by Larry McCumsey | Dec 21, 2023 | News and Events
December 21, 2023 Greetings, The wild and wacky days of winter are upon us, high winds, rain/frost/snow or all of the above in one day. Bring out the boots, coats and mittens and enjoy the cold air! Our Green NIPR (North Island-Powell River) Executive team is preparing for our Strategic Planning retreat in early 2024 and we are asking for your support. We also put out our quarterly newsletter this month: see the December Newsletter here! We are very thankful for the support that you have given in the past. It does take all of us working together to create the positive changes we are looking for, and we appreciate and value the contributions that you are able to make. There is a new Green Party initiative, the Campaign School, that is another activity you could assist us with. The first two modules were presented this past month and the next modules will begin in the spring. Your donation for this unique project can have a real impact. Our NIPR EDA has committed funding and personnel to participate in this new initiative designed to build a winning campaign culture and team as we prepare for the next election. This training series will blend the approach of Community Organizing & Leadership championed by Marshall Ganz, with the demonstrated best practices within the Green Party of Canada that have helped get Greens elected and our issues debated in Parliament. Recently, Green Party MP Mike Morrice introduced a motion to apply a windfall tax on oil and gas profits that would generate $4.2 billion to be directed towards proven climate solutions and affordability measures for Canadians. If...
by Larry McCumsey | Dec 13, 2023 | Newsletters
December already? Hi Friends! It’s hard to believe that it’s December already, but here we are – another year is almost over, and we are looking forward to the possibilities and opportunities a new year brings. Please check out our December newsletter. NIPR Newsletter (Vol II - Issue 3) Dec...
by Larry McCumsey | Nov 29, 2023 | News and Events
Sierra Quadra is presenting Emmanuel Cappellin’s latest documentary “ONCE YOU KNOW” on December 16 at the Quadra Community Centre. Doors open 7 pm, film begins 7:30. Admission by donation. Hot beverages and desserts. Internationally renowned French cinematographer and documentary filmmaker Emmanuel Cappellin meets with the world’s leading climatologists for an exploration of what it means to wake up to the truth about the climate crisis and its ensuing impacts. We may have thought of climate change as an event from a science fiction novel, but the reality is that the human race is sleepwalking into a climate change induced collapse which has to be accepted and confronted and which has already arrived. Cappellin’s gripping documentary asks how do you continue living a normal life with meaning once you know that the world is on the brink of catastrophe? And can you? Connected to the natural world at an early age, Cappellin’s worldview is shaken while traveling aboard a giant container ship to Asia, leaving him obsessed with how to best respond personally and collectively to the planet’s existential crisis. Trapped at sea with 18,000 containers, his mind spins as he calculates the millions of goods and billions of economic transactions that will take place across the planet just from this one vessel, a cornerstone of the global growth machine responsible for altering the world’s climate. Panic attacks take hold of him, and visions of apocalypse flash before his eyes. This visceral experience becomes a turning point in Cappellin’s life as he ponders how climate and energy scientists manage to face similar visions on a daily basis. His quest takes...
by Larry McCumsey | Sep 21, 2023 | Newsletters
Hi Friends! Whew - it’s been a while since our last issue! Apologies for that. A lot has happened since March, and we are looking forward to sharing the highlights with you here. We hope that, in these pages, you find stories that challenge, motivate, and inspire. And we want you to know that we are here, we are working, and we are listening. NIPR Newsletter (Vol II - Issue 2) Sept...
by Larry McCumsey | Aug 1, 2023 | News and Events
As usual, the NIPR riding has a number of festivals of various kinds during the summer months. Your EDA executive is taking advantage of these events to get out and meet people, spread the Green message and just have some fun. On Canada Day we manned the recycling station at the Campbell River pancake breakfast and the kids had a chance to “Go Green”. We also had a booth at the Powell River Canada Day festivities. Look for us at the August 18 Blackberry Festival in Powell River and on August 19 at OrcaFest in Port McNeill. Drop by and say hello. If you’d like to volunteer a bit of your time and help us man our booth at either location shoot us a note at...
by Larry McCumsey | Apr 1, 2023 | News and Events
Spring greetings to you all! Spring is such a time of renewal and, as many gardeners agree at this time of year, ‘last year’s season is over and there’s nothing but potential ahead!’ This past year NIPR Greens, along with Greens across the country, have been thoughtfully planting seeds to ensure the Green values we appreciate and uphold in our lives, have increasing representation in Parliament. These values, along with your participation and support, are needed now more than ever! Please join us in person for our Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Saturday, May 6, 2023 from 11:30 to 1:30 p.m. (please arrive 10 minutes early) at the beautiful Maritime Heritage Centre, 621 Island Hwy, Campbell River. The meeting will be chaired by our CEO, Mark de Bruijn. Our Special Guest Speaker - IN PERSON, following our brief business meeting, is Elizabeth May, Leader of the Green Party of Canada. We look forward to greeting you all in person, but for those who can’t make it to the Maritime Heritage Centre, Zoom access will be available online for registrants. The AGM is open to anyone, but only Members are able to vote. Any member can join the Executive team. If you are interested, please contact Mark de Bruijn before April 28. We encourage you to join us! If you are not already a member, this is an excellent opportunity to join or to renew your membership. In order to vote at the AGM, you must be a member for at least 30 days prior, so memberships must be in place before Thursday, April 6, 2023. Buy or renew...
by Larry McCumsey | Mar 30, 2023 | Newsletters
Your NIPR EDA has been VERY busy and has for you a newsletter that is chock full of news! The lead story is announcement of our Annual General Meeting, planned for May 6, 2023. Elizabeth May will be joining us. Check the details in the newsletter and mark your calendar. The NIPR EDA has also been proactive by naming the Green Party of Canada candidate for North Island - Powell River in the next federal election, whenever that might be. Check out this and other stories in this version of the newsletter. NIPR Newsletter (Vol II - Issue 1) Mar...
by Larry McCumsey | Feb 3, 2023 | News and Events
It’s cold out there. And on February 25 the Green Party Comox Valley team is going to do something about it. Together with thousands of Canadians across the country, we’re walking and fundraising to support and serve people and families experiencing homelessness, hurt, and hunger in our community. Please, give generously. We are supporting the Comox Valley Transition Society and Dawn to Dawn. Please support Green Party Comox...
by Larry McCumsey | Jan 16, 2023 | News and Events
Groups announce Feb. 25 rally at provincial legislature, issue declaration calling on the Province to accelerate action for threatened forests. UNCEDED LEKWUNGEN TERRITORIES/VICTORIA – More than 160 organizations across British Columbia have issued a declaration called United We Stand for Old-Growth Forests, calling on Premier David Eby and his government to fulfill their commitments on old-growth. Signatories of the declaration, including the Union of BC Indian Chiefs, the Climate Caucus network of municipal elected leaders, and BC General Employees Union (BCGEU), are urging Eby to follow through on his October 2022 promise to “accelerate” action to protect old-growth forests within 100 days, and implement a paradigm-shift in forest stewardship to safeguard biodiversity. The organizers announced plans for a mass mobilization to hold the province accountable, with a march and rally scheduled for February 25, Eby’s 100th day. “The government’s continued negligence and stonewalling on truly protecting old-growth and elder trees is endemic in its approach to climate change and the stewardship of our environment,” said Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, President of the Union of BC Indian Chiefs. “This feigned ignorance of what is happening to our forests by government and industry will be our downfall, and the impacts of this inaction will prevent us from leaving our future generations with a rich legacy of vibrant, healthy and productive forest lands.” Phillip added. “We must do everything in our power to protect these ancient giants and we cannot stop putting pressure on our governments to do their jobs: to protect us and the environment, not act as timber barons whose only concern is this year’s financial statements.” Despite promising to...
by Larry McCumsey | Jan 13, 2023 | News and Events
In October of this year the Save Our Forests Team highlighted our concern about clear-cutting of the original / old growth forest adjacent to the Mount Washington Parkway at Ramparts Creek / Browns River area with a Letter to the Editor in the COMOX VALLEY RECORD. Mosaic Forest Management is doing the clearcutting and is the forestry arm of Timberwest who actually owns the land. Mosaic has shown itself adept at side stepping issues of biodiversity and sustainability of forests / watersheds by indicating its participation in the industry led Sustainable Forest Initiative (SFI). Ecojustice and eight environmental groups have just filed a complaint with the Competition Bureau requesting it conduct an inquiry into false and misleading ‘sustainability’ claims made by the SFI about its sustainable forest certification scheme. Devon Page, executive director, Ecojustice said: “The Sustainable Forestry Initiative’s standard is a greenwashed certification that misleads consumers and fails to protect forests and the environment. This deception needs to stop immediately.” We cannot wait, we must stop this old growth logging NOW. Timberwest was bought in 2011 by provincial pension plans managed by BC Investment Management Corporation (BCi) (teachers, ICBC, BC Hydro, provincial employees) and federal pension plans managed by Public Sector Pension Investment Board (PSP) (civil servants, RCMP, military) for just over $1 billion. This is only a very small proportion of their more than $350 billion invested. These pension plans can afford to take a slightly lower return on this investment to ensure the continued existence of these old growth forests and their associated species. If you are a retired or ongoing member of any of these...
