vol.16.3
Wednesday, 20 January, 2016

/Archive

                                                                                                                                             ... attention must be paid*

 

Making Something Happen

all the views we dare to share

 

Iman — We never met the late David Bowie/David Jones. Just over a decade ago, we did meet his extraordinary wife, Iman. It was clear in the two hours we spent with her that she is a strong, intelligent, sensible person ... and beautiful, inside and out. She (a self-defined "Muslim girl") and Bowie/Jones (an ardent refugee from a London suburb) are unusual and poignant examples of how people of radically different cultures can merge and blend and enhance their surroundings.

    

Fie on Fear & Season's Greetings

    

What is powerful enough to challenge 60 million refugees's troubles? What emboldens a young man to circumnavigate the planet without using any motors so he can promote sustainability and social justice? Compassion: the kindness of strangers.

Not yet a month ago in our small town in the big western mountains, one long-retired engineer got to his feet (with some difficulty) and declared "I have to do something about all those refugees, even if only helping a couple families." While others incited fear, he saw an opportunity for kindness.

This one person found three others of like mind before the week was out. Week two, there were 15 of us calling ourselves the Kimberley Refugee Resettlement Group and choosing teams to figure out how to move forward. Double that number had come forward by week three, not including others known to be ready, willing, eager but, not unreasonably, "don't do meetings."

Though remarkably selfless by the standards of nihilist politicians and media, we, and millions of others around the world, are learning essential lessons about engaging with refugees. Already climate change is generating displaced persons in the hundreds of thousands. Even with the Paris Agreement, refugee numbers will soon grow by factors of 10, perhaps hundreds, all over the Earth. The current condition allows us to prepare by learning rather than failing to prepare by hiding, pretending, denying or blaming.

Equally significant are the enduring effects that we are reaping from this project as individuals -- and as a community -- strangers to each other as recently as Thanksgiving.

The local Library's offer of neutral space to gather (and waived meeting room fees) brought people in who'd not darkened their doors for years; instead of the daunting task of seeking nonprofit status, a national denomination won some new friends by offering to be our Sponsorship Agreement Holder; the local Credit Union's eagerness to handle our contributions -- keeping our donations here at home instead of some far off corporate HQ's account -- has won it new customers; the City has made itself more attractive to others by proudly signing on; in-kind services from the local Chamber of Commerce and service organizations are enhancing the missions of each and all; and on it goes. Each and all, we're embodying our self-definition as "a good place to be ..."

In our own case, we might easily have missed the chance to engage in conversation with Markus Pukonen, that audacious young adventurer mentioned above. And what a loss that would have been! He's out to support positive change in the entire world and meeting him was a direct result of our small town's eagerness to help relocate refugees. How? Someone I'd not met before the Refugee Relocation Group came together invited us for supper. She wanted her husband -- who works for the Canadian Wildlife Federation -- to tell us about Markus and his Routes of Change. More than just an adventure, Markus is going -- alone -- on a motor-free, five year excursion to find people around the world "who need our support in creating ... a new, sustainable way of life on earth."

Fear of strangers has no place in Markus' vision of the world. Anything but reckless, he is in fact counting on human kindness. He also rejoices that his muscles alone will power him for ±1,800 days through every conceivable environment. Nature's kindness -- sometimes manifested by humans -- are also part of his calculations.

Whether or not you are among those celebrating the birth of a baby two millennia ago to a homeless young couple sheltered among farm animals, we all do well to remember the kindness of strangers. And perhaps we should also listen up for an angel or two of our own, calling to us, "Fear Not!" We're all connected, even to people we have yet to meet, and to a planet we're learning, again, to respect.

• • •

  

The Place In Which We Live:

Columbia Commonwealth

 

Nature, fish, people and other parts of the environment were among the items ignored when the Columbia River Treaty between Canada and the United States was signed in 1964. Power generation and flood control were what mattered.

 

Things have changed. Eileen Delehanty Pearkes has studied and written about the complex ecosystem which is the Columbia River Basin. She has also curated an exhibition on the Columbia River Treaty and its impact on the people and other parts of the environment in the two signatory nations: Canada and the U.S.

 

 

 

Eileen graciously sent us a copy of Treaty Talks: A Journey Up the Columbia River For People and Salmon. It is an excellent way to see and better understand the challenge of the Columbia Commonwealth. We thank Adam Wicks-Arhack for making it available to us.

 

 

• • •

 

 

 

Kimberley Refugee Resettlement Group

 

Volunteers Signing Up for Kimberley Refugee Resettlement Group (KRRG)

    

Kimberley, BC The Kimberley Refugee Resettlement Group (KRRG) drew a capacity crowd Monday night at Kimberley Aquatic Centre’s meeting room, donated by the City. KRRG’s initial goal is to welcome two refugee families from Syria or Iraq to Kimberley.

After attendees viewed KRRG’s video presentation (available on its website in the "About Us" section), KRRG’s Chair Peggy Frederikse stressed that fund raising is the first and most pressing issue. Before KRRG can participate in Canada’s Government Assisted Refugee program, it must have at least $15,000 in the bank and treasurer Louise Hockley reported a current balance of approximately $4,400.

Direct donations can be made at the Kimberley Savings and Credit Union and by making out and mailing checks to the Kimberley Refugee Resettlement Group, 452 Forest Crowne Rise, Kimberley V1A 0A5. Both Kimberley & District Community Foundation and KRRG are accepting donations on their respective websites.

Both individuals and businesses are urged to donate. Lee Scott, Team leader for the Fundraising Group, invited active involvement in helping to raise funds He can be contacted at (778-481-5282). In-Kind donations are also welcome.

Core Group members fielded questions focused on, “How can I get involved?” Attendees signed up to join a wide variety of Refugee Settlement Teams and sub-groups, and more are needed.

Each Team is initially being led by a Core Group member: Fundraising, Lee Scott (778-481-5282); Establishing Refugees’ Financial Relationships, Louise Hockley (250/427-3726); Introduction to Kimberley’s Social Opportunities, Sam McCurdie (250/581-1600); Transportation, Peggy Frederikse (705-787-8252); Housing, BA Price (250/432-5502); Education, Ken McCrae (250/427-4715); and the Medical Team, led by Colin MacKenzie (250/447-5354). Paula Gordon and Paul Willis are creating processes for the newly formed Accountability and Assessment Committee. Ms. Gordon is acting as Ombudsman for both Refugees and Volunteers.

This was KRRG’s first in a series of evening meetings. Looking ahead, it plans a number of events (ideas and volunteers welcome), starting with participation at the Kimberley Winter Market, February 14th and two Lebanese cuisine nights in March. Participants in KRRG will be present to answer questions and accept donations via checks or credit cards.

To schedule the KRRG video presentation for a group or organization, contact Dave Hale (250/427-4300). Further questions can be addressed to KRRG Chair, Peggy Frederikse (705-787-8252) or Co-Chair Becky Pelkonen (250/425-1288).

 

 

This group has been working for almost two months. After a meeting of the Kimberley Refugee Resettlement Group (KRRG) Communications Team in our kitchen, we asked each of the participants to tell us what motivates their involvement.

 

 

 

 

 

We're talking soon with other members of the KRRG ... stay tuned.

 

The City of Kimberley has formally endorsed the Group. We asked Mayor McCormick what makes this Group important to the City.

 

 

The Kimberley Refugee Resettlement Group needs your support and your help. You can reach them at  KimberleyRefugee@Gmail.com.

 

You can see an overview of what will be required to successfully resettle and integrate refugees in our community here.

 

 

 

 

In order to make it easier for you to attend, The Kimberley Refugee Resettlement Group is holding their first evening meeting on Tuesday, 19 January, 6:30—8:00 pm at the Aquatic Center.

 

 

Several Minutes with the Mayor

 

A strong base for future growth, a "financial trend analysis" ... and, still, the flume — our January conversation with Kimberley Mayor Don McCormick.

 

Mayor Don McCormack

 

If you prefer, you can listen to this program here.

 

Earlier editions of conversations with the Mayor are here.

 

• • •

 

SunMine

The largest solar installation in western Canada officially signed onto the grid on 27 July, 2015. Built on a reclaimed brownfield site of what was once the world’s richest lead and zinc mines, the aptly name SunMine moves Kimberley, BC decisively toward a sustainable future.

 

 

 

The SunMine Now Has a Five Month Operational History

 

(Em)Powering us siince 27 July, 2015

 

Congratulations Kimberley!

 

• • •

  

"Routes of Change"

 

Markus Pukonen: Routes of Change

 

There's much more on Markus' website and on all sorts of social media. You can follow the next 4 1/2 years of his journey there as well. We thank our Kimberley neighbor Randy McLeod of the Canadian Wildlife Federation for introducing us to Markus.

 

Our full discussion with Marcus is here.

 

• • •

 

Broadband is Not Enough, But It IS Essential

 

Before deciding to relocate to Kimberley, we looked at communities on four continents and one large island. Two important criteria in our seach were air quality and internet connectivity. Kimberley's air quality is acceptable, though significantly improved by HEPA filters.

 

In June, 2009 we were assured by the appropriate authorities that Kimberley had "high-speed" internet service, aka broadband. Our sources believed what they had told us. They had been given inaccurate information. Since moving here, we have become tedious on the absolute necessity of having broadband service available to our community.

 

With Telus now about to offer service via fibre optics and Columbia Basin Broadband Corporation working to facilitate access to broadband, we thought it time to assess where Kimberley is in the broadband-sphere.

 

In January we had scheduled a discussion with Johnny Strilaeff, CBT's chief operating officer. We planned to talked about the SunMine but also took the opportunity to discuss CBT's relatively new creation, Columbia Basin Broadband Corporation (CBBC).

 

Part 1

 

The other parts of this conversation are here.

 

• • •

  

 

Some years ago, (Sir) Harry Evans quoted for us Lord Northcliffe's incisive comment:

 

“News is something someone wants to suppress.

Everything else is advertising.”

 

Evans repeated that quote at a reception in his honor at the British Embassy in Washington, DC, celebrating the publication of his memoir My Paper Chase in 2009. Harry Evan is simply one of the best reporter/editors we have ever met. If, as do we, you think that authentic, quality journalism is important, read his book. You might also enjoy watching Sir Harry's performance at the reception. It is very informative.

 

• • •

 

Our Neighbors

 

Greg Bradley — President, Kimberley Chamber of Commerce

 

Kim McLean — Bavarian Home Hardware


Stan Cuthill — Kimberley Building Supplies

                          
Tara Penner — Pivot Data

 

Grady Pasiechnyk — Wine Works

 

 

 

 

 

 
Archive

If your internet connection has the bandwidth,

watch these video clips in High Definition.

  

 

Audio Bits: 

American author and playwrite E.L. Doctorow died in July. We talked with him in 2005 about his novel The March and about the relationship between writers and readers. These are excerpts from that conversation.

 Contact Us: send your questions, ideas, suggestions, insights, revelations, et al, up to and including critiques to: comment@ekology.net

Why we do this

    

During Kimberley's 2011 election campaign, we made an offer to all the mayoral candidates to produce a regular discussion with the Mayor as part of the communication process everyone was talking about. We renewed that offer in 2014. On April 1, 2015, we recorded the first program. Here 'tis (on the right of this page).

 

This project is based on the notion of democratic dialogue, first introduced to us by Cornel West. Respectful discussions between and among the citizens of a community are the central core of a polity's ability to govern itself. That's why we're including some of our neighbors.

 

*—"Attention must be paid" is a line from Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman. In a conversation with Gay Talese in 2006, he pointed out to us the importance of attending to everyday events and the people who inhabit them.
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