VOLUME 49, ISSUE 9 — Our Green Future (November 14, 2022)
Editorial: Sustainable travel is doable—even internationally
A personal guide to your next eco-friendly adventure.
A few weeks ago, I had a dream that I owned a private jet. It happened shortly after I watched…
Jodi Emerson rides the path to a passion-fuelled career
Jodi Emerson was seven years old when she first rode on horseback at a friend’s birthday party. The horse, called…
The Canadian government has an emissions reduction plan, but is it enough?
The 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan outlines Canada’s initiatives to combat climate change through cutting emissions and pollution, though experts question the government’s commitment.
On March 29, 2022, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau revealed the 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan: Canada’s Next Steps for Clean Air…
Will increasing the industrial carbon tax reduce carbon emissions?
The Ontario government proposes to increase carbon tax for industries in alignment with federal benchmarks and initiatives, though it remains unsupportive of a federally-imposed price on carbon.
In the summer of 2022, the Ontario government released its proposed amendments of the Emissions Performance Standard (EPS) program for…
Governments failing to commit to environmental goals as global climate crisis brews
Two United Nations proceedings highlight insufficient global climate action initiatives while also introducing new targets and solutions to meet net-zero emissions goal by 2050.
The most recent report on climate change—released October 27, 2022 by the United Nations (UN)—states that the world’s powers have…
Biodiversity is at risk in Canada
Recent audits reveal that several federal organizations have failed to establish links between their plans and sustainability or to report conservation activities, highlighting the lack of accountability and commitment.
According to the Biodiversity in Canada: Commitments and Trends backgrounder, released October of 2022 by the Commissioner of the Environment…
10,000 days and counting: Decades-long drinking water advisory continues for Neskantaga First Nation
Contaminated tap water sparks questions about environmental racism and overall healthcare inequity faced by Indigenous communities.
On June 22, 2022, the Neskantaga First Nation, a community containing approximately 300 people, “marked its 10,000th day under a…
Environment Canada issues air quality statement for Diwali fireworks
People voice concerns over backlash and stigmatization of Hindu groups as Environment Canada specifically identifies Diwali in an advisory over air quality.
On the morning of October 24, Environment Canada issued an air quality statement for the coming evening for Brampton, Mississauga,…
From products to investments, companies to governments—greenwashing’s omnipresence
According to a January 2022 press release from Competition Bureau Canada, the International Consumer Protection Enforcement Network revealed that around…
Fast fashion and its even faster destruction of the environment
The environment is paying the true price tag for fast fashion.
According to a report by Business Wire, the fast-fashion industry is projected to continue to grow rapidly from US$91 billion…
Achieving sustainability in the food industry through composting
Fast food spots, restaurants, and other eateries should have mandatory composting.
Restaurants and fast-food spots are known to throw out hundreds of servings of leftover food at the end of the…
Electric vehicles are not as eco-friendly as they seem
All that glitter is not gold when it comes to electric vehicles.
For years—from middle school to high school—I had my mind set on buying a Honda Civic. I didn’t crave a…
The misinformation of climate propaganda
Corporations are aware of the public’s little knowledge on sustainability and use this to push products and propaganda onto us.
“I don’t really know what it means,” my friend said when I told him I was writing an article on…
TikTok is my go-to outlet for climate action news
As mainstream news sources focus solely on the “doom and gloom” aspect of climate change, I turn to social media for my fix of good news.
A lack of compassion from mainstream news sources has pushed Gen Z to gather their good news from TikTok, rather…
Cycling in Mississauga is an extreme sport
Mississauga’s love affair with jam-packed traffic leaves no room for cyclists.
When I say that I would love to bicycle throughout the year, people look at me like I am insane….
Controversial protests are not a movement, they are a moment
Performative protests that target van Gogh’s will not solve climate change.
On November 4, 2022, three members of the Ultima Generazione (Last Generation), a climate protest group from Italy, hurled pea…
Should we fear predatorial marine animals or should they fear us?
Susha Fountain and Professor Richter talk about how our actions have endangered marine life and why protecting them is crucial to preserving the entire ecosystem
Glorious, sharp-toothed, and baleen-mouthed creatures have ruled the oceans for tens of millions of years—some even before dinosaurs walked on…
Learning from the mistakes of building Mississauga
John Farrow, responsible for the first Official Plan of Mississauga, discusses key issues, sustainability, and regrets from planning the city.
In 1974, the City of Mississauga was first incorporated. Over the next two years, John Farrow prepared the city’s first…
Banana fiber bag: A way of reducing plastic consumption and creating gender equality
U of T Medical student Sauliha Alli on her innovative project for reducing plastic pollution in Ghana.
In June 2015, 150 people lost their lives in Accra, the capital of Ghana, as a result of a massive…
Our troubling climate represented in The Parable of the Sower
Published in 1993, Octavia Butler’s novel The Parable of the Sower tells the story of Lauren Oya Olamina, a 15-year-old…
How digital art is eco-friendly
Considering the sustainable aspects of digital art and how it impacts our current climate.
Digital art is becoming more prominent than ever. With devices such as iPads and Wacom tablets, drawing digitally is efficient…
Here’s why John Constable’s paintings matter
The 19th century landscape painter couldn’t have predicted our climate today, but he sure wouldn’t be happy.
John Constable was a 19th century landscape painter known for his romanticist paintings of the English countryside. Born in 1776…
Taylor Swift’s insomnia leads to her biggest album debut of all time
Swift’s Midnights broke Spotify, the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and our hearts
On October 21, Taylor Swift released her tenth original studio album Midnights, a thematic spin on her usual discography where…
The call to climate action in WALL·E
Looking back at a Disney and Pixar classic that has reshaped the ways we think about our environment.
Directed by Andrew Stanton in 2008, WALL·E is a film to remember for its simple yet impactful message. Our favourite…
Identity, trauma, and the beauty of friendship in Theatre Erindale’s The Wolves
The theatre’s rendition of Sarah DeLappe’s award-winning play left audiences speechless.
Bright green turf lined the stage and walls of Erindale Studio Theatre at the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM). Dim…
Reimagining sustainability through Scandinavian architecture and philosophy
A review of eco-minded architecture in Scandinavia and how it promotes unity with the earth.
The peoples of Scandinavian nations—Norway, Sweden, and Denmark—have rich cultural and philosophical traditions when it comes to their relationships with…
Students should spend two minutes each day talking to a plant
A horticultural therapy specialist explains the health and wellness benefits of interacting with nature.
According to the Canadian Horticultural Therapy Association (CHTA), “Horticultural Therapy (HT) is a formal practice that uses plants, horticultural activities,…
Locked on Leafs: Reset and Reload
After a poor start to the regular season in October, the Toronto Maple Leafs are now making the most of…