The Power Of One Voice
June 1st, 2012
Arzeena Hamir
Richmond Review
I can’t sing. I look at all the participants of the RichCity Idol concert with awe.
That takes courage to hold notes, without having your voice waver, in front of a hundreds of people. I’d probably choose root canal over having to sing in front of an audience.
But sometimes, being the lone voice is necessary. Sometimes, a truth needs to be spoken. And sometimes, that lone voice can attract a choir of voices in support.
A few years ago, that lone voice was Michelle Li.
She wrote a wonderful letter that spoke of her angst as a mother of small children having to keep her kids indoors whenever her townhouse complex sprayed their grounds. That simple truth, children being vulnerable to a pesticide spray [ ?!?! ] that their parents had no control over touched a chord with many of us.
Many residents sent their support. They wrote letters to the editor echoing Michelle’s plea and sat through meeting after meeting, speaking in front of Committees and sending in their submissions to Council. In the end, Richmond got one of the strongest cosmetic pesticide by-laws in BC.
Two years ago, April Reeves spoke of the need for municipalities to “do something” to stop the influx of genetically modified organism from contaminating our food supply. Richmond could join the small but growing number of communities by banning GMOs from being grown within City limits.
April’s voice was strong but a response form the City wasn’t heard for two years. By the time it came, April had moved to Alberta. But, the rest of us who heard her voice, took up the message and carried it forward.
A week ago, ten citizens spoke in front of General Purposes committee, each underlying a different reason why banning GMOs was a good reason and why Richmond had to take this step. Council members heard the passion in people’s voices and agreed that strong action was necessary.
Now, not all calls to action are met with support. Corporations, especially, do not like having citizen-led initiatives cut into their bottom line. They use a variety of tactics to try to force us to back down. They’ll call us names like “eco-terrorist” or “Luddite”. And, they’ll send out stories of how these actions will cause everything from personal injury to the collapse of all order in society.
But when one voice attracts others, it’s amazing what local citizens can do. I saw that power again on Monday night at Council. That wasn’t just a choir of voices. That was a rock concert!!! I thank each and every individual who came. Farmers, teachers, students, scientist, mothers, and fathers, all the way from Salmon Arm to Victoria, all lent their voices to aid Richmond.
We will remember your help. And when your communities need support, I know our citizens will return the favour. We’ve had practice, and our voices are getting stronger.
COMMENTS
Enviro-Terrorist Activists like Arzeena Hamir, Michelle Li, and April Reeves, have HUGE VESTED INTERESTS IN PERPETUATING IMAGINARY DANGERS against genetically-modified crops and pest control products BECAUSE THEY ARE PAID TO DO SO.
Their ACTS OF SUBVERSIVE TERRORISM commenced against PEST CONTROL PRODUCTS used in the Urban Landscape.
And now, their TERRORIST ACTIVITIES have spread against AGRICULTURE.
They are the ULTIMATE WINNERS since they BENEFIT from PAY-OFF PROGRAMS provided by Canadian Cancer Society.
It should also be noted that Hamir has a VESTED INTEREST in the SALE-FOR-PROFIT of so-called alternatives to pest control products.
Since 1999, Hamir has been PROMOTING « Terra Viva Organics ».
DEMANDS are being made for Hamir, Li, and Reeves to release their TAX-RECORDS for the last five years, which covers the period of time that they would have been PAID-FOR-PROFIT as LOBBYISTS for Canadian Cancer Society.
Additionally, there will be NO RECOURSE but OFFICIAL COMPLAINTS AND LITIGATION against all of them.
DEMANDS are also being made for CropLife TO SUE THEIR BRAINS OUT !
Let Hamir, Li, and Reeves FEEL THE TERROR OF THE COURTS and THE SPOTLIGHT OF THE MEDIA.
COMPLAINT CHANNELS – BUSINESS, FUND-RAISING, GOVERNMENT, & TAXATION AGENCIES ( Web-Page )
COMPLAINT CHANNELS – LETTERS TO THE EDITOR – MEDIA CONTACTS LIBRARY ( Web-Page )
HERE’S HOW TO SUE THEIR BRAINS OUT ! – LITIGATION AGAINST ANTI-PESTICIDE ACTIVISTS ( Report )
FIGHTING PESTICIDE BANS IN COURT ( Report )
TERROR NEVER ENDS ( Web-Page )
CANADIAN CANCER SOCIETY ( Web-Pages )
WILLIAM H. GATHERCOLE AND NORAH G
NORAHG is the National Organization Responding Against HUJE that seek to harm the Green space industry.
