July: Celebrating What We Have, Saving What We Love and Creating a Better Tomorrow

THERE IS MORE GOOD NEWS IN THE WORLD THAN BAD

As we all know, there was plenty of bad news last month (June). However, as a similarly focused blog called REASONS TO BE CHEERFUL stated when asked how not to be overwhelmed by the doom and gloom, their reply was, unsurprisingly, “FIND THE GOOD NEWS and let it sink in as deeply as THE BAD.” They continue, “Imagine all of the people who make this good news happen. These stories are made by people, people who noticed, people who spoke up, and people who took action. Action is the antidote to despair, and building beauty is how we combat the ugly.”

They also quoted Star Wars actor ROSE TICO from The Last Jedi, who said “We win not by fighting what we hate, but by saving what we love”… and I add, many years ago Socrates said that, ‘the secret of change is not in the fighting of the old but in the building of the new’… and that I believe is a great theme for our times.

JULY CELEBRATIONS

Every month has special days to celebrate; however, July seems to have more than most. They range from the celebration of sharks, to Comic-Con, the celebration of comics, movies and TV shows, to Disability Pride, and yes, we even get to celebrate hot dogs and ice cream for a month.

July is also a popular month for countries to celebrate their Independence and/or important national political events.

Canada celebrates July first as the day the provinces joined together to officially become Canada, and while we have many imperfections, what a country we have become!! Many want to move here, and those here who want to improve things live in a country that encourages you to try. Most of us are grateful for this.

July 4th is the day the USA celebrates its independence from Britain in 1776. This year is their 250th anniversary. The USA has a glorious past that the whole world can celebrate, as we have all benefited from much of what they have done. Let’s hope after reflecting, they can save what they love and rise above the current chaos, self-destruction, incompetence and corruption and create change that will build a better world so we can all again celebrate.

July 14th is Bastille Day, the day the Bastille prison was stormed, marking a turning point in the French Revolution, which got rid of absolute monarchy and created a democratic Republic in France. Other countries also celebrate their Independence in July. Malawi freed itself from British colonial rule in 1964, and Korea honours the creation of their constitution in 1948. Laos celebrates the formation of the women’s union, which strengthened women’s social, educational and political rights in Laos. We need not reflect or change just in one month; in fact, it is an ongoing practice.

OTHER THINGS TO CELEBRATE

While not having specific months attached to the good news associated with them, there is much we can celebrate. They include much about planet earth. For years, fossil fuels were a large part of the world’s economic engine. Armed with the knowledge of the harm they do to the world’s environment, things have changed. While we still need fossil fuels, alternative forms of energy are taking over, and this is good! Now more than 50% of the world’s energy comes from alternative energy sources and is growing. The Gulf Oil States recognize this and have, for several years, taken steps to diversify their economies. Because of the Iran war, the whole world knows the political cost of fossil fuels.

There have also been some great and exciting new happenings all over the world in conservation. Most of these are not huge but represent a trend. They include such recent happenings as the return by Indigenous Communities of 600 acres of land near Palm Springs, California, to its former use, the home of bighorn sheep.

Closer to home, two land trusts, The Bruce Trail and Escarpment Corridor Alliance, have shown great leadership and purchased the former Talisman Resort in the Beaver Valley in Southern Ontario and are returning it to its natural forested form. Donations up to $1.5 million are being matched by Environment and Climate Change Canada. It is also anticipated both B.T.C and E.C.A will be offering opportunities for volunteers to participate in the conversion.

Bison Herds are being relocated to provide Food Security in Alberta and in Manitoba. The Skownan First Nations are adding to their Bison herds and in the process are offering lessons in Food Security and community to their people.

Brazil has just created Albardão at 16,000 sq kilometers the largest marine park in Brazil, and home to 25 endangered species. In Kazakhstan, tens of thousands of trees are being planted to attract tigers back to previous levels as has already happened in the Bengal in India

In China, the fish in the Yangtze River have doubled since commercial fishing was banned. Also in China, they have invented a process that will turn desert sand into fertile soil in just 10 months. 158 Galapagos century living tortoises have just been released to the wild. In Uganda, white rhinos have just been returned to the wild after an absence of over 40 years.

It was noted that a young Summer Parks employee came upon a nest of young opossums in a park in Mississauga, and one had died. To save the surviving opossum on her own accord, she called Animal Rescue to hopefully save its life. A small thing, but an example of a young person caring. Of note, the number of Canadian wildfires is down compared with the past few years, though it may not last.

OTHER POSITIVE HAPPENINGS

Education

While it is not new, former political leaders often find their way into academia upon leaving their political careers. Bob Rae, who has just retired as Canada’s Ambassador to the U.N., has found his way to Victoria College at the U of T. He has joined the Vic One programme, which caters to a small group of interdisciplinary students and experienced public officials discussing current topics. Said Rae, “Education in this form is really about inter-generational dialogue, an exercise about who got it right and who did not.”

One other topic amongst many they discuss is, “What does living through warfare tell us,” and the solutions found. Also on that faculty is former Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne, who is always so hopeful and believes the students to be so smart after she finishes every class. She does though, hope they would be focused more on issues and less on marks. In the winter, she teaches a 4th-year seminar in Ethics, Society and the Law at Trinity College at the U of T.

Other similar courses are being offered all over North America and in some high schools too. All exciting initiatives. I wish courses like this were available when I was an undergraduate. All of these, to me, are exciting examples of growth and improvement in our educational system, and tools for our new leaders to build on. These approaches are, in part, a push back and alternative to the tactics and values being espoused and used South of the border.

June is also graduation time for students from high school to university or university to the real world. I enjoy watching some of these ceremonies partly because it gives us a glimpse of the students, our future leaders, and partly because I enjoy the message of those who have been honoured with an honorary doctorate.

We watched this year’s Health Sciences convocation at Carleton because our Grandson Sam was graduating from Health Sciences. Pat and I were impressed by several things: The graduates’ enthusiasm, the high percentage of females, the broad ethnic mix, and what they had studied.

WE also enjoyed the message of the honouree Dr. Bruce Lourie, C.M., one of Canada’s environmental thought leaders and a global expert on pollution and sustainable energy, and creator of a number of environmental organizations. Lourie left the students and others with 3 thoughts, and I paraphrase:

1) You are young and smart! Do not hesitate to question things. That is how change and improvement happen.

2) Spend time with people who think differently. Get out of your comfort zone.

3) Every generation has its crisis. IGNORE THE DOOM AND GLOOM IN THE WORLD. The world, in many ways, has never been better off.

The other graduation I watched was from Harvard, where Conan O’Brien, a late-night talk show host and a Harvard grad, was delivering the keynote address. One of the messages he left was to congratulate the students for the hard work they had put in to earn a prestigious Harvard degree; however, he hopes that by the time they reach his age, their Harvard degree will be the least of their accomplishments.

AND WHAT DO THE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS SAY?

In the June 20th Globe and Mail, 5 high school valedictorians from across Canada were interviewed. Here is what they said to their fellow students: Mahikan Nabi from Saskatoon, who plans to be a dentist, said, “Smiles are something everyone can share and being able to help people with that is such a beautiful thing. Failure is not the opposite of success but a part of it,” and she quoted Einstein, “Once you stop learning, you start dying.”

Divine Ogunrewo (17), who moved to Winnipeg at age 13 from Nigeria and has been in Canada for only 4 years, was chosen to be the valedictorian for her school. She is going to the U of T to study Neuroscience. She tells her peers to “Go boldly. We have the power to shape our own futures. We are the ones who determine our own paths, and we all have the potential to achieve greatness.”

Lily Stewart (18), from Vancouver, said, “WE are a generation for whom disruption is a norm. There are so many opportunities, create your own path, be confident you can do that and be yourself .”

Brandur Brown from Toronto is hoping to have a career in medicine. He has learned from football, “No one wins alone.” A popular student, he was cheered by his whole class when chosen.

As I read all of the above, I find myself reflecting on all the good things that have happened and need to be loved, saved, be thankful for and aware of how they happened. I also think of the changes that need to be made and the opportunities for an outstanding group of young people, and yes, we old timers have to ACT to make a better world. It is an exciting time.

HAPPY CANADA DAY and beyond, EVERYONE!

Till next time,

Chris Snyder, Climate Optimist

Email: snyderchris74@gmail.com
Stories of Good News and Hope: https://chrissnyder.makeanimpact.ca

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