Our concerns and some important material

President’s Address - State of the Union (World)

When our website designer, Riaz Virani asked me to submit an introduction to our new website area “Doing our part”, I thought about it for days. I have a lot of thoughts about the world and in fact, I started SameSun Backpacker Lodges 12 years ago in order to try and make the world a better place by leaving a positive impression on young generations from around the globe (corny but true).

When he specifically asked me to submit my “wish for the world”, I was further perplexed. Where would I begin? My first thought was for the world powers to stop salivating at the oil coming out of Sudan long enough to acknowledge, and take action on the sickening genocide that is happening as we speak. Then I started daydreaming on a bigger scale: what if the rich western nations were to stop selling rifles, arms, and landmines to every Tom Dick regime that popped up? That would have to have a positive effect on the populations they are used on. Or how about the animals we are wiping off the planet? Elephants, rhinos, tigers, and maybe the worst environmental atrocity of our generation – slaughtered sharks at the rate of 80 million a year. What if I used my one wish to force people to acknowledge the fact humans don’t have the unilateral right to decide which species are to live and which are to die?!

As my brain continued to smoke, the Sum 41 hit “We’re all to Blame” played on the radio and it became clear to me: we ARE all to blame and my wish for the world is for citizens around the planet to start understanding the association between their actions and what is happening to our planet. The only way real change is going to happen is from a grassroots “groundswell” formed by the people. Businesses operate on quarterly cycles, governments on 3 or 4 year election terms. Planning our future on those two entities alone doing the right thing is woefully unrealistic.

Complaining about CO2 emissions while you drive your Escalade to Whistler for the weekend, or wondering why so many species are disappearing as you slurp your shark fin soup…buying shares in companies you haven’t researched or voting for political parties who have no stand on environmental issues…it’s all the same and we all need to take some responsibility to do the right thing.

Below are organizations I have chosen to support. There are dozens of other organizations that are of similar benefit to our world, it’s just a matter of picking something that is important to you and helping their cause. Remember, if you are looking at this website, the chances are you belong to the 15% of the planet’s population that doesn’t have to wonder where their next meal or cup of water is going to come from…and just a few bucks a month goes a long way. If you can’t afford it until after your backpacker expedition, then sign up after.