Signing your name never felt better
Petition season has officially started. Petitions for various causes have started to circulate around campus and in various classes, asking people to sign their name in support of stopping a particular genocide, ending hunger, or putting an end to animal cruelty.
Don't get me wrong, all these causes are valid and should be fought for, but we are doing it wrong.
In the few semesters that I have been at Fanshawe, I haven't seen one legitimate petition. From something as nation-wide as the Drop Fees Petition (that is scheduled again for November 5) to something plain and local, like allowing your local grocery shop to sell booze. All these petitions have a good initiative, but they are not going anywhere, because they are not done according to the expected format that is clearly outlined in various official government documentation.
The Government of Canada, specifically, the House of Commons, has a detailed description of how they want the Canadian people to address our concerns. Petitions, being the most popular of them all, have a detailed description of how it has to be worded, what size of paper it needs to be on, and everything required in order for it to even be presented to the House of Commons during routine proceedings.
It isn't rocket science, but it strikes me with complete shock that there are nation-wide agencies out there asking us to complete various petitions, and yet these petitions won't even leave the office of the local riding to which they are presented. It's a shame that there are so many people out there who have already signed a petition or even a few, and yet all they got out of it was the illusion that something was being done about it.
The truth is, you can't rely on petitions, so I hope that before you sign another petition you will look at what I have to show you, and you will make sure you get in touch with the issue that strikes your passion. Together in unity let's bombard the House of Commons with legitimate petitions that they will be forced to read and hopefully accept and pass.
However, I cannot outline these guidelines in the Interrobang since it would take more than a few pages, so I have taken the initiative to present all the valid links online on the SAM website: studentactionmovement.org. Also remember there are people out there that can answer your questions, such as Student Action Movement (our email is on the website) and the lovely people at the Clerk of Petitions in Ottawa. Their phone number is 613-992-9511. Their information is always useful, but depending on who you talk to, you might just be asked to visit the website, the same links I am providing you with on the SAM website.
Good luck my fellow Fanshaweonians!
Editorial opinions or comments expressed in this online edition of Interrobang newspaper reflect the views of the writer and are not those of the Interrobang or the Fanshawe Student Union. The Interrobang is published weekly by the Fanshawe Student Union at 1001 Fanshawe College Blvd., P.O. Box 7005, London, Ontario, N5Y 5R6 and distributed through the Fanshawe College community. Letters to the editor are welcome. All letters are subject to editing and should be emailed. All letters must be accompanied by contact information. Letters can also be submitted online by clicking here.
Don't get me wrong, all these causes are valid and should be fought for, but we are doing it wrong.
In the few semesters that I have been at Fanshawe, I haven't seen one legitimate petition. From something as nation-wide as the Drop Fees Petition (that is scheduled again for November 5) to something plain and local, like allowing your local grocery shop to sell booze. All these petitions have a good initiative, but they are not going anywhere, because they are not done according to the expected format that is clearly outlined in various official government documentation.
The Government of Canada, specifically, the House of Commons, has a detailed description of how they want the Canadian people to address our concerns. Petitions, being the most popular of them all, have a detailed description of how it has to be worded, what size of paper it needs to be on, and everything required in order for it to even be presented to the House of Commons during routine proceedings.
It isn't rocket science, but it strikes me with complete shock that there are nation-wide agencies out there asking us to complete various petitions, and yet these petitions won't even leave the office of the local riding to which they are presented. It's a shame that there are so many people out there who have already signed a petition or even a few, and yet all they got out of it was the illusion that something was being done about it.
The truth is, you can't rely on petitions, so I hope that before you sign another petition you will look at what I have to show you, and you will make sure you get in touch with the issue that strikes your passion. Together in unity let's bombard the House of Commons with legitimate petitions that they will be forced to read and hopefully accept and pass.
However, I cannot outline these guidelines in the Interrobang since it would take more than a few pages, so I have taken the initiative to present all the valid links online on the SAM website: studentactionmovement.org. Also remember there are people out there that can answer your questions, such as Student Action Movement (our email is on the website) and the lovely people at the Clerk of Petitions in Ottawa. Their phone number is 613-992-9511. Their information is always useful, but depending on who you talk to, you might just be asked to visit the website, the same links I am providing you with on the SAM website.
Good luck my fellow Fanshaweonians!
Editorial opinions or comments expressed in this online edition of Interrobang newspaper reflect the views of the writer and are not those of the Interrobang or the Fanshawe Student Union. The Interrobang is published weekly by the Fanshawe Student Union at 1001 Fanshawe College Blvd., P.O. Box 7005, London, Ontario, N5Y 5R6 and distributed through the Fanshawe College community. Letters to the editor are welcome. All letters are subject to editing and should be emailed. All letters must be accompanied by contact information. Letters can also be submitted online by clicking here.
