Page 7 - QMSConnectionsMagazine-2020-21-digital

KATIA BANNISTER (’21)

The COVID-19 pandemic has
created many changes in my life
these past few months. Online
schooling has had its ups and
downs, but the highlights of
my distance learning have
revolved around the ways I’ve
been able to incorporate my
extracurricular community
organizing activities into my
Environmental Science class.
I am the leader of the
Cowichan Valley Earth Guardians
crew. We are a group of
socially and environmentally
aware youth who engage with
our community to educate
about and work on social and
environmental issues. The is through my blog. Recently, taken advantage of these
pandemic has disallowed I have written about how online opportunities through
organizing community events COVID-19 is affecting climate participation and presentation.
and meeting with community action, a resurgence of victory The pandemic has made
members in traditional ways, gardens and concern about extracurricular education
consequently it has tested our food security during the opportunities more accessible.
creativity and resiliency as youth pandemic and the need for a Webinars are now occurring
activists. green recovery from COVID-19. daily and organizations are going
One way my group has To learn more about the Fridays the extra mile to make sure they
continued to raise awareness for Future digital strike and continue to offer educational
about climate change is by other initiatives I am involved opportunities despite COVID-19.
participating in the Fridays in, visit my blog Sowing Seeds I recently presented on the
for Future digital strike. Each of Change. Education about subjects of youth in the climate
Friday we take pictures the implications the pandemic crisis and intergenerational
of ourselves holding signs carries involving environmental collaboration for the Centre for
that promote climate and protection is essential to Global Studies at the University
environmental action. I have ensuring that the pandemic of Victoria.
also been taking advantage of does not cause long lasting
my time at home to do more harm to our capacity to protect
land based learning, such ecological communities.
as foraging and sharing my While COVID-19 has been
endeavours on social media. cancelling in-person events,
Another way I personally many events have been
continue to raise awareness moved online. Both my
about environmental issues organizing group and I have

“
Continuing to make sure environmental and climate
issues stay in the spotlight despite the pandemic is
critical. As it has for decades, the time for climate
action remains now.

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