Congrats to all the municipal political winners on November 15. It must be difficult to feel inspired about winning an election where only 22 - 30 per cent of possible voters actually voted. Even so, you leaders now represent the voice of your area, and not just those who voted for you.  You now have a tiny bit of sway as to how us humans will affect this planet and what our future generations will be left to deal with.

 I guess most people don’t vote because they are disenchanted by the political process. Perhaps most people feel no matter who wins, the same old, same old will continue.  No one thinking outside the box, no one taking the reins and leading us to a better quality of life.  Just the same old agendas of political back scratching, sloppy and greedy developers getting their way, and more petty infighting.

Our world (starting with our municipalities and outer regions) is in need of leaders who recognize the troubled state our planet is in, how pollution, urban sprawl, deforestation and the systematic destruction of our eco systems will soon result in absolute disaster for all living things that call earth home.

We need leaders who can turn the corner now, who can combine striving for a stable economy with eco sense, who are not afraid to say “without a planet there is no economy!”

I saw big signs promising fresh, positive change but I’m afraid who those “fresh changes” will really benefit.

The same old rich guys as usual?  The whiners who want their cake and eat it too?  The rural value haters who don’t yet realize that rural values are the only values that will keep this planet afloat?

When Obama was elected the world rejoiced with a collective sense of hope,  a glimmer that perhaps change is possible and a voice for all really does exist.  We all need that kind of inspiration to continue, to build on that momentum. The only way our euphoria can build is to be inspired by creative, harmonious thinking that will evolve into a sustainable model of life and economy combined.  Not an easy task but most definitely possible.  Not just possible but mandatory in order for us all to feel hopeful and positive.

You new and re-elected leaders are the voice of the future, holding the destiny of us all in your decision making processes. Please act with your conscience, represent us all, and turn a little green.

I’ll send you a Christmas wish list early:

 - Preserve our sensitive eco systems and protect the habitat of our wild animals.

- Concentrate on a light rapid transit system to link our communities.

- Build bylaws that will require all newly constructed homes to produce a minimum of 25 per cent of their power needs.

- Put pressure on our governments to create green infrastructures (i.e. alternative energy stations, less wasteful use of the resources we already tap, greener building codes, ban fish farms that interfere with real fish habitat, etc...)

- Inspire empowerment and get the message out that we all can and must do our part to make this a better community and world.

- Believe in the fact that quality of life (all life) and not the quantity of green in your account is what will realize the sustainability we so need and desire.

Good luck all, I’m sure you’ll be hearing from us in the peanut gallery.

Tom Eberhardt

Sooke