TEDxMcGill, Relentless Curiosity

Saturday November 20th 2010

Wisesap had the chance to attend the TEDxMcGill event, held in the Marché Bonsecours, Montreal. It was, indeed, totally worth while spending ones Saturday to listen those incredible students, professors and professionals talking about such amazing subjects.

Among all talks, those who were interested in ecology and sustainability had the chance to learn from Graham McDowell, his approach for de-abstracting climate change issues, something he claims is a clue factor for governments, NPO, doers, or simply for those concerned about climate change, to learn about the real and drastic problems arising from climate change in a local scale.

"Abstract terms as average temperature increase, or ice-cap melting rate doesn't help assessing climate change on a human scale". His research, which aims understanding the real adversities of climate change, took him to Nunavut's Baffin Island, or as far as Nepal.
His field work contributes enormously monitoring the human consequences of climate alterations, and to evaluate the specific needs of those who are already suffering those consequences. The following link gets you to McGill's Daily, where you can read an interview to Graham about his work in Inuit territories.

Baffin Island Inuit hunter. Through Picasa.

Following Graham's presentation, we had the chance to hear from the McGill Environment School, student Jonathan Glencross, and his relentless commitment to the McGill's Sustainability Project Fund. The project tries to close the circle between the inputs and outputs of McGill's Faculties, while providing alumni sustainability projects on which they can work.

Bottom line, the project not only helps the university to be more sustainable, but also opens a door to students to have an incredible opportunity to get involved and to put into practice innovative initiatives around sustainability. If you are a McGill student and still unaware about the project, check it out! McGill Sustainability Fund

Through Google - Jonathan Glencross

Finally, Wissesap would like to thank people like Graham or Jonathan for their incredible work around climate change and sustainability. As the TED slogan says, thank you for spreading the good ideas that are worth hearing to mitigate climate change and to reach sustainability both in local and broader scales. Everyone has to be aware of what it is being done!

Dave

I love this Cushy, Beautiful and Sustainable-Made Moccasins

Eco is not equal to ugly! And if you don't trust me, just check out this hand made moccasins....

According to its website, MANIMAL was formed in 2004 after a native New Englander’s first visit to the American Southwest. Designer Kristen Lombardi's interest in traditional costumes and animal forms influence the design of each moccasin and accessory. All the pieces are handmade and in an attempt to best use precious materials, leather scraps are recycled and reworked.

Aren't they Nice?? Now that winter is coming, these Moccasins seem so warm, comfortable and cute...The perfect match for a winter look. In case u like them, I suggest you to visit Manimal's online shop and let temptation win... http://save-the-manimals.com/

Guio

Small Is Beautiful: Economics As If People Mattered

Dear reader, I'm here today to introduce you a book. I shall say though, it needs no introduction, so it was written in the seventies, and has sold over seven and a bunch-of-zeros copies all over the world since then (I don't make up, it says it on the cover).

For those who didn't believe or thought that the very fundamentals of sustainability lie on the link of economy, society and ecology, and that each of them are, after all, related to the study of almost everything, from natural and physical sciences, to ethics and philosophy, politics, anthropology and sociology, etcetera. Through its pages, you will find the answers of all your questionings and scepticism about sustainability. Introducing Small Is Beautiful: Economics As If People Mattered by E.F.Shumacher (I beg you pardon for this enthusiastic presentation. This book was really a breakthrough to me and I felt I had to make a worthy introduction).

The summary: Nothing but a great deal of beautiful dissertation about modern society and capitalism, explained from the seventies, but still clearly appropriate to today's economic and ecological crisis. A claim to a new economy on a small and more human scale.

If you are already concerned and aware of problems like materialistic behavior, overconsumption and depletion of natural resources, about centralized power and overpopulated megalopolis, you will find in this work all you need to sum up what are the very inherent problems of our overrated economy. If you know less of what's all this about, and you want to be introduced to the subject, then the easy-going and extremely coherent and revealing paragraphs of this book will show you what it is to be on the right path to sustainability! (unfortunately not the one we have been walking on for the last 50-or-so years). Discover it by yourself!

Finally, check out for the EFShumacher Society Youtube Channel, where you can find speeches and interviews of Shumacher and followers of his ideas.

Credit: Amazon.com
by Dave