Well folks, we done good!
Elizabeth received 26% of the vote, beating the Conservatives and NDP easily. The Liberal candidate in London North-Centre pulled in a strong victory.
This is the strongest vote percentage of any Green ever in Canada (as far as I know).
Congratulations Elizabeth, and good work, particularly to all the Young Greens who worked so hard in London and across the country.
You've done me, and the rest of us proud!

The beavers story has perhaps had more media attention than any other I've yet been involved in.
But it has a good ending.
UW announced a task force do deal with wildlife issues more effectively in the future.

But we turn to the by-election in London North-Centre and Elizabeth May.
There are rides going from Sarnia, K-W and other areas to have a final push for the weekend.
Poll rumours have the Greens and Liberals running neck-and-neck there.
I'm told they've got great momentum in London - London Free Press letters, signs, volunteers...
Help with a final push and donate a day or two to a "Maycation" in London, plus call all your friends there to get out Monday's vote!
http://www.elizabethmay.ca

On a sadder note, Iraq's current fighting is making me sick.
it makes the situation feel helpless. I hope it's not.

Received a morning call from David Emery at CTV.

He said they'd like to cover the beaver vigil live for their noon newscast. "It's quite a story."

When I said we heard about the story Friday, he said they broke it on Thursday - so that's especially why they want to follow-up.

We have a few speakers lined up, and a quicky mobilized group of students regarding this issue.
Setting up and leaving noon in the SLC near the Bomber.

CRISIS POINT ...lol

from the UW daily bulletin:

"University officials say the damage done by the beavers reached a crisis point a week ago when one of the trees they gnawed down fell across a pedestrian walkway heading toward Conrad Grebel University College. Attempts to find a different way to deal with the beavers, such as trapping them alive and moving them to a more remote place, had failed, officials also say."

This week's article:
http://imprint.uwaterloo.ca/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=562&Itemid=59&issuedate=2006-11-17

and I was quoted in:
http://imprint.uwaterloo.ca/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogsection&id=13&Itemid=55&issuedate=2006-11-17

On a disturbing note,
four beavers were killed recently by someone hired on campus to take care of the supposed problem. It made front page of the Record - even made news in Brantford.
(The Womyn's Centre name change made the front of the National Post - very interesting how newspapers pick up each other's stories.)

To me, it's a moral deficit to do this.

Here's what I wrote as a facebook invitiation - some folks are planning a response:

Beavers memorial
To remember and ask why - deaths of four beavers on campus.
Host: A collective of students cross-faculty

Time and Place
Date: Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Time: 12:00pm - 12:30pm
Venue: SLC Great Hall - moving to Laurel Creek


Four beavers have been caught and killed by live underwater traps at Laurel Creek going through UW campus.The beavers (Castor canadensis), which have lately been the subject of interest by students and children on campus, were killed because they provided a "safety hazard", instead of being left alone, trapped and placed elsewhere, being taken by an organization who would have kept them inside for the winter, or the trees protected."See today's Record front page for more information.It reported one being killed, but that is now four, with the trapping complete for now."...traps are especially inhumane for animals that can hold their breath for 10 to 15 minutes." More information on beaver-human conflict resolution:http://www.beaversww.org/We're not radical activists here. It's just a basic question of ethics.

Campaigns won, and more to come

Sometimes I like to take the bus instead of walking home.
I enjoy pretending Waterloo is more of a bustling city, going along in the dimming daylight through the traffic of Westmount.

But seeing the population sign for Waterloo, it instantly changed from 99,000 to 115,000.

Truth is, there is great growth in this region.
And lucky for us, Brenda Halloran was elected mayor.

It was a huge victory/upset - Monday's election night was much too exciting.
The other candidates I supported all put forth strong campaigns and raised the issues.
Brenda's re-iterated her main committments will be towards the environment/youth/students.
We all look forward to working with her.

Elizabeth May yesterday easily won her first debate - based on a poll at Huron College @ Western:
http://www.elizabethmay.ca/node/227
Our job now is to get her elected in London North-Centre, and there's just a little time left.

shhh. a secret.
The new Alternatives is out! It's called thought for food.
Pretty clever, no?
I've got a couple articles in it, and fact-checked basically the whole thing.
http://www.alternativesjournal.ca/

Another councillor in Ward 5 could use help - he's deliverying flyers Friday evening about the moraine, and will drive and feed volunteers.
email me if you can help out - darcyhiggins@gmail.com

Republicans and Bush's neo-conservative international ideology will fall in tomorrow's American elections.

and holy crap... Bill Clinton's gonna be at Bingeman's on Wednesday!

Elizabeth May is running in London North-Centre and needs your help, wherever you reside, to become Canada's first Green MP. Let Jim Harris and the gang tell you how to help out:
http://blog.greenparty.ca/en/blog/29


Who I'm voting for in K-W (or would)...

Brenda Holloran - has made quite an impression on me, quickly.
Passionate about the Moraine, stong for protection, and strong on student issues and community-building.
Let's get her in. Find her group on facebook or: http://brendaformayor.com

Pauline Richards - Ward 3 Waterloo - A wonderful former Green Party candidate who knows the city well and has long been a champion for sustainability. Check her website, and blog about the candidates meeting at UW:
http://www.paulinerichards.ca
Pauline plans to be out on the street with supporters Tuesday and Wednesday 5-6pm, so email her to help out.

Jason Hammond - Regional Council, Kitchener - Another strong candidate, with a youth voice. Have worked with him on many projects. Will be our voice for stronger reigonal transit and a better environment (and knows his stuff). Blog at: http://jasonhammond.blogspot.com

Sher DiCiccio - Ward 7 Waterloo - A great vision for arts and community, and supportive of actions to stop Moraine development.

Raj Gill - Ward 5 Kitchener - Has done so much for the campus and community.
I know Raj will be great on Council and work to support the social fabric of the City and improve all aspects of the environment.
http://www.rajgill.ca

Jane Mitchell - Regional Council, Waterloo - Saw her speak on behalf of a strong by-law against pesticides. She brough it to the table last winter, and articulately made the case, without support from enough councillors. Please re-elect.
http://www.janemitchell.ca


Waterlooians.ca keeps an ongoing blog and has great history of issues around the Moraine:
http://www.waterlooians.ca/blog/index.html
David Wellhauser needs help the next few evenings to get people to vote for the environment.
See: http://uwenet.blogspot.com

Please vote.
Candidates' websites will tell you how.

My recent articles in Imprint:
Clay flung in election debate...
http://imprint.uwaterloo.ca/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=442&Itemid=74&issuedate=2006-11-03
Man in box
http://imprint.uwaterloo.ca/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=475&Itemid=58&issuedate=2006-11-03
Northern hope
http://imprint.uwaterloo.ca/mambo/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=410&Itemid=59&issuedate=2006-10-27

And check Science section for all other sustainability-related articles!