Meet Michael (“Mike, just Mike”) Adamson, a U2 Environment and Development Major who enjoys long walks in the woods, has a great head on his shoulders, and a great head of hair to boot.
As Mike and I sit down to talk over green tea at Second Cup, I can’t tell if it’s the frigid air outside that has his cheeks so red, or if he’s nervous to talk himself up for this interview. What do you need to know about me? he asks. “Let’s start with your involvement on and off campus in regards to your environmental endeavours.” I’m poised over my Mac, quick fingers at the ready to type away as he takes a sip of tea and begins to tell me about what it’s like to be the AUS Rep for the McGill Environment Student Society (MESS). “I get to sit in at Arts Undergraduate Society Council meetings and act as the middleman between MESS and AUS to make sure everything’s in order for whatever event we’re hosting or project we’re working on at the moment. For example, this semester we’re planning on selling McGill School of Environment Apparel, so keep an eye out for that. Oh, and everyone’s favourite samosa sales are a must-sell in terms of our fundraising efforts.” A collective yaaaas is whispered across campus.
Aside from the funds earmed from their clothing ventures, MESS also organizes the familiar professor talks, and wine and cheese events for Environment students, as well as anyone else who is interested in this hot topic. “That kind of info for our events and fundraisers can be found on our Facebook group,” he tells me. “So, everyone go like McGill School of Environment Facebook page!” Let it be known that Mike does what he does not #forthelikes, but for the betterment of our environment.
Aside from being involved on campus, Mike also tries to keep an environmentally-conscious mindset off campus. “I’m a vegetarian…nine times out of ten [laughs]. Don’t meat shame me! It’s a tough process and I falter once in a while. Midnight Kitchen and Lola Rosa help with the transition in my diet.” I enthusiastically nod my head in agreement, making a mental note to stop by the latter on my way home for a sweet potato and jalepeño quesadilla. In all seriousness, Mike feels strongly about the importance of educating yourself (yes, you) about how your daily activities, habits and seemingly innocent practices affect the environment in a huge way. “I recently watched Cowspiracy on Netflix and I think it’s just a huge wake up call for people who are maybe a bit lax or even uninterested about our environmental issues,” he tells me, exasperatedly running his fingers through his hair for dramatic effect. “Not only are they environmental issues, but they are changeable! I mean, we can change our habits little by little, like cutting out meat from our diet, and it would make a massive difference. Go home and watch it…it’s educational, interesting and a good excuse to Netflix and Chill.” I laugh encouragingly, and probe him about what kind of work he does beyond school and making small changes to his everyday habits.
He straightens up and begins to tell me all about his summer working with Bullfrog Power, a 100% green energy company. “I spent the summer going door to door, bugging people about what is actually a crucial issue in today’s world; green energy. If you want the more professional-sounding term, I was in, ahem, ‘residential sales’.” Elaborating on his on-the-ground responsibilities, Mike tells me how he, “got to talk to people in my community about green energy. Bullfrog Power offers customers the chance to pay a small premium in order to have green energy fed into their power grid from wind farms and small hydro projects. This essentially decreases the amount of natural gas that needs to be burned in order to create power.” He takes one look at my semi-perplexed face and his own face breaks into a relaxed smile. “Basically, when you opt in to Bullfrog Power, we increase the green energy being pumped into your power grid, which means that the Ontario Government doesn’t have to pump as much energy from burning natural gas – it’s a really good thing.” I nod my head understanding, and gesture for him to continue. “I really enjoyed being a part of an environmentally-conscious company like Bullfrog Power, it was awesome to be educating people in my community about how to make the small changes necessary in order to protect our environment on a larger scale.”
Mike’s environmental ventures don’t stop there. “This summer I’m interning with Community Cooker in Kenya,” he explains excitedly. “Community Cooker produces cheap and sustainable energy by using waste products and provide this kind of alternative energy to impoverished communities in Nairobi.” Go, Mike, go!
Making small changes like Mike has can really add up and make a difference in a big way. Imagine the kind of study space McLennan would have if people stopped ‘saving seats’ with torn pieces of paper, empty salad boxes and unsharpened pencils. If we all just occupied a smaller space at the desk, recycled that empty salad container, sharpened that pencil and got to work, the McLennan environment would be a better place for everyone! I know it’s a bit of a superficial and stretched analogy, but every little bit helps, so why not help our environment?
Cover image obtained from: The interviewee
Other image obtained from: https://www.facebook.com/groups/mcgill.environment/?fref=ts