Informing Institutions
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I know I’m not alone in feeling relatively inconsequential against institutional behavior. After more than three years of simply trying to resolve a particular case of damage to public infrastructure caused by a government contractor, and confronting an insidious cascade of mendacious irresponsibility, some things became clear:
– don’t let it infect you; such stress is morbid
– quantity is more effective than quality
– activate elected representatives and hold them to it
– remain kind and civil but be persistent
Confronting institutional pathology can be discouraging and stressful, so best take measures to remain happy, healthy and strong, and work to raise awareness in the community rather than doing it alone.
Irrefutable evidence and clear documentation be damned when quality is subordinate to quantity. In other words, one person making a comprehensive and coherent case is more easily ignored than many people simply saying “stop that!” (i.e., especially from many distinct individuals, in contrast to petitions or other centralised approaches). It’s also enough to simply register opposition, without justifying position or explaining rationale. Details can be discussed once dialogue has opened.
Futile as it may seem, we still have people in office who are paid to listen to us and act on our behalf, and they are likely more fluent in the language of office. Best concentrate on those who wish to be reelected.
Persistence is essential, and empathy; to remember that real people exist inside the impersonal, and often offensive, Kafkaesque machinery.
For example, the BC Government betrayed due process and community trust in recklessly executing questionable “improvements” to Tribune Bay campground on Hornby. Denman is also affected as water is trucked bi-weekly from Vancouver Island to irrigate poor decisions on Hornby. One hopes that even the BC Government is upset by the results, but it should not be surprising that an industrial contractor from Alberta might be a poor choice to construct a campground in a rural community on a small island in a coastal environment.
In any case, considering the significant opposition, how did it happen and what about Phase 2? Instead of leaving it to others to confront the bureaucratic bully, and waiting until the damage is done, here’s to personal responsibility in proactive protection and prevention!
“Tribune Bay Park is a jewel in B.C. and people are drawn to this area to experience the natural beauty,”
Tamara Davidson, Minister of Environment and Parks
250 387 1187
Further reading (thank you, Petra!): tribunebayecosystem.wordpress.com
The proposed expansion at Gravely Bay was successfully halted thanks to the people who protested in number and in person.
