By Shae Hadden
According to Dr. David
Suzuki, “it is not progress to use up the rightful legacy of our
children and grandchildren.” He opened the first Elders and the Environment Forum
on Monday in Vancouver, Canada with a keynote address that focused on
the role of elders in the environmental movement and how we can make a
difference: - Tell it like it is, find our voice and speak out
- Tell us all what is possible and keep us fixed on creating the future
- Remind
younger generations that true wealth is found in our relationships with
family, friends and neighbours (in community) and that people lived
full, rich lives long before we had all this ‘stuff’
- Teach children that the word ‘disposable’ is a ‘dirty word’
- Help
younger generations see how things are shifting environmentally in the
world by sharing the changes we have seen and are seeing in baselines
(for example, the differences in salmon runs between now and years
past)
- Challenge the perspective that views the natural world
as an ‘externality’ (as economists do), in which all the services that
ecosystems perform are irrelevant to calculations of value
- Teach
young people the values of thrift and stewardship by showing them how
to live in community (for example, teach them how fix things when they
are broken; how to compost, grow things, harvest and store food; how to
knit and sew and darn, etc.)
Dr. Suzuki’s message is not a
nostalgic call for a slower-paced lifestyle. It is a vital reminder
that we have had and can have fulfilling lives based on what we do with
other people. And that we can help heal our relationship with Mother
Earth while we’re at it. © 2009 Shae Hadden. All rights reserved.
Written by eldering at News
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By Shae Hadden
I attended the David Suzuki Foundation's first Elders for the Environment Forum
today in Vancouver, Canada. The event drew 200+ people, including Elder
representatives from several First Nations and concerned 'older'
citizens from Canada and the U.S. Following are some of the highlights
from an inspiring talk given by Miles Richardson, former Grand Chief of
the Haida Nation and a member of the board of directors of the David
Suzuki Foundation.
- "We are all in the same canoe, and we have to begin paddling together in the same direction."
- "An Elder is very importantly and universally recognized as a
knowledge-keeper. But we look to them for more than that. We depend on
them for wisdom, the distillation of that knowledge gained from
living and experieneces, and we depend on them to pass that on from
generation to generation.We look to them for guidance when we face the huge challenges that life puts in front of us. We look to them for validation when we are doing what we believe is right when others can't understand or cannot see what we see."
- "Being an Elder is not about age. You don't become an Elder because you've grown old. An Elder is someone whose integrity I trust and whose wisdom I respect. That must be earned and real."
- "Talk is good. Actions are stronger."
- Overheard at the 4th World Wilderness Congress: "Economic growth is an interpretation. The environment is a matter of survival."
- Wisdom from an Elder given to Miles when he was complaining about
the loss of his native culture: "Before you take another step forward, take a step back and listen."
Check back later this week for more highlights from the speakers at this event.
Written by eldering at News
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Congress is attempting to stop drastic cuts to payments to Medicare
physicians. If approved, the cuts could force more doctors to leave the
system, making it more difficult for older Americans to have access to
healthcare services. Instead of raising Medicare premiums, they are
looking at legislation passed by the House of Representatives that
would reduce excess payments to private insurance plans in Medicare. Full story[ Read More]
Written by eldering at News
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Amongst the doom and gloom news of the day, I have found another ‘good
news’ story worth repeating. After hearing about the formation of The Elders last week, I was inspired again today to find out about the status of the One Laptop per Child Project (OLPC). I had heard about this education initiative through our contributor Elizabeth Russell, who has been interested in this project since its inception. In
2005, Elizabeth had made an impossible promise that by the year 2030
all the world’s children would have their innate desire to learn
nurtured and supported. Shortly after that, Nicholas Negroponte,
founder of the MIT Media Labs, announced the OLPC initiative to provide
schoolchildren in the developing world with laptops. The aim of the
project is to sell laptops to developing countries for $100/unit and
distribute them to children so they can learn, communicate and
collaborate with people around the world.[ Read More]
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It's not too often nowadays that we hear some inspiring news in the
conversation about aging. But this week I was heartened to hear about a
new group of leaders who are dedicated to taking on the global crises
that governments and elected officials are unwilling or unable to
address.
On Wednesday, the Guardian reported that 89-year-old Nelson Mandela launched " The Elders",
whose members include Jimmy Carter, Kofi Annan and Desmond Tutu. Other
world-renowned notables are expected to join this 'force for good'.[ Read More]
Written by eldering at News
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