Radio Interview with Burt Cohen, March 27

I will take part in a one-hour radio interview by Burt Cohen, former New Hampshire State Senator, on his nationally syndicated Portside Program. The interview will focus on the political notion of Atlantica and its relationship to North American bioregionalism. The interview date is March 27, 2008, 1:00 P.M. Atlantic Time. The online live broadcast can be accessed at http://mail.wscafm.org/. The interview will be re-broadcast at 6:00 P.M. Atlantic Time on the Progressive Radio Network and can be accessed at http://www.progressiveradionetwork.com/.

Please take note re any posts or emails sent my way that I'll be out of town on business from March 19 - March 25.

De-brief, March 10 Meeting (email sent to supporters)

Thank you for the interest you have shown in my effort to introduce the dual political notions of peak oil, and the bioregional and political labeling of Atlantica via the medium of my independent’s campaign in Central Nova. The challenge remains to tap unexplored political turf. It is a daunting undertaking.

The poor turn-out at my nomination meeting of March 10 left me not so much disappointed, as it did perplexed. The poor turn-out (result) must be seen within the context of “marketing” initiatives (action) undertaken over several months: reasonably good positioning in the local print media to familiarize my name and the peripherals of my position (most residents of rural Central Nova are not online); both up and running web and blog sites for those who are online; hard copy announcement of the meeting on bulletin boards a week in advance of the meeting; two shotgun email announcements (300 plus) of the meeting sent to the business communities of New Glasgow, Antigonish and Guysborough, with the request to further the announcement to the recipients’ email contact lists.

Standard and very conservative "marketing" numbers should have delivered an attendance of at least 50. This was sadly far from the case. Based on the result relative to the input, I am left pondering the following: the political culture of Central Nova (and other rural ridings in Nova Scotia) is so closed as to not allow for the consideration of political alternatives, let alone the limited adoption of such alternatives; political identification with standard parties is so unquestioningly and parochially accepted and locked in to as to not allow for alternative political interpretations; the pending economic and social “hurt” that will be accompanied by peak oil is the only reasonable and hard motivator that will at least nudge people’s minds to consider political alternatives.

It has been suggested to me that a bearer of bad news cannot expect to get very far politically. Such is the standard and true. From my perspective, however, what is being delivered is not so much bad news, but the option for beginning the political undertaking and creation to counter the bad news. I maintain that this is a noble and positive political undertaking. The challenge becomes somewhat paradoxical, yet do-able.

I welcome your input and thoughts. Thanks for your attention.

(See March 11 coverage by The New Glasgow News, "An Independent Approach")

Press Release, March 6, 2008, Ronin Nomination Meeting Open to Public

The first of several nomination meetings for Central Nova independent candidate, Sebastian Ronin, will be held on March 10, 2008, 7:00 P.M. at Summer Street Industries in New Glasgow. Further nomination meetings are planned for River John, Antigonish, Guysborough and Sheet Harbour.

“The nice thing about being an independent is that all voting age residents of Central Nova make up the riding association, so to speak,” explained Mr. Ronin. “I am not limited by party factions to seek the 100 signatories for the nomination papers. Actually doing grass roots democracy is much more challenging than merely mouthing it.”

Mr. Ronin will outline his platform for the pending federal election at the March 10 meeting and explain what he sees to be the role of an independent candidate in Central Nova. Time allowing, he will also show the DVD documentary “A Crude Awakening” which deals with the issue of peak oil. There will also be a question and answer session.

“The global supply of oil has hit peak,” claims Mr. Ronin. “This will spawn social crises of unforeseen proportions and no one, not from our political leaders to the individual on the street, is acknowledging it nor is prepared for it.”

One of Mr. Ronin’s major planks is the creation of a new regional federal political party recognizing the bioregion of Atlantica to address the social and eco-political shifts that will be brought about by the global depletion of oil.

“This will be a century of hurt and major transformation,” says Mr. Ronin. “It will not be a fatuous prance through a meadow of sunflowers. Peak oil obviously trumps global warming, without detracting from the seriousness of that issue. As for any potential role that I may play in Central Nova politics, that will only be as interesting and productive as the electorate wishes it and allows it to be.”

The NDP is the only official party which has welcomed Mr. Ronin’s entry into the Central Nova democratic process. John Guthro, President of the Pictou Centre NDP, informed Mr. Ronin by email that his candidacy “is an important addition to the race.”

“Although I welcome it, I have to wonder why the NDP would make an overture to an eco-Libertarian independent,” muses Mr. Ronin. “I’m such a small political gnat, yet it would seem to me that some wagons are being circled behind the scenes to deal with possible tactical fall-out. Should the electorate choose to turn me loose, Central Nova could well become the most interesting riding of the election.”


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