The election results came as a bigger surprise than I might have expected. Many predicted the PC majority and yet there was an optimism needed to grow the fledgling Green party. We candidates knew it was just the start. Optimism was required in order to step up to the plate, but it leave a mild depression in the aftermath. If there was a hope in hell, it was a long stretch for me.
Albert Riding's MLA Waynne Steeves was the first to be declared elected by CBC in their televised coverage of the election. And this meant that my mug shot made it on to screens as the third place candidate. Someone said this was after two polls reported. He walked away with the lion's share of the votes. "Give you head a shake", some had said about running for the Greens.
What had I hoped for aside from a distant third place? Well, I hope for a change. I hope discussions keep going. I hope for the exchange of ideas on their own merit. I hope the Green party becomes a bigger part of the discussion so that we may we can shake what it is that keeps a natural development in New Brunswick at bay. I hope we can confront the things that are easier to see "just ain't so".
Will Rogers said, "it ain't the things we don't know that trouble us, this the things we do know that just ain't so."
We showed it's possible to speak openly about the challenges facing NB communities i.e. media concentration, unbalanced policy, broken bureaucratic attitude towards local government organization, etc.. We've shown there is a way to be hopeful while in full recognition of these challenges. By sticking out our necks, we've put a name to it.
Friday, October 1, 2010
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Tossing your vote to the Greens
The 57th New Brunswick General Election is upon us without a clear front runner and we've got lots to mull over about our future.
Unprovoked, I’ve had long time faithful Liberals say they would vote Green. When a retired Albert resident who’s husband raised hogs and who’s family continued in the beef business had told me she’d vote Green or spoil her ballot, I decided I would see to it she had the opportunity to vote Green. I’m aware that people can step out of conventional thinking when in the company of unconventional thinking, but I’m confident it’s genuine. And all sorts of people are saying the same things.
Albert is a unique riding. Recall the COR party. A green vote no matter the caliber or riding makes a statement. New Brunswick’s vested interests are clearly not in sea change, and the front-runners in the election aren’t talking about this with its citizens. However, accountability and breaking the cycle are a big part of the weight on voter’s minds in my opinion. We’ve got a good thing going in Albert, but those willing to make a statement by ‘throwing their vote to the Greens’ are asking for a greater stake in NB’s future.
In my experience government lead involvement of NBers exists at the bottom of the scale, with rural planning, with resources, with community development. At the bottom is placation and slightly better is keeping us informed. At the top is partnering and engaging participation. For example, youth want a seat at the table in this province. Not just a handshake and a “welcome aboard”. It was a little more than a year ago that an exceptional cluster of New Brunswicks from the Fundy region attended a Youth Forum hosted by Fundy Enterprise in Picadilly. The event netted energetic discussion and timely debate facilitated around youth questions. Some of the things I took from the discussion include the need for increased opportunity (and not just the paid kind) and feeling valued, an unease (even knowledge deficit) surrounding the structure of rural local government, a shroud of conservatives and apathy. These continue to be timely. You can help by voting Green.
My experiences in municipal government and ‘keeping my ear to the S. NB ground’ have hardened my case for a need for action to address what is ‘unique’ about NB’s political climate. In the last few moments leading up to casting your ballots, please use your informed opinion, plus a view of the future NB landscape, to make your decisions. Don’t succumb to an inclination to be on the winning team. It’s time for action. “Tossing” your vote away to the Greens is a way to take that action.
Unprovoked, I’ve had long time faithful Liberals say they would vote Green. When a retired Albert resident who’s husband raised hogs and who’s family continued in the beef business had told me she’d vote Green or spoil her ballot, I decided I would see to it she had the opportunity to vote Green. I’m aware that people can step out of conventional thinking when in the company of unconventional thinking, but I’m confident it’s genuine. And all sorts of people are saying the same things.
Albert is a unique riding. Recall the COR party. A green vote no matter the caliber or riding makes a statement. New Brunswick’s vested interests are clearly not in sea change, and the front-runners in the election aren’t talking about this with its citizens. However, accountability and breaking the cycle are a big part of the weight on voter’s minds in my opinion. We’ve got a good thing going in Albert, but those willing to make a statement by ‘throwing their vote to the Greens’ are asking for a greater stake in NB’s future.
In my experience government lead involvement of NBers exists at the bottom of the scale, with rural planning, with resources, with community development. At the bottom is placation and slightly better is keeping us informed. At the top is partnering and engaging participation. For example, youth want a seat at the table in this province. Not just a handshake and a “welcome aboard”. It was a little more than a year ago that an exceptional cluster of New Brunswicks from the Fundy region attended a Youth Forum hosted by Fundy Enterprise in Picadilly. The event netted energetic discussion and timely debate facilitated around youth questions. Some of the things I took from the discussion include the need for increased opportunity (and not just the paid kind) and feeling valued, an unease (even knowledge deficit) surrounding the structure of rural local government, a shroud of conservatives and apathy. These continue to be timely. You can help by voting Green.
My experiences in municipal government and ‘keeping my ear to the S. NB ground’ have hardened my case for a need for action to address what is ‘unique’ about NB’s political climate. In the last few moments leading up to casting your ballots, please use your informed opinion, plus a view of the future NB landscape, to make your decisions. Don’t succumb to an inclination to be on the winning team. It’s time for action. “Tossing” your vote away to the Greens is a way to take that action.
Friday, September 24, 2010
Green wave
Hello! This is my first video post! I'll share this short video I made with footage I gathered when the NB Green Party gathered in Moncton to watch the CBC leaders debate. We hopped around 'Mainstreeting' with our special guest, Elizabeth May.
Jack MacDougall, party leader, did very well in the debates.
Jack MacDougall, party leader, did very well in the debates.
Friday, September 17, 2010
Concerned Rural Residents of NB
I've been following the developments in the community of Penobsquis with interest. This is an unincorporated part of NB that is experiencing major growth with the expansion of Potash exploitation as well as the fast paced development of natural gas.
This resource rich area is clearly undergoing the changes wrought by the mining and gas development. The truck traffic is enough to make you crazy if the draining of the aquifer, the subsidence, and the olfactory stimulus aren't' enough. And these New Brunswickers living in Penobsquis Centre overtop the underground 'waterfall' have varying opinions of the situation due to the various relationships with the mine (Potash Corp of Saskatchewan) and gas company (Corridor Resources).
But the two are not distinct. The companies work collaboratively on gas exploration and both have gas rights and are working together trying to plug leaks into the mine workings. Gas appears naturally in association with potash. This is the ancient aquatic environment afterall that leaves both salt domes and oil/gas deposits (potash is a salt). My environmental geology text shows this association of potash with the oil and tight gas very clearly.
It's clear to me these developments happen in some ways at the expense of the community. They don't receive any royalties. And without a plan, the community goes by the wayside. I can appreciate that there is a need for the Concerned Citizens of Penobsquis, and a need for concerned citizens of rural New Brunswicker's everywhere our resources are being expoited.
This resource rich area is clearly undergoing the changes wrought by the mining and gas development. The truck traffic is enough to make you crazy if the draining of the aquifer, the subsidence, and the olfactory stimulus aren't' enough. And these New Brunswickers living in Penobsquis Centre overtop the underground 'waterfall' have varying opinions of the situation due to the various relationships with the mine (Potash Corp of Saskatchewan) and gas company (Corridor Resources).
But the two are not distinct. The companies work collaboratively on gas exploration and both have gas rights and are working together trying to plug leaks into the mine workings. Gas appears naturally in association with potash. This is the ancient aquatic environment afterall that leaves both salt domes and oil/gas deposits (potash is a salt). My environmental geology text shows this association of potash with the oil and tight gas very clearly.
It's clear to me these developments happen in some ways at the expense of the community. They don't receive any royalties. And without a plan, the community goes by the wayside. I can appreciate that there is a need for the Concerned Citizens of Penobsquis, and a need for concerned citizens of rural New Brunswicker's everywhere our resources are being expoited.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Holding the ACE
Returning from Albert County Exhibition where I was given and took the opportunity to take the stage tonight makes me think of the greats I was in the company of.
Rob Moore opened the fair, MLA Rob Moore, reps of municipal councils, Exhibition queen and Ms. NB, and candidates in the upcoming election. Each of us was there but for the NDP candidate, Tony Crandall. I met PANB candiate Lucy Rolfe, of course incumbent Wayne Steeves, and was especially happy to meet Claude Curwin, who I spoke with in depth. In his address, he felt it worthy to mention sitting between the green and purple.
I had to say to everyone that it's a privilage to have been asked to speak at the veriatable instition nearly a century old, and that it is a bit emotional because of the attachments there. Claude and I talked the hollowing out of rural NB amoung other things, and as the stage anxiety wore off, I saw how sparse this years fairgrounds looked. Far cry from bumper car days I remember. The rural roots are the cement for the event along with the dedication of the Committee, organizers, and ofcourse the participants and competitors.
The youth are hooting it up like I did. The 100 is going to be awesome.
Rob Moore opened the fair, MLA Rob Moore, reps of municipal councils, Exhibition queen and Ms. NB, and candidates in the upcoming election. Each of us was there but for the NDP candidate, Tony Crandall. I met PANB candiate Lucy Rolfe, of course incumbent Wayne Steeves, and was especially happy to meet Claude Curwin, who I spoke with in depth. In his address, he felt it worthy to mention sitting between the green and purple.
I had to say to everyone that it's a privilage to have been asked to speak at the veriatable instition nearly a century old, and that it is a bit emotional because of the attachments there. Claude and I talked the hollowing out of rural NB amoung other things, and as the stage anxiety wore off, I saw how sparse this years fairgrounds looked. Far cry from bumper car days I remember. The rural roots are the cement for the event along with the dedication of the Committee, organizers, and ofcourse the participants and competitors.
The youth are hooting it up like I did. The 100 is going to be awesome.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Will you go to the Fair?
It's the time of year marked by the turning of the leaves and ushered in by the institution known as the Albert Cty. Ex.
This 97th annual exhibition brings it another year closer to a tradition a century in age. Wow. That will be a milestone. And despite all the challenges for rural NB, it has held fast. It offers inspiration for hollowed out rural NB.
Let the A.C.E. stand as testament to the tenacity and resurgence in vibrant rural traditions.
Now can we bring back the dances?
(here is the events schedule for the Ex. online: schedule
This 97th annual exhibition brings it another year closer to a tradition a century in age. Wow. That will be a milestone. And despite all the challenges for rural NB, it has held fast. It offers inspiration for hollowed out rural NB.
Let the A.C.E. stand as testament to the tenacity and resurgence in vibrant rural traditions.
Now can we bring back the dances?
(here is the events schedule for the Ex. online: schedule
Sense of Pace
I’ve lost someone. I’ve lost someone I want back so very badly. Not far from the dairy town is a small place called Picadilly that, for a landmark, has a mountain by the same name. This is her home. The Picadilly Road wraps around the mountain like I feel she winds around my heart. I’d like to tell you about part of my trip walking from Alma to Picadilly, some 50 km give or take a few, to see this special someone off.
Most of the walking behind me on the highway, I changed into my running shorts and began a jog of the Negro Bk. Road. The weight my clothes added to the hydration pack made it swing more than I liked so I tightened things with my thumbs as I ran. I ran past the Whaeghlenbrauh farm without stopping to talk to the farmer in the field along his dirt road. This is the last residence on the road for a long stretch, and I ran on under early afternoon shade from the tall maples along the road.
The ascent began in earnest when I turned on to the Thompson Road. This was the beginning of the least certain part of the trek. All I had to go on was my memory of the aerial photo on Google maps I’d studied. It’s an even less traveled road as was apparent from the grade and water runouts. I gained a couple of hundred meters of elevation over the stretch of this climb before dropping off into a clearcut and down over a cliff to meet the Law Road. Not far from there is where the Urney Road meets the Picadilly road.
After the descent and walk through the nearly dry riverbed, past a pond, along some tended trails, and on to the Law Road, I walked on dirt, a stretch of pavement on the Urney Road, and then back to dirt on the Picadilly road.
As I was walking the road that would take me to her farewell, I was wondering all along what I was going to say, and what to write for a farewell on the card in my pack. The pebbles had accumulated in my shoes, and when the Picadilly road turned to pavement again, I stopped and rested. I snacked, drank and changed into acceptable visiting clothes again. At this spot is where she and I had done a snowshoe trek the previous Christmas holiday. There was nowhere comfortable to settle in to writing a card so I carried on.
The road gets more densely populated the closer you are to town, as roads do, and It wasn’t long before I was flanked by close mown grass shoulders. When I realized I was within view of the farewell festivities, I set down on a nice grassy shoulder looking into the valley, my back to the mountain, and set to focus on the card. I had made it and could make out the children playing on the road at the party.
I wrote about journey, experience and sharing them, since this is what was on my mind. What a rich experience to be in all the places you would only see at high speed, places you would not have seen at all, were surprised to learn you could navigate.
It feels remarkable to connect to places by a different route. It also is remarkable to do so at the human pace. Those for whom ‘super-human’ comes to mind, you need just ask an old-timer about walking treks. Do bring a compass like I did, just in case.
Most of the walking behind me on the highway, I changed into my running shorts and began a jog of the Negro Bk. Road. The weight my clothes added to the hydration pack made it swing more than I liked so I tightened things with my thumbs as I ran. I ran past the Whaeghlenbrauh farm without stopping to talk to the farmer in the field along his dirt road. This is the last residence on the road for a long stretch, and I ran on under early afternoon shade from the tall maples along the road.
The ascent began in earnest when I turned on to the Thompson Road. This was the beginning of the least certain part of the trek. All I had to go on was my memory of the aerial photo on Google maps I’d studied. It’s an even less traveled road as was apparent from the grade and water runouts. I gained a couple of hundred meters of elevation over the stretch of this climb before dropping off into a clearcut and down over a cliff to meet the Law Road. Not far from there is where the Urney Road meets the Picadilly road.
After the descent and walk through the nearly dry riverbed, past a pond, along some tended trails, and on to the Law Road, I walked on dirt, a stretch of pavement on the Urney Road, and then back to dirt on the Picadilly road.
As I was walking the road that would take me to her farewell, I was wondering all along what I was going to say, and what to write for a farewell on the card in my pack. The pebbles had accumulated in my shoes, and when the Picadilly road turned to pavement again, I stopped and rested. I snacked, drank and changed into acceptable visiting clothes again. At this spot is where she and I had done a snowshoe trek the previous Christmas holiday. There was nowhere comfortable to settle in to writing a card so I carried on.
The road gets more densely populated the closer you are to town, as roads do, and It wasn’t long before I was flanked by close mown grass shoulders. When I realized I was within view of the farewell festivities, I set down on a nice grassy shoulder looking into the valley, my back to the mountain, and set to focus on the card. I had made it and could make out the children playing on the road at the party.
I wrote about journey, experience and sharing them, since this is what was on my mind. What a rich experience to be in all the places you would only see at high speed, places you would not have seen at all, were surprised to learn you could navigate.
It feels remarkable to connect to places by a different route. It also is remarkable to do so at the human pace. Those for whom ‘super-human’ comes to mind, you need just ask an old-timer about walking treks. Do bring a compass like I did, just in case.
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