Climate protests are needed
Re: “Bridge closure was an exercise in arrogance,” editorial, Oct. 9.
The protests, while inconvenient, are worldwide and fundamentally make sense because they are part of drawing attention to issues as a last-ditch effort.
But here’s the real challenge:
If an iceberg is miles out, you only have to change direction by a few degrees to avoid hitting it. If you don’t change direction and it’s right there, then you have to shift a lot more radically to avoid direct collision.
We literally had decades to listen to the evidence, and decades of opportunity to incrementally change the way we get energy and draw our livelihoods.
Instead, we incurred an opportunity cost and the problem is a lot more radical.
When the problem becomes radical, its solutions will look radical, too. The paradox is democracy doesn’t respond well to radical change without buy-in.
Protests are meant to disrupt ordinary business and draw attention. The catch-22, particularly now in this time, is people have a hundred other things contending for their attention — bills and mortgages, limitless options in entertainment and distraction — and there is an ever-present prospect of simply growing annoyed and not giving the procedural thinking owed to the complex issues we face.
Is our democracy equipped to handle a wicked problem like climate change?
I would contend the reason we don’t have evidence-based leadership is because we don’t have an evidence-based democracy.
That’s a larger discussion worth having.
Mark McInnes
Victoria
Bridge closure futile; original ideas needed
What has the “Extinction Rebellion” blockading of the Johnson Street Bridge achieved? Probably nothing.
Why? Because although the cause was worthwhile, the protest lacked originality and wasn’t creative.
It’s doubtful that drivers thought: “How noble these people are.” More likely: “This rabble has no right to block a public road.”
The protest threatened by illegal force of occupation rather than persuasion. It appeared dull and unconvincing, even if it was satisfying to those involved.
What is really needed is an effective, original, positive approach, along with practical suggestions for a better future.
Protesters could make a start by committing to a campaign to stop using paper cups, plastic spoons, bottled water, etc., and ask others to join them. A small deal? Well, it beats empty gloom and threatening blockades. You can think of others.
Street theatre every weekend for a while with humour/pathos (maybe costumed characters like “Mother Earth” vs. “Bad Plastic” and “Nasty Coal", etc.) could attract and involve better than force and inconvenience.
Instead of taking hostage the only bridge in town, build and decorate a symbolic one covered with plastic, oil cans and junk. Make lots of noise and music to attract people. Blockade that, then rescue it again and again.
These ideas, of course, take imagination and work, which don’t appeal to the element of the crowd who are just in it for a fix of self-righteousness or the hope of violence.
However, to the true believers and sincere reformers, I wish success — for the sake of my and all our grandchildren.
Tony Keble
Victoria
Good start on planting trees
Re: “The cost to plant 10 billion trees,” letter, Oct. 8.
Ever heard of World Tree Carbon Offset Program? They expect to have planted 3.5 million trees by 2024 and are based right here in Victoria.
That’s not in the billions yet, but it’s a good start. It’s showing the way for others to follow.
The farmers make money and the investors make money, so it doesn’t cost the taxpayers anything. They work around the world with Empress Splendor trees that are harvestable in 10 years to provide high-quality hard wood. Then they regrow so you don’t even have to replant.
I have invested in an acre of trees every year since they started three years ago. Even if my investment never pays me a penny, the impact on the environment in terms of carbon reduction, friendliness to bees and compost for the earth is stunning.
Canadians have a reputation for ingenuity. World Tree is only one example. It is time for all of us to work together for the good of the planet and each other.
We have so much work to do cleaning up and making sure every human being has the basics. To my knowledge, Elizabeth May is the only politician calling on all parties to work together. Let’s leave the polarization behind and face our challenges together.
Betty Doherty
Victoria
Chrystia Freeland is worth keeping
As the election train careens toward the station, there is one person I can’t stop thinking about, a name that is unlikely to turn up amongst all the pontificating.
Chrystia Freeland.
With each steaming pile she has been confronted with, Chrystia has been tenacious, forthright and diplomatic. Many global situations are extremely complex and require thoughtful nuanced steps. No tweets, texts or vengeful threats, just firm, polite responses.
Our minister of Foreign Affairs is someone who makes Canada shine on the global stage. Hate to lose her.
Just sayin’.
Chris Cumberland
Victoria
Pandora bike-trip numbers too high
Re: “Victoria’s first separated bike lane racks up its one-millionth trip,” Oct. 10.
I have driven a delivery vehicle in downtown Victoria five days a week for the past three years, and believe the Pandora bike-trip numbers are very high.
With all due respect to the Greater Victoria Cycling Coalition, the 1,100 daily bicycle trips (35,000 a month) is not reality, but propaganda, and perhaps a non-biased company should do the counting.
They would be hard-pressed to find this many bicyclists using all the separated bike lanes on a cold rainy day during the winter months.
Pandora used to be viable to drive on a regular basis, but since the bike lane has been built, it has been treacherous. I refuse to put my vehicle in peril of losing my side mirrors due to the tight lanes, and am now doing the same with Fort Street.
Mur Meadows
Victoria
Little time for substance in debate
Asking someone how they plan to run a country, 10 million square kilometres in area, with a population of 36 million, and giving them 30 seconds to respond, seems a bit ridicu ... (whoops ran out of time).
Bill Carere
Oak Bay
We all pay when drivers use cellphones
A few days ago, there was a crash outside our house. A driver lost control of her vehicle and crashed into my brother’s car, which was parked legally across the street.
The driver was shaken up and bruised, as the airbags had deployed, but was otherwise uninjured.
This is the cost of this accident: a fire truck and full crew of firefighters, an ambulance and crew of EMTs, two police vehicles and officers, all tied up for about an hour, two tow trucks and drivers, one car written off and probably the other as well.
The cause of this collision? The driver’s cellphone had slipped off her lap and she had bent down to retrieve it.
Cellphones can distract in more ways than just talking or texting. Shut them in your trunk or glove compartment while driving — please.
We were lucky no one was walking on the sidewalk, or someone could have been seriously injured.
My brother’s car was pushed 22 feet down the sidewalk. The driver never even hit the brakes. Who pays for all this? ICBC customers and Nanaimo city taxpayers, of course.
Today, on a trip down Island, we saw a commercial truck drifting across the road while the driver was on his cellphone with a pen in his other hand, which we could see as we came alongside him.
Lori Parsley
Nanaimo
Don’t like ICBC rates? Drive more safely
If drivers don’t like the vehicle-insurance rates, they need to stop having collisions, the vast majority of which are preventable.
That means putting devices and food away. Paying attention to pedestrians, cyclists, construction workers and other drivers. Not driving when impaired. Slowing down, stopping at stop signs and red lights, learning how to merge and letting others merge. Using turn signals and not tailgating.
It’s all very simple to do if drivers recognize how expensive it is to repair humans and vehicles.
Complaining drivers, businesses and associations should put their energies into campaigns for safer driving habits.
Bobbie Sobain
Campbell River
Send us your letters
• Email: [email protected]
• Mail: Letters to the editor, Times Colonist, 2621 Douglas St., Victoria, B.C. V8T 4M2.
