Cycles of Change: A Letter from Liam

Dear Concerned Citizen,

My name is Liam Wacey, and I would like to take just a minute of your time to talk about what I believe to be the most serious issue facing our planet today, and how I intend to bring awareness to it and to the Sierra Club through my cross Canada bike trip.

In the new "information age" we find ourselves bombarded with so much data that important facts often slip through the cracks, especially regarding our effects on the environment. Sure, global warming and the pine beetle and a few other stories manage to grab our attention, but we rarely give them more than a passing thought, usually assuming that someone else will take care of it. This is unfortunate for two reasons. Firstly, the problems we do hear about are usually just symptoms of a bigger dilemma. Secondly, the people who find themselves in a position to make real change, be it in government or industry, rarely do, opting instead for the path of least resistance. All this can leave the average citizen feeling helpless; after all, what can one do against such power?

I found myself asking that question several years ago, and as it turns out, there is lots you can do.  The first and most important step I took was to become informed. I hit the library and grabbed up several books written by educated and concerned scientists, and I was shocked to learn that we are in a far more precarious position than we have been lead to believe. The deeper into the problem I probed, the more difficult I found it to just turn my head and pretend nothing was wrong. On the other hand, the deeper I looked, the more impressed I was at the concerted efforts of dozens of environmental advocacy groups, most notably in my mind is Sierra Club Canada.  This is why I have decided to do something to help them. On May 15, 2010 I will be riding across Canada on my bicycle, with the intent to raise both money and awareness for this organization that has been fighting to protect our incredible countries wildlife for more than 47 years. Along the way, I will be taking any opportunity I can to speak both in person and through letters to the editor about the degradation of Canada’s Wilderness. In addition, within the next six weeks, I will be putting on several direct action community fundraisers.

Through all this, I will be attempting to instill the realization in people that the situation is far from hopeless, and that despair will gain us nothing. We will, however, need the efforts of every possible concerned Canadian. Anyone who feels that the wilderness that gives our great nation its distinct identity is worth fighting for should become involved.

Now, I am not suggesting that every single person in Canada become an eco warrior. I am suggesting is a transition to a true "information age". One where concerned citizens do the most important thing: become informed about the real science behind our assault on nature. This is why I would ALWAYS ask that before you reach for your checkbook, you reach for your library card. Various authors like David Suzuki and Rachel Carson have perfected the art of writing about uncompromising scientific fact, in a way that is both accessible and appealing to the common reader.  In addition, they speak a truth that many company CEO’s don’t want you to realize: that there IS a better way. We can have a strong economy, while still remaining true to our natural roots. It will just take time, dedicated individuals, and a public supportive of real Change, which always happens in cycles.  Let the 21st Century be the Green Century.

If you would like to become  involved, or if you have any questions about what your next step should be in your journey to make our world one in which we can all enjoy living, please feel free to contact me at LiamWacey@hotmail.com, or call me at 1- 250-938-9705. I would also encourage you to check out The Sierra Club Website: www.sierraclub.ca.