Recently I listened to an environmental podcast featuring an interview with Dr. Howard Frumkin, a world‑renowned scientist. He is an epidemiologist, a specialist in environmental and occupational medicine, and a professor at the University of Washington. He directed the CDC’s National Center for Environmental Health and is co‑author of Planetary Health: Protecting Nature to Protect...
We pay more, think less, and live on auto-play. Convenience has become a way of life. From pre-cut vegetables to next-day delivery, society is creating a culture that prioritizes instant gratification and convenience over long-term sustainability. While our convenient lifestyle offers us ease, it’s also created a disposable culture. Convenience damages the environment with products...
Our kitchen is full of microplastics that we eat, breathe and drink every day. They are in our vegetables, meat and tap water. Here’s the Problem It is estimated that we ingest about five grams of microplastics per week, roughly equivalent to the mass of a credit card. We are becoming plastic people. Exposure to chemicals...
In a world grappling with climate crises, economic instability and growing social unrest, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by problems that seem distant and beyond our control. When I find myself in this mindset, I shift focus: I reflect on what I can influence, I connect with loved ones, show gratitude, and support for my...
Plastic Free July is an annual campaign encouraging people to cut down on single-use plastics throughout the month of July. Since 2011, people have taken the challenge to go plastic free in July by choosing to refuse the single-use plastics we use daily. The initiative has grown into a global movement, engaging over 100 million...
You may have heard of the new movement “Buy Nothing”, with people ditching shopping for anything but the necessities of life. Whether for financial reasons or simply to feel better, the net effect is positive for the environment. Society’s consumption patterns have been steadily increasing, with our demand on nature now exceeding Earth’s capacity to...
In a recent article in the Globe and Mail, James Chappel, Associate Professor of History at Duke University, offered an intriguing perspective on two significant realities of our time: an aging population and a warming planet. While seemingly distinct, these phenomena intersect in ways that present both challenges and opportunities for progress. Global warming is...
Our New Year’s resolutions pledge a fresh start. Narrative Research shows that while 46% of Canadians made resolutions in 2023, statistically, most resolutions fail over the year. Since our health and the health of the planet are inextricably linked, it is time to resolve to live more sustainably instead. But what does this mean? By...
Every year, I cringe when the Christmas decorations show up in the stores the day after Thanksgiving. The Christmas shopping season, or at least the planning of it, is upon us. Christmas can be extravagant and expensive. And let’s face it – a lot of gifts are unnecessary. A celebration that is supposed to be...
The urgency of today’s global challenges, highlighted by frequent extreme weather events and the inequality faced by low-income and developing populations, signals a pressing need for change. The warning sounded by environmentalist David Suzuki resonates deeply. We have prioritized economic gains at the expense of our environment, blindly pursing endless growth on a finite planet....
