Our democracy is the foundation upon which we create a thriving and just society.
 
I don’t often think of our democracy in such terms.  I generally consider that our democratic process is “broken” as I think of the greed, big money and partisanship, and then, feel my disappointment and anger. 
 
For years my primary focus of activism has been the environment and global warming.  My thinking had been that without a nurturing, habitable planet there would be no people and therefore education, gun control, health care, income equality or other issues would not exist. 
 
I understood that a well functioning democratic process was critical for our future, but I did not see an effective means or movement to address this core issue.
 
My thinking is changing as I now see the possibility for change.  There is an enormous movement arising in our country that is coming together to reclaim our democracy.  
 
DEMOCRACY SPRING is demanding that our Congress take immediate action to end the corruption of big money in politics and ensure free & fair elections in which every American has an equal voice.  The goal is to restore our democracy so that all the people are involved in making decisions.

Dear Friends,  When I met Diane this past September at a Joanna Macy workshop I was both impressed with her personal clarity and vision, and also the many intersections of her life and mine -- one of which was our interests in travel and connecting with folks who are vastly different from ourselves.  Read more about how Diane turned her interests into a small and very effective program that connects her community in upstate New York with children on the streets in Kampala.

Retiring in 2002 from being a manager with state government, I knew I wanted to be of service and work internationally in my next phase of life. My lifelong wanderlust had developed into a fascination with other cultures and what made people both similar and unique.  In 2005 I traveled to Iran and Syria with a small citizen diplomacy group.  Our mission was to let government officials and everyday citizens know that—contrary to our government at the time—not all Americans considered them the “axis of evil”.  My eyes became opened to the many ways we can voice our opinion and be heard in places where it matters most.

At the same time, I was studying with environmental activist and Buddhist scholar Joanna Macy.  Through her teachings I learned that activism takes many forms.  Important as “holding actions” are, they are only one approach to being an activist and making change possible.

A few months later I fulfilled my childhood dream of visiting Africa.  Preferring travel with a purpose, I took a photo workshop in Uganda where I documented the lives of street children.  Through that experience I met 20-year-old Ronnie Sseruyange, who had become a street kid at age 6.  For the next ten years he lived with other children on the streets of Kampala, foraging for food during the day and hiding from police at night. 

Today, with the turning of the new year, I was inspired by the words of Agnes Bauerlein, who wrote: 
“I realize that the Earth doesn’t have to be governed by fear and violence.  I simply decided that raising and nurturing 11 children was too much of an investment to leave unguarded.….I decided to take action myself and not let the future of my family be decided by someone else.
 
I want my children to know that questioning authority is right and that acts of conscience should be the norm.”

Agnes became an activist in the 1980's inspired by the Plowshares Movement; though her words continue to have great releavance for all of us who are concerned about the state of our world and the future for all children.

As an elder activist I believe that NOW is our time to stand for what I know to be true.  I have the wisdom acquired through many years of life experience, and the time and resources to do what I was not able to when I was younger.  I understand the importance of speaking truth to power; and, if not now, when will I speak my truth?
 
More importantly, I believe that we all have the inner urging at this time of in our lives to leave a legacy of a just and thriving world for future generations.