October 1 is National Seniors Day in Canada. This year the theme is Seniors for Climate.
Events and activities are planned nationwide that will give seniors an opportunity to express their views, opinions and suggestions for climate action. For ongoing information on the campaign, go to seniorsforclimate.org.
Forty-seven “endorsers” are listed on the website. The banner highlights not only the passing of the planet to future generations, but also that the need for action is now, not later, later is too late.
A recent article from the David Suzuki Foundation cited a recent global UN survey which found that 80 per cent of people want their country to do more about climate change and 72 per cent want their country to shift quickly from fossil fuels to renewable energy, including 90 per cent in fossil fuel-producing countries.
Most people understand the climate crisis is real, and it is a crisis. They want their leaders to do something about it.
Fossil fuel companies donate considerable amounts of money to subservient politicians and political causes to the detriment of all. Most people also understand, and research shows, that the problem is not a lack of solutions; it’s a lack of political will.
The denial or ignorance or concern about votes among those elected to make difficult decisions about policies and governing delays much-needed change, and we have no time to lose.
qathet Climate Alliance is aiming to create a letter-writing campaign to our politicians, hoping to engage as many seniors as possible to give them an opportunity to be heard. As many seniors are not in the habit of computer-based word processing, a service will be offered to gather handwritten messages to our politicians that can either be sent directly or even converted to email format.
The purpose is clear. Create a mechanism that allows all seniors to send a strong message to all levels of governments that change is needed now in all areas of climate related policy.
Whether we want to acknowledge it or not, we are in a crisis of global proportions, as well as in BC. Damage from extreme weather, floods, wildfires, droughts, effects on agriculture, property damage, our oceans and on our people is getting to be overwhelming and a major contributing factor to government deficits. It is now in the billions every year.
In the summer of 2021, BC alone racked up a bill approaching 17 billion dollars. We are going to end up paying one way or the other, all so we can continue with at present unreduced emissions from fossil fuel use in our cars, trucks, buses, boats, ATVs, planes, trains, houses, buildings and backyards. Frankly, if a tax on carbon has a slowdown effect as economists and scientists say it does, we need to keep it.
On or before National Seniors Day, qathet region seniors are asked to write a note or letter to our MLA, our environment minister, our premier, our prime minister, or whichever government official or officials they wish, to express their concerns about climate change and suggest what changes are needed to hopefully minimize the effects, which, if allowed to continue, will certainly result in a poor inheritance for future generations. Send to qathet Climate Alliance, PO Box 124, Powell River, BC, V8A 4Z5, or to [email protected].
William Lytle-McGhee is a member of qathet Climate Alliance.
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