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Climate change, political change, or
both
by Joseph Roberts
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Merv Wilkinson, sustainable forester, at 10th anniversary
celebration of Clayoquot mass arrests and trial - protecting
our forests from clearcutting and the Earth from climate
change.
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How do you choose a magazine cover? Striking the balance between visual
impact and the desire to keep readers informed is crucial. In choosing
this month’s cover, among the many issues currently demanding
attention, two nexuses emerged. One was climate change. The second,
political deceit. In a strange way, both of these issues feed upon
each other. When the government waffles, represses information, or
tells blatant lies about our changing climate, the problems get worse.
And when forests are clear-cut, there goes the weather. The effects
of greed are starkly evident in the actions of our politicians and
on our beleaguered planet.
My choice of a cover was influenced by what I feel may arguably be
the most important months in our lives, the days leading up to the
battle of the century to see who will run the Empire. No, I am not
talking about our own election, whose victors will have emerged before
you hold this magazine in your hands, but rather the battle of the
titans that will decide who rules the world. The Earth will survive,
but I am not sure about its people. As a member of the human race,
and someone who loves this planet, I think it is imperative that we
educate ourselves before the coming political upheaval. I strongly
encourage you to read relevant material (see end of article), attend
workshops, surf the net, network with people, and discuss with your
friends what is really going down.
This month’s powerful image came out of left field. It was conceived
of by Joe Wezorek, one curious soul who wished to make a statement
against the current insanity and deceit of the current war, that in
Orwellian terms, is a war without end, against an enemy we can’t
see, in a society where questioning authority is criminalized.
Mainstream media could, in fact, be renamed mainriver media because
it keeps conglomerating and getting bigger. The small streams of radio,
newspapers, television, entertainment, and internet have converged
into a raging, incessant river, flooding its banks (with money). So
in this bizarre, matrixized epoch, it is healthy to change channels
in mid-mainstream. Thinking for ourselves has never been more difficult
or more important than right now. Where do we start? Right here, finding
common ground. Because facing the truth, no matter how disillusioning,
is necessary. If we don’t exercise our freedom to speak out
and express ourselves, we will pay dearly with our education and health
care budgets stripped to pay for ongoing wars against “The Enemy.”
My comments were inspired by Michael Moore’s new film Fahrenheit
9/11, a film that absolutely must be seen. You might remember that
in Ray Bradbury’s novel, Fahrenheit 451 is the temperature at
which books start to burn; In Moore’s film, Fahrenheit 9/11
alludes to the date when our personal freedoms went up in smoke.
Right now, all over the world, people are organizing Fahrenheit 9/11
parties. After seeing the film together, groups of people are meeting
in homes or cafes to discuss the issues and celebrate their freedom.
Use it or lose it. Get healthy, get strong, get informed, and get
going. We need each other. Remind yourself and your friends that love
is still the most important state. Because as Martin Sheen, who portrays
the president in the TV show West Wing said, “No matter how
powerful George Bush is, he don’t run the universe.” Be
wise my friends as things are heating up. Always know which way the
wind is blowing.
Suggested reading:
Rebuilding America’s Defenses: Stra-tegies, Forces
and Resources for a New Century, a blueprint for running the
world written in September 2000 by the neo-conservative think-tank
Project for the New American Century (PNAC).
Coup D’etat:
The Real Reason Tenet and Pavitt Resigned from the CIA on June 3rd
and 4th—Bush, Cheney Indictments in Plame Case Looming
article by Michael Ruppert.
Other Resources:
www.moveon.org
www.theonion.com
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Vancouver: millions of people around the world gathered
at anti-war rallies, walking for peace and justice before
Iraq was invaded by Bush and Blair.
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