Conferences offered by Equiterre
Last update: October 2006

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General Conferences

Equiterre : From Dream to Reality
In 1992, a group of young Québécois took the decision to mobilize in order to influence the heads of state who were gathering at the first Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It was the beginning of the alter-globalization movement. Upon their return to Quebec, these young individuals founded Equiterre, whose goal it is to promote ecological and socially just economic alternatives. Almost 15 years later, Equiterre has become actively involved in 4 large sectors: fair trade, sustainable transportation, energy efficiency, and ecological agriculture. It now reaches hundreds of thousands of people. With this conference, discover how it is possible to move from dream to reality with values and convictions!

Militancy and Voluntary Work
In the fields of environmentalism and social justice, militancy and voluntary work are important means of action. They are also at the root of big social movements. Whether stemming from passions, needs, challenges, interests (professional or not), values, or pure hazard, militancy and voluntary work provide for great learning experiences. This conference offers the opportunity to discover these means of mobilization and how their experiences generate social change.

Ecological Agriculture

Community Supported Agriculture…
The conscious way of buying local and organic produce!
Since 1995, Equiterre has formed a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) network throughout Quebec. This network enables organic farmers based in Quebec to sell their produce in advance and directly to citizens who wish to nurture solidarity with the agricultural sector. Discover how you can take part in this holistic endeavour to support local organic farmers and your own health too!

Fair Trade

Fair Trade as a Tool for Sustainable Development
By learning about various experiences from Latin America, Asia, and Western Africa, discover the world of fair trade and how you can support the development of a socially responsible and more just economy with the choices you make as a consumer. This conference will invite you to grasp the social and environmental impact that our consumer choices make. It shall do so through an exploration of various fair trade experiences, notably that of the coffee route, from its plantation to your coffee mug. Learn how you can help change the world… one step at a time!

Fair Trade Cotton: Fibre of Hope
Having visited, in December of 2005, fair trade cotton cooperatives in Mali, Équiterre invites you to discover this product, often referred to as the “white gold” by southern cotton producers, as well as how fair trade makes a difference in the daily lives of thousands of African producers.

Fair Trade and Women’s Rights
Through an exploration of experiences from all over the world, discover the effects of fair trade on the well-being of women and get insight about women’s direct participation in the development of their communities. This conference will invite you to learn not only about the social and environmental impact of fair trade, but also about world-wide initiatives for the promotion of the role of women as producers in the fair trade network.

Responsible Consumerism

Responsible Consumerism: change the world, one step at a time!
Our choices as consumers have a great impact on not only our health, but also on that of the whole planet. With the “one step at a time” approach, discover the extent to which responsible consumerism truly makes a difference, and how simple it is to be a responsible consumer. This conference will introduce you to the many ways that you, as an individual and as a collectivity, can nurture the development of an economy that is more respectful of ecosystems and citizens, thus changing the world, one step at a time!

Responsible Consumerism: information guide
Discover what the terms “responsible consumerism” and “consum’action” mean, based on Equiterre’s « Change the world, one step at a time » campaign. Learn about the values that underlie these concepts and the motivations associated with them. From a realist perspective, Equiterre will present the strengths and limitations of responsible consumerism, making an emphasis on the importance of nurturing an economy that is more respectful to ecosystems and citizens.

Climate Change

Everything you have ever wanted to know about climate change...
We increasingly hear about climate change, but what are its real causes and effects on us and the planet? What are possible solutions to cope with this phenomenon? In this conference, Equiterre offers scientific, social, and economic insight on the current situation, followed by a discussion about the steps that are now being taken in Quebec, Canada, and elsewhere in the world.

Climate Change: How to Diminish one’s Impact!
Here in Quebec, a big part of greenhouse effect gas emissions stems from individual, daily habits and decisions. The choices we make with regards to our means of transportation, the types of energy we use, and our consumer and eating habits, are part of the solution to the problem of climate change. As citizens, we are entitled to demand that our leaders take the necessary steps to protect the environment, increase our quality of life, and nurture sustainable development. Through discussion, discover the concrete steps we can take, as citizens and consumers, in order to help realize the Kyoto Protocol on a daily basis and from our very own homes.

Energy Efficiency

Energy Efficiency at Home: Taking Charge of one’s Energy Consumption
Energy efficiency makes a big difference for the environment. It prevents the waste of resources and excessively high energy production. It also engenders economic savings for individuals and the society as a whole. In fact, Canadians would save 30 billion dollars per year were they to take energy efficiency to its full, current potential. That’s a lot of money thrown out the window! With this conference, you will discover solutions to diminishing your environmental footprint as well as your energy consumption. The solutions offered relate to our habits and behaviors as well as to the concrete steps we can take at home.

Ecological Transportation

"The Transportation Cocktail"
Commuting differently, a personal choice for the good of all.
The use of cars in our societies is staggering and its impact on the environment, our health, and our quality of life is major. Nevertheless, there exist many solutions at the collective and individual levels that can be taken up in order to reduce vehicle dependency and, consequentially, the negative impact of such an excessive use of cars. Even if the “In town without my car!” day is celebrated once a year on September 22nd, discover how you can live it 365 days a year!

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