Smoke

Here in the Kootenays where we live, our normally summery August became a month of extreme heat followed by skies filled with forest fire smoke. The air quality in our region was rated as 10+ or as bad as Beijing, China. 

This was the setting these giant puppets entered when they were created. These puppets have attitudes and points of view. And they have a lot to discuss. Maybe you can relate to one or more of them, and would like to engage in how they talk together and sort out their differences the way we in society need to.

Here's some background to the characters who will participate in these conversations:

NOWCA, who is Nurturing, Omnipotent, Wise and has Compassion for All beings, considers the long term implications of the actions we take on our environment, communities and other beings.

Ah NOWCA, the one we aspire to be like! The one who builds respectful relationships, listens and discerns. The one who knows how to follow the money, checks facts before repeating them, and knows where the best leverage points are for comprehensive actions. The first three letters of NOWCA's name indicate the urgency of our times.

We find NOWCA inspiring others through these fraught times, making good choices, addressing the challenges we face intelligently, and understanding the need for self care while finding innovative ways to create a better world.

Good Time knows there has been a lot of smoke these past two summers but doesn't like to think about climate change. Going to the beach, being liked and having fun are this puppet's priorities. 

This has been a tough month for Good Time with beaches either too hot or too smoky, and everyone staying indoors sounding depressed. 

Good Time's friends don't like to talk about climate change. It's boring. Don't you wonder what they're up to these days and what they're talking about? Maybe they're spending more time at the air-conditioned mall.

Likely we can all relate to how hard it is to bring up issues of climate change without fear of rejection. Perhaps you can practise with Good Time.

Per is overwhelmed, and confused by all the talk of economics, reducing emissions and oil spills -- a scary future -- and doesn't know what to do. 

Perhaps you can relate to Per if you find the news is like a never ending, contradictory soap opera, and you don't know what to believe. 

Or maybe you do everything you can to address climate change and growing inequality, but nothing feels like enough. What more can we possibly do?

Per asks a lot of questions.

Mr. Pipeline just wants success. Mr. Pipeline makes deals, loves to strategize to keep the economy growing and assumes oil and gas is the way to go. Hustler likes everything slick -- even oil slicks -- and doesn't like to be inconvenienced by little things like climate change. It's probably just a hoax anyways.

Mr. Pipeline's motto: If you play the game right, you win. If you don't you're a sucker.

Fake news? Who cares? If it has a large readership, Hustler uses the opportunity to buy an ad to increase sales. Focus on the goal, and don't be distracted, unless by the occasional action film.

But don't we all want to feel successful, creative and on top of our game? Can we feel those things and still support a sustainable future?


The puppets invite you to join the conversation, like their Facebook page and, if you're in Nelson, come to the climate rally on September 8th where they'll make their first official public appearance.

There's a lot to talk about these days, and we'd love to have you join the conversation.