Music legend returns to Thunder Bay in April

Josh Fewings
A & E Editor

Gordon Lightfoot will bring his timeless music to the TBCA in April.

If you grew up like I did, than some of the first songs you heard were Canadian folk classics like “Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald,” “Sundown,” “Canadian Railroad Trilogy,” and “Black Day in July.” These works were written by the world-renowned Canadian singer/songwriter, Gordon Lightfoot.
Hailing from Orillia, Lightfoot was a crucial part of the Mariposa and Toronto folk scene of the late 1960s, along with such Canucks as Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, and Bruce Cockburn. Now in his 70th year, Lightfoot still loves touring, and during a recent interview on CBC Radio’s “Q” with Jian Ghomeshi he made it clear that he loves “the show and the feel from the audience.”
The legendary musician has reached number 1 on several charts, including in the U.S. and, of course, in Canada. Focusing on the true essence of telling a story, many songs by Lightfoot bring a historical bend to the fabric of our culture. Take “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” for instance, the song is about a ship of that name that went down in Lake Superior, when the “gales of November came early.”
If you’re not planning on going to see Lightfoot when he hits town in April you are surely missing out on a once in a lifetime event. Although the show is a pricey $75 at the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium on April 17, it will be worth every dollar to experience Lightfoot’s music live. A chance to see a man that Bob Dylan tried to emulate is surely priceless.

Gordon Lightfoot

• Born: November 17, 1938, Orillia, Ontario
• Has recorded twenty original albums, with fourteen compilation albums
• Endured a six-week coma following a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm
• Companion of the Order of Canada (2003)
• His music has been covered by Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, The Dandy Warhols, Olivia Newton-John, and Sarah McLachlan, among others.
• Was named Canadian male recording artist of the 1970s

With all the green talk these days about environmental this, ecological that, and sustainable whatnots and so forth, people have begun to forget the human element of all of this climate change stuff. Yes, forests and glaciers are disappearing, natural disasters’ severity appears to have increased, and greenhouse gas emissions are negatively contributing to the problem, but where are the people in all of this?
People are both the barrier and solution to any climate change action. People are the concern when we talk about climate change effects. In my Human Impacts on the Environment course, Dr. Matthew Boyd asked the very shrewd and pointed question, “Who thinks that there will be winners and losers?” It’s a question most policy makers and activists shy away from. We, as humans, have a vested interest in addressing climate issues because we are aware of all we have to lose, and some people are more vulnerable than others.
Be The Change, a local group dedicated to fostering environmental and social sustainability through community action and education, raises awareness about the link between poverty and environmental degradation. The cultural practices that contribute to the degradation of the planet’s systems are often the very same practices that undermine the integrity of our societies. Neoliberal capitalism, large corporations’ relentless profits pursuit, and the privatization of public services by states are driven by an investment system that requires that corners are cut. When it comes down to it, the costs must be incurred by one of two resource segments: labour (people) or natural resources (the planet).
In many ways, the distinction between environmental action and social change is a manifestation of the false distinction that most avoid: humans vs. the rest of the planet. People are inextricably part of the Earth’s ecological systems. I suggest that environmental action, at least holistic action, necessarily involves social action that pursues equality among people of differing gender, class, ethnicity, geographical region and generation.
Overconsumption is clearly part of our global challenge. The amount of consumption we participate in causes thousands of tons of waste, air and water pollution, and soil degradation through improper agricultural practices. 12% of the world’s population living in North America and Europe consume around 60% of the planet’s available resources, whereas 33% - a staggering 2.8 billion people - living in south Asia and sub-Saharan Africa consume only 3.2% of the planet’s available resources! It’s difficult to ignore the undeniable link between poverty and environmental degradation caused by intensive resource extraction designed to satisfy our consumption.
Moreover, check out what’s happening in our own backyard: an estimated 55% of all First Nations children in Canada live in poverty. In this beautiful city of Thunder Bay, 15% - that’s 16,750 people - were estimated to be living in poverty in 2006. Of that total, 44% of Thunder Bay’s First Nations population was living in poverty.
The poorer you are, the more difficult it is to take steps against climate change. The second leading cause of homelessness in Canada is the inability to pay utility costs, namely, heating. If you are poor, you are more likely to live in a home that is poorly insulated and has outdated heating appliances, so you end up consuming more and getting less. Same goes for food - cheap stuff like macaroni and cheese doesn’t give your body what it needs, so in the end you eat more, while being financially unable to support healthier local food sources that cost more.
So, when you take action remember these people. Believe that change can happen (because it already is). But  also remember that it’s the people that have to change the way we think, and change the way we act towards our neighbors. When you talk, act, vote, fight, or think, remember to do it with equality in mind and in heart- we’re all in this together.

Be The Change.

Alex Boulet

World famous Malibu, where the Surfrider Foundation first started saving the world’s beaches. Photo by Mike Bennett

Surfrider Foundation strives to preserve the world’s surfing paradises

Mike Bennett
Editor-in-Chief

Tired from a heavy paddle through thick white-water, I rest, watching crisp four-foot waves close out, then sprawl across the warm Californian sand. As I float, buoyed by a longboard beyond this powerful break, a light shore breeze wisps salty sea spray through the air, diluting my view of the deep green of the coastal hills that flank the beach.
“Hey mate. Check it out.”
My surf buddy, Justin, prompts me, pointing out a serene ocean moment. A curious pod of dolphins hovers near the surface, familiarizing themselves with the two of us as we awkwardly attempt to emulate their long-perfected surfing technique.
This is Zuma: inspiration for Neil Young’s 1975 album of the same name; setting for the infamous final scene of Planet of the Apes; and surfing paradise. It’s coastlines like this that the Surfrider Foundation aspires to protect.
In 1984, a small group of concerned environmentalists/surfers in Malibu, California, established the Surfrider Foundation. Its a grassroots project turned ambitious international non-profit organization that now boast 90 chapters and 60,000 members.
While celebrities as Cameron Diaz, Eddie Vedder, and Jack Johnson, are among the members of this unique environmental activism group, all members share a love for coastal regions.
“I grew up at the beach,” reflects Alexis Henry, Communications Manager at the Surfrider Foundation’s National Office in San Clemente, California. A relative newcomer to the sport, Henry calls Orange County’s ‘Church’ her home break.
“I’ve been out in the water since I was three years old, not necessarily surfing,” she adds. “That’s a lot of the members of our organization as well. They’re not all surfers. They’re people, like you and me who just love the ocean. I think the core of our membership are ocean-lovers.”
Surfrider Foundation continues to grow internationally as surfing’s popularity swells, with three chapters in British Columbia, and others in Costa Rica, Mexico, France, Australia, Japan, Brazil, and Argentina. Nevertheless, the organization limits its scope to focus on its organizational strengths.
“Our main focus is on oceans, waves and beaches – that’s what we do,” states Henry. “We don’t try to […] save the polar bears or something like that. Our focus is very narrow, and I think that’s where, as a non-profit, that’s a success for us.”
In recent years, Surfrider has made several strides. Their “Rise Above Plastics” campaign provoked Los Angeles City council to approve a ban on plastic bags in the city’s grocery stores by July 2010. Lobbying also contributed to a ban, effective since January, on polystyrene and Styrofoam containers at food-service businesses in Seattle.
These victories are among the 109 that Surfrider has accomplished since implementing their Strategic Plan in January, 2006. Ultimately, their aim is to reach a total of 150 victories in areas ranging from water quality, to wetlands protection, to protection of surfing areas.
Henry says that clean water remains the non-profit’s top concern.
“You don’t have clean water, what fun is it to go to the beach? You either have to stay out of the water cause it’s so grossly over-polluted or you go in the water and come out sick or, with a rash […] just cause you […] jumped in the ocean.”
Indeed, water quality is a world wide concern, and Los Angeles County is notorious for its post-rainfall shoreline pollution. While Malibu’s Zuma Beach, located north of the more densely populated areas of the city, is know for its pure blue water, other beaches are susceptible to bacterial, chemical, and debris pollution produced by approximately 10 million residents from LA.
“When I was a kid, you didn’t find six-pack rings and plastic bags floating out in the water, or diapers,” comments Henry. “I started to go out there wondering ‘oh, is that a jellyfish? – no it’s a plastic bag.’”
She says that the growing popularity of surfing, can only help people understand the consequences of their environmental impact.
“We’re the ones, out in the water, and I think we become conscious of our impact on the ecosystem. I think, in general, coastal-lying communities tend to be more conscious of it because they see it everyday.”
As the fight to protects the world’s beaches continues, I drift back to the serenity of Zuma. Accompanied by those affable dolphins, encircled by 360 degrees of utter beauty - it’s lucid visions like this that have charted the Surfrider Foundation’s course for 25 years.

Marley Giunta

This article is for the students who care about social and environmental issues but don’t know how to show it. Perhaps you don’t know where to start looking. You value supporting local businesses, farmers, and artisans. You want to learn more about growing your own garden or about composting. You could spare some time getting involved within the community, but you don’t know anyone. It is easy to feel overwhelmed if you focus on all of the social and environmental problems on a global scale.
It’s more productive and healthy to be a part of the solution on a local scale. It’s important to educate yourself on issues affecting people around the world, but it is frustrating and depressing to feel helpless in the face of these issues. Here in Thunder Bay there are many people who support and organize ways to be a part of the solution and you should check some of them out.
Every Saturday, local farmers and artisans gather for the Thunder Bay Country Market at the C.L.E. building on May St. (beside Silver City movie theatre) from 8 until 1:oo pm (www.thunderbaycountrymarket.com). You can also support locally owned grocery stores like Renco’s (on Court St. & Bay St.) or the Maltese (on Algoma St.).  Also on Bay St. is Thunder Bay Meats, where you can get cold cuts and homemade turkey sausages.  On River St. you can find a place called George’s Market. They sell all kinds of locally made food, and they are open always, even on holidays.
If you value growing your own food and you will be in town this summer, the Food Security Research Network is organizing a campus garden.  You can grow your own food and lower your food costs. Use of the plot is free and they’ll have support there to teach and assist you. All you need to bring are your own seeds. To get involved, email Amy at amy.vervoort@lakeheadu.ca.
Along those lines, Eco Superior is a Thunder Bay organization that facilitates all kinds of environmentally conscious choices. They have subsidized rebates for buying composters and rain barrels. They sell organic seeds and books on native plant species. They are also very helpful in helping you make your home as energy efficient as possible. They lend out devices that tell you which appliances are sucking the most energy and they do inspections for energy retrofitting your home. They have a great website www.ecosuperior.com or you can visit their office on 212 Miles St. East.
If you are keen to volunteer, but don’t know where to look, check out www.volunteerthunderbay.ca where people post their volunteer needs in various areas. Next year on campus you can get involved with sustainability through L.U.S.U. and by talking with the L.U.S.U sustainability director.  So next time you read the news and something is happening somewhere else which you can’t do anything about, remember all the things you can do right here in Thunder Bay. Even the smallest effort in the right direction makes a difference, because you are part of the solution.

Lakehead administration shows steely dedication to the anti-bottled water movement at February’s Board of Governors meeting. Photo by Mike Bennett

Sustainability is a word we are all beginning to hear more often, but what does it mean? Increasingly, sustainability has become the word we use in relation to the environmental movement. But it means more than recycling, planting trees, or driving less. Sustainability encompasses three pillars or spheres: the ecological, the social, and the economic. It is a model that looks at all areas of life - the natural and the man made - and recognizes that you can’t look at any one of these without considering the others. Sustainability, and sustainable development, is about developing an ecologically aware, socially just, and economically responsible society.
Why is it so important? Canada’s dependence on non-renewable resources has contributed to global warming and climate change, which in turn has contributed to increases in disease, poverty, and violence. Short-sighted non-renewable resource development policies, such as the development of the tar sands in Northern Alberta, has led to water pollution, health problems, clear cutting, and social problems. The government should shift its focus from unsustainable energy sources and instead, invest in long-term clean renewable energy sources that would not only help combat climate change, but also create green jobs and build new industries.
What can you do? The most important thing you can do to fight climate change is to contact your elected representatives to have them enact policies that will help solve the climate crisis. Get involved in your students’ union, campus groups, or community groups who are also pushing for institutional and governmental change.
However, you can also change your personal habits to help save you money and reduce your ecological footprint. The following guide has been developed to help you make environmentally-friendly choices in your daily life but also to give you ideas of environmentally sustainable initiatives happening on campuses across the country.
In the context of campuses, we stand at the forefront of the sustainability movement. As the next generation of Canadians to make a difference, it is our responsibility to educate ourselves and make the changes necessary to make a lesser impact per person than the generation before us. Things as simple as getting rid of your bottled water habit and using tap water can make a huge difference and set an example for others. The University of Winnipeg recently became the first University in Canada to ban the sale of bottled water - something we have been working on all year. Now that they have taken the plunge (no pun intended…. ok well maybe a little) I am sure many will follow in the years to come. The same holds true in our day-to-day lives, small and simple changes in your personal life can turn into attitude changes among your peers, your residence, class, or entire university.
Within the campus sustainability framework, administration must work with students to maintain and develop sustainable practices. While students can make bottom up changes like habit and attitude shifts, we cannot make policy. However, students can influence policy by letting administration know the direction we want to take through participation in committees, or signing petitions. If the situation is serious enough and if administration is moving in a direction we don’t agree with, non-violent direct action is another option to present our opinion. Serious change can take place when students show administration a direction that they wish to move in a strong way.
The administration has a very significant impact by the business decisions they make concerning new building design, repair and renovation projects, building operations and maintenance, procurement practices, landscaping, recycling at various levels, waste management, custodial services, energy management, transportation, food service and dining operations, and residential operations.
With such a complicated subject being squished into a little article, I hope that you have at least a basic understanding of what sustainability is and how it pertains to campuses and what sort of impact students have on what occurs on our campus. I know this was abbreviated, but if you would like more information, contact sustainability@lusu.ca, come down to the LUSU office or join our facebook group ‘LUSU Sustainability Initiative’ to stay up to date!

Greg Boyle
LUSU Sustainability Commissioner

On World Water Day March 22, 2009, I pledged to make a Toast to Public Water!
On World Water Day 2009, I’d like to propose a toast to the municipal tap water we’re drinking here today, as well as to public water systems across Canada and around the world. Please raise your glasses.

With this toast, I choose to drink public water over purchasing bottled water.
I choose to drink from the tap because public water is clean, accessible and tastes great!
I choose to drink from the tap because bottled water undermines public water systems.
I choose to drink from the tap because bottled water costs more, is much less regulated, consumes more energy than tap water.
Too many people in Canada and around the world do not have access to safe drinking water:
because 1.1 billion people around the world are denied access to clean water….
because 2005 – 2015 is the United Nations international decade for action on water, called Water for Life…
because many First Nations communities do not have access to safe drinking water across Canada….
because Canadian water fountains are being decommissioned and new ones are not being built…
I therefore choose to drink from the tap to demonstrate my commitment to public water as a human right.
We raise our glasses to public water and the back-to-the-tap movement.
To tap water for all!
I urge all of you to make this toast and make the commitment to tap water and banish bottled water from your life.

Cheers!

Greg Boyle
LUSU Sustainability Commissioner