Today I joined other members of the War Resister Support Campaign and the Toronto Steelworkers Union for the 2008 Labour Day March. Campaigners handed out hundreds of leaflets about the September 13 event, and we marched to the Ex - the Canadian National Exhibition - in the blazing sun.
I'm told that years ago, people would hang around Parkdale, the Toronto neighbourhood that abuts the Ex, waiting for the Labour Day parade, then slip in to the parade to gain free admission to the fair. To prevent such shocking fraud, parade participants now get a plastic bracelet for admission. But there were plenty of extra bracelets making the rounds with parade watchers. So if you're ever desperate for free admission to the Ex...
Shortly after the parade ended, I took the GO train back to my car. We went to the Ex last year when one of our nieces was visiting, and honestly, that's enough for me. Plus, today is the big military day there. The so-called "air show" that is really a parade of war toys marketed as entertainment. No thanks.
It was fun for me to join a labour parade. I have labour roots, as my father was an organizer, then a representative, of textile workers. My first anti-war activism was through his union. In New York, I was active with the National Writers Union and I miss the UAW membership that brought me. Many Campaigners belong to the Steelworkers, and that union supports the war resisters in many ways.
The leafletting was good; I handed out several hundred myself. One interested woman told me she heard about September 13 from her Greenpeace email list. It's great to see people make connections between these disparate issues. Because what's the occupation of Iraq about, if not precious, dwindling resources? The forces that would destroy Iraq would destroy the planet in their quest to control and profit from the oil. The fewer soldiers who will fight these resource wars - the more people who will say NO to being cannon fodder for their profit - the safer we will all be.
The Greenpeace woman asked a lot of questions about Jeremy and Corey and Robin. She knew about the June 3 motion, and she wanted to know what she can do to help.
Never underestimate the power of word of mouth. Every person you educate is another change in the world. Each one, reach one.
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