#UnleashValues

We discussed the issue of decline in biodiversity and extinctions due to human interventions such as greenhouse gas emissions, dams and pipelines that disrupt natural ecosystems. Some of this biodiversity we have disrupted, such as the existence of the Woolly Mammoth, were actually beneficial toward

Despite it being an essential component of our survival, water is a resource that is taken for granted in developed countries. In most other countries, it becomes an exceedingly valuable resource given its scarcity and use in basically everything. Thus, I believe that everyone should have access to

Firstly, I want to acknowledge the necessity for human to consume resources in order to survive and certain unavoidable externalities this can create for our planet. In this dynamic society, there's no doubt that the launch of improved products enhances the quality of life and it's understandable th

Like water, food is an important resource for maintaining the world's population. In the modern day, many farms that provide us with food separate crops and livestock, and are divided into distinct monocultures. Although the aforementioned system see high crop yields, it runs counter to natural ecos

We are slowly generating a social trend to become "environmental heroes" by choosing organic food and going vegan. This practice is helpful to a certain degree, however, we shouldn't establish that as THE ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTION since this mindset could create more opportunities for large-scale unsus

Vision: I envision a future in which famers grow crops with minimal pesticide application and in polycultures as opposed to monocultures. This will reduce the rate at which pests evolve resistance to pesticides, thus minimizing crop damage. Values: Ecological decisions need to be made by viewing th

#Talk4Change For this conversation, I was accompanied by one of my close friends and a fellow enthusiast for shopping. The topics we discussed were diverse, ranging from the significant impact of COVID-19 on online shopping and content platforms to the ongoing challenges with online return meth

I envision a world where large corporations are transparent about how their products are made, where the materials are coming from and how it impacts the environment. This open channel of communication between society and business would drive businesses to create thier goods while considering the en

Supporting environmentally-friendly corporations can be hard when some organizations are not transparent about their policies and procedures. I envision a future in which all corporations are transparent about the resources that they use in making their products, as well as the steps they take to en

Although we exist in a world where the economy is fundamentally connected to our basic lifestyles, I don't believe that it is impossible to incorporate sustainability elements into businesses while maintaining economic prosperity. What I Value I value an economy that does not attempt to harness and

Fire - it has been both blessing and bane to human civilization. When fire provides for us, it gives us weapons, food, warmth and lighting. However, when it does not, fire razes settlements and exterminates people and other animals alike. Especially in the modern day, where given that methods of fir

I value certain businesses' effort to comply with CSER despite the dilemma to generate profit to maintain burdens of accountability for their interdependent parties in society's competitive industry. I envision businesses getting recognition and financial support toward environmental sustainabilit

I believe that sustainable means of death care are an essential aspect of approaching a sustainable world. I envision a world where sustainable death care is more prevalent and accessible in the world, granting more choices as to how one's body is dealt with after death. In this world, people woul

Whether it is in our food, packaging, or single-use bags, plastic is everywhere. I envision a future in which governments ban plastic use and encourage sustainable alternatives such as glass, stainless steel, and bamboo (shown in the image below). In achieving this vision, I value accountability, bo

When we think of death, we often think of traditional, anti-ecological methods, such as corpse burial or cremation. I envision a world in which these methods are advised against, while more ecologically friendly alternatives such as corpse decomposition in the soil are promoted. In accomplishing thi

With the growing usage of social media at the fingertips of consumers, it can be increasingly tempting to get caught up in searching for the latest trends to stay “popular”. I envision a society in which consumers have the courage to think for themselves, buy second-hand instead of relying on fast f

We are largely dependent on ecosystem services, yet we often take it for granted and are not aware of our daily impacts. Just think of anything you owned, what you had for breakfast today, or where you spent your last vacation; you'll start to realize the importance of nature to humanities. I valu

Let's take a moment to think of the enormous number of individuals around the world that struggle to access clean drinking water (as stated in the image below). Now let's think of how many rivers and lakes we have on Earth. The truth is, we cannot keep using the excuse of, "there is not enough drink

I talked with my sister about the Indigenous water crisis. Although she was aware of the water crisis globally, she was surprised to hear that this issue was prevalent in Canada (as seen in the image below). I was concerned that this viewpoint may lead her to take clean water for granted, if she thi

Vision: I envision a future in which there is a significant reduction in the annual number of droughts and floods. We learned in class that human actions promote floods via urbanization and agriculture. Image Credit: https://www.frontiersin.org/files/Articles/936109/fmars-09-936109-HTML/image_m/fm

When we picture farms covered with lush crops and vibrant livestock, it may paint a picture of something that is eco-friendly. However, with the use of pesticides (with their use being seen in the image below), monocultures, and high consumption of water in many agricultural practices, this couldn’t

Plastics - they're an inescapable part of modern consumption. However, given their lingering nature and organic chemical structure, they have become a persistent issue that impacts both ecological wellbeing and human health. Although exposure to plastic toxins is likely inevitable in contemporary

Value  This week my value is safety. When massive wildfires get out of control, they are a threat to my safety and the safety of loved ones and strangers. Large wildfires destroy homes and communities, and bad air quality can make us sick. Large scale fires are also a threat to biodiversity and agri

I value the crucial role of fire in our lives regarding survival, aesthetic, and spiritual aspects. Fire is also an essential value of the ecosystem for certain plants' succession which are food many animal's food sources and fire allows the recycling scheme to function properly and releasing acces

While it is imperative that fires do not dominate forests, it is also important to still have some fires, as they are crucial for ecosystem function.  I envision a future in which small fires keep happening to ensure good ecosystem health while these fires are managed appropriately so they do not ge

I envision a world where communities don't have to rush out of their home, a place in their life where they should feel safe. A world where wildfires are only beneficial to the ecosystem, without tearing lives apart and costing families everything. Unfortunately, this goal is unobtainable, but we ca

Value: I value all the controversial experiences and hard lessons I learned from this course. The course materials such as videos and readings provided me with many different perspectives for seemingly simple problems in my daily life. Many of the discussion opportunities touched on new topics that

#unleashedvalues I envision a future in which forest fires are prevented from becoming widespread and deadly beyond natural occurrences. My values are rooted in the belief that we must prioritize responsible stewardship and community collaboration, making our guiding principle a shared commitment

I value individual who makes effort to recycle because not everyone takes time to sort out their daily wastes due to busy schedule, or at least from my experience of seeing so many neighbours tossing recyclables into the trash. I envision recycling facilities following proper recycling practice w

ENVR 430 has been an enjoyable course that has done an incredible job of educating me about barriers to ecological sustainability and how to be proactive in fighting for a more environmentally-friendly society. Using the knowledge I have gained from this course, I envision a future as a high school