If anything is the antithesis of Green it is the careless, thoughtless and mean mindedness that characterizes this group’s stated attitude. Heaven help us if your version of green should ever prevail.

Why not help us build on the theme “Nature, People and Business, in Harmony”? We simply cannot get there from where this group is coming from.

It is sad, by the way, that our justice system is being abused by bogus complaints. Dont be surprised if the Judge throws the whole thing out right at the start. And dont be surprised if the Court orders costs against the party who is wasting its time. However, this does highlight a weakness in our interpretation of our Charter of Rights and Freedoms, in that it is not explicit enough in its prime purpose of achieving equitable balance between the rights of individuals and the rights of the commons. Perhaps your case will result in a helpful interpretation and improvement in our application of the Charter.

Some good may yet come out of this discord.

The first task in problem solving, as it is in conflict resolution, is to correctly identify the problem.

In this case, I trust Elizabeth to get it right with regard to identifying the problem, and she has done that in her book. The next step is “COMMUNICATION”, that is, feedback whether it be criticism or praise. A dialogue on the relevant issues is essential fuel for citizen activism and without grass roots awareness and motivation to change, nothing will change.

One example of “communication” is the political blog. And mine is at: http://greenparty.ca/blog/14696 Please visit and consider the ideas presented and debated there.

Prior to any commitment to action we must “UNDERSTAND” the needs, values and non-negotiables involved with the essential players that must be addressed within any viable solution. We need to “talk this out” before policy is created.

Finally, and this is where political parties have the key role to play, we need well crafted policy and goals, objectives and plans and the will to advocate solutions in the face of a distorted democracy and concentration of power unlike anything Canadians have ever seen in our history.

This is one small step in a long and arduous journey to restore democratic governance to Canada.

Many who hold this perspective (that the Earth, Her ecology and Her needs are of paramount importance, and that human needs, social justice and otherwise, must be molded to fit within the requirements of this first priority) believe that there is no point in engaging in electoral politics, as that arena is incapable of creating or adopting any worthwhile change in he area that matters most; ensureing that Gaia thrives, and will continue to be able to support all Her species, including humankind.

Unfortunately, really, this review more or less confirms this viewpoint. For a couple of decades I’ve worked within the Green Parties in Canada, only to despair as they’ve compromised value after value in the name of not rocking the boat, of not telling it like it is, of ignoring all the pressing vital problems for fear of alienating some portion of the electorate, all for the stated purpose of getting someone elected. Someone who, if elected will have no mandate for anything. Greens are emasculating themselves

It’s too bad that May’s book did not acknowledge, and that she refuses to see, this undercurrent in Green politics; it’s there, for those who will observe.

Your article is perceptive. For a politician, criticism of the status quo is just the first step. The next step is proposing sensible, voter-comprehensible changes.

Elizabeth – coming out of decades at the Sierra Club – is good at the criticism part. But she has never had the chance to develop the political skill to build broad support for an alternative vision.

So she is looking for shortcuts and quick fixes: “Make me leader and the world changes.” “Put me in the debates and the world changes.” “Elect me in Central Nova and the world changes.” Etc.