Pubdate: Sat, 13 Jan 2007 Source: Standard, The (St. Catharines, CN ON) Copyright: 2007 The Standard Contact: http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/676 Author: Monique Beech Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization) GREEN LEADER WANTS TO CLEAN UP 'MESS' FOR NEXT GENERATION Laura Secord Secondary School student Katie Shaughnessy sounds like a political commentator when reviewing federal Green Party leader Elizabeth May's performance Friday. Shaughnessy, 17, says May was straightforward and upfront while addressing students at the school Friday morning. "She doesn't sound like a politician," Shaughnessy said. But that won't be enough to parlay the Greens into power, said Shaughnessy, a self-declared politics junkie. The Liberal and Conservative parties are too entrenched, she said. Recent polls show the Greens are gaining support in Canada. The party shot up to 11 per cent support in December, from five per cent in June. "It's wonderful," May told The Standard before her speech at the school, one of several stops in St. Catharines Friday. "For me, anyway." Polls also show Canadians now rank the environment as the No. 1 issue facing the nation - trumping matters such as health care and Afghanistan. It's an issue that's top of mind for Grade 12 student Livia Nassius, 17. With climate change and pollution, Nassius worries there won't be a world left for her by the time she's 32. "I don't want to bring children into this world," Nassius said. May told students she wants to repair some of the damage humans have caused the world, for her daughter's sake. "My daughter is in Grade 10," May, 52, said in her unscripted speech. "I would do anything to ensure that the mess that my generation made of the world is cleaned up before she's my age. Preferably, before she hits university." May said she realizes that's not realistic and hopes at least for a shift in a way people think - using more energy-efficient lightbulbs and refrigerators and urging large companies to make eco-friendly products. The students sat politely while May talked about the Greens' policies on social justice, seniors' poverty and the complexities of climate change. One question brought the crowd to rousing cheers. "If your party won, would you legalize marijuana?" shouted out one student. "A lot of people confuse the Green party for the marijuana party," May said. "... But truth is, it is our policy. Yes, we would." That's only because "keeping something criminalized creates criminality," May quickly added as she pointed out the harmful health effects of inhaling the drug. One student couldn't figure out why May came to the school. "I didn't know what she was talking about," Grade 9 student Jeremy Mullen, 14, said after May's speech. "I don't care about all that environment stuff." - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin