Powershift Conference 2012

PowerShift is a biannual conference offered to a wide range of students from the high school to university level. The conference is both accepting and welcoming to people of all genders, ethnicities, and backgrounds, looking for an optimal level of inclusiveness. Its focus lies within the title, implying that there is a need for a shift in our power system, targeting the population who are essentially the leaders of tomorrow. PowerShift covers a broad array of subjects, extending from environmental issues to human rights and inequalities.

At the conference specifically, there were ample opportunities to gain knowledge on the multiple issues occurring in today’s society. I had the privilege to attend conferences on indigenous rights, the Tar Sands, education and poverty, oppression and racial inequalities, natural disasters and their impacts on communities, and sustainable food and youth involvement. I was particularly fascinated by the commitment and passion the general population of the conference had towards the issues, and moreover, the actions they were both willing to take, and those which have already being initiated. This being said, I was very motivated coming back to Acadia following the conference, with multiple ideas and inspirations to take action and make a difference. 

If you like the sound of the conference and would be interested in attending, stay tuned and check out their website!

http://www.wearepowershift.ca/

Halifax Lung Association: Runway Run

Here at the Acadia Environmental and Sustainability Studies blog, our aim is to keep you updated on anything and everything that our ESST students are involved in!  Keeping in line with that aim, we would like to offer you a little peek into the experiences of ESST students, Emily Kennedy and Mandy Bunten-Walberg, as they participated in the first ever Runway Run to raise funds for the Lung Association of Nova Scotia.  Here's what they have to say about their involvement with such a great event:

Emily Kennedy

On Sunday, October 28th, I had the unique opportunity to realize one of my dreams. As a runner, every race is special, but I've always wanted to participate in a run that took place on a runway. I'm fairly certain this was because I imagined an event of this type as involving the need to dodge in coming and out going planes. And while I quickly learned that this would not be the case, being able to be a part of this event was something I will always remember. I have participated in several races put on by the Lung Association of Nova Scotia, and each one has inspired me. However, this race was different. For one, it was the first time the Halifax Stanfield International Airport's runway had been open to such an event, but also I shaved a significant amount of time off of my previous personal best, while running alongside a previous recipient of a lung transplant provided in part by the funds raised in these LANS initiatives. Running was my first real sense of community and acceptance, and being able to see first hand the difference something as silly as a 5 km race on a runway can make on a person's life was incredible. My fingers are crossed for a second round next year!

Mandy Bunten-Walberg

I couldn't be more proud to have participated in the first ever Runway Run to help raise money for the Nova Scotia Lung Association! When my roommate, and fellow ESST student, Emily Kennedy, approached me about signing up for the 2012 Runway Run, I was eager to help out a good cause while galloping down a runway.  Unfortunately, in all of my eagerness, I had grossly overestimated my level of physical fitness!  My confidence was soon knocked down a peg or two after we tried to go for several practice runs to get in shape before the big day.  When the day of the race arrived, I dragged myself out of bed in the early hours of the morning (and if you know me, and know how much I love to sleep, you would realize that this was probably far more difficult for me than the run itself!).  Emily and I drove to the Halifax Airport, and shortly after we arrived, more and more contestants began to congregate together.  Despite the chilly winds outside, a buzz of excitement seemed to be in the air.  People were genuinely eager and proud to be a part of such a wonderful event in support of such a worthy cause.  Soon it was time to gather at the starting line.  Emily and I started the race together, keeping a consistent pace throughout.  We ran the whole distance together, and I think that we both were very pleased to have not come in last!  Not only was it a personal achievement to have participated in such an event, but it was also a source of collective hope and empowerment among the 327 contestants who ran together.


Check out this awesome video documenting the 2012 Runway Run!  Need a reason to watch this video?  Well, it just so happens that Emily and Mandy make their acting debuts in it...

Are you interested in learning more about the Lung Association of Nova Scotia?  Check out their website here!

Guest Speaker David Boyd

Acadia University students and faculty, as well as Wolfville community members, were extremely lucky to have the opportunity to listen to the guest speaker, David Boyd, as he launched his new book and discussed some of its central ideas at Acadia University in November.  His book, The Right to a Healthy Environment, makes the case that the constitutional recognition of environmental rights and responsibilities would both reflect and reinforce Canadian values.  David Boyd’s book tour across Canada is supported by the David Suzuki Foundation and Ecojustice.  Interested to find out more?  Check out the following video of David Boyd's presentation! 

Sharing Great Food

Check out this awesome initiative created by some of our very own ESST students!

A big thanks goes out to Rachel Eisner and Joe Elliot for making this happen.

Want to find out more about Sharing Great Food?  Check out this link and read an article that was written by ESST student, Mira Dietz Chiasson!

Cider Making!

The ESST family likes to organize events beyond the classroom in order to give everyone in the program a chance to relax, enjoy each other's company, and have fun!!  Cider making was just such an event!


After gathering at Alan Warner's house, all those in attendance got a quick run-down of the steps involved in making home-made apple cider.  Everyone pitched in; whether they were washing the apples, mulching them in a medieval-looking machine, turning a crank to wring out all of the juice, or funneling the final product into containers, everyone got to participate in the process!                                  

Our day at Alan's involved more than just making cider (which turned out to be quite delicious, by the way!).  Many of us took the opportunity to explore Alan's beautiful property, bond with some nearby cows, pet some chickens, and get to know our peers a little bit better!  

My absolute favorite part of the day involved a nature walk.  Armed with a map, 7 of us (and two very happy dogs!) set out on the tree-lined trails near Alan's house.  The sun was shining, the leaves were gently rustling, and a stream gurgled alongside our walking path.  The two dog companions on our expedition kept the walk lively and exciting as they splashed in the water and proudly trotted around with sticks in their mouths!  Finally, we emerged from the wooded area into a peaceful clearing alongside a small lake.  The lake, which normally would have spilled out into a creek, was kept contained by a very large beaver dam.  We all marveled at the engineering of such little creatures!  It looked almost magical how the water remained contained and perpetually suspended from falling.  Sitting quietly in the clearing, and looking on as two tail-wagging dogs dove after sticks in the water was the perfect way to spend a day!

Our day was nearly at an end.  Alan and his wife wrapped up the experience by generously opening their home to us, as we all gathered inside for good food, interesting conversation, and of course.....cider!!!!  

ESST Summer Achievements

So, I'll bet you've been wondering just what our ESST community members were up to in the summer months of 2012...Well, you're about to find out!  ESST students don't reserve their awesome accomplishments just for the academic year; they work hard to inspire others, promote sustainability, and initiate positive change all year round!

We are very proud of Jenna Koury-Hanna, our ESST Society Co-President, for being the recipient of the 2012 Youth Environmental Leadership Award!  This award is one of the Nova Scotia Environmental Network's Eco-Hero Annual Awards, and was given to Jenna in recognition of her enthusiastic environmental leadership in Nova Scotia.  Want to find out more about NSEN's Eco-Hero Annual Awards?  Check out this link:  http://www.nsen.ca/ecohero.php

From left to right: Professor Alan Warner, Jenna Koury-Hanna, Professor John Colton, and Professor Glyn Bissix

   
 
We are also extremely proud of ESST student, Mira Dietz Chiasson, who worked for the New Brunswick Environmental Network (NBEN) over the summer.  This summer job allowed Mira to become involved in some pretty amazing sustainability initiatives.  Read on to find out first-hand, from Mira, what her summer experience at NBEN was like!

Summer Work Experience:

The headquarters of the New Brunswick Environmental Network (NBEN)

by Mira Dietz Chiasson

The New Brunswick Environmental Network (NBEN) is one of the strongest provincial environmental networks in the country.  It operates at a provincial level to bring together all kinds of environmental groups from different backgrounds, to work together on issues of common interest. Serving first and foremost as a communication network, the NBEN and its other provincial equivalents ensure that environmental groups can have a strong, unified voice, and opens the possibility of dialogue between ENGOs, community groups, businesses, industry and government. Caucuses, established around current issues such as shale gas, mining, and crown lands, allow groups to work together on coordinated efforts across the province, and ensures that the members are informed regarding the latest news and campaigns. Collaboratives, such as the Sustainable Education Alliance or the Biodiversity collaborative serve as broader forums including a wide range of stakeholders.

I had the opportunity to work for the NBEN this summer, in the Moncton NB office. NBEN staff work hard to keep up to date on everything that’s happening on the environmental scene in the province, and elsewhere in Canada. This means that oftentimes work is interrupted by something urgent, a message that needs to get out to the members, or something new that has to be dealt with right away. There is rarely an idle moment.

            The other summer student and I were put in charge of things like maintaining the NBEN’s blog, posting about relevant environmental news throughout the summer, as well as writing up and sending out a newsletter to all members on a bi-weekly basis. Adding to the challenge of writing a comprehensive and captivating summary of recent, local environmental news was the fact that everything that gets sent out to the public needs to be sent in both languages. As a result, translating and proofreading texts, e-mails and website posts in French was a big part of my job this summer.

            Working for the NBEN offered tremendous opportunity for improving communication skills and learning to be consistent and concise in writing, as well as in learning to filter out important information. In addition to writing and website work, my to do list was also filled with things such as organizing teleconference calls- much more challenging than you would think because you have to sort out everybody’s schedules and to do that, you have to get a hold of them in the first place. I also conducted a survey of the schools in the province regarding their sustainability practices and environmental programming, which included phoning hundreds of principals to remind them to fill out the survey. Needless to say, my summer was busy.

All in all, this work experience was challenging, demanding a lot of work and time, but it was my most useful summer jobs so far. It was an opportunity for me to use my strengths, test my weaknesses and learn how to improve and work efficiently. Above all, I learnt the importance of following through with things even if sometimes, doing so is difficult.

I’d recommend this summer job to anyone who is ready to take on a challenge, to improve networking skills, to learn about the extensive behind-the-scenes work that happens in the environmental movement, and to work with a great supportive team of devoted co-workers.

Meet Your Year Reps!

MANDY BUNTEN-WALBERG (4th Year Rep)
Hi everyone!  My name is Mandy, and I am thrilled to be the ESST Fourth Year Rep!  Why did I decide to leave my hometown of Morinville, Alberta to major in ESST and become a part of the ESST Society, you might ask?  Well, I suppose it's because I believe in building healthy communities,  fighting for the rights of living creatures, and protecting the earth's interconnected systems on which all beings rely.  But don't be fooled...The environment is not my only interest!  I also love collecting pins and masks, studying philosophy, petting my filthy little dog Cocoa (seriously, I have never met a messier animal!), eating anything that has been deep-fried, and watching old movies.








Rhema Ferguson (3rd Year Rep)
Hey guys! My name is Rhema, and I am your 3rd year Environmental and Sustainability Studies representative. For those that don't know or haven't heard me brag about where I'm from, I hail from the sandy shores of The Bahamas. At this point you're probably wondering why I came all the way up to Canada for school, (trust me I do it sometimes too, especially in the winter) but I'm the type of person that loves having new experiences, meeting new people and and going to new places. I am currently currently majoring in ESST with a minor in Sociology, and I hope to one day become an environmental sociologist or an educator. I also hope to help bridge some of the gaps between our years and build a stronger ESST community. :)

STEPHANIE MCGLASHAN (2nd Year Rep)
Hello fellow ESST'ers, my name is Stephanie McGlashan, and I am currently in my second (technically first) year here at Acadia, majoring in Environment and Sustainability Studies, with a minor in nutrition. I'm from a small town called Wakefield, Quebec, located about 30 minutes north of Ottawa. My passions lie within family, friends, physical activity, food, and the environment. With my time and experience at Acadia I hope to be able to make a difference and improve the quality of life for future generations, while respecting and preserving the environment.

RAYMOND WIESER (1st Year Rep)
Hey fellow ESST Students! My name is Raymond Wieser, and I am a first year Environmental and Sustainability Studies student, as well as being the First Year ESST representative! I grew up in a small town called Whichurch-Stouffville just north of Toronto, but for the last few years I have been living in Markham. My whole family is vegetarian, and cares deeply about the environment, so that's probably where my interest in this field started! My other passions include photography, geography, mapping, hiking, camping, cross-country skiing, traveling and meteorology. Being in this field of study, I really hope I can make a difference in the world, or at least in my community, educating people on the environmental issues that affect us all!

Meet Your ESST Exec!

JENNA KHOURY-HANNA (Co-President)
Hi! My name is Jenna Khoury-Hanna and I am one of your co-presidents for this year. I am in my third year of Environmental and Sustainability Studies and Political Science. I am from Eastern Passage, a small community outside of Dartmouth here in Nova Scotia. I am really interested in sustainable food and environmental policy and hope to become an environmental lawyer someday. I am also a board member for the Nova Scotia Environmental Network and a representative for Bullfrog Power, a green energy company.

COLIN McGuire (Co-President)
Hi everyone! My name is Colin McGuire and I hail from Fall River, Nova Scotia. I am a second year ESST and Recreation Management student, and one of the co-presidents of your ESST Student Society! I enjoy playing sports (hockey, baseball and rugby mainly), doing improvised theatre and playing the trumpet. I would like to one day become a hip-hop artist, however I need to work on my "flow" first. My favourite animal is the lion, and I know that if we work together, we can make this world a better place!

ERIN ANDERSON (VP Communications)
Hey ESST! My name is Erin Anderson and I'm VP Communications for the 2012-2013 year! I'm in my second year in ESST with a minor in sociology. I'm from a small town near Burlington, Vermont. I love snowboarding at my local mountain, Smugglers' Notch, and I love teaching snowboarding to kids there. I'm looking forward to continuing to create a great community within the program as the year continues and the program grows!

EMILY KENNEDY: (VP Finance)
Howdy! My name is Emily Kennedy and I'm the VP Finance. I hail from the tropical paradise of Porters Lake, NS, and am currently in my 3rd year. I enjoy running, unofficial National Holidays and '90s cartoon theme songs. A little fun fact about me is that I am allergic to cows, soy, almonds, and well, anything that tastes good. My goals for after graduation are to see every country in Africa and to nurture my passion to really make a difference in the world through laughter and understanding.

RACHEL MORRISON (Co-Events Coordinator)
After working in animation for 12 years, I've decided to switch to something more meaningful and helpful. I'm in my second year of Recreation Management and Environmental Sustainability Studies, and LOVE Acadia! My primary focus is currently on permaculture and sustainable energies, with the hope of learning forest gardening and helping to revolutionize how we grow food. I hope to get to know more of the wonderful people in the ESST program and that this year continues to be a great one!

TARYN CLUNAS (Co-Events Coordinator)
Hey! I am a 3'rd year ESST student focusing in Community Development.  I am from the Toronto Area and am loving my time at Acadia!  I came to Acadia because of the small classes and the small size over the huge schools closer to home.  Over the summers I enjoy getting outside, and love to go canoeing, either for a day or for a month.  I also enjoy spending time curled up with a cup of coffee and a good book.