VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT - ALBERTA
Volunteer Name: Jason LaChappelle
Location: Edmonton, AB
1] How long have you been volunteering for Greenpeace and why did you choose Greenpeace at a place to offer you time and energy?
I moved back to Edmonton in February 2015 after living in the Europe for about 4 years and started volunteering with Greenpeace in March. Europe is so much more progressive on a lot of environmental issues compared to Canada and there is just such richer dialogue about the challenges we face and the need for solutions. I wanted to bring some of that energy back to Alberta – where many people have their head in the tar sands and are ignorant about the damage we’ve done and the massive transformation that is needed. I also felt something deep in my gut telling me that I needed to be making a difference in the place where I have my roots. I told myself when moving back that I needed to get involved as quickly as possible with the environmental community in Edmonton, which I had never really been a part of.
I sought out Greenpeace because I felt that Alberta is in need of more people willing to be activists and willing to be visible. There are many people in this province and in this country who care about protecting the planet, but very few of them are interested in mobilizing in the streets or protesting at a government building or approaching strangers to have a conversation about the big systemic changes that are needed. I strongly believe in the value of independent civil society organizations – not unduly influenced by industry or government – that push relentlessly to give a voice to our fragile planet. At this stage in the climate change crisis, we can’t afford anything but bold action, and Greenpeace speaks for the bold action we need. Ideas that are now cornerstones of our modern democracy were once seen as radical, and I have no doubt that this will be the case with environmentalism. I want to be on the right side of history, supporting an organization that is trying to normalize the ideas and the solutions that desperately need adopting.
2] In general what motivates you in your volunteerism?
The biggest motivating factor for me is intergenerational justice. I have 4 nephews and one niece and they will be saddled with the consequences of our actions. They have no voting power and no political influence and yet at the current rate, they are likely to inherit a planet that is more polluted, more destroyed and more volatile than at any point in human history. We have a moral responsibility to protect them and to give them the opportunity to shape their own future rather than having it determined for them. Future generations will look back and ask us why we did or did not act on climate change, knowing everything that we did and with the solutions in hand. I want to be on the right side of history and to be able to answer those questions with a clear conscience.
I am also motivated by the fact that Greenpeace has so many allies – from scientists to indigenous groups – that know we are doing the right thing and championing the right causes. We are bringing attention to issues that society would rather ignore. Preventing the further degradation of our planet should not be controversial – and yet somehow it is – and we have a huge responsibility in reminding people how dependent they are on a healthy, stable, resilient planet.
3] Do you have a most memorable moment/activity/project at Greenpeace?
One of the most memorable moments would have to be ambling around dressed as Stephen Harper during the federal election. We have an incredibly talented volunteer that crafted a terrifyingly accurate paper mache Stephen Harper head, and I was (un)fortunate enough to don it for a few film screenings, photo-ops and information pickets as Greenpeace pushed the Vote for Climate (i.e. anyone but Harper) message. I was lucky not to fall victim to any kind of hellish metamorphosis while bearing the resemblance of Canada’s climate criminal and the local group was so delighted when we could retire the Harper Head.
4] Do you have an inspirational message that you want to share with other environmental activists like yourself?
I am still at the stage of gathering wisdom and knowledge from more experienced activists who’ve charted the path. But one thing that I do feel about activism is that the power of our actions can inspire change among others in ways that we will never be able to measure. Activism is about drawing attention to important causes and raising awareness in sometimes difficult settings. While our actions might not lead to immediate victories, we are creating a spark inside many people who might never have considered the seriousness of climate change. We are showing others that it is OK to care about environmental issues and even attach yourself to them, perhaps giving some people the nudge they needed to be an environmental leader in their own way.
The more voices and the more boots on the ground we have in this fight, the better.