Queen's Backing Action on Climate Change is an activist based campus group that aims to create an environmental social movement at Queen's and contribute to a national movement through a diversity of tactics and whatever non-violent means necessary. QBACC's campaigns are primarily politically focused, attempting to achieve local and regional victories on climate that send strong political messages to other communities(regional, provincial and national in scale) that climate change is a priority that needs to be addressed.
QBACC was founded in 2008 and functions in a consensus based anti-oppressive framework.
Although QBACC's overarching focus is, and has always been, organizing Queen's students in the flight against Global Climate Change, our mission can be delineated along the following goals:
Working with the Queen's Administration to sign the Principal's Climate Initiative (PCI)
Queens currently has the decision to sign one of two vastly different climate commitments.
The first commitment is the Presidents Climate Initiative (PCI) a powerful commitment that would obligate Queens to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) in accord with the most current science, incorporate climate change and environmental awareness into our curriculum, and become a leader on climate change in Canada. The other commitment is being drafted locally by Ontario Universities. This agreement is devoid of real commitments, fails to address climate change, and essentially ensures business as usual for institutions of higher learning in Ontario. Help Queens pick the right commitment and in turn make a commitment to our generations future.
Working with the Board of Trustees to Divest the University endowment funds from any company financing or contracting in the Albertan Oil Sands
Queens University has invested millions of dollars in the Tar sands, the largest environmental disaster in North America. The Tar sands are predicted to triple in size by 2015, becoming the largest single source of GHGs in the world. Canada will never be able to meet the necessary emissions reductions mandated by any international treaty as long as the Tar Sands are running.
The possibility of carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) which has been the Albertan Governments solution to pollution from the Tar Sands does not work. The Federal Minister of the Environment Jim Prentice recently made statements that CCS is completely unfeasible for the Tar Sands, both in terms of available technology and cost. Arresting global warming and developing the Albertan tar sands are two incompatible actions.
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QBACC is open for anyone to join.
Please contact us at Queensbacc_gmail.com to get involved. Below are the profiles of some of our lead organizers
Ashlee Woolfson is a third year student in SSP Life Science. She can most often be found at the ARC or dancing to various musical soundtracks. She loves promoting environmentally friendly living (to the point of annoyance) and is committed to doing everything in her power to make Queens a more sustainable place.
Josephine Minhinnett
Jo is a 3rd year English major who joined QBACC in the heat of the 2009 What Will Woolf Do? Campaign. She is a strong advocate of non-violent direct action and promoting sustainable living practices.
Her favourite things include the duty wine and Burrito Boyz.
Jeff MacSween
Jeff is a 3rd year Engineering Chemistry student who hopes to specialize into the emerging green chemistry field. He originally joined QBACC upon a friends recommendation to do something different while leaving a positive impact. He soon became captivated in the groups cause and now seeks to make noticeable and meaningful changes in Queens policy to enable the university to become more sustainable and environmentally conscious. Jeff also likes to build stuff, reading when there is time, learning new things, and challenging authority when given the opportunity.
Eric Shoesmith
Eric is in his second year at Queen's University doing an Environmental Science major with a minor in Political Studies. He became very passionate about dealing with environmental issues after working for the Ministry of Natural Resources during the summer of grade 11. Since then he has become very interested in the emerging renewable energy sector, the green economy, and the associated opportunities that each will hold in the future.
Coming into Queen's, he wanted to find a club that would meet these interests. After wading through the crowds on clubs night last year, he soon found what he was looking for. As a member of QBACC, he quickly became engaged by a climate change rally on parliament hill, the promotion of solar panels on campus, and some memorable socials! Outside of QBACC he enjoys camping every summer, reading historical fiction, and playing sports such as hockey, soccer, and rugby.
Eric is a first year wanting to go into environmental science, from Aurora Ontario, im a twin, love playing and watching hockey (loyal to the leafs... -no matter what!), and I love puns lol.
Thevishka Kanishkan
Thevishka is in her 5th year of Environmental Biology at Queen's, with aspirations to become a marine biologist. She has been involved in QBACC since second year and is passionate about environmental issues, especially those linked to climate change. Last year she went on exchange to the University of Oslo, Norway, and realized that Arctic marine biology is quite possibly the coolest field of biology (pun intended). She also likes puns, being on, in, or near the ocean, scuba diving, and loving life.
Cassandra Cummings
Cassandra is a 1st year MSc Biology student and loving it! Shes been passionate about protecting the environment ever since she took over recycling duty at her house at the tender age of 5. A heated debate at the end of first year led to the decision to switch from a major in biochemistry to environmental biology. Her hobbies include dancing, theatre, driving fast cars and non-violent direct action! In terms of the future, she simply hopes to leave the world a better place than when she started.
Michael Shoesmith is a chemical engineering student in the environmental option. He is a passionate leafs fan and love sports. He thinks Queen's is a great school but needs to become more sustainable in the future. Also, fun fact - he have a twin brother who is also a member of QBACC!
Eric Chapman is a fourth year biology student currently completing his undergraduate thesis. He has always been concerned about the environment but began to get more involved in his third year.
Eric can be spotted sporting his QBACC T-shirt, where it constantly serves as a conversation starter. Eric encouages anyone who is concerned about the environment to get involved; it is never too late to do so.
Spencer Stubbins is a third year enrolled in engineering chemistry. He has grown up in smal town Ontario and has spent much of his time in the outdoors. He hopes that the actions of QBACC can direct the university in a more sustainable trajectory.
Quinn Cathcart is a 3rd year Environmental Science student. A creature/a thing of the wild. Believes that small changes can make big differences in the world of the environment. That's why QBACC is so significant at Queen's.
Eszter is a second year Life Sciences student who loves going on hikes, canoeing, and camping all year round. She's been passionate about the environment for as long as she can remember but has only gotten involved in environmental policy when she joined QBACC in first year. She strongly encourages people to join and educate people on the growing problem facing the sustainability of our current lifestyles.
