Kai Axel Jansson, OP Contributor it the end of July, on the eve of my 32nd birthday, I set out from my home at the foot of naby Mountain for Grandview Park on Commercial Drive in Vancouver, riding my moun- bike through the dark, to partake in my first Midnight Mass. Midnight Mass, despite the Catholic connotation it brings to mind, has nothing to do with ligion. Essentially it has splintered from the better-known Critical Mass, the monthly gather- g of bicyclists in major cities across North America that frustrates commuters on their way meetings or sojourning home from work. The difference is that the riders in Midnight ass—held on every second Thursday since late 2005—are decidedly of the insomniac type. I’ve long partaken in the joy that is night riding, but this event was the first time I would de with others. I quickly noticed that many of the Midnight Massers were of college and uni- prsity student age, although there were a few older ones in the crowd. My youthful looks elped motivate me, not only to keep up with the rest of them, but to lead the group. On the e of my birthday I had to prove, if only to myself, that I could go the distance. When I arrived, the group was antsy and there was some debate about where to go. Finally was decided—through the time-honoured and democratic process of screaming, shouting, d clapping—we would head for Spanish Banks. Somehow, I knew it would be a long night. In a burst of excitement the group hurried loudly down 1st Avenue toward Science World. those of us who got there first had to wait for the rest of the group to catch up. The organiz- of Midnight Mass were definitely prepared, as there was always one person with a walkie- Science Matters David Suzuki, David Suzuki Foundation ecently, news blogs and newspapers reported that some politicians had cribbed research con- cted by my foundation and used the information to build their own environmental agendas. his news sent many a blogger all atwitter. While some of them focused on whether or not e information had been adequately referenced, others decried this action on, the part of the pliticians as proving that they had no ideas of their own, so they had to steal them from oth- S. Allow me to clear something up right now. To all politicians looking for ways to reduce our botprint on nature — or, to use politician-speak, create an “environmental platform”: Knock ourselves out. Feel free to steal, pilfer, borrow, rent, filch or otherwise take any research my bundation does and put it to good use. This may seem obvious to some, but the whole point of conducting and publishing this psearch is to get people to actually use it. As public education, it helps raise awareness of envi- bnmental problems. But more important, it provides solutions to those problems. And most f those solutions are best implemented by our political and business leaders, rather than by hdividuals. So if you ask me if it bothers me that politicians are stealing the solutions brought forward my foundation, the answer is no. To use a computer term, we consider this information open source”. It’s a free buffet; please take all you like. The whole reason why we do the psearch is to effect change. If those who have the power to make those solutions happen tually use that information, so much the better. This is how change happens. As for the complaint that using my foundation’s ideas shows that politicians have none of eit own — nonsense. Since when do great leaders come up with all their ideas on their own? pinionsubmit@hotmail.com onfessions of a Midnight Cyclist talkie in each cluster of cyclists, so that coordination was never a problem. After a lengthy pause, we left for Granville Island, where we waited even longer for the pack to reorganize. became obvious that a large percentage of the Massers wouldn’t make it all the way to Span Banks. As I learned later, many did turn back and head for home at various points during tl trip, although most made it more than halfway to our destination. The night was not simply about reaching a place—it was about having fun. This fact wa proven by our antics at Granville Island, where as a group we rode maniacally around and through the parking lots, culminating in one particularly exhilarating ride up and down a tht story patking garage. There’s something of a forbidden thrill in riding a bicycle at night, esy cially through dark streets in the city. The possibility of danger is reason enough to go ridin night, or to avoid doing the same. The element of danger is only lessened, not eliminated, when several other bicyclists ride alongside you. At one point, much later during the night, word came via walkie-talkie that one bicyclist had been struck by a car on West 4th. Fortunately there were no serious injuries, and the cyclist in question joined us during the fi leg of the trip after exchanging information with the driver. By the time we reached Spanish Banks there were only a hardy few of the original grou left. As far as I was concerned, I had accomplished my goal for the night, and I relaxed witl everyone else. Until then I had acted as an observer and marginal participant in the group, t I decided it was now time to introduce myself. I chatted with a few people while on the bea including the main organizer, Simon. While we were talking amongst ourselves, a young woman may or may not have shed he clothes right before me and may or may not have gone skinny-dipping with a couple of guy the water. (I may or may not have done likewise myself.) It was well past three a.m. by the time I decided to make the long trek back home to Burnaby, and I finally got home at four. The ride back was much spookier than the ride in, my muscles simply couldn’t get me up the hills, as I had been torn apart earlier in the evenit It was.an invigorating way to spend a birthday. Midnight Mass continues to meet every second Thursday at 11:45 p.m. in Grandview Pa on Commericial Drive. Due to work priorities, ’ve been unable to attend any further Midni Masses (including the infamous Midnight Undie ride in August). I will soon join up on anot If you're interested in participating, you can find more information and pictures at www.midnight-mass.blogspot.com. Maybe [’ll see you there. y Rbsaaich, Pees . Societies built around the narrow viewpoints of one person are called dictatorships and ten to be decidedly backward and not terribly pleasant. And if the notion is that ideas should o be coming from within a particular party — again, nonsense. This kind of partisan mentality a form of xenophobia and it kills new ideas. Then again, perhaps that explains the state of Canadian politics. I’ve also been asked if I worry that if one political party “steals” our ideas and runs w. them, it might be off-putting to the other parties. That is a concern. But we can’t control w uses our reseatch and nor do we want to. The David Suzuki Foundation is non-partisan. W share our research with all political parties and encourage them all to adopt the solutions w bring forward. Frankly, it’s a tough slog all around. We can have a great idea and support from the vast majority of the public, but political leaders can turn it down flat because it might cost vote: an important constituency or because of political lobbying from an industry group. Someti: there doesn’t appear to be any reason why an idea is rejected other than fear of change. Th can be disheartening, but at least if the information is out there, the public can use it to mz changes in their own lives or to ask our leaders to take action. My foundation is just one of dozens of organizations across Canada offering solutions the country’s environmental and social problems. Rather than ignoring these solutions beca they don’t come from within a particular party, it is my hope that our political leaders open their eyes, embrace change, and start taking advantage of all this free advice. That isn’t stea it’s just good leadership.