Posted on Oct. 17: Green Coalition unites McMaster’s environmental activists

It's not easy being green. Ask Allan Dafoe. According to the founder and chair of McMaster's Green Coalition, taking care of the environment is hard work. But with recent efforts on campus, he's confident green will soon become the University's favorite colour.

Celebrating its first anniversary, the McMaster Green Coalition unites clubs and organizations that promote environmental and sustainability issues.

It was a hit from the beginning. At its first meeting in September 2001, nearly 40 staff, faculty and students came to support Dafoe's brainchild to build a coalition around the environment.

He found these groups knew little about each other, and he was determined to change that. “There are all these groups, but they're all very disparate,” he says. “That's what I feel the environmental movement at McMaster is lacking the most. Because it's so disparate you don't feel a sense of community.”

“I think it's very important that the environmental community becomes more tangible because there are so many people on campus who are passionate and involved with environmental aspects.”

Through events such as potluck dinners and social gatherings, Dafoe hopes to encourage communication between environmental clubs and organizations. “There are all sorts of benefits that can come from increased communication and fusion of these groups, such as better lobbying,” he says. “If everyone is on the same page then everyone pushes together.”

The Green Coalition is always looking at ways of increasing the profile of environmental groups on campus, says Dafoe. “Hopefully we'll get an office this year as a club and then hopefully become a service within the McMaster University Student Centre.”

“McMaster has a lot to gain from taking environmentalism seriously,” he adds. “We have this huge responsibility to set a responsible and sustainable path.”

McMaster's environmental groups include: the McMaster Students Union (MSU) environment committee; McMaster vegetarian society; Ontario Public Interest Research Groups (OPIRG) waste reduction group; OPIRG transportation for livable communities; Bay Area Restoration Council; Mac Cycle Co-op; Society for Abolition of Animal Exploitation; and the Outdoor Club.