POST FIVE AND SIX : change

May 22nd, 100th day

I was thinking of them, at the Berlin Art Biennale

I was thinking of them, in front of the Berlin Wall

I was thinking of them, at the Stasi museum

I was thinking of them, in the berliner subway

I was thinking of them, taking the Berlin tram

I was thinking of them, of the repression they are facing

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100th DAY AGAINST RISING TUITION FEES AND EDUCATION ACCESS
I have been thinking of our Quebec students, our children, friends, colleagues, citizens, unions, journalists, organizations, opposition parties, protestors, who have been walking for Education. Despite the repressive Special law 78, imposed by Charest's government on May 17th, (+/-) 250 000 (numbers vary from 200 to 300 thousand among sources) people marched collectively that day.  I have followed their route from Berlin and although far away, my steps were with them.  Perhaps it could also participate in some of our instructor's week 5 and 6 questions combined as : «Behind what issues and causes» do people stand to make this world more sustainable, more viable?
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Laura Looks (1) had invited us, through Dr. Mark Jacquard's words to pronounce ourselves and to «develop the habit of devoting a few minutes a day or a half hour a week to writing sincere comments in the comments section under op-eds [for the matter she was talking of, which was a climate issue] (...) in the National Post, Globe and Mail and your local newspapers».  Dr. Jacquard had also explained why he was willing to «engage in civil disobediance and risk arrest» (2) in stopping a train in the Coal global warming issue. (I must say I couldn't believe the comments I read above the article. Well, actually I could. Students here received the same unfair bashing.) It led me to follow Jacquard and Laura's advice to briefly post on that matter as well, reading 13 people were arrested for peacefull civil disobedeance link. (Here 700 people since the law has past.)

But what motivates this week's post, was reading a newsletter Ysabel Viau (Montreal market communication specialist) (3), had posted in French on May 15th. Although it took the broader angle of Change, which we are all here concerned with, and was not -aimed- at the student's strike she added, but just published in this particular timing, I initially wrote to Ysabel intending to add it to comments on her blog page. (In French as well, but never managed to enter her worldpress comments, so I emailed Ysabel).

I fear it does not sound as precise in my English translation trying to cover the various points Ysabel Viau was making.  I do hope translating it kept the essence of my thoughts.  I then decided to make it my 5th (and 6th) post, in light of how I feel at the moment, for Education, for Quebec and being away.  Some of you might feel they share Ysabel's view more then my answer, since -protest- or activism (reading : non-violent), is a debate we have add in residency and I will be happy to read any comments you may have, if ever you have time to read both her opinion and then mine.  Ysabel's newsletter was posted a few days later on march 22nd, in the English Quebec newspaper the Gazette, the day of the march link>. A newspaper which has a neoliberal and conservative bias I visibly do not share.

I had no more success posting it in the Gazette where word count is limited. Although broader presented, I beleive the link with the actual Education debate was intended as part of the media coverage here proposed as well.  Two very different angles influencing the public opinion have been taking place in Quebec these past 3 months. 

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Ysabel's title : You want change? Start with yourself
link to Ysabel's La Mercaticienne newsletter or in the Gazette.
«Today, in light of the recent ideological, economic and social turbulences that are shaking, rattling and humming my nation and those of many others, I borrow LA MERCATICIENNE’s forum to release a long-lived heartfelt cry. Thank you for allowing me to dare – Ysabel»

First line : «You’ve got a problem with the world today? Don’t scream, protest or manifest about it; do something to change your own ways first.» (Viau, 2012)
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Here was my answer :
Dear Ysabel, dear friend,

What you say is absolutely right about the need to change our own habits, to responsabilise (empower) ourselves (4), and going through our own personal and collective lists, being fundamental. But there seems to lay, in the premise, an underlying feeling, almost like a statement, which I fear also often takes over the ambient debates or conversations.

Considering, with much humility, that my personal list is already checked in all the areas you suggest, I allow myself disagreeing with what –don't protest-, -stop whining- can suggest and encourage in terms of disengagement, providing an excuse not to mobilize. In my opinion, we must ALSO continue to protest, which for me, and perhaps a majority of societies and individuals, is far from «bitching and screaming and complaining» (3) but is meaningfully communicating and trying to defend ideas some refuse to hear. We must continue to protest against injustice, and walking on the streets is not «following herds» to me, but also a way to believe in the strength of community, of worldviews coming together, of sharing visions.  I am therefore so proud of our students (5), impressed with the support we have witnessed, the commitment from their teachers, their universities, Cegeps, their parents and grand parents, colleagues and children, several active or more silent members of our society, and of many communities who also believe  in access to education for all, to the responsibilities we have regarding our future generations. They have been everything but selfish. I am proud to claim and wear the red square myself.

It is of our governments that I am ashamed. In regards with everything that is proposed in your list. From education to tar sands, North Plan, fracking, poverty, or all the encouraged monopolies depleting our local communities. To those laws and regulations that relegate environmental health, health of our ecosystems, of the future generations that will follow to -neant-. My own list is too long, my heart's cry is as deep as yours. I chose to live in coherence with my beliefs (and uncertainties) in my daily life, and chose education to share them. But the day I would cease to protest, or to walk the streets defending rights that perhaps I have and others don’t, I will have given up. And yet, as you say, I always vote, simply not for the institutions who are making choices that are being imposed to all. As long as their will be unethical decisions that change our common future, I hope I will always refuse accepting. I feel privileged to know that alternatives exist (6), I support them, they protect other worldviews and ideas to the best of their abilities, they are also trying to "change the world." 

It is ALSO thanks to organizations, communities, artists, students, citizens, environmentalists, educators and individuals who mobilize, opposition parties who protest, defending rights, protecting others, and to communities coming together without having their own interests at heart, that things change. The change we need is a change of this anthropocentric mindset that governs us, which we are part of, at the detriment of impoverished societies, and that we accept, proof being that injustices still exist. We evolve and are part of a world that is lent to us and our responsibility to pass it on to the future generations with all of its social, cultural and environmental wealth is fundamental.

In this need for action to change your list proposes, we must also remember that there are communities on our planet that have nothing to barter, no Wall-Mart, no oil, no job, no right to unemployment, nor minimum wage, or car to get rid of. They do not over-consume, do not have the required minimum health care, and do not have the right to vote to change the world. Yet they take the pen or the streets, sometimes to the peril of their own lives in the name of  freedom for their siblings. It is also for them and with them that the need to continue –de nous indignez- as Stéphane Hessel says so strongly (7) in his field of protest. For the past 101 days now, in Quebec, I am thinking of our students, of our community, and of Henry David Thoreau (1849) (8) who would have encouraged them to civil disobedience, as a possible tool for meaningful change as well. (A word Amir Khadir, in his meaningful support to Education also used, most likely considered an illegal word now, in 2012, with law 78, in Quebec.)

Unfortunately, I am far, in Berlin, and I witness that a wall or another remains a universal symbol of misunderstanding, lack of listening to others, an ultimatum imposed by the strongest.

Lyne Lefebvre,
(high school friend, student, citizen, parent, teacher at L'École de design de l'UQAM)

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Today, (after law 78 has been imposed, which I will accept prison for blogging on this :-), I am adding that my words of course, imply only myself.  And  I don't believe more then Ysabel, and neither did most of the students on strike for the past 3 months, or the 250 000 people who marched on Monday, in «breaking someone else’s possessions or hurting others just because I am mad as hell» (3).  I did not hear «bitching, complaining, blaming others, accusing, demeaning, or breaking» (3) by most our brilliant and respectful students. I saw a collectivity «tak(ing) responsibility. Tak(ing) it upon yourself (itself) to make your (our) world a better place» (3).  Like Ysabel concludes : «I believe in freedom» (3) too. 

The violence our government suggested through -some- media to discredit the peacefulness and non-violence of the majority of the actions and of the people this student strike has seen in 100 days was a manipulative shame.  It is interesting to know one of the 2 most present student leaders our government refused dialogue with, received one of the highest student distinction there is : the Lieutenant Governor’s medal for her academic excellence and her social involvement.  

(1) Looks, Ll (2012), Dr. Mark Jaccard takes a stand against imported Coal by Laura Loucks - Monday, 7 May 2012, 10:09 AM
(3) Viau, Y (2012, La Mercaticienne, and .Letter of the Day: You want change? Start with yourself, May 22, 2012 Gazette.
(4) Jonas, H. (1984), The altered nature of human action. The imperative of responsibility : In serach of an ethics  for the technological age. The University of Chicago Press, (pp. 1-24)
(5) L'école de la montagne rouge:  http://ecolemontagnerouge.com/derriere-mon-carre-rouge/
(6) Québec Solidaire : http://www.quebecsolidaire.net/evenement/2012-05/grande_manifestation_etudiante_100_jours_de_mepris_100_jours_de_resistance
(7) Hessel, S (2010). Indignez-vous !, Montpellier, Indigène éditions, collection « Ceux qui marchent contre le vent »
(8) Thoreau, H.D. (1997) La désobéissance civile : Mille et une nuits
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 This post exceeding assignment word count quite a bit, I am making it my fifth and sixth post.
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