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Part 8: Sustainable Wellbeing

a. Happiness, Wellbeing, and Sustainability. Upload a picture or create your Network Happiness Diagram.

b. Connect with Ourselves, Connect with Nature

Replicate the mindfulness experience in one of the following scenarios: When you are moving your body in exercise.

My choice for a mindfulness experience was a relatively brisk run outside. The temperature was nearly just right for a run outdoors - the air was cool with a refreshing mist. I began my mindfulness exercise by feeling my feet hitting the pavement and the trails. I felt the pounding through my shoes and feet and felt how the energy generated vibrated throughout my body. Then I thought how grateful I was to have healthy legs to be able to not just run but run well and fast. Quickly afterward, I realized how fortunate I was to have a healthy body. To be alive with this body at that very moment in time and that very spot almost seems like a miracle. I felt like there must have been an infinite number of things that had to have gone perfectly right to have me experience that very moment. I understand that sounds like a completely crazy thing to say. However, I think that that thought uplifted my mood and increased my gratitude.

I also concentrated on my breathing focusing on each out-breath and each in-breath. This simple act turned out to be difficult and at times I would forget to pay attention to my breath. However, when I was focused on my breath I felt a sense of calm - an almost meditative experience. I must admit that running with mindfulness made the experience more memorable. I remember exactly how I was feeling, the path I took, what the sky was like, the state of the path I was on, how the trees were swaying in the wind, and so on. I felt briefly that, even though I may have some issues that I was having difficulty dealing with in my life, mindfulness seems to have given me some clarity to how things are not that bad. They just are. And that I am blessed to have the ability to have such difficult learning experiences in the first place. I think the trick now is to somehow implement mindfulness into my daily routine or at least on a somewhat more frequent basis.

c. Solution Revolution

Consider up to three areas in which you wish to increase your wealth.

I read this question too late in the assignment so was unable to carry out the activities for three weeks. I will, though, talk about what I have done in the past.

First wealth: Family. Family, or at least a sense of family, is important for practically every individual. I had the sense that my relationship with my family hasn’t been as close as it could be. So, I at one point decided to try to spend more time with them. Also, since my parents are aging I feel that I should make the most of my time with them. 

Picture from https://www.tvinsider.com/767708/the-simpsons-streaming-all-seasons-disney-plus/

Once a week my sister and I will meet up with our dad to have lunch and sometimes do other activities such as grocery shopping or check out a special event. These weekly lunch meetings have been happening for a few years now. I have gotten to know my dad a little better through these lunch dates. I definitely have come to appreciate him as my father. And of course, the lunches (and sometimes dinners) have increased our culinary adventures.

My mom is not in the best of health, so one thing I set out to do was to get her to walk outdoors. This has proven to be fruitless. She does, however, like going to the shopping centres to browse and shop. At least she is getting some exercise in the malls. As boring as going shopping with mom can be, I do miss spending time with her. I have, likewise, have come to appreciate my mom for being my mom. As imperfect as she, I have come to have endless gratitude for her presence.

As for my sister, we have over the years have made the effort to spend more time together. We would do such activities as going ice skating and going to watch the movies. My sister has done so much and supported me in so many different ways. Spending time with her has made me realize even more how much I need her and how important she is in my life.

Second Wealth: Mental Health. I felt like I could be less of an asshole to people, and so a couple of years ago I tried mindfulness meditation. I wanted to be more focused, less impulsive, better able to deal with stress, and the list goes on. I must have thought that meditation was some cure-all for all my negative tendencies. I ended up meditating almost every day for 10 minutes for over a year. That felt like quite an accomplishment. Now that I look back I do feel like I am treating people a little better (but there is still a lot of space for improvement). I also feel like I am less impulsive. Being more focus is questionable. But the biggest surprise that I have discovered is that I am less stressed. Actually, I hardly feel stressed at all. I don’t know what it is exactly that I am doing differently. I think it could possibly be that I am not attaching too much meaning to things and events as they come along. Now that I am in school, meditation has been sporadic. I think maybe I will make the effort to have a meditation routine again.

Third Wealth: Physical Health. Physical health is, of course, very important. Being physically active affects both one’s mental and emotional health. I used to run at least 3 or 4 times a week. But now that I am back studying at university, running has not been a priority. So I tried at the beginning of the semester to make an effort to go to the gym to workout twice a week. That lasted just a week. Now I am thinking next semester I will try again. Except for this time, I will have better time management and will be more motivated to go to the gym. The only problem is trying to figure out what that motivation is. I still have some time.

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Part 6: Action

A.) Investigate the chemicals in 5 of your household’s personal care products.

Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion - rated as fair by EWG ( The Environmental Working Group) at www.ewg.org/skindeep. According to EWG, the lotion does not contain any carcinogens nor any reproductive toxins. However, it may be mildly allergenic for some people.

Ivory Bar Soap - Does not contain carcinogens nor any reproductive toxins but is rated high in allergens (www.ewg.org/skindeep). The soap does contain palm oil. The farming of palm oil has been indicated in the destruction of much of the rainforests of Indonesia and Malaysia.

Vaseline Intensive Care Advanced Repair Lotion - Low in carcinogens, but moderately high in allergens and immunotoxins. The lotion also has a small risk in developmental and reproductive toxicity (www.ewg.org/skindeep). 

Herbal Essences bio:renew shampoo - Low in carcinogens and low developmental/reproductive toxins. However, the shampoo is rated quite high for allergens (www.ewg.org/skindeep). 

Chap Stick Classic Lip Balm - Low in carcinogens and low in developmental/reproductive toxins. High in allergens/immunotoxicity (www.ewg.org/skindeep).

B.) Do an analysis of your purchases for one week. 

I somehow neglected to do a purchase analysis for a week. I currently live on campus and at the moment my purchases would be at a minimum anyway. However, if I were to create categories for my purchases I would use “Necessary,” “Unnecessary,” “Junk,” and “Luxuries.”

“Necessary” would be items that I absolutely need such as groceries, hygiene products, and winter clothing. “Unnecessary” would be stuff that I definitely do not need but if I had them I would make use of them like an extra backpack, another water bottle, or batteries. “Junk” is simply that. Junk is stuff that I do not need nor want and that I do not have any use for. “Luxuries” are beyond my purchasing power that I somehow end up feeling like I have a need for. Luxuries include electronics and travelling to places that I at the moment do not have the means for.

I definitely need to make changes to my purchases. I need to at least try to decrease my acquisition of stuff. I already have enough. I need to put more value in the stuff that I already have by using them longer instead of giving in to the urge to replace the old with the newest model. I also need to question more the purchases that I make not simply in terms of whether I need them or not. I need to question the ethical standing of the product as well as the environmental impact this product may have. 

C.) Investigate the options and end fate of your household’s e-waste.

In Edmonton there are facilities throughout the city called Eco Stations where you can bring old electronics such as laptops to used paints and old mattresses to have them recycled. I am unsure if there is anything similar here in Winnipeg. I would put away broken electronics and stuff like used batteries away until there is enough for me to make a trip to the Eco Station. Recently, though, I have learned that a lot of stuff that is meant to be recycled are not recycled but shipped to other countries (for them to deal with) or the stuff is simply thrown into the dump. This makes me question the worth of recycling. Conceivably, not having this stuff in the first place would be the better option.

D.) Create a plan for one change that you think would improve the sustainability of your food system?

This is what I did when I was living on my own in Edmonton. I would once in awhile shop at the local farmer’s market. Produce at farmer’s, for whatever reasons, are more expensive so I didn’t go to the farmer’s market all the time. I generally at grocery stores tried my best not to purchase more than I need since I did not want food to go bad before I can consume them. I used a large trash bin that contained soil as compost. And for one summer I grew my own herbs, tomatoes, and potatoes. Honestly, this took some hard work and quite a bit of forethought but the effort was satisfying. However, living like this is not always possible especially if you are a busy student with not much personal space and options.

Old Strathcona Farmer’s Market in Edmonton. Picture from https://osfm.ca/

Shopping locally, growing one’s own food, composting, etc. can contribute to food sustainability. But to do so is not easy. There doesn’t seem to be much infrastructure and policies in place to help the average person carry out these practices. And also, it seems that one has to be in a place of privilege to be able to have the means to do so.

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Part 7: In-Class Blog Questions B

Zoos

Edmonton Storyland Valley Zoo in Edmonton. Picture from https://www.edmonton.ca/attractions_events/edmonton_valley_zoo/plan-your-visit.aspx

a. What role, if any, should zoos play in conservation/education?

I personally do not visit zoos. I am somewhat saddened that wild animals are essentially caged for the entertainment of humans. However, there are many animals that are endangered in which zoos can play an important role in conservation. Unfortunately, there are many issues such as limited space, lack of finances and proper care that make animal conservation in zoos difficult and mostly unfeasible. Wildlife animals, especially big mammals,  simply do not thrive in small artificial environments. 

Today in Environmental Science class we learned about stereotypic behaviour. Stereotypic behaviour is the repetitive actions that confined animals display presumably as symptoms of boredom and the need for stimulation. Stereotypic behaviour is a sign of poor psychological development (Philbin, 2019). Ideally, wild animals should be kept wild and there would not be any need for zoos neither for entertainment nor for conservation. Regrettably, natural habitats for wildlife to roam freely are quickly being destroyed. As for education, I am unsure if zoos actually provide much education. They seem to me to be structured more for people’s amusement. 

In the end, the answer isn’t a simple yes or no on whether zoos should play some sort of role in conservation or education. There seems to be a host of human-created environmental issues that need to be addressed so animals can be healthy, free and wild. Having learned what I learned so far about environmental issues, zoos are no longer just some sort of magical place that I go to as a child. Zoos have come to represent a disturbing microcosm of the greater natural world. And perhaps zoos have also come to represent human being’s ineptitude in taking care of our fellow earthlings.

b. Is it ethical to keep animals in zoos? If so, what size/type of animal or zoo? 

I believe that keeping animals in zoos is unethical. One can argue that confining a living and breathing sentient being is unethical. In a perfect world, I think that there would not be any need for zoos. I think protected national parks do a relatively good job with conservation. Perhaps, in the future zoos no longer would exist and we would simply visit national parks to see wild animals in their natural habitat.

c. Do you enjoy visiting zoos?

I have not visited a zoo since I was a young child. Like I said earlier, I do not enjoy seeing animals in such an unnatural state nor do I agree with the whole concept of zoos.

FOOD

a. Consider your food system: What do you like about it?

I like the convenience of going to a nearby grocery store and being able to choose and purchase a plethora of products. I also enjoy being able to choose produce from various parts of the world. I also like being able to do my grocery shopping anytime throughout the day any day of the week. As for eating out in restaurants, I like how there are many alternatives from fast food to various cuisines from around the world. I think that we are fortunate to live in Canada to have such abundance and options when it comes to food.

b. What do you dislike about it?

Some of the factors that I like about our food system here in Canada is also contributing to what I don’t like about it. The fact that I can choose almost any food product from almost anywhere in the world means that the environmental cost weighs heavy for the planet. This environmental cost includes pollution from transporting the products from vast distances and the degradation of the earth from mass agriculture for such products. Another issue with being able to have inexpensive foods from everywhere in the world is that local produce no longer becomes the primary choice.

Variety is generally something desireable, but in the grocery store, there seems to be also a great variety of sugary junk lacking much in nutrition. Oddly, this junk is less expensive than the fresh fruits and vegetables. I would think that having healthy foods being more expensive is a deterrent for people wanting to consume healthier produce. 

Another aspect of the food system that I don’t like is how the Canadian diet disproportionately consists of meat. From an environmental perspective, animal agriculture has been shown to contribute greatly to greenhouse gas emissions and also the degradation of much of the world’s pristine rainforests.

OCEANS

a. What are your primary concerns about the oceans?

One concern is the continual non-stop pollution of oceans. What I recall from Environmental Science 1000 class, there is a massive area in the pacific ocean where human-created garbage simply circulates as if in some giant whirlpool. Garbage in the oceans in general disrupts marine habitats and inadvertently causes the countless deaths of sea creatures.

Another concern is overfishing. With a growing global population and growing appetites I feel that saving all the fish from possibly going extinct may be an impossible cause. But perhaps with wider education about the peril of the oceans, there still might be some hope.

A final concern is the acidification of the oceans. Ocean acidification is caused by the increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide. The oceans act as a carbon dioxide sink. The oceans absorb the excess carbon dioxide which in turn makes the oceans become more acidic. The two most common contributors to excess carbon dioxide are the burning of fossil fuels and the burning of forests (Van Dien & Stone, 2018).

b. What, if anything, do you plan to do about it?

I try my best to reduce my waste especially with the use of plastic. Admittedly, this is at times quite difficult. Plastic is everywhere. For example, I eat something that came in a container. If I can’t reuse or recycle that container, it has to be thrown away.

I already do not eat fish. I try when appropriate to educate what little I know to other people about overfishing and about sustainable fishing. 

Lastly, I do not own a car and drive only once in a while when necessary. Driving has been shown to be a significant contributor to atmospheric carbon dioxide. My main forms of transportation are walking, cycling, and bussing. I also try my best to have conversations with people about environmental issues when they are willing. I think that talking to people is a good way to spread knowledge about environmental issues. Not only will the other person possibly learn something and perhaps give pause to how they themselves can help, but I can also possibly learn about the other person and why they make the choices that they make.

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Part 5: Slow Movement

Describe 3 challenges and 3 opportunities that you see in the slow movement. Do you want to slow some aspect(s) of your life? If so, what concrete steps can you take to achieve this?

One challenge that I can see for the slow movement is people’s acceptance of the idea. With extremely busy lives such as responsibilities with work and family and the need to feel constantly productive, I believe most people would think of slowing things down would be a ridiculous notion and is completely antithetical to the modern way of life. I think that for most people slow would not equate to being productive; that slow is possibly an excuse to be lazy; that living a slow lifestyle could possibly mean missing out on many aspects of life that people desire to experience.

Another challenge would be people’s ability (or inability) to implement such a lifestyle. What would living slowly mean for someone living a modern lifestyle with all its conveniences? What aspects of their lives would be or could be “slowed” down? How would living slowly impact work or school, personal life, and everything else in between? What compromises does one must make to take part in the slow movement? I think for most people there’s a disconnect between slow and the present lifestyle circumstances. This is especially true for those that are simply struggling to house and feed themselves.

A third challenge that I can think of is that if the slow movement were to gain traction how will this change affect the economy? Will people be working less and yet have the same degree of quality of life? Will everything be more expensive? Will people’s needs still be met? I can see how the slow movement can easily be applied to those in a more privileged position socioeconomically, but what of the ordinary citizens that do not have the luxury of time nor the necessary finances?

An opportunity that quickly comes to mind would be the increase in the quality of products produced. This is especially true of certain aspects of the food industry where exceptional quality and superior tastes are demanded. I think that we have been bombarded with such inferior food products with paltry nutrition, especially in the fast-food and snacks industry, that the time has come to demand better in what we consider and consume as food. The slow movement can, therefore, be part of the solution for better food and, consequently, better health.

A picture of a type of blue cheese that most likely benefits from the slow movement. Picture from https://fromagescda.com/en/home/170-bella-blue.html

I think that, if done correctly, slowing down aspects of people’s lives can reduce much stress for these people. For example, when work is dependent on the quality and not on the quantity I think people will take greater pride in their job and themselves. This may result in reduced stress and, perhaps, healthier and happier lives.

Thirdly, I think that if people were to embrace the slow movement, social interactions can improve and these interactions can become a more important part of people’s lives. I think that when people take their time with what they are doing they will also take their time with their relations with people. In the end, slowing things down can also be greatly beneficial for one’s social health.

I surely would like to slow some aspects of my life. Ideally, I would like to slow down everything in my life. Unfortunately, society puts much pressure and many constraints on how we should behave and what we must do and accomplish. As an engineering student slowing down seems nearly impossible. In engineering, there is much that has to be learned in a timely manner; there are many deadlines that must be met; there are seemingly countless projects that must be completed. However, with some effort and a little mindfulness, I think that even the busiest individuals are able to add some slowness in their lives.

One of the things I have done is to take my time during my meals. This includes not using the phone and simply taking my time to enjoy what I am eating. Also during meals, I have come to take the time to enjoy the people accompanying me. Thinking about this is making me realize that taking the time with people is in itself quite rewarding even with random social encounters. Another thing I can try is to take my time with my studies. I do not mean putting off studying for another day, but to really put in the time to truly understand what I am studying. And definitely try to take my time with projects. Also, I think that taking the time to simply do nothing - to be in one’s own company and to be wandering in one’s thoughts - is a great thing to do. I used to think that this is a symptom of laziness, but I have come to realize that doing nothing is a healthy endeavor. There is definitely no need to fill up one’s day with busyness. Busyness, in the end, may end up being counterproductive anyway.

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Part 3: 1 Hour Silence in Nature

Describe where and when you spent your time in nature?

I used to spend an hour or several hours at a time running through Edmonton’s river valley. I ran throughout the year - spring, summer, fall, and winter. After a couple of years running the trails of the river valley, I thought that I have come to know most of the trails. However, I realized not long afterwards that I was mistaken - there were many trails that I have yet to discover. When I first started running and exploring the trails of Edmonton’s river valley, I thought how wonderful and amazing it is that there is this extensive green space covering throughout the heart of the city. I no longer run as much. And now that I am living in Winnipeg, I am realizing how fortunate I was to have had access to this world-class green environment in a very urban setting. There are several fine parks in Winnipeg and as nice as a city that Winnipeg is, there doesn’t seem to be anything in Winnipeg that is similar to Edmonton’s river valley (but, of course, I could be mistaken).

Part of Edmonton’s River Valley. Picture from https://www.bclocalnews.com/opinion/letter-learn-from-edmontons-lead-in-riverside-preservation/

What did you experience in your time in nature? What did you see, hear, smell, feel? What effect did this time in nature have on you?

Surprisingly, especially during the first few times in the river valley, I saw quite a few wildlife. A couple of times I have seen a porcupine. I have encountered a lone deer once on one of the trails. Several times I saw a coyote cross my path either behind me or in front of me. On the trails, I can definitely hear the coyotes howling at night.

The air definitely smells fresher in the river valley, especially during the spring with trees turning green and the blossoming flowers. And during the winter the air is crisp and invigorating. Usually having spent some time in the river valley, I feel recharged and more content. I think this is partly due to the physical exercise of running and walking. But also I think simply being out in the natural world appears to make one feel more balanced. Cliche as this may sound, immersing oneself in nature truly is a meditative experience.

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Part 2: Trees and Vultures

How did the information in the talks affect how you think about nature?

Watching the videos gave me pause to think of how something like a tree or a bird is more than what they appear to be. A tree is not simply a tree with a trunk, branches and leaves. A tree is an organism physically connected with many other trees which essentially forms a super-organism. The death of one tree affects the outcomes of the other trees within that network almost as if they “feel” the absence of that tree. As for the vulture, what seems like something unattractive and vulgar, is, in reality, plays a crucial role in the overall health of the natural environment. Arguably, there is much beauty in this vulgarity.

Picture from http://www.vulpro.com/conservation-research/

An analogy that comes to mind is when seeing or meeting someone new. Without spending the time to truly know this individual, one cannot possibly understand how this individual has an effect on that person’s family, friends and loved ones and how this person is interconnected with other people and the greater world. Hence, without truly understanding what a tree or a vulture is, one cannot possibly understand how this tree or vulture is interconnected with other species, the rest of the natural world, and, importantly, humanity.

I think that most of us can see and understand the beauty and wonder of nature. However, I think that most of us do not realize that this beauty and wonder is dependent on all of the countless parts, small and large, to be properly functioning. 

Previously, I have thought nature as something to be appreciated and experienced. Now further believe that nature, like one’s elders, should also be deeply respected. And above all, nature must be protected. With the realization that everything is interconnected, what affects one part of the world also affects the other side of the globe. Hence, if one can see clearly enough, the destruction of one part of nature is, in essence, the destruction of a part of us.

What aspects of nature and biodiversity do you feel are most important to protect? How can you take action to protect this aspect?

For children to flourish they ought to grow up in a healthy and safe home. Likewise, for all the living things in this world to flourish they ought to be in a healthy and safe habitat. “Healthy,” I think would mean to be in a sound and natural environment. “Safe” would mean to be free from human interference and destruction. Therefore, I believe that all present natural habitats should be protected.

I can take action by being more mindful of my consumption habits. This not only means purchasing products that are not detrimental to the environment, but it also means simply to consume less or simply not to consume anything unneeded. I can take action by speaking up when I think that something that is being done that is harmful to the environment. I can take action by educating others. I can take action by volunteering my time for environmental causes. I cant take action by choosing a career that will benefit both society and the environment. I can take action starting now.

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Part 1: Truth and Reconciliation and Sustainability

How does Truth and Reconciliation in Canada relate to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals?

The report on truth and reconciliation does not directly address the UN’s Sustainability Goals. However, if one were to look more closely the report does appear to address some of the sustainability goals.

Picture from http://albertametis.com/2015/12/final-truth-and-reconciliation-report-released/

According to the report, “reconciliation between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Canadians, from an Aboriginal perspective, also requires reconciliation with the natural world. If human beings resolve problems between themselves but continue to destroy the natural world, then reconciliation remains incomplete” (Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, p. 18). This surely addresses several of the UN’s Sustainability Goals such as Goal 13 to take action to combat climate change and its impacts; Goal 14 to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development; and Goal 15 to protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss (United Nations, 2015). Under Goal 15 the UN desires to “by 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular forests, wetlands, mountains and drylands, in line with obligations under international agreements” (2015). This is a critical issue, especially in such places as Alberta and British Columbia, where the extraction of oil has greatly impacted the lives of many aboriginals. In particular, the oil sand activities in Alberta have adversely impacted the health, livelihood, and way of life for many aboriginal communities in that area. One may argue, then, that reconciliation will need to address the economic activities taking place with regard to the oil sands.

Several instances in the Commission’s report mentions the disempowerment of aboriginal women and the continued discrimination and violence that aboriginal women must endure. One witness in the report is quoted as saying: “Women have always been a beacon of hope for me... The justified rage we all feel and share today must be turned into instruments of transformation of our hearts and our souls, clearing the ground for respect, love, honesty, humility, wisdom, and truth” (Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, p. 12). The mistreatment of aboriginal women falls under Goal 5, which is to achieve general equality and empower all women and girls, of the UN’s Sustainability Development Goals. This includes ending “all forms of discrimination against women and girls everywhere” and to “eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation” (United Nations, 2015). Treating aboriginal women, and all women in general, with respect and equality must be a priority.

Historically, “Canada denied the right to participate fully in Canadian political, economic, and social life to those Aboriginal people who refused to abandon their Aboriginal identity” (Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, p. 2). Even today, one can still witness the discrimination that aboriginal people face such as in the workplace and in the lack of access to meaningful work to the abnormally high degree of incarceration of aboriginals. Goal 10 of the Sustainable Development Goals is to reduce inequality within and among countries. According to the UN reducing inequality is to “ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices and promoting appropriate legislation, policies and action in this regard” (2015). One of the many strengths of Canada is its people. Canada will only grow stronger when all its citizens are treated equally as Canadians.

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Reflection Question 3

Can parks meet its dual mandate of access and protection? How can this be achieved in Wapusk?

According to the Parks Canada website, the Parks Canada mandate and charter states that “on behalf of the people of Canada, we protect and present nationally significant examples of Canada’s natural and cultural heritage, and foster public understanding, appreciation and enjoyment in ways that ensure the ecological and commemorative integrity of these places for present and future generations” (Parks Canada Agency, 2018). 

From my limited personal experience, I believe that the national parks in Canada are relatively well protected and at the same time the parks grant access for people to experience the wonder and beauty of nature. For example, when going on multi-day hikes in national parks, my experience has been that the number of people allowed to access these hikes usually has a daily limit. Putting limits ensures that people are granted access while maintaining the relatively pristine nature of these parks. 

Wapusk means “white bear” in Cree (National Geographic, 2011). It appears that Wapusk National is well protected since, being in remote northern Manitoba, the only ways to get to Wapusk is either by taking a plane or train to Churchill. Being a national park, Wapusk is inherently protected by human development. However, Parks Canada's mandate of granting access for the people may be questioned. There are no roads that lead to Wapusk. Being in such a remote area is not enough that there is access either by train or plane? Shouldn’t such a pristine and remote place simply remain remote? I would imagine that the park’s remoteness is one of the major reasons why people are attracted to Wapusk. With the thousand or so polar bears roaming the park, it would not be safe for an unknowledgeable individual to be recklessly roaming around anyway.

Picture from https://arctickingdom.com/destination/wapusk-national-park/

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Reflection Question 2

Where do your environmental ethics lie? Anthropocentric? Biocentric? Ecocentric? Deep Ecology?

This has turned out to be a difficult question to answer. As human beings, it is only natural to have the perspective of a human being and to do what is best for oneself as individuals. Also, as environmental ideologies biocentrism, ecocentrism and deep ecology all sound very similar to me.

Tipi at Fort Whyte Alive in Winnipeg. Photo by me.

However, if I had to choose I would pick the concept of deep ecology. From my limited understanding, deep ecology entails the intrinsic value of all things. This very much aligns with my personal view of the world. Deep ecology also suggests that the cause of much of the world’s environmental problems stems from human mistakes and the way to solve these problems is for us human beings to actively engage to become part of the solution. I think that with the right perspective, like deep ecology, we as part of the human species can truly bring about positive change in the midst of this environmental crisis that we are currently experiencing.

In this Youtube video, the actor Harrison Ford gives a compelling speech about the relationship between nature, the current climate crisis and the survival of humanity: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WdSmnlVC_yk

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Reflection Question 1

What promotes human connection to nature?

I think that cities that have green spaces readily accessible for their citizens easily promotes human connection to nature. Not everyone has the means or ability to travel far distances to such places as national parks or provincial parks. I think that well-planned cities have natural spaces that are in reach within walking distance of people’s homes. One example of such a city is Singapore, where there are literally hundreds of parks and where a lot of the architecture is environmentally friendly and are designed to be in harmony with nature. I think another city that does fairly well for promoting connection with nature is the city of Edmonton in Alberta. The river valley in Edmonton is a vast green space that provides Edmontonians various types of recreation from hiking, running, and cycling to cross country skiing and snowshoeing. All this within city limits.

This photo was taken by the river valley in Edmonton with the High Level bridge in the background. Photo is my own altered with a mobile app called Paintt.

Environmental education definitely promotes human connection to nature. I believe that education is crucial for children to learn about the earth and the benefits of connecting with nature. Education about how to live in harmony with the natural world and the current environmental destruction will one day provide impetus for these children to come up with solutions to the various environmental issues.

What promotes disconnection with nature?

I would imagine that living in an urban environment devoid of access to green spaces would promote a disconnect from nature. I also think that living an extremely busy life with no time for reflection or at least the ability to slow down the pace will lead to this disconnect.  Having little understanding and appreciation for nature will also lead people to be disconnected from nature. I also think that overconsuming material goods and not understanding that these goods are derived from the earth and that the materials needed to produce such goods are in finite supply is already a symptom of human being’s disconnect from nature.

Fort Whyte Alive in Winnipeg. Photo taken by me.

Is there a danger to a growing disconnect from nature?

I think the simple answer is yes. It seems like most of the people of the world are living in ever-increasingly urban centres where nature is far from the collective minds of people. On a daily basis the news showcases the devastating results of irreversible climate change. For some, this devastation may make them feel that the future is hopeless. And I think for many others they simply don’t care about the fate of the natural world. Moreover, it seems that for a lot of people the natural world is just not a priority.

However, the complex answer is that there appear to be many changes taking place. Examples include empty parking lots being turned into green urban spaces and cities built on the design concept of biomimicry. It seems to me that there are more people interested in outdoor recreational activities and more people visiting provincial and national parks. More importantly, it appears that the younger generation of people have become better educated about the natural world and environmental issues. Hence, they are increasingly demanding that their futures include nature as part of their lives.