Emma Katherine Chiyoko Dines
College: University of Waterloo
Major: Independent Studies Program—studying holistic and alternative education, art, and drama
Program Abroad: Living Routes Findhorn Fall 2007 Program—through the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Living Routes Semester programs allow students to live and study in small groups within ecovillage communities. Four courses are offered each term and span topics such as Sustainable Design, Worldviews and Consciousness and Group Dynamics.
Location: Scotland (Fall 2007) and India (Winter 2008)
Language: Tamil is the main language of the area in India that I will be living in. I would love to learn some but it is not a focus of my program.
I am really passionate about being mindful of our impact on the planet. I think the Green Passport program will remind me to make careful and informed choices, and pass some ideas along to others who may be interested!
Wherever I go, I try to raise awareness about environment and social justice issues. In my past two years at school I have worked on environmental issues pertaining to my university residence as a member of the environment committee and later as the Student Council Environment Rep. I have also worked on the V-Day Campaign for the past two years, raising money for and awareness of local organizations working to stop violence against women and children. The campaign's main activity is an annual production of Eve Ensler's controversial but hilarious show "The Vagina Monologues." I have directed the show for two years in a row, and our campaign's productions raised $10 000 for local organizations. It was a really exciting campaign to work on, but I am ready to take a break from it during my year abroad to learn more about sustainability and other social justice issues.