During the few days after the oil rig exploded there was silence.
I wondered if it was a reflection of the shock I felt inside. Sensing this was a major event that would change lives forever. Yet I didn’t see the outpouring of help from communities of people banding together and immersing themselves in sponsoring, volunteering or speaking out. I still have not heard a celebrity speak, sing, challenge one another other, fundraise or write a song to make changes happen.
Witnessing the anger in some correspondence I received I didn’t want to be in that emotion or dwell in the place of fear that sometimes creeps in. The needs for recognizing this event and connecting in the community finally came in the form of a simple headline – Hands Across the Sands. I was longing to hold the space for us all in the common thread of unity. To know I wasn’t alone and together with other’s we could open to both the devastation and humanitarian efforts. For me it was a thread of hope in a sea of hopelessness.
The hopelessness I was feeling was the unresponsiveness of my people, ones I have met and not met, that usually stand up and take charge, create and make things happen. The G8 Summit was happening and was a strong local focus. Yet I kept telling myself, this is actually and physically happening! I didn’t hear anything, not even a whisper. It took two sleepless nights. This was out of my comfort zone and I knew if only two people came there would be an event in my community. I signed on, yet only after sending out this idea locally hoping it would catch on and somebody else would take it on.
It has caught on locally and it is being championed by local celebrates, groups and foundations right here in my community. It began with Lisa Cole connecting with me on facebook and sharing a suggestion. I simply asked her, “Can I add you as an administrator?” She joined and it began to grow.
Next came our very own well-known author Guy Dauncey, founder and series editor of The Solutions Project and Newsletter – Eco News, President of the BC Sustainable Energy Association. With Guys influence our local Victoria and B.C. events became supported and endorsed by the BC Sustainable Energy Association, the Green Party of Canada, the Sierra Club of BC, the Raincoast Conservation Society, the Georgia Strait Alliance, and the David Suzuki Foundation.
It is beginning to develop and grow locally, in the province and in Canada. We have 7 days. As it grows it I notice I become more hopeful and there is more space inside myself to read and witness the reality.
Researching for confirmation of some material last night I came across some incredibly moving and touching articles shared over the internet. It is the incentive for this writing today. My understanding is health begins with learning and my wish is to stimulate visitor’s curiosity. To motivate the concept of choices in making personal changes, changes a community. Choices that I encourage in others, in my work , from the inside expanding outwards. The intention of the information I share is for counterbalance. Sharing and recognizing the hopelessness and balancing this with hope. Asking the questions; what can we do personally, for each other and to have our efforts spread?
I shared some of these incredulous stories on my site and now read today some personal accounts of how peoples blog sites have been pulled from the web for sharing and trading information on this very oil spill. Of course I don’t have the full story of the content they were sharing. Yet I still feel the flickers of fear in my belly as an old saying from a book read years ago runs through my mind, “big brothers watching!” I laugh and know that what is important to me is to give hope, to make sense of senselessness, to find meaning. It’s not time to shut down inwardly in emotional reaction. I have children I love all over, some live in Mexico, people here at home and a community with no boundaries to share with, to care about and be cared for!
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