Well, here we are heading to the big meeting in Pucara……..in the back of a pick-up truck, if you can believe it. I truly never thought you’d get me to go up the mountain in the back of a pick-up, not in a million years. So there you go – change can happen even when your fear was something which overwhelmed you only a short time ago.
The meeting is for those of us who are against mining here in the Intag Valley; well actually anywhere, but specifically here where we all live, where it would affect our quality of life. They expected about 1,000 people, and I suspect they came close, perhaps exceeded their expectations, which was truly wonderful to see.
I did not take many pictures, these were taken shortly after we arrived. It was well organized, the people coming from different parts of the valley, some communities many miles away. Buses were organized, and even a free lunch was served for those who brought their own plate or bowl. I did not realize there would be a lunch, so did not have my own plate, therefore did not participate in eating. However, it was a decent meal, a big undertaking and very well handled.
There were many long speeches, unfortunately for me in spanish, so I could not understand what was said. However, one can still feel the spirit of the words, the intent behind them, and it was obvious these communities were very passionate about saving their land, their home. One statistic I learned, was the average life expectancy of someone who works in the mines is just 37 years old. The destruction to the land and in particular to the water, is devastating, something which possibly may never recover. In Buenos Aires (Ecuador), the additional threat to life comes from illegal mining, one which is much more unpredictable and imminently serious. The mafia has moved in, the lives of the people under constant threat, the participation required to uphold the mafias rules difficult to say the least.
I spoke with a man I had only met briefly just last week while in Cotacachi. He felt they had a good chance of preventing the mining company from starting up here in Intag, but from what I heard, I realized the problem would only be moved to a different location. I said “in a way, this seems a bit hopeless”. He agreed. Our short conversation, which began with positive insight regarding the wonderful support, was diminished by the reality the problem is so much bigger than most of us realize.
I came home after many hours of standing and listening, only to accept something difficult. After listening to many conversations between the new friends made here (in english) which revolved around elections, politics and the responsibility of government to make changes, I began to see why the hopelessness settled in. It took me awhile, the clarity of thought reaching me more thoroughly this morning as I woke up, that they have it all wrong. I have always been angered by political discussions, but could not really put my finger on why it bothered me so much. This morning the realization, which is actually connected to my post the other day, is that we have placed too much faith in our government, given them far too much control over the years to keep our world safe.
As we slide ever further into the distractions from our phone apps, our reality tv shows, blocking out the problems we don’t wish to face and therefore do something about, we have lost contact with our role in the process. It is we the people who will be the instrument of change we are demanding, not the government. We need only look to Hong Kong to understand the difficulty of persuading the government to make the major changes needed, in accordance to the people wishes. Expecting the government to make the changes we require to live a better life in a world which provides us our basic necessities, without participating, is the lazy man’s way of thinking. Until the majority are ready to stand up and say “No more, we will not support this way of governing”, there will be no significant changes made for the sake of our children and grandchildren’s futures. The reality is, it has nothing to do with being Liberal, Conservative, or NDP. It does however, have everything to do with choices being made without our knowledge or consent to further the interests of those who have control. And we let them by sitting back in our recliner, complaining, but doing nothing to change the outcome. Who you vote for makes no difference, until we start demanding our right to be part of the decision making. I give as an example, the recent news in Canada that CPP has been investing in a gun manufacturing company. Who knew? No wonder they don’t want to improve the gun laws, if they profit from the sales.
Divesting from U.S. gun industry is not so easy if you pay into Canada Pension Plan. Companies that make assault rifles, handguns, bullets among CPP investments – CBC News article. I could not imbed this link – sorry
Killer Pensions
Pension funds force Canadians to invest in war industries
AUTHOR(S):
JULY 1, 2012
In the microcosm of our daily lives, many Canadians make politically-conscious choices about what to buy. Whether it’s drinking fair trade tea or coffee, using eco-friendly cleaning products, eating locally-produced food, avoiding clothes made in sweatshops, or refusing to buy war-toys for their kids, many Canadians are voting with their pocketbooks.
By making all these penny-wise decisions, we assume the pounds will take care of themselves and, in the process, we’ll help build a better world. Putting our money into businesses we favour, while avoiding those that contribute to environmental, health or social problems, we try to walk the walk and not just talk the talk.
And, over the years, while running on the occupational hamster wheel of earning and consuming, we contribute to our pension funds in the hope that one day we’ll enjoy a secure and peaceful retirement.
Few Canadians, however, realize that our pension plans are forcing us to funnel our hard-earned cash into the coffers of the world’s most destructive and polluting companies. Canadian pension portfolios read like a veritable “who’s who” of multinational corporations that are on the pariah lists of virtually every existing movement for social betterment.
So, if you are looking for the world’s most environmentally unfriendly firms, the nastiest labour-rights violators, the most destructive mining and oil companies, the leading makers of junk food or genetically-modified killer-seeds, Big Pharma, or the largest tobacco manufacturers, then look no farther than your own pension fund………….partial story, written as you can see, in 2012. I could not imbed the link unfortunately
The promises being made are just bandages placed on open wounds, with the intention of getting votes. Have we not learned by now that trusting these empty promises does not give us what we need. Sustainability, that is what we need and until we see the truth of that, we will continue to slide down this ridiculous path of destruction. Climate change is a reality, something which happens as a natural occurrence; it is a cycle. Our lack of concern, our greed and our refusal to accept responsibility for choices made while insisting on instant gratitude, despite the consequences, have just sped it up. It is a choice to change the way we think, allowing new ideas to shape our requirements. Relying on the government is a huge mistake. Vote with your feet, think for yourself, do not be afraid of your independent way of thinking, stand up for your principals and ideals; this is how we will create change beneficial for us all.
Clarifying my thoughts this morning, assisted me a great deal in realizing just how different I am as I stand among so many who do not understand they are in a trap. Familiarity of one’s confined space, the comfort from that familiarity despite the harm it may be causing is what we are experiencing on mass. Believing it is our responsibility to work for the government has clouded our judgment, our ability to step outside of the box to understand the government is supposed to work for us. But we are seeing our children understand, the ones who are involved in the protesting at least, knowing they have to take responsibility for demanding change. It appears their courage outshines those of us waiting for the new government to step in and ‘make a difference’…..
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