"No Impact Week" Comes to VIU Feb. 15 - 22 | News | Vancouver Island University

February 11, 2015 - 9:45am

The No Impact experiment is coming to Vancouver Island University (VIU) in Nanaimo.

No Impact Week is a one-week carbon cleanse February 15 to 22 that allows participants to experience the difference lowering their impact on the environment can have on quality of life, the community, and the planet.

“The No Impact Week is about discovering how living a more environmentally friendly lifestyle can increase personal fulfillment, health, happiness, and time with family and friends,” says Sacia Burton, a fourth year Politics and Philosophy student and coordinator of VIU’s student-led club Solutions: A Sustainability Network.

“We’re hosting this event because we are committed to promoting, supporting, and exploring sustainability on campus and in the community.”

The week kicks off with a screening of the No Impact Man film (2009) on Thursday, Feb. 12 at 7 pm, Building 355, Room 203.There will be a discussion following the film and the opportunity to register for No Impact Week.

Beginning Sunday, Feb. 15, participants will work through a series of eight daily challenges, from decreasing trash production and home energy use, to eating locally and sustainably. The week will wrap up with a day of Giving Back through a local beach clean up on Feb. 21.

Faculty, students, staff, and community members are encouraged to participate. Registration ensures that all who wish to participate will get the daily emails and be up-to-date on events happening during the week. Register at http://noimpactproject.org/2013/01/university/

“No Impact Week is not about telling people to deprive themselves and have less, but to replace the destructive behaviours that are ruining our environment with behaviour that’s better for both people and the planet,” Burton adds.

“Bringing No Impact Week to VIU is a great chance to open up some dialogue about what we consume, and why,” she adds. “I think it will definitely connect some dots, and hopefully spark some great conversations.”

No Impact Week was inspired by The No Impact Project founder Colin Beavan’s own year-long experiment in living a zero-waste lifestyle with his family in New York City. Their efforts were documented in the popular No Impact Man book, film, and blog, and since then over 50,000 people worldwide have participated in a low-impact living challenge of their own through No Impact Week events.

For more information about VIU’s No Impact Week, contact Sacia Burton at 250.739.3363 or email sacia.burton@hotmail.ca. To find out more about the project, visit www.noimpactproject.org

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