Vandana Shiva

Vancouver, Day 14

Yet another action packed day... Virginia took us over the Lion's Gate Bridge to see some of the sights on the North Shore.

First we went up Cypress Mountain which afforded spectacular views across to the city of Vancouver, surrounding areas and across to Vancouver Island.

Then we visited the Cleveland Dam in the Capilano River Regional Park.

Finally we went to Lynn Canyon where we held our nerve and walked across the suspension bridge - and back again!

This evening, the 3 of us went to hear an inspirational talk by one of the world's great thinkers, writers and orators, Vandana Shiva. She's an environmentalist, ecologist, anti-globalisation campaigner and feminist who's been called 'The Gandhi of Grain' and her talk focused on the inter-relationship between war, climate change, agribusiness, population displacement and migration in a very easy to understand and sometimes humorous way.

Before proceedings began we all received a traditional First Nations welcome. Afterwards, Dr Shiva was joined in conversation by Elizabeth May MP, Leader of the Green Party of Canada - which made for a very interesting conclusion to the evening!


I'm writing this at about midnight on 14th July here in Canada (in the Pacific Time Zone) but I'm hoping that Goatee will read it over breakfast on 15th July back in the UK. If so, I just want to say "Happy Birthday, bro. This one's for you... www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Tq-UsaRchI "