Life According to Me

Goings on

2009-05-25T11:33:00.000-07:00

I thought I'd take a moment today and catch you up on what's been going on in my life (not that I have any true notions of readership). There's been school, networking, reading and a goodly amount of relaxation.

I've been going to school for Sustainability Management for two weeks now. Let's just say there may be some conflicting world view and opinions between my classmates, the instructor, and I. I come from a social and political background of activism; a place where the power of the people and bottom-up strategies are idealized. As Margaret Mead said, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." I'm not opposed to top-down strategies, otherwise where else would the all important dollar come from? Last week when my instructor suggested the only way to make any sustainable change in this world is through boycott and corporate restructuring, I countered with an alternative argument. I suggested that 'we the people' aren't merely the problem that has plagued this over-heated, over-populated, over-burdened planet but that now small groups of dedicated, caring, organized citizens are in fact a powerful force in making change that can ultimately save us. I suggested boycott and corporate change are not our only choices but that working cooperatively and rewarding companies by bringing them our business if they choose to do the right thing by our environment could work wonders as well. I'm still stunned by his response. Seriously, who still says "Hooey"? I had up until that point been quite engaged in class discussion but I'm a bit taken aback now. Think I'll keep my mouth shut, do my assignments, continue to live my gloriously naive and hopeful life, and melt into the classroom's wallpaper. Seriously, hooey?

Oh but on a bright note I got to visit two local, green entrepreneurial gurus. Toby Barazzuol of the Eclipse Awards and Saul Brown of Saul Good Gift Company share office space in the Strathcona area of Vancouver. They run businesses that are both environmentally sustainable and also socially responsible by using local, sustainable products, by building a green and sustainable office space, and by giving back to the Downtown Eastside, one of Canada's poorest neighborhoods (if not THE poorest neighborhood) in their involvement with the Strathcona Business Improvement Association. I've befriended them through the wonders of Twitter and through this garnered an invitation to visit their office space and borrow from their library. So D and I went for a visit. It's true the neighbourhood is kinda scary for a girl fresh out of Kitsilano. One has to step gingerly between the used condoms on the street, evidence of a flourishing sex trade. Once inside we were quite taken by the amount of natural light flowing into the 2nd floor work space from the north side windows that operate much like the front doors of garages. The floors appear to be of reclaimed wood, there are beams reinforcing the roof necessary to support the garden they've planted above, and they have a games area with big screen tv where staff can play if they need a break. There is also a sitting area and bar-b-q area on the roof with serene views which they are hoping to open up soon for public meeting rental space. They've moved to a four day work week in an effort to save money but are seeing the personal benefits in themselves and their workers as to how this can produce a healthier and happier population (more time to work out and cook at home meals with the family). They let me peruse their library and borrow a few books too. I like these guys not just because they are kind in reaching out to a new up and comer, but because they care about the triple bottom line where people, profits and environment stand on equal footing in their business agendas.

I've been tinkering with a small entrepreneurial idea regarding natural lighting for all the dark, dank, basement suite rental units we have here in Vancouver. I still have a ton of research to do though so no thoughts to put up here. But in the meantime the weather has been cooperative and gorgeous so there has been a heck of a lot of bike riding and reading in parks lately. Thank goodness for the sun!

EPIC expo

2009-05-11T09:23:00.000-07:00

OOOH, I got to take part in the EPIC Sustainable Living Expo yesterday at the New Vancouver Convention Centre. Can I just say, the building, from the outside is quite awe-inspiring. It is, to say the least, grand with a giant globe in the entrance and sprouting roof-top gardens. The inside leaves a little to be desired. I was confused by the number of seemingly unnecessary escalators and suffered some serious vertigo descending down to the convention hall. The room used for the expo was reminiscent of a parking garage but we figured we were so far underground that perhaps we were in a parking garage. The cement floor and pylons with steel girders added to this vision. Quite surreal. One shocking observation? I was seriously disappointed in the sheer number of people arriving with their morning cup of Joe in paper, "to-go" coffee cups from the likes of Tim Horton's, McDonald's and Starbucks. Seriously? At a sustainability expo?

The Expo itself was, as always, quite enjoyable. There were booths dedicated to information, commerce, food/drink, media, alongside two panel stages, a kids' craft and play area and a cafeteria. The dedication to education is clear and demonstrates, among other things, sustainable people and businesses are happy (oh the smiles) and willing to share. We planned to get there early in order to catch Toby Baruzzual's (of the Eclipse Awards and Strathcona Business Improvement Association) panel on Sustainable Business but it was canceled due to a scheduling conflict. But that's OK, we had booths to visit and I know I'll get to see Toby present something inspiring and hopeful sometime soon.

For me the most intriguing were the demonstrations on composting, especially those systems small enough for apartment dwellers. My favorite was the Worm Factory, made available by a local North Burnaby company called Webster Solar Energy Ltd. Obviously, it features less waste going to our dumps, but it also is a space saver at only 16 inches square, it's odorless, the liquid that is produced as an aside to the process can be used to fertilize your houseplants, and eventually creates the most rich, organic worm casting soil (which you'll spend a mint for at market) for your balcony container garden . It costs about $79 dollars and I'm thinking of picking one up. We bussed to the expo so couldn't reasonably expect to take one home that way. But a special trip to Burnaby may just be in order.

The other nice thing about the expo is the free stuff people give away as incentive to visit their business or buy something. I got a shopping bag from Toyota, a pen from ecoEquity, an eyeglass chamois from Dream Designs, some laundry liquid from Nature Clean, and loads of free taste tests. Getting my yearly replacement water-saver kitchen tap from Terasen Gas came with a bit of a price. I suppose the fellow talking to us felt comfortable in sharing his home life story after we showed interest in some environmental trivia. We stood listening to him for about 20 minutes which, for any of you having visited expos, is an extraordinary amount of time for one booth. Keep it moving, Chatty!

But I also indulged in a couple purchases. Saje was having a great sale (half price on everything) so I picked up some Tantra Body Butter and Energy halo. Also the folks at Nature Clean had a great last day sale, everything was 2 for $5. So I got a 1 litre bottle of Multi-Surface Cleaner and a 1 litre bottle of Glass and Window Cleaner both Ammonia-free, biodegradable, and non-toxic.

I think we managed to be there about 3 hours and by that time my feet were killing me and I was in need of a nap. So all in all a successful expo this year and I'm looking forward to the next one already.

Beautiful British Columbia

2009-04-26T20:49:00.000-07:00

I've often marveled at the idea that people around the world will spend thousands of dollars to come visit the west coast of Canada and I actually get to live here. Vancouver certainly is a spectacle with sparkling ocean views, white-capped mountains, and a comfortably moderate climate. But sometimes I like the idea of a quick, affordable getaway and make my way to the interior for a long weekend of rest and touring. The Okanagan offers kilometres of wine country, warm lakes, hot summer temperatures and I can drive there in less than 4 hours. If you've ever had opportunity to make your way out east to B.C.'s wine country you will have been afforded the great privilege of driving through one of Canada's most popular forests, Manning Park. This provincial park is a cross-country skiers haven in winter and a lush, green playground with campgrounds and lakes for various recreation in summer. Well, lush and green up until a few years ago. Now much of Manning Park looks like this photo, islands of ochre insulting the emerald of our eyes. The Mountain Pine Beetle (MPB) is killing the logdepole pine forests of British Columbia, one of BC's most commercially valuable icons not only for the forest industry but for those choosing to spend their summer and winter vacations there. These tinder-dry pine corpses are a fire hazard and an eye sore.

Proposed solutions to the problem have been met with a good deal of political and social opposition. A few of these proposals include burning, removal of pine trees, debarking, direct removal of the beetles, and the spraying of insecticides. These may appear drastic, severely time consuming and some obviously non-ecologically sound but in such an acute environment, management of the problem may seem more futile than hopeful. Perhaps the most vociferous supporters of management over forestry proposed tactics of large-scale deforestation of infected areas comes from the David Suzuki Foundation . To quote from their website:

"The current approach of the forests ministry is to aggressively log infested and dead trees in an effort to slow the outbreak and reduce losses in timber values. The Suzuki Foundation, however, believes salvaging beetle-killed timber is solely an economic remedy of short-term benefit to government and industry revenues."

The Suzuki Foundation instead proposes a sound ecosystems approach to management of the problem. They suggest an holistic focus on the entire forest ecosystem that "recognizes beetle outbreaks as part of the forest's capacity for self-renewal as is the case with fire, where disturbances and change are part of nature." This approach would consider the selective removal of some pine trees in an effort to keep the beetles at what they call a "natural" level not an "epidemic" one. They note:

"These beetles are present everywhere lodgepole pine is a significant component of the forest, and they are a natural and essential elements of the forests. Beetle-killed trees provide vital ecological services and functions even when they are dead, such as nesting and roosting habitat for woodland birds, food sources for beetle predators, and nutrient cycling."

The voice of the David Suzuki Foundation notwithstanding, the people of Beautiful British Columbia do desire a solution. The epidemic has gone on for so long that the forests are presently peppered with whole stands of dead and decaying trees, an obvious hazard to both humans and wildlife should they go up in flames during a particlurly hot summer. I understand the Suzuki Foundation's argument but question if we are really in a place to support management when the problem still rages out of control.

I've wondered if there is a solution that could satisfy both our commercial, industrial reliance on forests (the politicians having the last word afterall) with a green approach to tidying up this mess. So it was with interest that I read a recent article in the 100 Mile House Free Press titled "Innovator thinks pine is fine for bio-fuel production," by Arlene Jongbloets. Said innovator, Peter Murray, an engineering designer, has developed a method of converting beetle-killed pine trees into a bio-fuel, and useful bi-products, that is both sustainable and non-polluting. Huzzah!

So our problem: pine beetle infestation is a common and predictable occurrence in pine forests and presently we have dead, tinder dry trees in a continuing ugly and hazardous environment. Measure this alongside a province overly dependent on the forest industry and a Western reliance on polluting, non-renewable fuel from faraway lands.

Our solution as proposed by Peter Murray: harvest beetle-infested trees (read the article for all the Green aspects he proposes for this) and process that into bio-fuel and other bi-products in a manner where nothing goes to waste or is eliminated into the environment. Not only that but we are left with a clean product to go into engines that is low in sulphur with a higher lubricating ability than conventional means. And it's LOCAL!

Perhaps we have a middle ground here? Do you suppose anyone in the Ministry of Forests reads the 100 Mile House Free Press? Peter Murray and a colleague will be building a small pilot project and I for one am waiting not so patiently for their results.

My Music

2009-04-16T16:56:00.000-07:00

Today's entry will consist entirely of simple lists. I haven't much to say but I still wanted to share with you the music that makes me smile, inspires and soothes me. They are in no particular order.

The girls:
1. Ani DiFranco - Little Plastic Castle
2. Regina Spektor - Begin to Hope
3. Sarah Harmer - All of our Names
4. Imogen Heap - Speak for Yourself
5. New Buffalo - Somewhere Anywhere

The boys:
1. Michael Franti - Songs from the Front Porch
2. Nick Drake - Way to Blue
3. Sufjan Stevens - Seven Swans
4. Elliott Smith - New Moon
5. Remy Zero - Villa Elaine

Downtempo/Chill:
1. Air - Moon Safari
2. Beastie Boys - The Mix-Up
3. Delerium - Poem
4. Thievery Corporation - The Mirror Conspiracy
5. Zero 7 - Simple Things

Get Up and Move:
1. Montag - Going Places
2. Stars - Set Yourself on Fire
3. Roisin Murphy - Ruby Blue
4. Le Tigre - Le Tigre
5. Hot Chip - The Warning

Great Bands:
1. Belle and Sebastian - The Life Pursuit
2. Camera Obscura - Underachievers Please Try Harder
3. Of Montreal - The Sunlandic Twins
4. The Waifs - Sink or Swim
5. Voxtrot - Voxtrot

Old School:
1. Garbage - Absolute Garbage
2. Fishbone - Truth and Soul
3. The Lemonheads - It's a Shame About Ray
4. Weezer - Weezer
5. The Breeders - Last Splash

So this is a smattering of some of my favorite music. In my opinion most of the songs on each and every one of these albums had the potential to be number one. Let me know if I've missed something obvious. The list need not end here.

Love and Kisses and happy listening.

Looking to the Future

2009-04-07T16:08:00.000-07:00

With my resolution to become more involved with the way my professional life unfolds, I've begun thinking about ways to market myself to a wider audience. It is undeniable that the work I do for the Federal Government will come to a close. Legal proceedings regarding Indian Residential Schools will run the course and I want to be prepared. I want to start making plans. So what's the future of research where I live?

D and I were talking a few days ago and she related to me her concern for a friend who works successfully in her field but is now considering going back to school to get another degree so that she can continue to do the same sort of thing she's already shown success in. We agreed that was an odd choice. So this got me to thinking, if I were to broaden my horizons, keeping in mind that I still love social research analysis and reporting, what area might be a logical one, yet different enough from my current path, to flow into? Given that I live in a city that embraces local green business, clean outdoor recreation, and social responsibility and justice (hmm maybe those are just the folks I prefer to spend time with), I believe the future is in Sustainability, an area I have no experience, only personal interest.

Upon entering the phrase "Sustainability Vancouver" into the Google search bar, I was immediately drawn to The Centre for Sustainability, UBC Continuing Studies. From there I clicked on the Sustainability Management Program and got lost in possibility. There were listed a number of courses, ranging in price from $425 to $550, covering a range from an Introduction to Sustainability to how to do Greenhouse Gas Accounting and Reporting to marketing and smashing barriers to Cooperative Sustainability between communities. From their website, participants will:

learn the essentials of sustainability and climate change
identify drivers for organizational and behavoiral change
develop positive environmental and social strategies and implement new initiatives
understand credible marketing strategies and how to avoid 'greenwashing'
learn how to measure and report on carbon accounting

Did I mention I'm excited? So yes, I've contacted the Centre for further information. Though it's not offered yet, the Centre will be introducing the program as an Award of Achievement in the fall (this means taking about seven or eight courses in the program). And any courses taken now will be allocated as credit should one wish to apply for graduation from the Award of Achievement in Sustainability Management at a later date. All courses in UBC Continuing Studies are open to the public; they are a non-degree component to the university, so one need not be registered as a degree student to take any course with them. I think I'll take a couple next month, thank you very much.

I know this does not guarentee me any jobs come completion of the program but what I like is it opens my networking circle to another level of research opportunity (and I can claim the credit come next tax season!). D has warned that the market for Sustainability right now is stalled as a result of economic downturn; nobody can really afford to be Green. But this economy will turn around and contracts will become available again. I remain hopeful and excited about the opportunity to grow in knowledge and experience.

Hopeful Motivation

2009-04-01T20:11:00.000-07:00

I decided early in January this year that I would dedicate myself to expanding my potential for professional opportunity. I'm a contracting research consultant and the very nature of that work means that I'm never sure I will have a job to call mine after each "call-up" has reached its end. This can be anxiety provoking in even the most confident but I've resolved to live in the present and let the future fall where it may, a mindful dedication to the delightful Eckhart Tolle. Whether or not my contract gets renewed is out of my hands, so I've taken a proactive approach to facilitate future opportunity should the inevitability of joblessness become reality.

It's really all about Networking - a support system for sharing information between individuals and groups with common interests. It's been a long while since I felt entirely "dialed-in" to the events and happenings of my community. I've probably been absent from this since I left University six years ago. There I wove a tidy little web of academic and professional contacts through my colleagues and professors, and their colleagues and professors, etc.... The Academy encourages dialogue on up to date topics and offers opportunity by virtue of its self-serving existence. There we learn to do research and sometimes, truthfully kind of rarely, they'll even pay. But then, horror upon horror, we graduate. We leave the safety zone of contacts, friends, debate and are thrust into the real world where it's every gal for herself. The network breaks down unless you make concerted efforts to regain those connections.

So this year is dedicated to action. The first step in this process for me was to reconnect with my old friend Anthropology. I keep my eye out for public presentations through UBC's Museum of Anthropology, the Archaeology Society of British Columbia, and any meetings of professional societies of interest. I resolve to attend these meetings and lectures and shake some hands, to acquaint and reacquaint, to say "What a blessing to meet you," or "You may not remember me, what a pleasure to see you again," and maybe, just maybe, "May I send you my resume?"

So my next step in the plan for all things brighter and beautiful led to a retooling of my resume. In perusing my Google results for creating the best, eye-catching resume I came across a fantastic site I'd like to share. It's called 10 Great Social Sites for Resume Building. Here I ran across another site I'd never heard of before but now am quite a fan and this is where Resume and Networking come together in a beautiful marriage of my convenience. LinkedIn garners the second spot on 10 Great Social Sites for Resume Building and here's why it's so popular.

LinkedIn acts a giant database of resumes, fellow colleagues, potential jobs, potential employers, and groups with common professional or intellectual interests. You simply build your resume, make contact with coworkers and friends, and if you are really gung-ho, make contact with perfect strangers all in an effort to create and enhance your network to like-minded people. My profile is a work in progress but I already have two "connections" and have been approved membership in "The Anthropology Network" group. My profile can be located at http://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanierohdin and I really, really hope I'll find some colleagues to link up with. The world may be every gal for herself but I work best as part of a team, especially one where we can all help each other to grow.

Resume? Check. Networking? Check. Next step for me is to get in contact with old friends who have made progress in their chosen fields. I'm tired of feeling professionally stalled. I am motivated to work toward business growth and am interested in finding out the secrets to this endeavour. I'm not sure what's next but I do know it starts with questions. How are you making it work? How did you become so successful? What are my chances? May I send you my resume?

Healthy Living in Other People's Words

2009-03-27T15:59:00.000-07:00

I find life to be, on the most part, an easily traveled path. I trundle along, taking care of myself and regularly checking in on those who matter most to me. Occasionally, an unexpected interaction with other people or events can shake things up a bit. And believe me, when this happens I sometimes feel as though life is as difficult a summit to ascend as Mount Olympus. My day-to-day life is as stress-less as possible due, in large part, to explorations I've taken into healthy living. So I thought I'd take a moment to share with you 5 books I regularly consult for a healthy mind, body, and spirit.

1. An Open Heart: Practicing Compassion in Everyday Life, by the Dalai Lama.

I studied a wee bit of Eastern Philosophy in University many years ago now. There are parts of some established religions that I find compelling but the Dalai Lama's Buddhist teachings on compassion are unparalleled. It's not that compassion isn't readily heralded in most religions as being one of the greatest virtues one can hold. It's that the Dalai Lama offers an inspiring guide to the practical application of such a path. When you help others, you do indeed help yourself.

2. Feeling Fat, Fuzzy, or Frazzled, by Richard and Karilee Shames.

The problem with leading a stressed, work-filled, play-less life is that you run the risk of wearing out your body's physical ability to take care of itself. Loads of people feel exhausted, and loads of people are diagnosed with the ailment du siecle, Depression. I don't want to suggest that Depression is a figment of our collective imaginations, I don't believe that at all and I wouldn't want to devalue anyone's life experience because of it. However, for many others they have simply overtaxed the delicate hormonal balance between the Thyroid, Adrenal, and Reproductive glands. This book helps you identify what your potential Endocrine deficiency may be and recommends advice on what you need to know, need to do, and how to work along with your General Practitioner or Naturapathic Doctor to alleviate those horrible symptoms. This book has changed my life.

3. A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose, by Eckhart Tolle.

Eckart Tolle is my favorite of today's Spiritual Advisors. His lessons on focusing on the present and working toward elimination of ego-based thought patterns have left me the most powerfully happy individual I have ever been. I am a work in progress so I continually consult this book for little reminders. A rewarding life exists in the "Now" so I'm embracing it all.

4. The 100-Mile Diet: A Year of Local Eating, by Alisa Smith and J.B. Mackinnon.

Though I have never undertaken the monumental effort of eating local for a year, I must admit this book has the potential to inspire the idea in even the most doubtful. The lesson is clear: a simple, urban pioneering life can only, ultimately, lead to a healthier people and earth. I find the idea of getting back to basics quite an endearing prospect. I long to grow my own food, can it, gift it, store it. I've promised myself to visit the Farmer's Markets every weekend this year. I'm starting small.

5. Eat Pray Love, by Elizabeth Gilbert.

I find myself cringing at the idea of promoting such a popular book. But I can't help but embrace a book that covers three of my main obsessions: Food, Spirituality, and Love. And the author explores these over three different countries! Reading it is like eavesdropping on a stranger's travelogue adventure and honestly, observing someone else struggle with and come to terms with failings and successes will leave you wishing the story continued. It will also leave you desiring and learning the same for yourself.

These books have all struck a very deep and resonant chord in my life. If you choose to pick up one or two I hope they can do the same. I wish you Compassion, Energy, Consciousness, Health, and Adventure in all that you do.

Blog Intentions

2009-03-27T14:43:00.000-07:00

Well hello Blogverse. This is my first post to "Life According to Me." Actually I believe it's my first attempt at blogging ever. I'm a late bloomer. But there's no time like the present to delve deep into that which is old news to everyone else. I thought I'd just take a moment to let you know what my intentions are for this space. I have grand plans and am hopeful those plans don't turn the same route as that half-knitted scarf under the coffee table, those 2 or 4 novels scattered throughout my bedroom and bathroom, and that haircut I've been meaning to get for about 2 years. Yes, I have some trouble with follow-through. That's about to change folks.

I love to write, so blogging seems perhaps a logical step in the evolution of Stephie. A place where I can parley observations, offer suggestions, encourage dialogue, and sometimes just wax on and on about things in which you'll have absolutely no interest. Or will you?

Some future topics I already have in mind:

My top 5 novels and why
My top 5 cds and why
My top 5 movies and why
Links to websites that have been helpful to me
Observations of interest perhaps only to me

So that should keep me going for some time. I hope to be involved seriously with this as a means for creative outlet and will hopefully blog once or twice a week. I'm nervous. Maybe that's just because this is all a bit of an unknown for now. But everyone's doing it right?

Happy times.