“Are we headed toward spring or are we headed for winter?” asked Scott Morton Ninomiya (BA ’97) of an engaged audience at Grebel in February. He wasn’t making small talk about the weather, but rather gearing up for a bigger question: “As we find ourselves precariously perched at a tipping point for environmental change, are things going to get better, or much worse?”
In hopes of nudging the region toward ‘spring’, Scott spoke to a group of local peace practitioners, students, and advocates for the environment. His presentation, “Building a Global Low Carbon Economy, Piece by Peace,” offered insights from his work with environmental transition leaders both locally and globally. He addressed issues of dynamic tensions and dichotomous thinking, while also providing real-world examples of people achieving positive change in a peaceful manner. The presentation also kindled a much-needed dialogue about changes we can make in our communities to reduce our environmental impact.
Kindred Credit Union Centre for Peace Advancement (CPA) was eager to host this event. “The mission of the CPA is to advance expansive and innovative understandings and practices of peace locally and globally by promoting collaboration,” said Director Paul Heidebrecht. “We are always excited when people come to us with a passion for connecting peacebuilding with other fields.”
When he’s not spending quality time with his wife Melody, and kids Aidan, Maya, and Bertha, Scott is actively exploring ways to practice and promote sustainable living. He is currently a candidate for a Master’s degree in Sustainability Management at UWaterloo.
Advancing Peace
It has been less than three years since the Kindred Credit Union Centre for Peace Advancement opened its doors on Grebel’s fourth floor, and yet its impact as a catalyst for collaboration is already becoming clear.
