Tomorrow is the beginning of a new year.
Today provides an opportunity to reflect on the year past and if necessary, set a new course.
I plan to do the latter.
It won’t be an about turn and in many ways it won’t be a significant deviation from the course I’ve been on for the past several years.
If anything, I hope it will be straighter and more focused.
I hope to avoid some of the snags I’ve hit in the past and not have to back track as often, although those are the “mistakes” that teach you valuable lessons.
I plan to continue to write and I also plan to learn how to become a better writer. I want to get better at this craft.
I also plan “to keep a foot in the field”, to stay connected to places and issues that matter to me, and have fun doing it.
In that regard I plan to work for and continue to be an advocate for the environment but especially for wilderness and wildlife and the people who work to protect them.
Some of you may be surprised by the positions I take on various issues but I hope to provide a rationale that makes sense.
Hear me out.
Respond.
Engage.
It’s not all black and white.
Although I will be the first to acknowledge that there are lines in the sand that shouldn’t be crossed.
It’s not all about compromise, but when it makes sense, compromise is an option.
Enough said about that.
First I think it’s about raising awareness and contributing to the discussion.
But where to start?
I think many of the environmental issues we face and many of the challenges for wilderness and wildlife stem from a lack of understanding and/or a lack of willingness to take action at the local, regional, national and international levels.
The first demands an increased effort to engage and inform people across a broad spectrum of backgrounds including the general public and decision makers.
The second is a critical step that so often seems to fail unless pressure is brought to bear by the public on decision makers. Remember, we are a democracy = we elected them.
Both are obviously linked and I’d personally like to strengthen that linkage so better decisions are made and acted upon when it comes to issues involving the environment and especially those issues that relate to wilderness and wildlife.
Doing nothing is not an option for me and I hope, for you.
Many of us have had to regroup in 2012 but our core values probably remain unchanged.
Let’s find a way (or ways) in 2013 and beyond to be a voice for the things we hold to be special.
Let’s work towards regaining some of the ground we lost in 2012 as well as strengthening our hold on some of the victories we’ve won this past year to help make this planet a better place for all its inhabitants and to specifically help restore Canada’s place as a world leader in environmental issues.
As many of you know, my passion is for parks and protected areas so in 2013 and beyond I hope to work towards reversing some of this past year’s devastating decisions that impacted our special places and the people that work for them.
Ultimately, I’m looking to three years’ time and the opportunity to influence Canadian’s choices about who we want to represent us on the national and world stages.
We can do better.
The clock is ticking.
Happy New Year!