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The Greenpeace Living Guide's top three reasons to feel hopeful post-election

Okay, so, the Conservatives have formed a minority government. And, as Greenpeace and many other groups have pointed out, their climate plan puts Canada far below our targets under the Kyoto Protocol on climate change. In addition, the Conservatives have refused to discuss their broader environmental plan with enviros like Greenpeace (the Bloc, the Greens, the NDP and the Liberals all responded to our questions during the election). But there are many reasons for hope and opportunities for action. Here are three. (For more reasons to hope and a whole book of green tips, visit The Greenpeace Living Guide today.)

KYOTOplus

Remember that it's a minority parliament. That means that the Conservative government has a responsibility to carry out the wishes of the Canadian electorate and work with MPs from all parties, many of whom are strong advocates for climate change.

In other words: it's still possible to see real action on climate change both in Canada and on the international stage. The first step for you: join KYOTOplus, a powerful campaign to influence leaders in the lead-up to the UN climate meeting in Copenhagen in December, 2009.

The next step: find out who your MP is, and keep in touch. Tell them that you want real action on climate change. And that you won't take no for an answer.

Electoral reform

Greenpeace is non-partisan. We don't endorse any particular political party. Our role is to keep up the pressure, lobby for policies that work and criticize policies that don't. We also advocate for strong democracies because of this simple fact: people care about the environment. And, since people care about the environment, they will vote in governments that care about the environment, too.

Unfortunately, in Canada, we are stuck with an antiquated form of democracy that does not reflect the popular vote. Canada's clumsy 'first past the post' system means that winner takes all. The votes that don't go to the winner don't count. (Okay, parties get $1.75 for every vote, but we don't vote to fund parties, we vote to see our interests reflected in government.) The result: a system in which two parties hand power back and forth, even when a significant number of voters don't choose either one.

There is another way. Proportional representation (PR), which has captured the imagination of voters across Canada, makes sure that we end up with a government that reflects the popular vote. This creates a much more consensus-based government, one that is better able to promote environmental solutions. And support for PR is increasing across the country. For more information, check out Fair Vote Canada, Children of the 70s United for Proportional Representation, and, for the youth out there, try Progenies of the 80s Pushing for Proportional Representation.

Change is possible

We are often told that things are static, that change is not possible. But the future is not predetermined. It does not have to be like the past. The first step: to stop treating our government—and, to some degree, our country—as a service industry. When election time comes, we are told to ask ourselves: what am I going to get out of this? What will this government deliver for me in the very short term? But a democracy is not an ATM machine. It's a beautiful, collective and very high-stakes project that involves each one of us and urgently requires our participation. We don't have to settle for the way things are. The status quo can change. It has happened before. It can happen again.

- Amy Katz, editor, The Greenpeace Living Guide.

For more reasons to hope and a whole book full of green tips, order the brand new second edition of The Greenpeace Living Guide today.