In the wake of Black Friday, as consumers gave thanks for the mega deals, a tragedy in the developing world provided a stark reminder of the impacts of our consumption and drive for profit. On Saturday night, November 26, 2012, at least 112 workers were killed in a Bangladesh garment factory. Some broke windows, jumping from … Continue reading
For us Canadians and many others around the world, the change in season brings about a change in wardrobe as sandals and shorts are replaced by snowboots and marshmallow-esque (fake) fur-lined parkas. And while the majority of my summer clothes are merely relegated to the back of the drawer for the next few months, there’s never … Continue reading
Waste is one of those words that is so widely used we often forget to question what it really means. It may only be five letters long but it’s a big word. It can be used as a verb, noun or adjective to refer to a substance or object, thoughtlessness, a missed opportunity or inefficiency. … Continue reading
As another October comes to a close, many of us will find ourselves viewing the world through rose coloured lenses as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month brings an explosion of pink everything – from ribbons and bracelets to blenders and frying pans. And while we’ve all heard about the problems with greenwashing (explored in my earlier article … Continue reading
As a cyclist in Toronto, the very fact that a bike lane exists on any given street is cause for celebration. But since the majority of our precious lanes are not separated, these lanes also often serve as parking spots for delivery trucks, city service vehicles and anyone else who needs to make a pit stop. This isn’t … Continue reading
In today’s visual media focused society what better way to learn about environmental issues than through film? Luckily the Planet in Focus film festival has got us covered! This week from October 10-14, 2012 Canada’s largest environmental film festival hits the theatres of Toronto. This year’s festival features some great environmental classics like Manufactured Landscapes, a stark and … Continue reading
Since 2006, the Nuit Blanche (white night) art festival has transformed Toronto into an urban playground and sensory feast for one full night, from dusk to dawn. Originally started in 1984 in France, Nuit Blanche is now held in cities around the world. Art and interactive installations are set all around the city and there’s always something spectacular. At Toronto’s … Continue reading
I bike everywhere in the city. I strap on my helmet and birkenstocks and head for the streets. But sometimes I like to look a little more ‘put together’ than usual. In the post Bike Love I talked about the wide range of biking benefits. There’s the obvious fact that bikes don’t release greenhouse gas emissions … Continue reading
With most products now claiming some sort of green claim to fame it’s important to distinguish real benefits from the marketing ploys. To this point, this great little info-graphic below explains the various types of greenwashing and provides some interesting statistics. Green claims are big business as this graphic suggests that 9 out of 10 shoppers … Continue reading
Just a quick update to announce that my next upcoming speaking engagement will be at the Wide World of Waste in Jasper, Alberta, Canada. The conference is being held October 3-5 and is hosted by the Recycling Council of Alberta. I’ll be presenting my research on what zero waste means as a theoretical concept compared … Continue reading
urban bandit 