Think Globally Act Locally | The Power Of R

The last month and a half has been a whirlwind of presentations and lesson planning at Vanier, Isfeld, and Carihi High. I spent a fantastic afternoon with GP Vanier's media production class speaking about video production to reduce solid waste. The dynamic group has been producing videos and I think you should watch this funky piece about personal style and reusable bags.

I spent a week with Mark R. Isfeld's Honours Liberal Arts class speaking about environment, globalization, and solutions for the planet's worst dilemmas that include fresh water shortages and waste production. I spent an incredible amount of time working with a really intensive curriculum and preparing students for the tricky essay questions on final exams in English 11, and Social Studies 11. I could easily spend a year going into depth teaching this exciting content but managed to get it introduced in a single week. I love this age group and teaching this complex subject matter. If you teach Social Studies 11, I would be happy to spend 1 to 5 days with your class. This service is free of charge for schools in district #71 and #72. Send me an email and we can meet to discuss everything ahead of time.

There were several presentations at Carihi High last month. Two of my favorites were with Wayne Demers' Social Studies 11 class and his Geography 12 class. Both of these incredible audiences were so engaged and energized I thought we were all going to explode. Learning about alternative lifestyle and reducing our collective impacts on the earth can be so amazing and transformational. These two classes in particular "got it" and my heart is still racing just thinking about what a great time we had. Several of the students have sent me emails asking questions, getting connections and finding out more information on how to get involved at a deeper level in their community service commitments and transforming their lifestyle from material wants to contributory needs. This is the reward of my work and every day is a bright adventure in the classrooms of Central Vancouver Island. I'm already looking forward to a revolutionary year in 2011-2012 on the road to Zero Waste in all of our public facilities.

Throughout the year I have the privilege of visiting The House - of Carihi High. The vibe at the school is always friendly and I enjoy being there. The staff is super positive and happy to be at what they consider the best school in Campbell River. One of those bright lights is Wayne Demers. Wayne is a force of nature when it comes to teaching and it makes me really happy and honoured to visit his classes every semester. Jim Vining is another teacher that is an inspiration. Jim vacations in Mexico once a year with his family and they participates in recycling projects and random beach clean-ups. This term one of Jim's classes really intrigued me and it went a little something like this out of the gate: "hi my name's Zac and I'm here to talk to you today about our  solid waste issues in Campbell River." "Woe... that's disgusting," a hair twirling young woman blurted out from the back of the classroom. "Yes," I said, "I agree."

Solid waste is invisible in Campbell River and the Comox Valley right until you stand on top of it. We throw stuff away and it  teleports on a magic carpet made out of tax dollars to garbage mountain - it is the antithesis of Eden. Some would say we're living in a fantasy of over consumption and the result of that fantasy is starting to suffocate our biosphere. When the garbage arrives at the landfill it celebrates with the seagulls for the split second before it gets crushed by an 8 ton compactor and driven into the ground where it will live out the next 200o years. In Campbell River the waste is almost stacked high enough to break the tree line and see the ocean. That's pretty high; and, the landfill is almost full so it's closing shop in a couple of years. Soon operators will sort waste in Campbell River, load it onto trucks and transport it from Campbell River  to Comox Valley Waste Management Centre (formerly Pigeon Lake Landfill). "Shipping waste 40 km south and piling it on an even larger garbage mountain is 'disgusting,' and we should do something about it."

From this point on things always get more positive and really energized. I was sensing some real energy in the room but needed to diffuse my intensity a little to let everyone breath and figure out their plan. I asked "what do you do on the weekend in CR- you know - for fun?" "We party," one champion of excellence chirped from the center of the class. "I used to do that too in High School and it takes a significant am0unt of energy, time, money and coordination to throw a party, even if it is snowing in the bush. How many of you here help spread the word, coordinate, gather 'supplies' or participate in parties on the weekend?"  80% of the class raised their hands or nodded confidently. The other 20% were curious so I thought I would continue on my new tangent and catch up with them later on.

I read the class pretty well and now I wanted to turn the energy back up. I often feel like jumping around when the Juice starts flowing back at me from the audience... so I do. People think it's a little odd at first but entertaining. All that energy is too big for the room so jumping helps. :)

As I looked around there were some really good potential leaders in that class - men and women with charisma. They were loud, very clear in their delivery and motivations and, although slightly culturally misguided, incredibly idealistic when it came to partying. I get it - I was there once and in actual fact these kids have the skills and talent to pull off something big and positive for their community - fast.

I could tell they were the hub of the school's social network and the hub is where most things begin, fail  and succeed from. The "event planning," as I started to call partying, takes a lot of skill to do well and if I'm not mistaken this class does it well because the collective intensity level shot up ten notches the second I started to ask questions about the reality of weekends in Campbell River. Girls, boys and 'supplies' equates to opportunity for connections that make life worth living in High School. However, girls, boys and experiences that change the world for the better can make life incredible for everyone. "That's the real party that we are all capable of throwing and there are no headaches in the morning. When you are ready to create a real legacy with real rewards, contact me and I'll do whatever I can using my strengths to get you there or connect you to the people you need to meet."

Most teachers may have been uncomfortable letting this kind of conversation brew up but considering the chemistry and the honesty that started pouring out, Jim Vining confidently let  our day turn into something really worthwhile. Although my idealism is really obvious and admittedly really intense, it's a crucial part of  what I do. I know that I will be speaking and engaging in community building projects for the rest of my life, so when people hear that they know one person that they can turn to for direction when inspiration hits them.

In a few years from now these kids are going to be taking on roles in the community that require the most energy and the highest levels of intensity because they have those qualities... that's what I was thinking in the moment but here's the surprise finish; I have received more emails asking questions and commenting articulately, positively and passionately from this single class than all of the classes I have spoken to in the last six months combined. I'm excited to see what happens - the odds are heavily stacked that one of these leaders will be running a show full of brilliant, lasting ideas for this community. Watching the wheels turn is a powerful experience.

“Zac held everyone’s interest for two and a half hours. in fact we could have gone into overtime! A great discussion followed the presentation and students were inspired to do something – even one small thing – to make our home, the planet, a better place.” – Jim Vining – SS11 Teacher – Carihi High Secondary

The Comox Strathcona Waste Management (CSWM) service is gearing up to show residents another smashing good time while keeping a frightening amount of waste out of our landfills (unless, of course, you are going to be turning them into yummy pumpkin pie, muffins or other baked goods).  

The CSWM service will be supporting the third annual Thrifty Foods Pumpkin Smash event on Monday, November 1 from 2 – 6 p.m. at the Comox Valley compost education centre (4795 Headquarters Road, Courtenay) and in Campbell River on Tuesday, November 2 from 1 – 5 p.m. in the parking lot of Strathcona Gardens Recreation Complex (225 South Dogwood Street, Campbell River).  Residents are encouraged to bring their jack-o-lanterns to this family fun event and smash them into compost rather than simply throwing them away.

“A majority of the thousands of pumpkins that are sold in this area are carved into jack-o-lanterns for celebrations on October 31st and then just thrown into the garbage as soon as Halloween is over.  It is such a waste,” said Koreen Gurak, manager of communications for the Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD).  “By choosing to smash your pumpkin at this event, you will help save valuable space in our landfill and end up with wonderful pumpkin compost for spring gardening.”

Anyone interested in having a great time while doing their part for the environment is encouraged to give their jack-o-lanterns one final hurrah by getting them absolutely smashed! Also, enter to win prizes and enjoy refreshments courtesy of Thrifty Foods.  For more information on the pumpkin smash visit www.comoxvalleyrd.ca then click onto the notice board. 

The Comox Strathcona Waste Management (CSWM) service is a function of the Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD) and is responsible for two regional waste management centres that serve the Comox Valley and Campbell River, as well as a range of transfer stations and smaller waste-handling and recycling facilities for the electoral areas of the CVRD and the Strathcona Regional District. The CSWM service manages over 100,000 tonnes of waste and recycled material and oversees a number of diversion and education programs.

Media Contact:
Koreen Gurak
Manager Of Communications
Comox Valley Regional District
250-334-6066