2009 Speakers / Workshops
(Free food will be provided at every speaker event!)
"Governing Consumption in an Unbalanced World" |
When: Monday, March 16, 2009 at 1:00pm - 2:00pm Where: SUB 207 Cost: Free! |
Influencing consumers to act more sustainably is one of the most difficult challenges for environmental governance. Influencing enough consumers to affect global change is an even greater challenge. Why is it so difficult to govern consumer behavior? What governing strategies tend to be most effective in terms of reducing the environmental damage of consumption? What tend to be weak or ineffective? What do the answers to these questions say about the overall potential of global environmental governance to promote global sustainability?
|
About the Speaker: |
Peter Dauvergne is author of The Shadows of Consumption: Consequences for the Global Environment, published by the MIT Press in October 2008. He is Professor of Political Science, Canada Research Chair in Global Environmental Politics, and Senior Advisor to the President at the University of British Columbia. Founding and past editor (2001-2008) of the MIT journal Global Environmental Politics, he has published 7 books, 2 monographs, and over 50 articles. |
_______________________________________________________________________
"Consuming the earth, consuming ourselves: only 9,125 shopping days left until the end of the world" |
When: Tuesday, March 17, 2009 at 1:00pm - 2:00pm Where: SUB 215 Cost: Free! |
A lively talk about consumption, you and the environment from the instructor and students of Sociology 420, Sociology and the Environment. We take you through some of the social and cultural roots of consumption and ask: "What does it mean to be a "green" consumer and does it matter? Is being a "responsible consumer" an endpoint, a "copout", or just the first step down a long road of fundamental social change?" |
About the Speaker: |
Robin Sydneysmith is a researcher at the University of British Columbia where his focus is on community and policy dimensions of climate change, vulnerability and institutional capacity and the linking of adaptation, mitigation and sustainability. Robin is also a lecturer in the Department of Sociology where he teaches 3rd and 4th year courses in Environmental Sociology and Sociology of Natural Resources. Until it was closed in 2006, he ran the BC regional office of the Canadian Climate Impacts and Adaptation Research Network (CCIARN BC). Robin received his PhD from the University of Glasgow, Scotland (1996) and a BA (Geog) from Simon Fraser University (1986). For his doctoral research he undertook ethnographic fieldwork with rubber tappers in Acre State situated in the upper Amazon basin of Brazil. He spent several years in the ENGO sector working on a range of natural resource, land use, and indigenous peoples issues. |
_______________________________________________________________________
"Translating Thought to Action: |
When: Wednesday, March 18, 2009 at 12:00PM - 1:30PM Where: SUB 207 Cost: Free! |
This talk hopes to get participants talking about the gap between thought and action by debating the psychology of individuals' decision-making processes. After an understanding of the reasoning process, we will discuss ways to create targeted and effective strategies to reach positive social behavior. Mr. Frimer will bring his knowledge on moral motivation, while Dr. Weineberg will bring his expertise in analytical marketing, and public and nonprofit marketing. |
About the Speakers: |
Charles B. Weinberg is the President of SME Vancouver Professor of Marketing at the Sauder School of Business, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. In 2008, he was selected as one of the first ten fellows of the INFORMS Society for Marketing Science. His research focuses on analytical marketing, services, and public and nonprofit marketing. His work in the nonprofit sector includes pricing, the marketing of safer sex practices, portfolio management and competition. |
Jeremy is a PhD student is Psychology at UBC, focusing on the development of moral motivation. His work aims to explain how "ordinary" people become "moral superheros". He is the Vice President of a campus-based Darfur advocacy group (STAND), a Director of the Climbers Access Society of BC, a world-traveled Alpine climber, and a Big Brother. |
_______________________________________________________________________
"Food Security in the 21st Century" |
When: Thursday, March 19, 2009 at 10:00AM - 12:00PMa Where: SUB 214 Cost: Free! |
The global food crisis is one of the most pressing global issues in recent years. A problem on such a large scale may seem humbling as it requires enormous efforts to solve. Therefore, the question: are there things that we, as individuals can do to help address hunger abroad? in this talk, UBC professor Dr. Judy McLean, will lead a town-hall style discussion on what global food security means to us living in Canada, and just what we can do here in Canada to help alleviate the problem. |
About the Speaker: |
Dr. Judy McLean is a UBC professor specializing in nutritional status and household food security in ethnic minorities, women, and young adults in developing countries |
_______________________________________________________________________
"Consumption and Sustainability: How Big is Your Footprint?" |
When: Thursday, March 19, 2009 at 12:00PM - 1:00PM Where: SUB 214 Cost: Free! |
This talk aims to highlight some of the implications of our current consumption patterns on the natural world by using the Ecological Footprint as an illustrative tool. The speaker will share some examples of sustainable consumption initiatives in the European Union, and will present a short video on BedZED, an eco-neighbourhood near London, UK, that aims to shrink residents' footprints. |
About the Speaker: |
Emmanuel Prinet is Executive Director of the One Earth Initiative and Principal of EcoStepping Stones Consulting. He holds an MSc in planning from the University of British Columbia. He has spent seven years living in France to work on European and international sustainable consumption and production issues, and has developed working relationships with the French Government, the European Commission, the OECD and the United Nations. Through the One Earth Initiative, he has been actively involved in the UN's 10-Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns ("Marrakech Process"). Since 2004, he has co-produced a number of short documentaries as part of a video series called "Sustainability Productions", which highlight the good social and ecological practices of various cities and their efforts to work towards sustainability. His area of expertise is on understanding the concept of sustainability, ecological economics, sustainable production and consumption, and the Ecological Footprint. Emmanuel is an avid outdoor enthusiast who enjoys rock-climbing and telemark skiing. |
_______________________________________________________________________
"Liberating Your Computer" |
When: Friday, March 20, 2009 at 12:00PM - 1:00PM Where: SUB 216 Cost: Free! |
Free Your Computer, Free Yourself - Practical steps to get you on the road to liberation with free and open source software Environmental and social responsibility has everything to do with your software choices. Learn how to migrate to sustainable,community-powered software. What does "free and open source" mean? How can you start kicking old habits while maintaining productivity? Where can you find community support? How can business and the public sector cut IT costs in leaner economic times? What program can replace XYZ? What can you start doing right now? Join this informal workshop on software freedom. |
About the Speaker: |
Ifny Lachance is a community organiser and sustainability advocate. She is a cofounder and coordinator of Free Geek Vancouver, a nonprofit built around ethical computer recycling, community empowerment, and free & open source software. She also produces the Pedal Revolutionary Radio Show, focusing on sustainable transportation. Currently based in Vancouver, she has lived and worked on projects in Japan, Lebanon and Iran. |
_______________________________________________________________________
"Living and Working with Meaning" |
When: Friday, March 20, 2009 at 1:00PM - 2:00PM Where: SUB 214 Cost: Free! |
In our capitalistic society, individuals are components for the operation of the treadmill of production and consumption. We consume, therefore we exist. We work very hard so that we can consume more conspicuously. We are told to compete and win. We are told that the greatest thing we can achieve is being "successful" by outcompeting others. Trapped on the treadmill or in the rat race for "success", we forget to live our lives. As soon as we realize it, some feel empty from their heart and refuse to keep living without meaning while others choose to not to acknowledge by running even faster and faster. For whoever has a hunger for meaningful life, Tom Williams of GiveMeaning will talk about living and working with meaning. |
About the Speaker: |
Tom Williams started his career with Apple at age 14 and left his career in Silicon Valley to start a philanthropy website at age 25. In 2004, he moved to Vancouver Canada and started GiveMeaning.com, an online fundraising site that helps people make donations to specific projects of their choice and helps charities or individuals get donations for their projects in an easier, more effective and more interactive way realizing the "Power of Plenty". GiveMeaning.com was reocgnized by Marketing magazine's list of "Ones to Watch: Marketing's Next Generation". |
