer Responsibility or “Product Stewardship” is now becoming more commonplace in manufacturing.

What to do with unwanted furniture has been a solid waste issue for many property owners, landlords and householders alike. There are some places that will take furniture to resell, requiring the items be delivered there. When this is not an option people look to places like Big Brothers, The Salvation Army, and The Developmental Disabilities Association to take away the unwanted furniture.

Most places are so overwhelmed with unusable junk that it actually costs them money to dispose of these items causing them to no longer accept any furniture, good, bad or otherwise.These organisations will still pick up clothing, toys, books and small household items.

The Home Start Foundation now offers an environmentally friendly option to recycle your good used furniture. This foundation takes used items and helps furnish houses and create homes for some  needy and deserving people. Clients include  families, elderly or other people who are in need  and are refereed through social service agencies.  They help create a comfortable environment when it is most needed.

This is a great example of finding a way to reduce your waste and in turn into do a good dead for someone else.

A good use of plastic bottles, using water, bleach and sunlight  people are turning trash into a useful and necessary product – light!

This website gives more details.

Greenpeace was started 40 years ago this week in a living room in Vancouver, BC.

On their website it proudly boasts 40 years of  Inspiring Action, Making Change, Bearing Witness, Solutions, Victories! And this is what I think of when I hear the name as well.

Activists had a simple message in 1971 and it remains vital today; TAKE ACTION! The founders of Greenpeace were regular Canadians. What began as protests against nuclear weapons testing / transporting/ now covers climate change, toxic pollutants, protection of forests, oceans, agriculture, and even PEACE and disarmament.

I am proud to live in the same province where such ideals could evolve into an international movement called Greenpeace.

This is a great short video that shows many uses for old pallets. The Canadian Wood Pallet and Container Association links to this video, showing old pallets that have been made into many beautiful and useful items; including furniture, decking, and even homes.