To the editor:
I love reading the letters from those who are concerned about our food security, about stopping the food monopoly which seems to be coming like a freight train.
Letters to the editor are wonderful, I encourage them.
Just like posting information and links on FB, it spreads the word, helps bring awareness (assuming people read them).
Unfortunately, the letters to editors and FB are the first little steps, the baby steps.
People need to write, call and email their MPs their MPPs their prime minister – those in politics, those who apparently are making the decisions for our good.
I repeat, spreading the word is wonderful and I thank those who do that.
Trouble is, the politicians pay little attention to the conversations we have with our neighbours. They do pay attention to what crosses their desk.
Lobbyists, like Monsanto, get attention because they call, write, email those in ‘power’, they do not put their requests on Facebook or in the newspaper.
They hound those politicians, talk to them face to face, keep in contact, bring forth what they want. We may not have the money the lobbyists have but we do have the numbers.
If there are even one million adults in Canada who care about food security, about maintaining local family farms, about stopping the monopoly train, if there are 1 million adults who care and even if one per cent of those wrote to the prime minister and the members of parliament and the senators that’s 10,000 letters and calls and emails to each person.
Someone in those offices has to answer them – that gets their attention. If one per cent did that every week, that would get more attention.
The public thinks they can do little they have little influence, but we have more influence than anyone can imagine.
However, we do have to speak out and let others know. Politicians, after all, are in a popularity contest, they are supposed to represent us and they want to be re-elected.
Valerie Guenther,
Thunder Bay
