“Can we learn to live as a society in a way that respects and honours the basic rules and principles of this earth?”
Ralph Torrie’s question represents one of the major issues speakers and participants tried to address at a public symposium held at St. Thomas University titled Environmental Activism in a Time of Climate Change.
Held in the Noel Kinsella Auditorium on Oct. 16, the symposium brought together students, community members and experts to talk about how the world has changed since the environmental movement began and what challenges remain for environmental activists.
Torrie, an energy expert and sustainable energy future analyst, was one of many guest speakers at the day-long forum.
Elizabeth May, leader of the federal Green Party, St. Thomas graduate Lois Corbett, who is an environmental policy expert, and David Coon, executive director of the Conservation Council, were among the speakers during the day.
While the auditorium remained only partially filled throughout the day, when May took the stage, people began to flow in for the prominent politician’s talk.
Some were curious about what the symposium was about, while others were required to attend for classes.
Coon stressed the importance of the conference being held on a university campus.
“Universities are incubators of new thinking,” he said. “I couldn’t think of a better place to bring people together from all generations and walks of life to hear new ideas and offer their thoughts.”
If there is one thing that government should focus on in terms of the environment, it’s climate change, says Corbett.
“[It] means switching the energy system away from the dependence on oil, gas and coal and towards more renewable resources,” she said. “It’s a big project, but they need to take it on.”
Whether we can live in a society that is respectful towards our ecosystem depends greatly on whether people can alter their lifestyles, says Coon.
“I think we’re at a real watershed in terms of social movements and environmental movements,” he said. “We need to try to bring society and the economy back within the earth’s limits.”
As for how St. Thomas students will impact the sustainability movement after having absorbed the ideas presented at the symposium, Corbett, a 1985 STU graduate, has faith in the St. Thomas community.
“St. Thomas has a good, strong social justice feel to it, that if you don’t like something, you should work to change it.”
Karissa Donkin – The Aquinian
“Can we learn to live as a society in a way that respects and honours the basic rules and principles of this earth?”
Ralph Torrie’s question represents one of the major issues speakers and participants tried to address at a public symposium held at St. Thomas University titled Environmental Activism in a Time of Climate Change.
Held in the Noel Kinsella Auditorium on Oct. 16, the symposium brought together students, community members and experts to talk about how the world has changed since the environmental movement began and what challenges remain for environmental activists.
Torrie, an energy expert and sustainable energy future analyst, was one of many guest speakers at the day-long forum.
Elizabeth May, leader of the federal Green Party, St. Thomas graduate Lois Corbett, who is an environmental policy expert, and David Coon, executive director of the Conservation Council, were among the speakers during the day.
While the auditorium remained only partially filled throughout the day, when May took the stage, people began to flow in for the prominent politician’s talk.
Some were curious about what the symposium was about, while others were required to attend for classes.
Coon stressed the importance of the conference being held on a university campus.
“Universities are incubators of new thinking,” he said. “I couldn’t think of a better place to bring people together from all generations and walks of life to hear new ideas and offer their thoughts.”
If there is one thing that government should focus on in terms of the environment, it’s climate change, says Corbett.
“[It] means switching the energy system away from the dependence on oil, gas and coal and towards more renewable resources,” she said. “It’s a big project, but they need to take it on.”
Whether we can live in a society that is respectful towards our ecosystem depends greatly on whether people can alter their lifestyles, says Coon.
“I think we’re at a real watershed in terms of social movements and environmental movements,” he said. “We need to try to bring society and the economy back within the earth’s limits.”
As for how St. Thomas students will impact the sustainability movement after having absorbed the ideas presented at the symposium, Corbett, a 1985 STU graduate, has faith in the St. Thomas community.
“St. Thomas has a good, strong social justice feel to it, that if you don’t like something, you should work to change it.”
