UNews - food supply

Students' Union Food Bank always in need of support

trevor.kenney — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 17:55:09 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Students' Union has a number of services that assist in allowing students to focus on their studies.

Understanding the financial constraints involved in obtaining a post-secondary education, and the difficulty in making ends meet, the ULSU is helping students alleviate the pressure of food insecurity by offering the ULSU Food Bank.

"The Students' Union Food Bank is one of the most widely used resources we offer on campus," says Shuna Talbot, ULSU vice-president internal. "Unfortunately, going to school is expensive and that leaves a lot of students with less money to cover costs for food, rent and other necessities."

All current students, faculty and staff of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge are eligible to access the food bank. The food bank has a wide range of users and everyone has a different story; whether it is a delay with a student loan, an emergency situation, unexpected expenses or other budgeting issues, the ULSU Food Bank is there to help.

The ULSU Food Bank is a not-for-profit service, but it is also a limited resource dependent on donations. The food bank can be accessed twice a month to a maximum of 10 visits in an academic career. Every October, the Students' Union hosts the Feed or Famine Food Drive, which pits student clubs against each other in a challenge to collect food bank donations. It's a friendly competition where clubs select an area of Lethbridge and go door to door to collect food bank donations. The clubs visit homes in Lethbridge and leave a notice that they will come back on a designated day and collect non-perishable food items.

This year, over the course of seven days at the end of October (Oct. 29 through Nov. 4), the Feed or Famine Food Drive crowned the Trolls Rugby Club as the winner of the challenge after they collected the most non-perishable food items.

The Trolls were awarded $300 for their win, followed by the Pre-Med club ($200) and the Geography club ($100). A total of 2,476 non-perishable food items were collected and club participation was up from the previous year.

"We are in constant need of donations, due to the increasing amount of students who access the food bank every year," says Talbot. "We continually have to replenish the food supply due to the high demand."

The Students' Union is always accepting donations for the food bank. For more information on how to donate, e-mail food.bank@uleth.ca or visit www.ulsu.ca.

Peak Week examined by ULSU

trevor.kenney — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 15:45:34 +0000

Peak Oil is the point in time when the rate of oil production reaches its highest level and begins an immutable reduction. There is wide speculation surrounding whether this event has already happened or how far into the future it can be expected to happen. Peak Oil and related issues will be the subject of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Students' Union's (ULSU) Peak Week, Feb. 22-26.

"The thing that inspired me to focus on Peak Oil is the fact that most people don't even know it's an issue, even though it threatens the very core of modern civilization," says Alex Massé, ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Students' Union vice-president academic and organizer of the event.

"Oil is not only used to power our vehicles," says Massé, "it is also used in the production of everything from plastic to food. The week will address such issues as how oil and gas depletion will affect the economy, Canadian and International politics, manufacturing, food supply and much more. It will open people's eyes to the fact that everything we take for granted is under threat."

Massé describes how experts differ on the issue of whether humanity will be able to adapt to this changing world.

"We know that if we don't adapt soon, oil depletion will cause the collapse of global civilization and the collapse of humanity's capacity to sustain our population," he says.

The ULSU has an exciting week of events to shed light on the issue of Peak Oil. There will be displays in the U of L Atrium featuring educational content and student artwork related to Peak Oil.

Thomas Homer-Dixon, one of Canada's most important ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, will deliver a keynote speech entitled Twin Peaks: Peak Oil, Climate Change and the Future of a Generation, Thursday, Feb. 25, 7 p.m. in PE250.

"Homer-Dixon's talk is going to address how we're facing two issues that could be catastrophic for human civilization – oil depletion and climate change," says Massé, "and how addressing one without the other won't solve anything."

The Prentice Institute will also be hosting Homer-Dixon along with U of L Geography Chair James Byrne and U of L Sociology Chair Trevor Harrison in a panel discussion entitled Science, Politics, Tipping Points. This event will take place at noon, Feb. 25 in Students' Union Ballroom A.

Other events for the week include a screening of the acclaimed documentary, A Crude Awakening, and, pending final confirmation, a lecture by acclaimed Alberta author Andrew Nikiforuk. Once confirmed, details will be posted on the ULSU website, www.ulsu.ca.

Gauging the effects of peak oil

trevor.kenney — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 23:08:44 +0000

Massé describes how experts differ on the issue of whether humanity will be able to adapt to this changing world.

"We know that if we don't adapt soon, oil depletion will cause the collapse of global civilization and the collapse of humanity's capacity to sustain our population," he says.

The ULSU has an exciting week of events to shed light on the issue of Peak Oil. There will be displays in the U of L Atrium featuring educational content and student artwork related to Peak Oil.

UNews - food supply

Students' Union Food Bank always in need of support

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Peak Week examined by ULSU

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Gauging the effects of peak oil

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