About Me

Although this title suggests a rather self-centered perspective, I hope to really tell you here what I hope I can share, learn and achieve with others…

My name is Rahul and I’ve lived in Ontario, Canada all my life. Born and raised here I have been lucky just by my location and education to receive a high standard of living among a diverse and (mostly) welcoming population where education and healthcare have rarely been a concern, rather something we just like to poke fun at from time to time. For me, now finishing off university focusing on cities, education and climate change is exciting, but I don’t plan on leaving those topics behind. The environment – as a topic, place and philosophy is the center of my universe when it comes to my passion and energy in life. Though many assume “environmentalists” can be bunched under the same category, like some sort of cult, that is far from the truth. I, like most others (I imagine) have my own story of what motivated me to care for the planet (as we all should); mine centers around the great people who inspired me in their work and progress while learning about the increasing issues and opportunity the world confronts on matter of ecological health and climate change. Gr.10 for me was the year I can say I “woke up” to the global environmental realities now changing and merging in complex ways as the tragedy of the commons unfolds…a great place to learn hard science is here and here.

Today, I spend a good chunk of time learning about the issues for myself, doing the research, taking the courses, having the conversations and become involved in various campaigns and initiatives. The key to take in this knowledge for me is to then spread it back out, to see what people care about and want to know, perhaps engage in a discussion or with a new perspective and always try and walk away with a feeling that there is one more person who cares for this Earth, or at least knows why they should, an how they can. My passion stems from a hope that this species can survive in balance like the thousands of others which have done so for millions of years… It’s already clear we are over-reaching ourselves, I just hope that concrete solutions and human foresight, motivation and innovation can kick into the highest gear before other treasures on this planet are lost.

My other interests? They include, in no particular order: photography, gardening, stewardship, reading great books, asian languages/histories, biking/running/walking/busing, exploring – sometimes getting lost and writing this blog!

Powerful people with people power, the best kind of power: David Suzuki, Jane Goodall, Rick Mercer, Elizabeth May, Caroline Schultz, Geoff Cape, Stephanie Crocker, Todd Paglia and Ted Danson.

If you want to know more, send over a message, happy to chat!

I leave you with three simple quotes that I love:

“You think you’re any different from me, or your friends, or this tree? If you listen hard enough, you can hear every living thing breathing together. You can feel everything growing. We’re all living together, even if most folks don’t act like it. We all have the same roots, and we are all branches of the same tree.”
— Huu in The Swamp

“Make no little plans. They have no magic to stir men’s blood
and probably will not themselves be realized.” – Daniel Burnham

“Of course. I’m travel-size for your convenience. If I was my real size, your cow here would die of fright.” -Mushu

Finally,
Just keep going…you’ll get where you need to.