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Let’s move the date – Alternative food systems on campus

On August 2nd 2017, it was Overshoot Day: we had used more ecological resources than nature can regenerate in one year.
Moving the date can start by changing systems locally. Here is our first advice on how, at Concordia.

And it’s about food of course!

 

Consuming food locally helps reducing one’s carbon footprint greatly and supports local economy. If that food is organic, then it also protects the fauna and flora (and human beings!) in contact with it. Besides, eating very little to no meat and dairy products is a lot healthier both for us and the planet.

Adapting your diet and changing where your food comes from is not that simple nor that accessible. However, at Concordia, several student groups and resources aim to make eating healthy and locally easier.

The Concordia farmer’s market brings local produce directly to students by organizing markets every Wednesday, in the fall and winters semesters, on both campuses.
Also, many groups offer alternatives to global brands delivering ready-made food. The Hive Cafe Solidarity Co-op is present on both campuses, in the H building mezzanine and in  to serve beverages and meals all day. Cafe X, a student-run cafe in the EV and VA buildings, also provides students with homemade snacks. On Thursday evenings, Mother Hubbard offers 2$ vegan suppers. Last but certainly not least, People’s potato and the Hive Free Lunch serve free lunches every week day starting in September, in the H building 7th floor and at The Hive Loyola from 12:30 to 2pm.

These marvellous food initiatives are vegetarian or vegan, and their recipes can be found on most of their websites (People’s Potato’s cookbooks are extensive!).
To support them in making healthy local food more accessible to all Concordia students, you can start by using their services, talking about it around you and volunteering when you have the chance!

Let’s #movethedate and live a sustainable lifestyle by 2050! We can do it, together and by first changing systems locally!

 

Details on location and times for all services can be found here 

For more in-depth information on food groups at Concordia and healthy eating, you can visit or contact our friends at The Concordia Food Coalition.

Topic Tuesdays

Sustainability overseas: the case of European Utilities companies

Hey friends   !

As you all know, sustainability is a very inclusive topic (I mean…climate change doesn’t choose which countries to disturb right?). As such, it is important to pay attention to environment related news from all around the world; unless you believe that global warming is a hoax and having an excess of 5°c in winter is completely normal.

Today, we’ll explore the utilities industry in Europe…why? Well, ≈19 billion Canadian dollars of earnings are at risk if Europe’s major companies don’t change their production processes by 2050. This implies, inter alia, less revenue for European governments, less potential jobs and less budgets to support sustainable enterprise. Despite the EU’s objective to “provide 45 percent of electricity from renewables by 2030“, the 14 leading companies in the European utilities industry are expected to produce amounts of greenhouse gases that will exceed the “‘carbon budget’ required to keep temperature rises below 2°C“, by 14%. If you want to learn more about these numbers and their implications in the global assessment of carbon emissions, make sure you check out Sustainable Brands article!

iAdiós amigos! 

Thoughtful Thursday

“Are You Making The Healthiest Lifestyle Choices?”

Today is #ThoughtfulThursday and our friend Helen Sanders has this simple question for you: “Are You Making The Healthiest Lifestyle Choices?”  Unless you’re a 100% certified lifestyle guru that graduated from the 100% healthy lifestyle academy, your answer is most likely no… and people like Helen are here to help us accept our mistakes and guide us in this challenging journey that is living a healthy lifestyle. Her nutrition advice is based on her expertise and, more importantly, on YOUR personal tastes. So make sure you check out her blog for well documented health recommendations and innovative techniques to help you sustain your lifestyle choices! If you prefer more personal and adjusted guidance, don’t worry: Helen and her team will adapt to your objectives to supply you with complementary tips and guidance. Join the #HealthAmbition community NOW and make your first step towards #StayingHealthy!!! ——> https://www.healthambition.com
#HealthIsWealth #SoundsClichéButTRUE #LifeChoices #OneStepAtATime

sustainable sundays

The Dish Project

When hosting an event, meeting and other form of gathering, why create waste? Using the Dish Project guarantees that your event will reduce its waste by using reusable dishes opposed to disposable. In the process you will also be making Montreal a more sustainable city. They rent out to both on and off campus communities in reducing waste – one paper plate at a time.

Visit their website, www.dishproject.ca, or check them out on Facebook too!

Topic Tuesdays

Social Entrepreneurship and Social Impact Careers

Hey everyone,

In collaboration with District 3 (D3), CHNGR, Alumni Relations and CAPS they will be  are hosting a panel discussion on Social Entrepreneurship and Social Impact Careers on Wednesday, Nov 16th @ 3pm in H-763.  At 5pm, District 3 will be hosting a design thinking activity, for students and entrepreneurs to work together in finding solutions for challenges organizations face today

Alumni entrepreneurs and professionals will be hosting a panel discussion on ways in which you can be part of an organization that is solving social or environmental problems, or even start your own business.

check out the links below.

District 3

CHNGR

Alumni Relations

 

rethink waste

Zero waste cafes and making our lives greener

It was brought to our attention that there are some pretty cool recycling initiatives in our very own neighbourhood. Green ta vie was founded by Bianca Bernard a Concordia graduate and Erika Roy a Sherbrooke graduate. Their mission is to educate people on how to make life on blue planet greener, through light jokes via text and video and images. Their first video is on recycling and what actually happens at a recycling plant.

The second initiative is Le 5ieme. Le 5ieme is a co-working zero waste cafe space founded by Simon and Dorian who are also students! At night the co-working space will transform into an event space, art gallery, dance studio, conference space, the space will even be a barber shop, massage therapy and more! They plan on opening late September early October! Check out their video here.

Lets all show these cool initiatives some support by spreading the word 🙂

Topic Tuesdays

Job opportunities!!!

Hey everyone! Want to get involved within Concordia’s sustainable community this school year? The Sustainability Action Fund (SAF) is looking for new Board of Directors. For those of you who don’t know the SAF fee-levy organization that allows Concordia University students to develop high impact sustainability projects at Concordia University; by providing funding, support and resources. As a board member one must  commit to one 3 hour general meeting per month, members will also participate on at least one committee, meeting at least once per month before general meeting, and more. The deadline to apply is September 11th. Click here for more information.

Another amazing opportunity this year is the opening of Sustainable Concordia’s Financial coordinator position.The Finance coordinator is responsible for overseeing the financial operations at Sustainable Concordia. The coordinator works in conjunction with the Finance committee, the Board of Directors, and other Coordinators within the organization. In addition, the Finance Coordinator is encouraged and will be presented with opportunities to collaborate with other Concordia student organizations who may need assistance with financial matters as they arise. The deadline to apply is September 11th. Click here for more information. 

Look forward to hearing from you! 🙂

rethink waste

Mumbai’s Waste Issue and Initiative

More than 62 million tons of waste is produced in India every year and only 12 million of it is treated. The rest sadly ends up in wetlands, streams, lakes and rivers. However the waste management industry is expected to be worth $13.62 billion by 2025. “Debartha Banerjee, Jayanth S and Ritwik Rao are the cofounders of environment solutions startup Sampurn(e)arth.” Their initiative provides effective technology for waste management in Mumbai; the city produces 9,400 tons of waste every day, and only 3,000 tons of it is processed. The trio promote a “decentralized approach to waste segregation, recycling dry waste and installing biogas plants to transform wet waste into cooking gas and fertilizer in the city.” To find out more about this amazing start up click right here!