We really enjoyed this letter sent to Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Environment Minister Jim Prentice by Make Poverty History supporter Larry Lalonde from Grimsby, Ont. With permission, we've reproduced it in full.

Gentlemen,

How's Copenhagen? Treating you right? Must be a bummer hoping you could give climate change a pass but then Barack makes it a big deal. I sympathize. The Boss (not Springsteen) might be of a mind to blow your Tar-Sands-is-the-new-Saudi Arabia thing out of the water. Drag.

Then there's that dream we all share of an ice-free North West Passage. Well, Franklin dreamt of it, and look what happened to him.

I suppose Jim is sweating a bit. Not as much as Baird did, of course, that's just not possible. I miss Baird in the Environment portfolio. He was such a wobbly, deer-in-the-headlights fellow. Not as wobbly as Allison, mind you. I saw Deano at a church function in Beamsville recently. Two things Dean: 1) You're doing a fair job, and 2)... God won't save us from ourselves or our cheeseburgers so get over it.

Listen folks, with Stephen and Jim in Copenhagen, can we try to at least make it look like we give a shit about climate change? You are going to Copenhagen, aren't you, Jim? Actually I don't think that matters. No one will know who you are, anyway. But while I'm paying for your hotel room and air fare (you, too, PM), why don't you make an effort to act like human beings? You know, human beings who are willing to take a stand for all of us instead of blaming your uselessness on China? Just a thought.

One more thing. What's this I hear about you all withdrawing 7 million in funding from KAIROS? Don't give me those blank stares. You know what KAIROS is. Deano? Do you agree with this cut to a major faith-based development and human rights organization which CIDA has funded for the past 35 years? It's critical to poverty reduction and the advancement of human rights around the world. ...Doesn't ring a bell? ...Could it be that's because KAIROS has some things to say about those damn indians and Tar Sands development? Say it ain't so, Dean.

In closing... Mr. Harper (and I understand that this may challenge your anger management issues), get off your ass. The Canadian economy will be just fine. Accept that we need to make serious changes to protect the planet. Be the guy who made the tough choices. You have a historic shot at being lionized by future generations (and perhaps a surprising shot at a majority). Do it. And let the cards fall where they may.

Oh, and restore the KAIROS funding. ...We'll be watching.

All best,

Larry Lalonde
Grimsby

You, too, can write Stephen Harper on Copenhagen.

You can also ask Stephen Harper to restore KAIROS funding.