The Green Party is currently running the “Your Best Green Ad” contest - where everyone is encouraged to create an ad and submit it - perhaps to have it run on national TV during the next election. There are only a few guidelines for the contest and you can submit a video up to September 9th…

For the fun of it (I must have a strange sense of fun huh?) I decided to put in an entry.  In doing so I’ve discovered it is incredibly hard to fit a meaningful message into 30 seconds.  I started by writing down the script and editing for about 15 minutes.  But then, I read it against the clock and barely got through my opening.  What I ended up with is a small shadow of what I really wanted to say.  I hope it is still a clear message.

I should mention I have no interest in winning (my face up close? national television? no thanks).  But I did want to do something that might encourage others to submit their message on why they will vote Green.  Here’s what I would ask you to do:

1. Grab your webcam and create a video reply to my entry.  Youtube has a nice feature that lets you record it “live” - no video editing skills required.
2. Follow the guidelines of the overall contest: 30 seconds, say “Vote Green” at least once, and be positive.

That’s pretty much it.  I am confident that when the next election arrives more Canadians will vote Green than ever before.  If we all share why we’ve made that choice, and will make it again, perhaps we’ll see many more voters join us.

I’m looking forward to a hearing a new voice in Parliament.

Kevin O’Donnell
Green Party volunteer in Ottawa Centre