COLUMNS & CONTRIBUTIONS
The Young Adult Demographic and Positive Change
by Alice Lin (Net Impact Guelph Executive: Co-President 2012-2013), April 2013
There has been a growing number of complex challenges and issues with our environment, political systems, and our communities in the past half century or so. These challenges have occurred alongside the shift in the role of major key players in governance such as our state, the market, and civil society. Furthermore, globalization also changed the trade and free market system, which has also resulted in the exploitation and degradation of our natural environment. This subsequently posed some very serious impacts leading to issues pertaining to pollution, adverse health effects, loss of biodiversity, worldwide epidemics, and more. By now, we know that these global crisis cannot be attributed to a particular group of people, in fact, they are a result of our entire population. However, the apparent trend is certainly emphasized on the importance of of collaborative governance. Although this is certainly not new, it is indeed gaining prominence. For example, non-governmental organizations, and even businesses are breaking their traditional structures and creating new partnerships with one another in order to redesign the system to address these complex challenges and issues we face today. No single group or affiliation can be responsible for the issues and challenges we are faced now, in fact, this it is impossible. We all live and depend on the same planet, so it is without a doubt that we cannot work alone by ourselves to create this change.
If humans were immortal, perhaps we would tend invest in more long-term thinking. However, we are not and unfortunately, there is an emerging group of stakeholders that are ultimately the ones that are going to have to deal with these global issues; the next generation. What I find particularly worrying, are those peers, colleagues, and other youths that often feel hopeless about these global challenges we are facing. It is especially disturbing to know that some youths believe that the only solution is to annihilate those with authoritative power such as world leaders, CEOs, and government officials. Indeed, it is the power and will that can be instilled in our youths to create positive change. Global initiative such as One Young World (a non-governmental, non-profit organization and an incredible experience I'm glad to have been a part of) not only strive to inform and educate youth, but to empower and encourage next generation thinking to transform the current world. Through this initiative, collaborative efforts are encouraged from statesman, social advocates, environmentalists, and private organizations to capture the opportunity presented by youth and their passion and enthusiasm to create positive change. Beyond corporate social responsibility, is to establish further collaborative efforts, and also providing tools and laying down the foundation for the next generation in preparing them to address complex global challenges and to achieve sustainability. These challenges are ubiquitous and it has transcended into the hands of the next generation to address. It is crucial to foster our youths and the next generation to secure a better future, create positive change, and achieve sustainability.
Organizations today have a massive potential to lead by example. By dedicating time and effort in fortifying the young adult demographic and encapsulating their enthusiasm, they can be developed into tomorrow's leaders and even potential drivers of the economy. It is no longer a myth that the power of business can be used to create positive change, nor is it a charity, it is rather an embedded value in the businesses operating in today's society. The world is dynamic and always has been. Our businesses, NGOs, the state, our institutions are constantly changing. Change is inevitable, but we can certainly dictate a positive path as opposed to a negative one.
There has been a growing number of complex challenges and issues with our environment, political systems, and our communities in the past half century or so. These challenges have occurred alongside the shift in the role of major key players in governance such as our state, the market, and civil society. Furthermore, globalization also changed the trade and free market system, which has also resulted in the exploitation and degradation of our natural environment. This subsequently posed some very serious impacts leading to issues pertaining to pollution, adverse health effects, loss of biodiversity, worldwide epidemics, and more. By now, we know that these global crisis cannot be attributed to a particular group of people, in fact, they are a result of our entire population. However, the apparent trend is certainly emphasized on the importance of of collaborative governance. Although this is certainly not new, it is indeed gaining prominence. For example, non-governmental organizations, and even businesses are breaking their traditional structures and creating new partnerships with one another in order to redesign the system to address these complex challenges and issues we face today. No single group or affiliation can be responsible for the issues and challenges we are faced now, in fact, this it is impossible. We all live and depend on the same planet, so it is without a doubt that we cannot work alone by ourselves to create this change.
If humans were immortal, perhaps we would tend invest in more long-term thinking. However, we are not and unfortunately, there is an emerging group of stakeholders that are ultimately the ones that are going to have to deal with these global issues; the next generation. What I find particularly worrying, are those peers, colleagues, and other youths that often feel hopeless about these global challenges we are facing. It is especially disturbing to know that some youths believe that the only solution is to annihilate those with authoritative power such as world leaders, CEOs, and government officials. Indeed, it is the power and will that can be instilled in our youths to create positive change. Global initiative such as One Young World (a non-governmental, non-profit organization and an incredible experience I'm glad to have been a part of) not only strive to inform and educate youth, but to empower and encourage next generation thinking to transform the current world. Through this initiative, collaborative efforts are encouraged from statesman, social advocates, environmentalists, and private organizations to capture the opportunity presented by youth and their passion and enthusiasm to create positive change. Beyond corporate social responsibility, is to establish further collaborative efforts, and also providing tools and laying down the foundation for the next generation in preparing them to address complex global challenges and to achieve sustainability. These challenges are ubiquitous and it has transcended into the hands of the next generation to address. It is crucial to foster our youths and the next generation to secure a better future, create positive change, and achieve sustainability.
Organizations today have a massive potential to lead by example. By dedicating time and effort in fortifying the young adult demographic and encapsulating their enthusiasm, they can be developed into tomorrow's leaders and even potential drivers of the economy. It is no longer a myth that the power of business can be used to create positive change, nor is it a charity, it is rather an embedded value in the businesses operating in today's society. The world is dynamic and always has been. Our businesses, NGOs, the state, our institutions are constantly changing. Change is inevitable, but we can certainly dictate a positive path as opposed to a negative one.
Undergrad Business 101 So You’re a Business Student..
by Alex Castellani (Net Impact Guelph Executive: Communications Coordinator 2009-2010), September 2009
So you’re a business student. Now what?
Before you comfortably slip into “first year indo-lence”, take a glimpse into the wider world of your possibilities as an undergraduate student here at the University of Guelph.
You see, the problem with first year indolence (and its concomitant “oh no worries, I’ll try/get involved next year” rationalization) is that there is always the possibility that it continues past first year. Every student runs the risk of becoming passively receptive opposed to actively in-quisitive, but it is this active inquiry—directed both exter-nally and introspectively—which enriches the university experience and your person as part of the university community.
Confused? Lost? Well don’t fret yet because this article will focus on three key areas to bust the trend and kick-start your active edification.
The first is Redefine Business, and its meaning is two-fold: business as a subject never operates in a vacuum, and you have the opportunity to redefine how business is con-ducted. Whether you’re calculating dead-weight-loss in microeconomics or SWOTing your life away in marketing, never forget that both the world of business and its impetus of academic theories operate in a greater context. It is that neglect of the world in which business operates that is re-sponsible for the unfortunate repertoire of recent sordid con-duct in business headlines.
In a world of continually increasing academic spe-cialization, students at UoG are lucky to have the opportu-nity to contextualize their knowledge and facilitate critical thinking through interdisciplinary studies, both within and outside the business program. Take time to read sections in the paper you wouldn’t otherwise read; take a class you previously assumed was “too removed” from your speciali-zation; and mutually share knowledge with people of differ-ent academic backgrounds.
Our second tip is Get Involved. University brings with it a whole new atmosphere: new environments, new peo-ple, new ways of think-ing, and new habits—some for better, and some for worse. A perfect way to guide your experience in the positive direction is to get involved.
As you may already know, there is a plethora of organizations on campus appealing to a gamut of hobbies, interests, and passions. Whether it’s a charity, advocacy group, or special interest group, getting involved is one of the best ways to meet new people, contribute to the community, en-courage personal growth, or just do something good. Don’t be shy, sit in on an organization that catches your eye; many will tell you that their decision to do so has been amongst their most rewarding in University.
Finally, Be Conscious. On the on end, sustainability and social awareness don’t just effectively appear in office decision making, they must be bred as philosophies and ways of life in the people contributing to those decisions; on the other end, as consumers, we both actively and passively have the power to control the direction businesses take through our purchasing decisions and consumption choices. Everyday on campus, we are faced with these very decisions, so on top of academic and extra-curricular commitment to sustain-ability, here are a few tips in the right direction for everyday sustainable living:
So you’re a business student. Now what?
Before you comfortably slip into “first year indo-lence”, take a glimpse into the wider world of your possibilities as an undergraduate student here at the University of Guelph.
You see, the problem with first year indolence (and its concomitant “oh no worries, I’ll try/get involved next year” rationalization) is that there is always the possibility that it continues past first year. Every student runs the risk of becoming passively receptive opposed to actively in-quisitive, but it is this active inquiry—directed both exter-nally and introspectively—which enriches the university experience and your person as part of the university community.
Confused? Lost? Well don’t fret yet because this article will focus on three key areas to bust the trend and kick-start your active edification.
The first is Redefine Business, and its meaning is two-fold: business as a subject never operates in a vacuum, and you have the opportunity to redefine how business is con-ducted. Whether you’re calculating dead-weight-loss in microeconomics or SWOTing your life away in marketing, never forget that both the world of business and its impetus of academic theories operate in a greater context. It is that neglect of the world in which business operates that is re-sponsible for the unfortunate repertoire of recent sordid con-duct in business headlines.
In a world of continually increasing academic spe-cialization, students at UoG are lucky to have the opportu-nity to contextualize their knowledge and facilitate critical thinking through interdisciplinary studies, both within and outside the business program. Take time to read sections in the paper you wouldn’t otherwise read; take a class you previously assumed was “too removed” from your speciali-zation; and mutually share knowledge with people of differ-ent academic backgrounds.
Our second tip is Get Involved. University brings with it a whole new atmosphere: new environments, new peo-ple, new ways of think-ing, and new habits—some for better, and some for worse. A perfect way to guide your experience in the positive direction is to get involved.
As you may already know, there is a plethora of organizations on campus appealing to a gamut of hobbies, interests, and passions. Whether it’s a charity, advocacy group, or special interest group, getting involved is one of the best ways to meet new people, contribute to the community, en-courage personal growth, or just do something good. Don’t be shy, sit in on an organization that catches your eye; many will tell you that their decision to do so has been amongst their most rewarding in University.
Finally, Be Conscious. On the on end, sustainability and social awareness don’t just effectively appear in office decision making, they must be bred as philosophies and ways of life in the people contributing to those decisions; on the other end, as consumers, we both actively and passively have the power to control the direction businesses take through our purchasing decisions and consumption choices. Everyday on campus, we are faced with these very decisions, so on top of academic and extra-curricular commitment to sustain-ability, here are a few tips in the right direction for everyday sustainable living:
- Use a reusable mug and water bottle. Quite simply too much wasted paper, plastic, and money.
- Use reusable bags and containers. For groceries, school lunches, or just transporting goods, ditch the plastic bags and try using tupper-ware and a backpack or reusable nylon bag.
- Walk, bike or use public transit. Take advantage of the dedication—and the resulting convenience—put into ensuring adequate bus routes and facilities for bike parking .
- Stay in touch with the Net impact website and monthly newsletter for useful guides to sustainable living!
Winter Green: Commitment Caveats from the 2010 Winter Games
by Ben Paquette-Struger (Net Impact Guelph Executive: External Liaison 2009-2010), September 2009
With the advent of the twenty-first Winter Olympics taking place in February, the majority of the world’s media is preparing to focus its attention on a Canadian coastal city wedged between the Straight of Georgia and the majestic Rocky Mountains. In continuing with the relatively self-serving tradition of attempting to “one-up” the preceding Olympics event, many wondered how Vancouver would set itself apart from all the past locations of the games. It there-fore shocked few when Vancouver’s young and relatively outspoken mayor, George Robertson, already known for her-alding Vancouver as the “greenest city in North America”, postulated that the upcoming Games would be the most environmentally sensitive to date.
The Vancouver Organizing Committee’s (VANOC) agenda included a vast spectrum of supposed projects such as the Sea-to-Sky “Hydrogen Highway” - which will showcase more environmentally sensitive hydro-gen and fuel cell technologies, the tracking and offsetting of all carbon emissions expended throughout the games, and perhaps the most ambitious project of all: the “sustainable neighborhood” idea that has influenced virtually all of the construction in Vancouver. Furthermore, VANOC also made sure social responsibility was well represented in their plans as indicated by the fact that with the close of the olympics, many of the Village units will be sold on the private market as affordable housing for both low-income and senior tenants.
The sixteen new buildings being built in the village have been constructed in accordance with Leadership in En-ergy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards, which is a United States-based building rating system that provides a set of standards for environmentally conscious construction. Of the sixteen new buildings under construction, fifteen will be gold certified with one building being certified platinum, the highest possible ranking under LEED certification. Among the various renewable energy and conservation com-ponents are bioswales and wetlands to filter runoff water, rainwater cisterns that irrigate green roofs and flush gray-water toilets, solar-powered trash compactors, heat drawn from sewage pipes, a radiant heating and cooling system, and the use of captured methane gases from landfill sites for the energy and heating requirements of the villages.
Unfortunately it’s not all good news. Despite the commendable intentions of the project, a myriad of recent challenges and setbacks have jeopardized many of the Village’s sustainability goals. The first problems emerged as a result of last year’s financial crisis and subsequent real estate slump. The project was originally supposed to be funded by the private sector and then subsequently sold in the private market. This afforded the city of Vancouver the benefits of not having to finance or supervise the various projects. The large majority of the construction was afforded to the devel-oper Millenium Development Corporation (MDC). The most significant setback, however, occurred when the Fortress Investment Group - which was the funding mechanism of MDC - withdrew from the project, leaving the city’s tax payers to finance the $450 million operation.
With the withdrawal of the MDC, further setbacks began to emerge such as lagging construction schedules, mounting costs, and a mould problem caused by improper pipe installation. With the onset of these challenges, many of the bold social and environmental aspirations began to get scaled back and even eliminated all together. For example, the quantity of low-income and middle-income housing that the city had originally committed has been reduced signifi-cantly and a plan involving fifty percent of the buildings’ roof tops being covered in vegetation has been scrapped all together (covering the roofs with vegetation would have re-duced the energy-inputs required for their thermal regulation).
In light of the recent challenges facing Vancouver’s Olympics planners, as well as the pre-existing controversies surrounding both the use of indigenous land and misinterpretation of Inuit symbols for the games, it will be interesting to take note of what the long-term legacy of the Vancouver Olympic Games will be. Will they be remembered for a host-nation making a valiant and legitimate attempt at broadcast-ing environmental and social responsibility to the rest of the world? Or will they be remembered as a host-nation who followed the seemingly too familiar pattern of placing environmental considerations and a more sustainable future be-low larger profits and lower costs once push came to shove.
With the advent of the twenty-first Winter Olympics taking place in February, the majority of the world’s media is preparing to focus its attention on a Canadian coastal city wedged between the Straight of Georgia and the majestic Rocky Mountains. In continuing with the relatively self-serving tradition of attempting to “one-up” the preceding Olympics event, many wondered how Vancouver would set itself apart from all the past locations of the games. It there-fore shocked few when Vancouver’s young and relatively outspoken mayor, George Robertson, already known for her-alding Vancouver as the “greenest city in North America”, postulated that the upcoming Games would be the most environmentally sensitive to date.
The Vancouver Organizing Committee’s (VANOC) agenda included a vast spectrum of supposed projects such as the Sea-to-Sky “Hydrogen Highway” - which will showcase more environmentally sensitive hydro-gen and fuel cell technologies, the tracking and offsetting of all carbon emissions expended throughout the games, and perhaps the most ambitious project of all: the “sustainable neighborhood” idea that has influenced virtually all of the construction in Vancouver. Furthermore, VANOC also made sure social responsibility was well represented in their plans as indicated by the fact that with the close of the olympics, many of the Village units will be sold on the private market as affordable housing for both low-income and senior tenants.
The sixteen new buildings being built in the village have been constructed in accordance with Leadership in En-ergy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards, which is a United States-based building rating system that provides a set of standards for environmentally conscious construction. Of the sixteen new buildings under construction, fifteen will be gold certified with one building being certified platinum, the highest possible ranking under LEED certification. Among the various renewable energy and conservation com-ponents are bioswales and wetlands to filter runoff water, rainwater cisterns that irrigate green roofs and flush gray-water toilets, solar-powered trash compactors, heat drawn from sewage pipes, a radiant heating and cooling system, and the use of captured methane gases from landfill sites for the energy and heating requirements of the villages.
Unfortunately it’s not all good news. Despite the commendable intentions of the project, a myriad of recent challenges and setbacks have jeopardized many of the Village’s sustainability goals. The first problems emerged as a result of last year’s financial crisis and subsequent real estate slump. The project was originally supposed to be funded by the private sector and then subsequently sold in the private market. This afforded the city of Vancouver the benefits of not having to finance or supervise the various projects. The large majority of the construction was afforded to the devel-oper Millenium Development Corporation (MDC). The most significant setback, however, occurred when the Fortress Investment Group - which was the funding mechanism of MDC - withdrew from the project, leaving the city’s tax payers to finance the $450 million operation.
With the withdrawal of the MDC, further setbacks began to emerge such as lagging construction schedules, mounting costs, and a mould problem caused by improper pipe installation. With the onset of these challenges, many of the bold social and environmental aspirations began to get scaled back and even eliminated all together. For example, the quantity of low-income and middle-income housing that the city had originally committed has been reduced signifi-cantly and a plan involving fifty percent of the buildings’ roof tops being covered in vegetation has been scrapped all together (covering the roofs with vegetation would have re-duced the energy-inputs required for their thermal regulation).
In light of the recent challenges facing Vancouver’s Olympics planners, as well as the pre-existing controversies surrounding both the use of indigenous land and misinterpretation of Inuit symbols for the games, it will be interesting to take note of what the long-term legacy of the Vancouver Olympic Games will be. Will they be remembered for a host-nation making a valiant and legitimate attempt at broadcast-ing environmental and social responsibility to the rest of the world? Or will they be remembered as a host-nation who followed the seemingly too familiar pattern of placing environmental considerations and a more sustainable future be-low larger profits and lower costs once push came to shove.
