03Feb 2017 by Leah Feor No Comments

Wetlands Key to Success of Global Goals

All Posts, Featured, Sustainable Development Goals

Did you know that once upon a time wetlands were considered wastelands? A lot has changed since then. Today, they hold high importance globally and are protected under international treaty to ensure wise use for sustainable development. Having just celebrated World Wetlands Day, I thought this would be a great topic to showcase the interconnection of Global Goal 14: Life Below Water & Global Goal 15: Life on Land. “A Wetland is a meeting area where Water and Land become one" ~ Romain About Wetlands As you might know or have guessed, they are plots of land saturated in water. Land submerged under water is either seasonal or year round. Wetlands are identified by plants adaptable to saturated soil conditions caused by water at or near the surface. The soil type…

17May 2016 by Leah Feor No Comments

Energy: The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly

All Posts, Sustainable Development Goals

Is it fair to say that the root of sustainable development is sustainable energy? Much like the industrial revolution was heavily brought forth by burning coal, the restorative revolution can be fueled by clean and renewable energy. An electric car is only as good as the energy used to charge it. If we are charging an electric car with fossil fuel generated power, how much further ahead are we? This is one of the many questions that come to mind when I think about how our energy system can shift from reliance on fossil fuels. Alternative Technology Goal 7 of the Sustainable Development Goals is Affordable and Clean Energy, and while there are only 5 targets that directly relate to this goal – achieving them will make a world of…

20Mar 2016 by Leah Feor No Comments

Why World Water Day Becomes Twice as Important Each Year

All Posts, Sustainable Development Goals

Do you practice water conservation at home? Once you become mindful of water use, you begin to notice how easy it is to save clean water from being wasted. Here we are – a third of the way through the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set out by the UN – Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation. Water is a basic human right, accessible, clean water, is a birth right that has been taken from the reach of far too many citizens and living creatures on this planet. As water becomes more polluted across the globe, the injustices associated with it become crystal clear. A portion of the population has taken this resource for granted; a growing population is deprived of it. While I did learn about water conservation growing up from…

10Feb 2016 by Leah Feor No Comments

We Can Learn a Lesson Anywhere & Find a Classroom Everywhere

All Posts, Sustainable Development Goals

Do you believe you can learn a lesson beyond a classroom limited by four walls? I see education as a two way street with many stops along the journey. What I put into it, I get out of it. Over the years I have found different ways to learn, many of them outside the four walls of an academic institution. That being said, I am extremely grateful for the two decades I spent in school at the primary, secondary, and post-secondary level. Those twenty years were a blessing, and I am very fortunate to have had the opportunity. Of course the reality is that despite the fact that we can learn anywhere, there is still a large part of our global population that does not have the means or the…

26Jan 2016 by Leah Feor No Comments

Working Towards Global Goal 2: Zero Hunger

All Posts, Sustainable Development Goals

Do you think it's possible to feed our world's population with the global resources we have? Global Goal 2: Zero Hunger. That’s a big one, but not impossible. The problem has been identified: “…extreme hunger and malnutrition remains a huge barrier to development in many countries.” Perhaps we can even edit that to state that it is a huge barrier for development in every community since people all over the world are negatively affected by hunger. Seeking Solutions A child that does not eat properly faces health problems; much like an adult that consumes more processed food than vegetables is not in a healthy state. I could go on for a long while about the problems – because let’s face it – there are plenty. Instead, I prefer to focus on…

11Jan 2016 by Leah Feor No Comments

Sustainability Sweet Spot

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Ever tried to fit a square peg into a round hole? How about a round peg into a square hole? I have, and the results are amazing. You see, I always believed myself to be a round peg. And after researching the term a little bit deeper, it's all so clear. The origins of the idiom are attributed to the 19th-century British philosopher and cleric Sydney Smith who uses the word “misfit” to define the peg. Of course, that makes sense – mis-fit. Another part of the example I found quite interesting – “trying to combine two things that do not belong or fit together”. That one triggered an interesting memory. The Big Question It was fourth year of university, and as I was standing in front of the students in…

28Nov 2014 by Leah Feor No Comments

Purchase with Purpose

All Posts, Triple Bottom Line

There is a fine line between conservation and hoarding. Seeing value in so many things can lead to not throwing items away. To be completely honest – despite being a Virgo – I am not very tidy. My older Sister (by only 22 months) has been a role model to me ever since I can remember. She has been there for me in one way or another for decades and I am so grateful for our commitment to each other. Luckily one of her expertise and hobbies is Clutter Crackdown and I was her guinea pig. It took a long time for what she was saying to sink in, however, over the years her voice (echoed by my mother’s) finally makes sense. I am finding liberation and enjoyment in getting…

08Nov 2014 by Leah Feor No Comments

How do you take your Coffee?

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Recently a retailer asked me a very important question: what brand of Fair Trade Coffee do you recommend? As an avid coffee drinker and inspired to walk the talk, I brew an assortment of Fair Trade, Direct Trade & Beyond Fair Trade coffees. Off the top of my head I rhymed off a few that she could check out – however the question still sits on my mind. Where we spend our money has such a big impact on shaping the world – I wanted to ensure that I was directing her to the best bag of coffee based on her ethical values. What is the ideal coffee for a retailer looking to offer positive products? It was a great question and ever since she asked (about a month ago),…

01Aug 2014 by Leah Feor No Comments

Waste not, want not

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Everybody wants to get ahead. Well, what it we got ahead of ourselves? Why not slow it down? Take a decade just to catch up with the information and developments. We are revolutionizing products every second. The new & improved are coming out faster than we can keep up with. As a result, having the latest trends is indebting us to jobs we do not love and a lifestyle we cannot sustain. Technology is wonderful, in so many ways. The example of me being able to share my blog online rather than mail it out randomly to the world is simply incredible and efficient. The amount of lives that have been saved with new development of old practices is astonishing. Transportation, education, agriculture, entertainment, and many other parts of our…

07May 2014 by Leah Feor No Comments

What Makes a City Sustainable?

All Posts, Fair Trade, Triple Bottom Line

Do you live in a city that practices sustainable development? For me, the desire to live in a truly sustainable city inspired me to become a student again. Luckily this time around technology offers a unique opportunity to learn from great teachers located around the world for free. The online course taught by Prof Jeffrey Sachs offered through coursera.org was eye opening. Sustainable Development based on the key principles of Social Inclusion, Environmental Sustainability, & Economic Development is a great objective for the road ahead. The course concluded last week leaving students with an abundance of knowledge and tools to help us work together at achieving the Sustainable Development Goals set out by the United Nations. Conscious Consumption Being an entrepreneur teaches me many things that I never would have learned in…