Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Civilization, Civility and Civil Disobedience
Civilization, Civility and Civil Disobedience
By Ian Lowden, M.Sc., B.A.
ian.lowden@shaw.ca
Now that the rains have cooled off the need for bulk water, we have an opportunity to behave responsibly, and as a community, try and find solutions to the water problem because it will be back next year and will be increasingly important as our population rises. Water management and harvesting procedures have the potential to become more divisive than a dozen Weldwood’s. If we want to avoid ill feelings and come to an acceptable long-term solution then we should recognize the need for courteous and civil discourse.
The root word civis comes to us from Latin. Originally it meant citizen and or/ pertaining to do with citizens or the state, it also caries the definition of polite and courteous. Civil has come to be equated with the concept of ‘responsible freedom’. In our civilization we have many civil rights, of which we are usually aware; we also have many civic duties of which we tend not to be as aware of.
Dan Foley has a right to test a law, which he believes to be unfair to him through the act of civil disobedience. He is free to do so as long as his protest is peaceful and mindful of the rights of others. He must also be willing to take the consequences of his action.
Jeremy Baker also has civil rights, which allow him to form an association to oppose the actions of Mr. Foley. He also has the responsibility to oppose Mr. Foley in a civil and responsible manner.
The Island Trust not only has the right but the duty to make by-laws aimed at protection of our environment and the regulating the use of our resources. It has the duty to make sure their solutions are as fair and equitable as possible.
Those who purchase ‘bulk water’ have the right to do so, but they also have the duty to ensure that the water (like any other goods) is obtained legally and is not depriving their neighbours of water. Those who buy water from island dealers can argue that they are no different from well owners be cause both are using the community ‘cistern’ usually referred to as the aquifer. As groundwater is replenished largely from rain that falls on public land they can argue that well owners are really just using a different method of extracting from the community ‘cistern’.
The people and media who wish to take sides in this issue have the right to do so, as long as they behave civilly and keep in mind that other people have rights as well. Those of us who believe in the concept of objective and balanced reporting have the right to our delusions.
The people who believe that Mr Foley’s actions are causing their wells to dry up also have rights, including the right to seek remedies in our legal system. They are free to sue for damages and they are free to pursue some sort of injunction or cease and desist order. They have the duty to prove their claims and they have the duty to make sure their claims are not frivolous.
Eventually the water problem will affect everyone on the island either in the short or long term. As the population increases so will the demand. Wells that used to be adequate are beginning to dry up. Contrary to some opinion, our water comes from the rainfall we receive each year. There are people on the island who are convinced that our water comes from either the ‘big island’ or the ‘mainland’ and travels far below the ocean to some how bubble up here. This idea is somewhat suspect because water does not tend to run uphill, not even on Gabriola.
As the problem is a community problem, and a very important one, a case could be made for bringing the issue to referendum. Whether we can count on the majority to vote in a way that is fair to everyone depends largely on whether the community can discuss, argue and educate in a civil and courteous manner.
Given that the water supply is finite while the demand is not, we need to come to a solution that is both long term and fair to all. We cannot do that if we allow anger and divisiveness to rule our decision-making. Effective problem solving depends on dispassionate reasoning and access to all the information available. If we want a reasoned and fair solution then we need to have courteous and civil discussion and argument.
We need to keep in mind that community problems need community solutions. We also need to be aware that without courtesy community can no more exist than civilization without civility.
By Ian Lowden, M.Sc., B.A.
ian.lowden@shaw.ca
Now that the rains have cooled off the need for bulk water, we have an opportunity to behave responsibly, and as a community, try and find solutions to the water problem because it will be back next year and will be increasingly important as our population rises. Water management and harvesting procedures have the potential to become more divisive than a dozen Weldwood’s. If we want to avoid ill feelings and come to an acceptable long-term solution then we should recognize the need for courteous and civil discourse.
The root word civis comes to us from Latin. Originally it meant citizen and or/ pertaining to do with citizens or the state, it also caries the definition of polite and courteous. Civil has come to be equated with the concept of ‘responsible freedom’. In our civilization we have many civil rights, of which we are usually aware; we also have many civic duties of which we tend not to be as aware of.
Dan Foley has a right to test a law, which he believes to be unfair to him through the act of civil disobedience. He is free to do so as long as his protest is peaceful and mindful of the rights of others. He must also be willing to take the consequences of his action.
Jeremy Baker also has civil rights, which allow him to form an association to oppose the actions of Mr. Foley. He also has the responsibility to oppose Mr. Foley in a civil and responsible manner.
The Island Trust not only has the right but the duty to make by-laws aimed at protection of our environment and the regulating the use of our resources. It has the duty to make sure their solutions are as fair and equitable as possible.
Those who purchase ‘bulk water’ have the right to do so, but they also have the duty to ensure that the water (like any other goods) is obtained legally and is not depriving their neighbours of water. Those who buy water from island dealers can argue that they are no different from well owners be cause both are using the community ‘cistern’ usually referred to as the aquifer. As groundwater is replenished largely from rain that falls on public land they can argue that well owners are really just using a different method of extracting from the community ‘cistern’.
The people and media who wish to take sides in this issue have the right to do so, as long as they behave civilly and keep in mind that other people have rights as well. Those of us who believe in the concept of objective and balanced reporting have the right to our delusions.
The people who believe that Mr Foley’s actions are causing their wells to dry up also have rights, including the right to seek remedies in our legal system. They are free to sue for damages and they are free to pursue some sort of injunction or cease and desist order. They have the duty to prove their claims and they have the duty to make sure their claims are not frivolous.
Eventually the water problem will affect everyone on the island either in the short or long term. As the population increases so will the demand. Wells that used to be adequate are beginning to dry up. Contrary to some opinion, our water comes from the rainfall we receive each year. There are people on the island who are convinced that our water comes from either the ‘big island’ or the ‘mainland’ and travels far below the ocean to some how bubble up here. This idea is somewhat suspect because water does not tend to run uphill, not even on Gabriola.
As the problem is a community problem, and a very important one, a case could be made for bringing the issue to referendum. Whether we can count on the majority to vote in a way that is fair to everyone depends largely on whether the community can discuss, argue and educate in a civil and courteous manner.
Given that the water supply is finite while the demand is not, we need to come to a solution that is both long term and fair to all. We cannot do that if we allow anger and divisiveness to rule our decision-making. Effective problem solving depends on dispassionate reasoning and access to all the information available. If we want a reasoned and fair solution then we need to have courteous and civil discussion and argument.
We need to keep in mind that community problems need community solutions. We also need to be aware that without courtesy community can no more exist than civilization without civility.
