The Understory 2

LE MAGA ZINE DES JEUNES VERTS * YOUNG GR EENS NE WSLE T TER * VOL 1 # 2 OC T 0 6 CONTAC TE Z-NOUS CONTAC T US * THEUNDER STORY “AT” GMAIL.COM * MADE IN C ANADA

JEUNES VERTS À OTTAWA LORS DU CONGRÈS FÉDÉRAL DU PARTI VERT, AOÛT 2006.

YOUNG GREENS IN OTTAWA DURING THE FEDERAL GREEN PARTY CONVENTION, AUGUST 2006.

C’est pour Quand la Percée Tabling Ideas for Green

Campus Clubs p3 Within Borders, Beyond Borders: Book Review: Planet U P5 Youth and climate change p6

Verte au Québec ? p4

The Young Greens: Radically P2 Inclusive and Lovin’ It E XPRIMEZ-VOUS ! VOICE YOUR OPINION ! * //GENER ATIONGR EENBLOG.BLOGSP OT.COM

statement

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The Young Greens:

Radically Inclusive and Lovin’ It

JAR ED GIESBR ECHT * Managing Editor of The Understor y, Chair of Queen’s Greens and student of Law at Queen’s Universit y. * UNDER STORY “AT” GMAIL.COM

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o, here I am in my little apartment near Queen’s University.

I’m listening to Feist and Democracy Now (democracynow. org) while working for the Young Greens. I’m thinking— this is the life. But, I’m also thinking—we Young Greens are in a very exiting time of growth and have a great opportunity to demonstrate an inspiring new way of doing politics in Canada. Here’s what I’ve come up with so far...

We know that the old political parties organized themselves around the centralized economic structures of industrial capitalism and industrial communism. We also know that Greens, instead, model their economic and political structures upon living and sustainable systems. And, one of the most interesting models in this new politic, I think, stems from rhizomes (no pun intended).

Rhizomes reproduce and spread through underground shoots that create webs of independent nodes which, in turn, create more independent nodes. Each node is autonomous from the larger structure, but all the nodes live in beneficial connection and coordination with each other in a larger network.

Application of this rhizomic model to political relations involves careful consideration of the ways in which groups are interconnected and the ways in which these connections create IF WE ARE SUCCESSFUL IN THIS, we will be a model to all hierarchical, top-down management. The Canadians. They will join our communities and, together, we will rhizome resists structures of domination and represents an alternative to the old centralized see that our vision of a GREEN FUTURE becomes reality. models of command and control.

How can we apply this rhizomic model to the Young Greens? Personally, I think its application involves a great degree of independence A SPIRIT OF RADICAL INCLUSIVITY from the Green Party of Canada (GPC) and a I have been witnessing this spirit of radical I believe that our Young Greens groups must inclusivity amoung the Young Greens. I hope spirit of radical inclusivity for building communities with young Canadians. relate to others in the same way we would like we enshrine it as an ideal of the green generation to work with the GPC. Facilitating communica- and perpetually strive to engage young people in INDEPENDENCE FROM THE GPC tion and encouraging involvement, rather than political community wherever we may be. Let’s If the Young Greens are to be like a node regulating the various groups “under” us, will ensure our message is always, “inclusion and that is independent of a larger structure, then give us the opportunity to build healthy and involvement first!” we can encourage interaction and informagrowing political communities. For as Young If we are successful in this, we will be a model tion sharing while avoiding restrictions and Greens, our greatest strength lies in our ability to all Canadians. They will join our communities control. In this way, the Young Greens (or any to openly share information and resources in and, together, we will see that our vision of a green of the Young Greens’ projects) may become a way that bypasses top-down, hierarchical future becomes reality. very autonomous and independent of the GPC. power structures. Our radical inclusivity—our I would very much like to hear your thoughts on We can share information with the GPC while active inclusion of anyone who has an interest Young Green politics. Please send us a letter to the ensuring that this sharing relationship does in participating—gives us the opportunity to editor or comment on the Generation Green Blog. not become a relationship of dependence. In foster the growth of communities that share response, we have the opportunity to share our green vision of the future. And isn’t this information with the GPC and work hard to what “politics” means?—coming together in involve young Canadians in the Party. And community with people who are different from YOUNG GR EENS’ BLOG * //GENER ATIONGREENBLOG.BLOGSPOT.COM this brings me to the second point... yourself in order to work for the good of all.

getting involved

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TABLING IDEAS FOR GREEN CAMPUS CLUBS

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HY ARE WE SETTING UP INFORMATION TABLES? Our central purpose as Greens is to build communities. This is important to recognize and emphasize in all areas of our clubs’ activity. Although we have goals around membership and fundraising numbers, these things will best be achieved through the building of genuine communities and then facilitating them in there own work. Our central goal when tabling should be to build community around issues of shared interest, such as non-violence, democracy, and ecological awareness.

can best meet our collective goals. Always be patient with people and remember that sometimes it takes a few years for people to make the green shift in their thinking.

WHO SHOULD WE SAY WE ARE? We are a part of a young and quickly growing political party. We are part of a community of political activists who are coming together to find a new way of living and a new way of doing politics. Our Green Party is the only global party and it has a unique ability to take a global approach on issues that are global in nature—ecological issues, trade agreements, and international conflict. We are the only party whose policies don’t contradict BEN WEST * For mer GP candidate and themselves. The old parties, however, all support Chair person of the Capilano Students Union ; HOW DO WE START CONVERSATIONS? auto industry subsidies and nuclear power even cur rently BC rep. on GPC Council. * We begin by listening. The best place to start though these policies directly conflict with their WESTER NE YE “AT” GMAIL.COM when talking to anyone at a table is to figure out health care and environmental platforms. Green WHAT IS THE IDEAL OUTCOME? who they are and where they are coming from. A campus clubs are autonomous and entirely run The ideal outcome is to bring students along person will feel way more comfortable if you en- by the students involved. They are focused on gage them in a dialogue as opposed to a one-sided addressing issues in cooperation with the party with you as you become more active and involved sales pitch. Perhaps you could start off by asking and they are resourced by the party. in the Green Party community. For this, you the person their name and ask them if they need to first identify where the person you are HOW CAN WE BE ORGANIZED? have been involved in working on any issues on talking to is on the spectrum of involvement. The Try to get the most relevant information to campus or elsewhere. This will give you an idea spectrum ranges from those that are already very if you’re talking to an experienced campaigner or what you are trying to communicate to be the much on board, to those that are undecided, to just a curious individual. The next thing you will most noticeable thing on the table. Try to avoid those who are not at all interested. Once we have having too much stuff on your table. You can want to figure out is what issues s/he feels are identified where the person is on the spectrum of most important. If we already have a campaign always keep related items that may be on interest involvement, we need to figure out how to move organized around this issue tell them about it... if on hand under the table. Try to keep your table with them along the spectrum.

Lastly, every person who came to the table not, let them know how we can help them organ- display as simple as possible. After you have the ize around their issue. table set up look at it from their perspective and or even walked by should know your web try to figure out where your eyes naturally go to address as well as when and where your club HOW DO WE ATTRACT A meets (e.g. pub nights every Tuesday). in the display. Then, build around that point.

LOT OF STUDENTS? Provide opportunities for real and active participation. Often volunteers feel uncomfortable simply selling the party. This is likely because a sales pitch does not seem to fit within the reasons why they themselves got involved. The ideal way to present what we are doing is providing an opportunity for people to get involved in something great. Quite simply, we are out there to make people aware of what we are up to and how they can get involved. People want to become involved, not become followers.

WHAT IF A STUDENT JUST WANTS TO ARGUE WITH US? Find the common ground as soon as possible.

Of course some people will not see eye to eye with you. Some may question the existence of global warming or express concerns about the impact on employment in regards to environmental policy. However, it is important to remember that there is always common ground between you and whoever you are talking to.

The trick is to figure it out. Try to understand what their concerns are and how they think we

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Le Parti Vert, un parti francophile !

Les langues officielles, la souveraineté et « l’imminente » percée verte au Québec

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e 28 septembre dernier, on célébrait l’ouverture du 11ième Sommet de la Francophonie à Bucarest, en Roumanie. Le Parti Vert, soucieux de la diversité culturelle des peuples, a souligné cette fête de la langue française.

Alors que nous parlons souvent de la perte de notre diversité écologique, il est tout aussi important de se préoccuper de l’état de la diversité culturelle, un enjeu que les francophones au Canada ont pris à coeur. Le Parti Vert doit promouvoir, surtout dans les provinces anglophones, cette richesse qu’est le multilinguisme.

Depuis le congrès fédéral qui s’est tenu en août dernier, les Verts Canadiens ont souvent parlé d’une « percée » imminente de notre parti au Québec. Ma langue maternelle est celle de Shakespeare et non celle de Molière. Vivant à Montréal, j’ai découvert la culture québécoise, ses ressemblances et ses différences avec ma culture canadienne-anglaise. Je reconnais que pour réaliser une percée dans la « belle province », nous avons besoin d’un parti où les Québécois-es se sentiront reconnus et acceptés. Une fédération comme le Canada nécessite une plus grande flexibilité politique comme le proposent les Verts.

Les Canadiens doivent reconnaître le bilinguisme comme étant plus qu’une simple affaire de traduction de l’anglais de documents officiels. Un espace de participation francophone doit être mis sur pied afin de permettre aux citoyens-nnes de langue française de s’impliquer pleinement dans la vie politique verte : aux congrès, aux réunions, sur le site internet et les sites internes, sur les comités politiques et organisationnels, sur les listes de diffusion et les babillards électroniques, etc... Dans certains cas, il nous faudra des comités de travail et des forums de participation séparés.

Le Parti Vert doit se doter d’une image francophile et élaborer un plan d’action pour instaurer une véritable égalité entre le français et l’anglais. .

dénigrant ainsi les tenants de l’indépendance du Québec. En les traitant de « séparatistes » au lieu de prendre une attitude ouverte et prôner la discussion, les Libéraux ont bafoué une position politique qui représente un projet visant l’épanouissement de la société québécoise et d’expression française au Canada. Quelle déception, lors des derniers débats des chefs télévisés, de voir les différents leaders fédéralistes n’apporter aucune proposition concrète ni constructive quant à la constitution. Ils s’attaquaient, comme à leur habitude, aux symptômes d’un problème et non à ses causes. La démocratie et le droit à l’autodétermination des peuples demeurent au sein des valeurs vertes.

Cela dit, que le Québec continue la réalisation de ce projet souverainiste (déjà entamé) en tant que pays ou en tant qu’État, province ou communauté de la [con]fédération canadienne, ce sont les Québécois-es qui décideront de leur avenir.

Il est pourtant clair que le pays entier se doit de réfléchir aux fondements de son organisation politique et gouvernementale. Les Verts doivent proposer une confédération qui réponde aux spécificités des régions et des provinces canadiennes.

La politique verte en matière d’environnement et d’économie s’inscrit et répond aux aspirations régionales et nationales des communautés de la fédération canadienne en prônant la démocratie participative et la prise locale de décisions.

L’écologie ne connaît pas de frontière politique.

Nous n’avons qu’une planète et il est impératif que le Québec, le Canada et la communauté internationale soient solidaires face aux grands enjeux du 21e siècle telle que la crise climatique. Je lance un appel aux jeunes francophones et francophiles du Canada afin qu’ils fassent entendre leurs voix en se joignant au Parti Vert, un parti politique francophile qui croit à la diversité culturelle internationale et à la véritable égalité des langues officielles au Canada. La diversité culturelle nous importe à tous, tout comme la diversité écologique.

L’AVENIR DE LA FÉDÉRATION La dite « question nationale » a dominé et pLa dite « question nationale » domine et polarise la politique québécoise et canadienne depuis trop longtemps déjà. Au coeur de cette polarisation, je déplore l’approche de confrontation utilisée par les Libéraux depuis la Révolution tranquille,

LIENS DU JOUR * // W W W.FR ANCOPHONIE.ORG // W W W.PARTIVERTQUEBEC.ORG // W W W.LESVERTS.FR // W W W.ECOLO.BE // W W W.VERTS.CH // W W W.EUROPE-ECOLOGIE.COM

ADAM SOMMER FELD * Candidat ver t à trois reprises; designer graphique oeu v rant à Montréal; direc teur du design du Understory. * ADAM.SOMMERFELD «À» PARTIVERT.CA

bookreview

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Planet U Pl an et U: Su staining th e Worl d , Re inve nting th e Unive rsity

By M ichael M ’Gon igle a nd Just i ne Sta rke new societ y publ isher s : 20 06

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September. School. Sustainability. The first two are just about synonymous. If we are to survive as a species, the latter must join them.

The September scene is a familiar one at campuses across Canada.

Students linger in lines pondering which classes (and books) to drop and which to keep. Faculty prepare for another round of classes amidst the fray of ongoing research. And staff stay the course, maintaining the physical and social infrastructure that keeps it all going during this hectic month. Business as usual for the university.

But have any of us in those lines, labs, or lavatories taken the time to question – to wonder or reflect upon, just why we are here? What is the university and what power does it hold? What is its role and function in a society faced with a changing climate, democratic dysfunction, and an economic system that threatens the very future of the planet and its inhabitants?

For those who have (and for those of you about to), prepare for departure to Planet U. What is Planet U? At a minimum it is a great bit of writing on the role and character of higher education in the 21st century. Ideally, it marks the emergence of a movement directing society to a sustainable future – a movement spearheaded by the modern university.

Tracing the evolution of the university from the Middle Ages to our modern “higher education industry”, Michael M’Gonigle and Justine Starke argue that it was not always the progenitor of technocratic experts for the corporate market that it is today. But they don’t stop there. Planet U calls on the university to take up the lead in the transition to a sustainable relationship with our environment.

Highlighting transportation, urban planning and land use as three areas the university can influence, they illustrate that this movement “is not just about a green building here or a student garden there, but about the whole structure and trajectory of higher education itself.”(p.67) Planet U questions the very nature of the modern university. The authors challenge us to look beyond the production of knowledge solely for the knowledge economy, to ask what kind we need, to be accountable for the consequences of the knowledge we create, and to integrate this information into a cohesive movement aimed at shifting society onto a sustainable trajectory. In essence, it calls on the university to “institutionalize” sustainability.

The next few weeks are a time for building community on campus. Many universities and colleges have begun to focus on adopting campus sustainability, and many student groups are becoming active in adopting this vision. Planet U is a key read for anyone who would like to help build this crucial movement – one that will benefit our communities from our campuses, outwards.

TONY MA A S * GP candidate in Kitchener-Centre; graduate s tudent in water polic y plan ning Universit y of Waterloo. * TINYGR EEN “AT” GMAIL.COM DARC Y HIGGINS * Submissions Editor for The Understor y; founding president of the Universit y of Waterloo Campus Greens; s tudent in Environ ment & Resource Studies. * THEUNDER STORY “AT” GMAIL.COM

liens links SUSTAINABLE CAMPUSES COMMUNIT Y // W W W.SYC-CJS.ORG/SUSTAINABLE

FEDER ATION OF YOUNG EUROPEAN GREENS // W W W.F YEG.ORG

The Sierra Youth Coalition - La Coalition Jeunesse Sier ra maintains an excellent interac tive site for those involved in sustain able campus campaig ns. It includes pages for each campus w here you can register and share success stories. It also includes usef ul resources and contac ts for how to get things done. Their national convention was held at the Universit y of Prince Ed ward Island , September 28 to Oc tober 1.

E x plore and lear n from Europe’s young movement . The organi zation is par ticularly strong on cult ural diversit y issues and the website describes its campaig ns. Look for the cool games on the Climate Change Campaig n site.

A release on their website notes the for mation of the Young African Greens in Benin ; coincidentally, the last day of their gathering also mar ked the f irst meeting of the Young Greens of Canada .

LES JEUNES VERTS : L A SOURIS VERTE //JEUNESVERTS.ORG/

La sec tion jeuneusse des Ver ts français qui compte aujourd ’ h ui de nombreu x adhérents répar tis en g roupe locau x dans la plupar t des g randes villes de France.

Les Jeunes Ver ts ce sont des étudiants, lycéens, jeunes salariés et au tres jeunes de moins de 3 0 ans, sensibles au x idées de l ’écologie politique, et désireu x de les défendre, de les propager et de les étof fer.

movement

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Within Borders, Beyond Borders

A FOUNDING SUMMIT... brought together youth representatives from over 48 organizations including the Canadian Autoworkers Association and the Canadian Federation of Students

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ZOË C ARON * Com m unications & Media Liason for the Canadian You th Climate Coalition. * COMMUNIC ATIONS “AT” OURCLIMATE.C A

EDITOR ’ S NOTE * We’d like to than k Zoë for her submission on this impor tant topic. The newly for med Canadian You th Climate Coalition is happening at a pinnacle time in Canadian politics. The Coalition’s goals and strategies match per fec tly those of the Young Greens. Let ’s consider joining with a representative and setting up decentralized cam pus ac tions.

limate change knows no boundaries. Nor should its solutions. Climate change is affecting people around the world, and so the world (and especially youth) must unite to address this issue. Do we do this through Kyoto? Do we tackle it through our federal governments? Are we more effective as an international movement? Or, closer to home, as a Canada-US movement?

How about strictly national?

Some movements strengthen quickly, like the Canada-US affair between climate change activists. And the hype is already up and running within the US. And now there’s also a movement stirring in Canada. It might be a little late, and it might seem a little scattered, but it’s starting to come alive.

At the beginning of June, a small group of Canadian youth came together at a conference put on by the Sierra Club of Canada . A number of them had been involved in the climate change movement on the international level, and the CanadaUS level, but felt that the spirit was missing on home-court. And so began the initial threads of a Canadian Youth Climate Coalition.

There are a great number of stellar youth-based organizations working on climate change already in Canada, but without broad coordination.

Organizations like the Sierra Youth Coalition, the Arctic Indigenous Youth Alliance, and the Youth Environment Network have been the spearheads of the movement. It was clear that it was time to unify in order to produce a stronger response to the lack of action on climate change by our federal government.

We’ve connected with diverse organizations across the country, we are building our media base, and are working alongside our partners in the Canadian Climate Action Network. A founding summit was held September 8-10, which brought together youth representatives from over 48 organizations including the Canadian Autoworkers Association and the Canadian Federation of Students. With seasoned workers and activists, well-trained organizers, and educational backgrounds ranging from law to business to science

REDAC TEUR EN CHEF MANAGING EDITOR * JAR ED GIESBR ECHT R EDAC TEUR ADJOINT SUBMISSIONS EDITOR * DARC Y HIGGINS DIREC TEUR DU DESIGN DESIGN EDITOR * ADAM SOMMERFELD THEUNDER STORY “AT” GMAIL.COM

and beyond, we’re ready to rock this country.

On one hand, Canadian organizations have been working on climate and sustainability issues, particularly on campuses, for a number of years.

We are very process oriented and have created lengthy and detailed documents and trainings to empower young people to lead in these key areas.

Organization and objectives are the backbone to any long-term movement. We’re calm, cool and collected. We know what’s going on. Not much else matters.

On the other hand, American organizations are very focused on making an issue known - selling the idea and pumping up hundreds and thousands of people to join them. They’re intense. They’re in-your-face. They’re exciting.

Everything is bigger and better. Media is a huge strength and a necessary element.

Process or motivation? Resources or fresh views? Grassroots or international movement?

The beauty of this imbalance that ails both countries is what we now building off each other. In fact we’ve been building for a few years. But now we’ve hit a tipping point. We’ve reached a shared understanding that we all have much to give and take from each other. We are learning and teaching. We are standing on each other’s shoulders American and Canadian youth might be very different - and we might not always understand each other. However, President Bush and Prime Minister Harper are united in their climate vision. We can be too.

The international movement is important. But it is nothing without the heart of the movement beating within each continent, each country, each town, each home - and ultimately within each individual.

Someone once told me that you only have to convince 16% of the population to believe something before the rest begin to follow. Doesn’t that feel nice?

Move the movement.

HER E AR E SOME R EL ATED LINK S * // W W W.ITSGE T TINGHOTINHERE.ORG // W W W.OURCLIMATE. C A // W W W.CLIMATE AC TIONNE T WORK .C A

* The Understory es t un nou vea u maga zine mensuel publié par les Jeunes Ver ts du Canada. Nous faisions appel à vous de soumet tre une contribution, que ce soit sous for me d ’ar ticle, d ’ar t visuel, de photographie, de bande dessinée ou a u tre for me d ’e x pression. Tou t ar ticle peu t être rédigé soit en français ou en anglais. * The Understory is an e xciting new monthly publication of the Young Greens of Canada seeking submisions--ar ticles, ar t wor k , photography, comics, or any thing else that you ’d like to submit. A r ticles may be submitted in French or English.