Smell those roses before voting

Elections are a time of decision-making; of deciding what is important to each of us.

Many of us, of course, will not decide our vote in any logical way, as one might plan a budget, for example.

Research indicates that it will be more a "felt" thing, an emotional decision, and that will be the result of how well each political party's policies and promises match what is important to us - basically, what we value.

My question in this particular time of people's voting is: "How much value will be placed on all the parts of our world which don't actually have a voice?"

Who will vote for the trees or the bees?

How much value will be placed on the health of our waterways, our oceans, and the creatures which inhabit them?

Who will be thinking of all the species facing extinction because of our activities?

What about the well-being of the whole biosphere on which we are totally dependent?

Will climate change figure at all? How many of us will be listening to the various parties' plans and promises with these questions in our minds?

For many, of course, their own physical and psychological survival will be so pressing that considerations like these won't even be in the picture.

Whichever party appears to be the most reassuring economically will get these people's attention and their vote.

Even those who are not struggling to survive are also quite likely to cast their vote with the party that promises more material wealth and stability.

It isn't surprising, is it, when we believe our personal happiness is linked so powerfully with how much money we have?

There are many aspects of our lives which contribute to our well-being - not just money and the pleasures it brings.

How about seeing the new season's daffodils blooming?

A quiet walk in the bush, or beside the sea with a friend? Perhaps swimming with your children in your favourite stream? Even that first drink of clean water in the morning, or the meal you made last night from produce from your garden?

For millions in the world none of these are possible, their supportive environments having been destroyed by human activity.

It's often not until we are about to lose these things that we realise how much we value them.

But, along with many similar blessings, how many of us will be expressing our valuing of them when we cast our vote? How many of us will be thinking of safeguarding the benefits of them for our children and grandchildren?

It's so hard to do that, of course, when our own needs seem so pressing.

But unless we do broaden our thinking in this way the future of our species and that of many others is likely to be at best precarious or at worst catastrophic.

So our vote on September 20 has a lot more hanging on it than we might normally think.

Can we think beyond our individual material needs and vote for our environment and those we share it with?

How we vote will very clearly demonstrate our values, what we really think is most important.

Philip McConkey has spent his working life as a social worker and counsellor. He is the father of three daughters, grandfather of five and active in the Green Party.