Can a few councillors make a difference?

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” – Margaret Mead

On May 6, 1991, in St. Mary’s Parish Hall in the town of Hudson, Quebec, three brave councillors voted in the face of significant industry interests to pass By-Law 270.[1] In doing so, this town of roughly 5,000 people and a budget of $1.7 million became the first community in all of Canada to pass a by-law restricting the use of cosmetic pesticides.[2] Today, approximately 80% of Canadians now live under a law that can be traced back to these three people.[3]

Hudson Bylaw

Are you a councillor?

This by-law will change the course of human history. It will go global. When historians look back at this watershed moment, how will you be remembered? How will your children and grandchildren remember you?

“We do not inherit the Earth from our Ancestors, we borrow it from our Children”
– First Nations Proverb

Stand on guard for Earth.

This is a planetary emergency. We have only 16 years left. We need something to shake us out of our sense of complacency – and this is it. It’s no exaggeration to say that the people in government today will determine the fate of our earth. The entrenched interests at senior levels of government make it virtually impossible to meaningfully address climate change – so we’re counting on independent representatives from communities across Canada to stand on guard for our earth.

Make your own label.

Are you worried about climate change? Express yourself! Create your own label and tweet it to your councillor. Use the hashtag #FaceTheChange and be sure to direct your councillor to ourhorizon.org for more information. We’d love to see your creations – Tweet them to @OurHorizonOrg.

Go Back: Explore the Issues…

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Endnotes

  1. By-Law No. 270 – Concerning Pesticides.” Adopted by Hudson, Quebec on May 6, 1991.
  2. Brett Flyndale and Paul Tukey. A Chemical Reaction: The story of a true green revolution [documentary]. Produced by The Safelawns Foundation and PFZMedia LLC, 2009.
  3. Ibid.

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