Applicable Sustainable Practices: Principles, Challenges and Hopes

Youssef Abdo G
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  • NATURAL SCIENCES

This podcast series was created to gather real-life testimonies from individuals implementing sustainable practices in their personal and professional lives, offering practical and inspiring examples of sustainability in action. Hosted, presented, and edited by me, Youssef Abdo, this project contributes to the completion of my Master’s degree in Environment and Management at Royal Roads University, under the supervision of Dr Alice MacGillivray. I acknowledge that this research has been conducted on the traditional lands of the Lekwungen-speaking Peoples, the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations.

Episodes

  1. 10/11/2024

    Jeannie Chipps Interview

    In this episode, Jeannie Chipps discusses her approach to sustainability in art and life. She emphasizes the importance of knowing the origin and environmentalimpact of art supplies, using them mindfully, and reusing materials. Jeannie shares her experiences from learning sustainability practices from her father's carving work and applying them to her own art. She highlights the significance of community connections and shared symbols in fostering sustainability. Jeannie shares the importance of advocating for integrating sustainability into daily life as a symbol of love for the planet and community. “…integrating these practices, either even if they're small or huge, can just alone be a symbol of love for the planet, or even just the community, being able to see your little footsteps of what you've done…”.   Jeannie Chipps. Jeannie’s art: City of Langford. (2024, June 21). Meet Jeannie Chipps, the artist who designed the stunning Rainbow Trout artwork … [Video attached] [Statud uptade]. Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/CityofLangford/videos/1298928247536850 Jeannie Chipps [@_the.jean.genie_]. (2024, June 15). (Picture of the Rainbow Trout Artwork) [Photograph]. Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/p/C8PrmezvTJp/?utm_source=ig Indigenous Pop up Shop YYJ [@indigenouspopupshopyyj]. (2024, May 15). (Picture of a Turtle design). [Photograph]. Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/p/C7AR56qyiW9/?img_index=4 This project contributes to the completion of my Master’s degree in Environment and Management at Royal Roads University, under the supervision of Dr. Alice MacGillivray. I acknowledge that this research has been conducted on the traditional lands of the Lekwungen-speaking Peoples, the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations.

    9 min

  2. 10/11/2024

    Gillian Kerr Interview

    In this episode, Dr Gillian Kerr, emphasizes community and shared values as crucial for addressing climate emergencies. She highlighted the importance of connecting ecosystem services concepts to human behaviour and interests like cost savings to engageorganizations and governments to integrate natural assets into policy. Gillian criticized the political focus on short-term gains and stressed the necessity of building legitimacy, accountability and trust when engaging citizens in conservation efforts. She also underscored the role of community engagement and the importance of asking questions to ensure sustainable practices. Gillian identifies the challenge of information echo chambers and the polarization caused by social media slowing the winnings in favour of the environment, asshe mentions the best way to reduce polarization is, instead of getting angry, to use that energy to find common ground and identify how we are related,more than how we are apart, that will lead to the conversation about what is happening and how can we make it better together.  “One of the things that have become more and more clear to me is that community, people sharing space and time, people working together, people engaging in activitiestogether… I think that that is the premise for sustainability”. Dr Gillian Kerr.   Dr Gillian’s publications: Kerr, G. L., & Bjornlund, H. (2010). Alberta’sdrive to use market-based instruments for ecosystem services provision. In WIT Transactions on Ecology and the Environment. SUSTAINABLE IRRIGATION 2010. WITPress. https://doi.org/10.2495/si100191   Ranganthan, L, Raudsepp-Hearne, Lucas, N., Irwin, F.,Zurek, M., Bennett, K., Neville, A. and West, P., Ecosystem Services: A Guide for Decision Makers. World Resources Institute, 2007.   Landscape Change Team, Ecosystem Services through Land Stewardship Practices: Issues and Options. Land Management Group. Department of Sustainability and Environment. Victoria Australia, 2003.   Kerr, G. L., Holzer, J. M., Baird, J., & Hickey, Gordon. M. (2021). Ecosystem services decision support tools: exploring the implementation gap in Canada. In E. M. Bennett (Ed.), FACETS (Vol. 6, pp. 1864–1880). Canadian Science Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1139/facets-2020-0090 This project contributes to the completion of my Master’s degree in Environment and Management at Royal Roads University, under the supervision of Dr. Alice MacGillivray. I acknowledge that this research has been conducted on the traditional lands of the Lekwungen-speaking Peoples, the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations.

    32 min

  3. 10/11/2024

    Katie Gamble Interview

    In this episode, Katie Gamble, founder of Nature Bee, discusses her journey from reducing single-use plastic waste to scaling her business. She emphasizes the importance of sustainability as an integrated part of life, advocating for small changes with big impacts. Katie shares her daily habits, such as using reusable bags and beeswax wraps. She highlights the role of education, awareness and community in motivating people to reduce single-use plastics and promote more sustainable practices. She identifies knowledge, cost, and convenience as major barriers tosustainability, suggesting achievable goals and collaboration as solutions.Katie's vision includes the widespread adoption of sustainable practices to improve health, resource management, and the environment. “From a brand standpoint, our responsibility is to make sustainable choices more affordable and accessible for everyone. Everyone should be able to access sustainability”.Katie Gamble. Katie's business can be found at: https://www.naturebeewraps.ca This project contributes to the completion of my Master’s degree in Environment and Management at Royal Roads University, under the supervision of Dr. Alice MacGillivray. I acknowledge that this research has been conducted on the traditional lands of the Lekwungen-speaking Peoples, the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations.

    16 min

  4. 10/11/2024

    Colby Harder Interview

    In this episode, Colby Harder, a 27-year-old city councillor in Langford, British Columbia, discusses her commitment to sustainability, focusing on social, environmental, and economic aspects.  She emphasizes the importance of making sustainable choices accessible, such as improving land use and transportation options. Colby advocates for community involvement in sustainability efforts, citing successful initiatives like community-led park cleanups and fire-smart programs. She also stresses the need for comprehensive plans and effective communication to integrate sustainability practices into daily life. As part of the government duties Colby mentions the importance of making decisions about how to improve the people’s lives, but she emphasized the responsibility of the government on providing the resources to make it possible. She discusses the importance of understanding land ownership, with First Nationspartners to protect natural areas and establishing a comprehensive urbanforest management plan to preserve and improve tree canopy cover. Moreover, she advocates for the proactive safeguarding and acquisition of land for conservation and parkland, all supported by a comprehensive plan and strategy to steer decision-making. “Understanding how to integrate sustainability practices into daily living is really about getting more and more people involved in city planning processes, by givingthem the opportunity to showcase those key touchpoints, where they want their money to go, where they want to see all the taxes they pay prioritized, these empower the people and they can see that they are part of a positive change”. Colby Harder. This project contributes to the completion of my Master’s degree in Environment and Management at Royal Roads University, under the supervision of Dr. Alice MacGillivray. I acknowledge that this research has been conducted on the traditional lands of the Lekwungen-speaking Peoples, the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations.

    28 min

  5. 10/11/2024

    Nancy Prevost Interview

    In this episode, Nancy Prevost Maurice, co-founder of the Nulla Project, discusses her commitment to sustainability, emphasizing reducing waste at the source, reusing, and repurposing. She highlights the importance of slowing down to make better decisions and the challenges of greenwashing and misinformation, leading to confusion and inaction. Nancy integrates sustainability into her daily life through reusable containers, zero-waste groceries, and community engagement. She advocates for small, incremental changes and the importance of leading by example and finding common ground with others to promote sustainability, as well as actions such as community engagement, carpooling and using public transportation, repurposing food and reducing single-use items. Nancy emphasizes the need for a collective effort to achieve sustainability goals, with each individual playing a part. “If we slow down, we will have more time to think about our actions and this could be part of reducing waste”. Nancy Prevost-Maurice.   The volunteer program Nancy mentioned during the episode and she is part of is Regenerate BC: https://regeneratebc.org The entrepreneurial project Nancy is co-founder is The Nulla Project: https://thenullaproject.ca This project contributes to the completion of my Master’s degree in Environment and Management at Royal Roads University, under the supervision of Dr. Alice MacGillivray. I acknowledge that this research has been conducted on the traditional lands of the Lekwungen-speaking Peoples, the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations.

    24 min

  6. 10/11/2024

    Sammy Davies Interview

    In this episode, Samantha Davies highlights challenges such as global waste systems and the lack of composting infrastructure, advocating for local action and community engagement. Sammy promotes training programs for distribution partners to ensure proper composting practices and stresses the importance of reducing landfill waste through community composting and local support. She also calls for better government regulation to support innovative compostable products and infrastructure, aiming for widespread composting to reduce methane emissions. Sammy suggests using positive reinforcement and fun activities to encourage people to adopt regenerative practices rather than fear-based approaches and emphasizes the importance of building systems thinking and understanding the full lifecycle of waste to make informed decisions.   “I do believe that we are in a huge transition right now, it is going to be a little messy for a little while … but with proper infrastructure and education, it is possible to have enough infrastructure to get the food waste out of the landfill and put in compost, and get an easy win in terms of reducing our methane emissions”. Sammy Davies. This project contributes to the completion of my Master’s degree in Environment and Management at Royal Roads University, under the supervision of Dr. Alice MacGillivray. I acknowledge that this research has been conducted on the traditional lands of the Lekwungen-speaking Peoples, the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations.

    22 min

  7. 10/11/2024

    Maria Bremner Interview

    In this episode, Maria expressed how important are relationships and culture, and their power in overcomingsustainability challenges. The conversation also touched on the importance of integrating sustainable practices into daily life and embedding sustainability throughout organizations, while acknowledging the need to recognize indigenous ways of life and their inherent value. She mentioned the importance of keeping in touch with nature as a great reminder of the importance of being part of the change makers. And, making sure that we are working to allow other voices to be heard that aren't being heard right now. “There are so many different problems that mightbe more urgent to solve, like affordability of living or mental and physical health challenges, but those challenges and the ones related to environmental problems can be solved on a community basis”. Maria Bremner. This project contributes to the completion of my Master’s degree in Environment and Management at Royal Roads University, under the supervision of Dr. Alice MacGillivray. I acknowledge that this research has been conducted on the traditional lands of the Lekwungen-speaking Peoples, the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations.

    29 min

  8. 10/11/2024

    David Quigg Interview

    In this episode, David shares that part of the solution to the environmental problems is to develop a community point of view, just as he cited the passage from Wall Kimmerer’s book“Serviceberry” when after a hunt where gathers a large amount of meat, more than he can eat, he was asked by an anthropologist about how are he going to do to keep it from going bad, and hunter answered: - “oh, of course, I'm going to share it with my neighbours and with everybody around me, storage is not a problem. I store  my meat in the belly of my neighbour or the belly of my brothers”- As David mentioned, hope comes from action, so I feel hopeful when I act, and if we make decisions having in mind the impact of those decisions in at least seven generations to come, we will make better and different decisions.  “One tree didn't say I'm going to suck up all the resources and grow enormously tall... so we have to think that way as human beings, if we are going to last if we are going to be nourished and be well, how can we work together to build that strength and nourishment for all of us, not just for me and my bubbles”.   David Quigg. This project contributes to the completion of my Master’s degree in Environment and Management at Royal Roads University, under the supervision of Dr. Alice MacGillivray. I acknowledge that this research has been conducted on the traditional lands of the Lekwungen-speaking Peoples, the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations.

    30 min

  9. TRAILER

    Trailer

    This podcast series is created with the purpose of gathering real-life testimonies of persons who are now implementing sustainable practices in their personal and professional lives, this generating practical and inspiring implementation of practices that promote sustainability. This podcast is hosted, presented and edited by me, Youssef Abdo. This project will contribute to getting my master’s degree in Environment and Management at Royal Roads Univesity.  I acknowledge that this research had been hosted from the Lekwungen-speaking Peoples, the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations' traditional lands

    1 min

  10. 10/11/2024

    Bob Peart Interview

    Bob Peart on his experience as a biologist and environmental leader, emphasizes the importance of supporting the protection of green areas and recognizing the positive impact of community engagement for long-term sustainability.  Bob advises eating locally, planting gardens, and reducing carbon use as practical steps for individuals. He emphasizes the importance of combining small actions to make a significant impact on the environment. Bob recognizes the importance of linking natural health to personal health. By doing so, we can establish an inherent value in protecting nature and promoting its conservation. He even coined the catchy phrase "green time instead of screen time," emphasizing the idea that everyone should spend more time outdoors connecting with nature rather than immersing themselves in the digital world.   “Start small, grow out, be patient, work with respect and work with trust”.    Bob Peart   The book mentioned by Bob in the episode is:  Brundtland, G.H. (1987) Our Common Future: Report of the World Commission on Environment and Development. Geneva, UN-Dokument A/42/427. This project contributes to the completion of my Master’s degree in Environment and Management at Royal Roads University, under the supervision of Dr. Alice MacGillivray. I acknowledge that this research has been conducted on the traditional lands of the Lekwungen-speaking Peoples, the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations.

    35 min

Trailer

About

This podcast series was created to gather real-life testimonies from individuals implementing sustainable practices in their personal and professional lives, offering practical and inspiring examples of sustainability in action. Hosted, presented, and edited by me, Youssef Abdo, this project contributes to the completion of my Master’s degree in Environment and Management at Royal Roads University, under the supervision of Dr Alice MacGillivray. I acknowledge that this research has been conducted on the traditional lands of the Lekwungen-speaking Peoples, the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations.

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