This rally and public hearing are important events that will have a huge impact on the direction this issue will take. We need everyone who cares about Food to stand up for Compassion Farm and all the residents on Vancouver Island who are selling food from gardens in residential zoned areas against their current municpal bylaws. All accross our island and Canada our elected public servants (politians) must take action and change the bylaws to include food production as a viable home based business in residential areas.
In Lantzville, there is concern that the current Council is not taking this issue seriously by focusing on T.U.P.'s. and defeating Rod Negreave's motion to begin gathering infromation about changing the bylaws. If the bylaws will be changed then the T.U.P issue is irrelevant. There is no need to rewrite two bylaws when one of the bylaws will override the other. Just skip the middle step and save a whole lot of time and effort!
In light of the disaster in Japan it would be insane for our island not to begin preparations for natural disaster. We live on a similar faultline as Japan, the last big quake was in the late 1700's and these quakes happen every 500 years or so - do the math - we are due for an earthquake. The question is not if but when...
With this in mind it would make sense that land like Compassion Farm and all other local sources of food be protected and regulated, where as, Compassion Farm could feed many people in the event of a disaster. When grocery shelves are empty - we will look to our local farmers for help. Let's give them all the tools they need, today, to get their gardens producing an abundance of local Food!
Bring warm clothes, all your friends and ideas for chants. Plus if you have time - make a sign. Here are some suggestions:
~ Elected Public Servants = law writers, People = law makers
~ Food Not Lawns
~ Follow Victoria
~ Democracy - for the people, by the people
~ No T.U.P's - New Bylaws Now
~ Food is Our Future