Jeanette Fitzsimons, co-leader of the Aotearoa New Zealand Green Party and elected member of Parliament spoke at a CCAMU (Community Coalition Against Mining Uranium) fundraiser in Sharbot Lake on Thursday September 27th.

Earlier in the day Jeanette visited the Robertsville blockade site and then in the evening addressed mining issues and the New Zealand experience. She told an audience of 40 people about the 15 year long struggle to make NZ a nuclear free country. She praised the Algonquins for their brave effort and encouraged us all in the knowledge that a uranium mining moratorium could be achieved.

Mixed Member Representaion (MMP)is the electoral system in NZ and Jeanette spoke to all the advantages of that system in levelling the political playing field. She was surprised at the lack of discussion around our upcoming Ontario referendum saying that their experience was one of lively debate and active lobbying.

There were many questions from the audience ranging from the advantages of minority parties in Parliament to the advantages of having gender parity with two Green Party co-leaders to how many sheep there are in NZ.

Ms Fitzsimons is on a week long visit to Ontario to raise the awareness of MMP, she and her husband Harry hope to return for a more lenghty stay and visit all their Green Party friends in the near future.  

(Sheep - 60 million/Humans - 4million)