Portraits of Courage — Alison's Story of Resistance

"We Feel We Must Keep the Issue in Front of People"

We are in a time when defending democracy, decency, and protecting our planet has fallen to ordinary people willing to step up. That’s the whole point of our resistance work: to build the grassroots resilience of those who will stand up for what is right.

We love receiving your stories about what you're doing at the local level. These small, steady actions are so vital — they draw out people who may have never been involved before. This is how we invite others into a growing web of resistance.

We will rebuild our democracy by reaching out to strangers and turning them into friends and allies. From there, we begin to build democratic communities.

Here is Alison's story; we hope that you will share yours.

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"We Feel We Must Keep the Issue in Front of People" — Alison’s Story of Resistance

I am a Canadian citizen living in Nova Scotia.

Thank you for what you are doing to encourage people of the value of standing up for the truth, and for helping us realize that we are not alone.

I come to action because of my love and concern for the earth and all life.

Since October 2021, when COP 26 was happening, my family and a small group of people meet every Friday outside the town hall in Antigonish Nova Scotia, where we live. We hold signs, promoting a green economy and calling attention to the terrible dangers of global warming.

Most of us are seniors, but not all; and we are all members of groups concerned with other injustices. We stand for an hour, from 12 noon to 1:00 pm., in all weathers.

Others sometimes join us and many cars honk in support. When we first started doing this some people were critical and angry, but now many people wave and honk.

We feel that we must keep the issue in front of people and offer a way of doing something to help bring about change.

In October, we shall have been protesting for four years, and I hope our effort will be part of the growing power of public opinion that will push government, both provincial and federal, to put people before profit.

I think all people need to realize that bleeding the earth of resources leads to a dead end and makes no economic sense. Many of our problems will be resolved if we insist that the health of our planet comes first.

When I think how quickly, at the start of WW2, the economy was changed from a peace time to a war time economy, I know we can make this change in time, if we push for it.

I would like to add that I'm hugely impressed with the bravery of the millions of Americans who are standing up for the kind of democratic government and society they believe in and know is right.

Their courage is inspiring.

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Portraits of Courage is an ongoing series highlighting everyday people who are standing up to fascism, tyranny, disinformation and fear. If you or someone you know is resisting in your community, we want to hear from you.

These stories matter. They remind us that we are not alone and that the smallest spark of resistance can ignite real change. Email your story to info@charlieangus.ca

Keep kicking at the darkness.

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