Hopeful News

Heading, "Disastrous Sockeye Run Flops to a Finish". The news, "The run size of the sockeye salmon is at 1.37 million, the worst on record and significantly below the last two dismal years". It continues, "And there is little hope more of the forecasted run of the 10.5 million sockeye will materialize".

Environmental degradation and stories of hopelessness are everywhere. Where is the hope?

The unfortunate news came today that our small non-profit organization was denied the BC Gaming grant for 2010. This funding has been suppporting nearly 50% of the society's litter control program budget costs for eleven years now. Adopt-A-Block is just one of the many environmental non-profit organizations that will receive this unfortunate news over the next couple of months before the year ends; as 'environmental' non-profit programs/causes did not make the priority list to whom to disburse funding this year in the shadow of the 2010 Olympics and other BC governmental happenings I don't really understand. I fear Adopt-A-Block will have its branches cut off next year after expanding its growth beautifully over the last couple of years. I feel as if something has been ripped out from my being and stomped on; but I am not exactly sure what it is. Could it have something to do with my hope that the environment would be perceived as more valuable and irreplaceable than it is by some?

Is it the same out there today for everyone? The sockeye salmon collapse is a huge blow to environmental 'hopefuls' and the implications of this environmental disaster is far-reaching than most can imagine. Mission's Fraser Valley Bald Eagle festival is only months away, I wonder how the small non-profit that runs this program is reacting to the salmon run collapse news? The festival is held annually to educate people about bald eagles and to preserve their habitats; the salmon run is crucial to this species' health and survival. But so few of us think beyond our bellies it seems.

Where is the hope?

Speaking of bellies. Sometimes it takes that extra work to prepare a good meal. When you put in a full day at work, spend more than your fair share of time driving to get home to manage household chores, to pick up your kids from their extra curriculum activities or maybe your own, etc.; the last thing you want to do, sometimes, is to make that 'meal'. You know the one that requires a bit of chopping, measuring, cooking time, what have you - but taking that extra time always makes the meal taste so much better in the end. It makes the eating experience more enjoyable than simply another means to fill your belly so that you can continue to fill your daylight hours before you must say goodnight.

Where is the hope?

So, today I needed to take the extra time to find the hope in the midst of the hopelessness in the news and in my letter inbox. "Inspired by Hero's Effort" the headline of the local paper tells of a young man diagnosed with cancer at the age of four but in remission for 12 years, he is running the 5 km Terry Fox run this fall. Next, the "Hike for Hospice" will take place on Saturday where volunteers will hike 4km to raise money for individuals and families living with terminal illness, death and grief. "Playground Rebuilt and Community Hall Repaired", a project only just one of many, a number of Mission volunteers completed during a recent trip to Skatin Reserve. "Housing Market showing some signs of rebound", "Natural gas bills to drop" and "Helping Habitat" tells of a golf team that were part of a tournament to raise $5,000 for an annual Habitat for Humanity trip undertaken by Hatzic secondary school students. Finally, there are countless of volunteer opportunites, fundraisers and community events; all for the good of the community and well-being of its residents. Hopeful news is everywhere. And hope, no matter where it comes from, what cause or from who; contributes to everyone's cause.

My favorite stories of hope are in the community pages, "Fast Food Litter Second Most Common Item Found" and "Adopt Voluntary Code of Practices". Mission Adopt-A-Block's litter control program has made the papers! The society has provide a few facts about litter and what people can do to prevent and reduce it. There is also a call to businesses to adopt the society's Voluntary Code of Practices to help tackle the problem of litter in the community. While Adopt-A-Block may have had its branch snipped off in one area from what seems 'hopeless news', another branch is growing, Adopt-A-Block's visibility in the community, the 'spreading the word' of its litter control program.

Sometimes it just takes that 'extra bit' to see things from a different perspective. Have you put on your spectacles of hope lately?

Articles quoted from The Mission Record - Thursday, September 10, 2009.

Hope in 'Doing'

A successful litter control activity that I adminster through Mission Adopt-A-Block is the School Litter Audit where students learn first hand about litter in the environment. First, we discuss what type of litter can be found in the environment, where it originates from, what excuses people might use when they litter and other points to ponder. Then we take time to collect litter around the school yard and analyze it before discussing what can be done to prevent and reduce litter around the school yard, home and the community. The school litter audit, in a sense, introduces the 'science of litter'and at the same time empowers the children to be active agents in finding solutions to arising environmental crisis. And in today's world where a new vocabulary of terms such as ecophobia, ecoanxiety and nature deficiency disorder can be found, basic environmental action is vital. Faced with doom and gloom messages in our newspapers and television sets, how do children interpret, digest, and deal with the state of the earth? Teaching children about litter and the environment is one way to confront these terms first hand and to connect students to their immediate outdoor surroundings and empower them to be active ecological citizens. Being involved in litter awareness education has taught me a great deal about the environment and community, and through it I have come to understand how education is key for fostering environmental stewardship and how being involved in simple environmental actions like school litter audits builds character and empowers individuals/groups to be a part of building of healthy communities.

Hope Starts at Home, Inside You.

When environmental degradation begins to overwhelm you - when the bombardment of doom and gloom messages in the papers, on TV, and right in front of your face begin to weigh you down... remember, if you just begin to take care of things from your tiny corner, that's all you need to do to make a difference.