Opinion Piece 2 - Living Sustainably

Living Sustainably

Takach

March 22, 2020

            When it comes to helping the planet, small acts can seem insignificant. Although, if the human race continues on the path we are headed, we will soon have to face the fact that disaster is unavoidable. Even though it’s true that large companies are doing the most damage to the earth, doing our part as individuals equals a meaningful step in the right direction. Living more sustainably may seem intimidating, but when broken down into smaller steps it becomes more realistic. Therefore, making small sustainable changes in our lives is good because it’s impactful and collectively, we are capable of initiating a revolution.

            When it comes to making a change in our lives, one of the least daunting things we can start with is research. By finding the resources available in your area, you can make the transition to a less wasteful lifestyle more manageable. Zero waste blogger Kathryn Kellogg says “[i]t's not about perfection; it's about making better choices”. Adapting to a more sustainable lifestyle may seem overwhelming at first but even by starting small, we are actively choosing to make a change in our lives for the better of our planet.

 If there are any zero-waste or low-waste stores in your area, you can start by looking at the products they carry and brainstorming the changes you could make in even just one of the rooms in your house. For example, Zero Waste Emporium and West Coast Refill are both great options if you live in Victoria and they have a large variety of items to choose from. From local produce to hand soap, you can purchase all of their products with no packaging at all when you bring your own reusable containers. By reducing the amount of plastic when buying groceries, we can actually make a large difference and it is wonderful to see stores wanting to help us get there.

Another great step is simply learning to buy less. Even if you purchase only what you and your family need instead of buying an excessive amount because of a sale is an awesome first step. If we consider the amount of groceries we buy from Costco and Walmart every weekend, there’s no wonder big companies like these are thriving. Not only do we buy more than our families can consume, Crescenzi from Victoria News reports that in Canada “about 2.2 million tonnes of edible food is discarded each year”. We need to learn to shop more consciously. Not only would we waste less, we would also save money in the process of discarding less into our landfills.

            Another helpful tip to sustainable shopping is buying locally when possible. According to the footprint blog Terrapass, “you can reduce the carbon footprint of your food by up to 7% by eating locally”. When we shop local, our groceries aren’t travelling as far to reach our tables and therefore cutting the amount of energy expended. Even shopping at your local farmers market is another great option because you can buy things without packaging as long as you bring your own bags. Not only would shopping local mean supporting a local business, each purchase means a lot more because your purchase is going directly to support a local family. 

We as consumers have the power of choice and it’s important to remember that whenever we spend our money, we are choosing who we support. Although shopping more sustainably seems difficult in a time of endless plastic packaging, there are resources out there to help us do our part. We may feel small compared to the issue, but it is possible to initiate a larger movement when we use our choice and voice to do our part to help the planet. Even just by taking one small step in the right direction, it is meaningful and it’s important to remember that we are all in this together.

Sources

“Beginners guide to zero waste living:” by Kathryn Kellogg. https://www.goingzerowaste.com/blog-posts-for-beginners

“City of Victoria joins national food waste reduction program.” by Nicole Crescenzi. https://www.google.ca/amp/s/www.vicnews.com/news/city-of-victoria-joins-national-food-waste-reduction-program/amp/.

“Eat your way to a smaller carbon footprint.” by the Terrapass community. https://www.terrapass.com/eat-your-way-to-a-smaller-carbon-footprint.

Presentation Report - Chris Palliser

Palliser Personality

Takach

February 6^th, 2020

When you hear Chris Palliser on the radio, there is no doubt that he was born to be on-air. In fact, while growing up, Palliser always found himself in trouble for talking too much in class. Once he started the Applied Communications Program at Camosun, his passion for hosting solidified itself and he felt he had truly found his calling. 

Today, Palliser co-hosts Virgin Mornings with Brittany King every weekday. When it comes to finding subject matter for each show, Palliser says their goal is relating with their audience. “We want to give the listeners the idea that we’re just a bunch of friends hanging out, talking about different stuff.” Palliser and King definitely have this part covered as this isn’t the first time they’ve worked together. After Palliser graduated from Camosun, he took a job in Fort McMurray, where he worked with King for a few years before he was moved to Vancouver to work with The Beat. 

Even though he enjoyed his work in Vancouver, Palliser and his wife always knew they wanted to raise their kids back in Victoria. As the Beat turned into Virgin Radio, Palliser was given an opportunity on the island. Although hosting Virgin Mornings keeps him pretty busy, he is very conscious of how he spends his time outside of regular work hours. “I try to find balance between being on Instagram and being on top of connecting with people but also being here, now, in the moment; whether that be in the classroom with you guys or with my girls”.

When he isn’t entertaining his listeners on 107.3, Palliser and King are always conceptualizing the next story. “You’re constantly trying to reinvent yourself all the time,” says Palliser. “Always thinking about what’s going to bring people in because with the internet and social media and everything, you’re just getting pulled in fifty different directions”. Palliser advises people who are interested in radio or communications related fields to simply say yes more often. In the field of radio, it comes down to one’s ability to adapt to changes and Palliser advises keeping an eye out for new local angles. 

It definitely rings true that Social Media is constantly changing the way we engage because we are expected to be online making connections all the time. Even though Palliser wouldn’t call himself a social media expert, he encourages us to make use of these platforms to get our name out there and to link up with people whenever possible. Any connections that you can make are worthwhile and could lead you to an unexpected place.