The leap manifesto offers real grounds for real hope. Not the fast-food Hope marketed by cynical politicians, but the real thing, deeply transformative, built by all of us with open eyes, compassion, imagination, and yes, hard work.
Canadian writer and documentary-maker Michael Riordon writes/
directs/produces books and articles, audio, video and film documentaries, plays for radio and stage.
A primary goal of his work is to recover voices and stories of people who have been silenced or marginalized, written out of the official version: First Nations (aboriginal) youth, Mozambican farmers, inmates in Canadian prisons, traditional healers in Fiji, queer folk across Canada, Guatemalan labour activists.
Michael also leads courses, workshops and seminars for community organizations, trade unions, schools, colleges and universities.
I was struck by how quickly the commentators on Power and Politics (sept 15) dismissed this idea as Utopian, pie-in-the-sky, absurd, unrealistic. The response was explosive. The panellists were clearly agitated. Clearly the Leap Manifesto was threatening. Almost obscene. There was rare, unanimous agreement.
And yet…
These people are suppose to be ‘the realists’. Yet, obviously a different reality is emerging based on different assumptions and different values. The Leap Manifesto is a cry to reclaim humanity. Apparently that’s a very dangerous idea.
Michael… Thx. I support Naomi’s manifesto, but the link doesn’t open to any way to ‘sign’, and the site itself ( typed in the old fashioned way) doesn’t offer obvious ‘sign the petition’ option. Will keep looking; must be there someplace……
Peter Blendell RR # 2 Milford On K0K 2P0 613 476 7730
Michael Riordon 
September 16, 2015 at 10:31 pm
I was struck by how quickly the commentators on Power and Politics (sept 15) dismissed this idea as Utopian, pie-in-the-sky, absurd, unrealistic. The response was explosive. The panellists were clearly agitated. Clearly the Leap Manifesto was threatening. Almost obscene. There was rare, unanimous agreement.
And yet…
These people are suppose to be ‘the realists’. Yet, obviously a different reality is emerging based on different assumptions and different values. The Leap Manifesto is a cry to reclaim humanity. Apparently that’s a very dangerous idea.
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September 16, 2015 at 11:06 pm
Thanks for this. It certainly illustrates why we need a good leap away from the status quo!
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September 17, 2015 at 7:46 pm
Michael… Thx. I support Naomi’s manifesto, but the link doesn’t open to any way to ‘sign’, and the site itself ( typed in the old fashioned way) doesn’t offer obvious ‘sign the petition’ option. Will keep looking; must be there someplace……
Peter Blendell RR # 2 Milford On K0K 2P0 613 476 7730
>
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September 17, 2015 at 9:19 pm
Thanks, Peter. I’ve adjusted the links: first one goes to the Leap Manifesto front page, second one to the Sign the Manifesto page.
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