We are all familiar with the 4 R’s of green thinking: reduce, reuse, recycle, and repurpose. Recently, I have been introduced to a 5th R . . . Revitalize.

A man by the name of Rich Roll has truly embraced this concept of revitalization and the effect it has on your life. At one time in his life Rich was a lawyer, smoking a pack of cigarettes a day, 50 pounds overweight, and admittedly at his lowest point with satisfaction of his life. One day while climbing the stairs at his home, he stopped to catch his breath … and it was there he had enough.

“MAYBE STOP TRYING SO HARD TO FIND SHORTCUTS TO “HACK” YOUR LIFE. THE BEST THINGS ARE HARD. INVEST IN THE JOURNEY. JUST SAYIN’!” ~RICH ROLL

So what did Rich do? Exactly that! He began a new journey, didn’t look for the easy way out. Rich is now a Ultraman Champion (10km open ocean swim, 421km bike, 84km run = 8 gruelling hours for the top competitors). Oh? Did I mention he did this all while being committed to a plant based diet? Yeah! NUTS! Literally, leaves and nuts!

But there is more to the story. While Rich stopped being a lawyer, his family was barely able to make ends meet. One summer evening while attempting to make house payments, CNN contacted Rich asking for an interview. When planning on what to serve Sanjay Gupta from CNN, the biggest concern was not what to eat, but whether or not the stove top would turn on. Needless to say, the natural gas was still on and Rich became quite the famous story.

Why is this important? Because we as sustainability ambassadors have a greater responsibility than just talking about sustainability, we have to be the advocates, the voice, the beacons of change. There is no hack to being a sustainable consumer. Our purchasing behaviour has to be more dependant on our research, our challenges, our communication.

Needless to say, after much research, deliberation and understanding the path and successes of Rich Roll, I have committed to changing my eating habits and beginning the steady switch from a red meat based diet to 6-day vegetarian, with the end goal of being a fully committed vegan. Not only for the healthy benefits, but as well as the sustainable benefits from a plant based diet.

Thank You Dharini. Thank You Tess. Thank You Classmates.

#TOKYO2020 

This July, Canada is turning 150 years old! What a history we as Canadians have had. Our quilt of multicultural heritage and diversified Canadian Identity has truly blossomed. 150 years later, our rich origins with the Aboriginal People of Canada are finally receiving the necessary spotlight.

The Confederation Centre of Canada has invested $1.5 million in the Dream Catcher Project, which is touring from the Pacific to the Atlanta, to unite and educate Canadian youth about the environment, inclusion and reconciliation.
The program is focused on the youth of Canada so that they may have a better grasp and understanding of what the future of Canada can entail – to be a successful and prosperous nation in the wealth of people and culture. The Confederation Centre is asking for young Canadians to create videos, artwork and written words that describe their vision of Canada past, Canada present and Canada future.

“THE YOUTH OF OUR COUNTRY HAVE SUCH INCREDIBLE IDEAS FOR THEIR FUTURES, FOR THE FUTURE OF THE COUNTRY!” ~Stephanie Ripley, The Dream Catchers

Stephanie Ripley is the project’s associate producer helping coordinate the journey across Canada. Educating the twenty youth in each province about the environment, inclusion and reconciliation. Each youthful Canadian has the opportunity to create their very own unique dreamcatcher with the guidance of Indigenous Artist, Nick Ward. Each of the individual dream catchers will be combined to create a six metre high dreamcatcher to become a central feature at the Confederation Centre this summer during the Canada150 festivities.

This has more to do about sustainability than upon first glance. Economically, there is direct investment in Canadian Culture, ensuring the stimulation of ideas and educating the youth is important subject matter. Environmentally, the youth and media followers are being engaged and educated about the importance and uniqueness of the Canadian environmental and geographic beauties that are in need of preservation. Socially, with such a rich and diversified multiculturalism aspects throughout the existence of Canada, its is extremely important to involve individuals who are becoming the future influencers throughout the next 150 years in Canada, and the world.

Finally, there is becoming a greater appreciation for understanding and reconciling the mistakes throughout the 150 years with Canadians and the Aboriginal Peoples. Luckily as UBC Students, we have this amazing opportunity to witness it first hand with the new Reconciliation Totem Pole and Dialogue Centre.

So go on, ask the questions and understand the past!