GET TO KNOW US! MEET THE PRISTINE BLUE TEAM!

For this week, get to know Madhav Panday!

Madhav is currently a Master of Public Policy candidate at University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, Madhav brings with him prior experience in the public, research and non-for-profit industries and having recently worked as a policy coordinator in the healthcare field, Madhav has previously held positions as a research assistant at the Rotman School of Management, as a teacher, teaching underprivileged children in rural India, and as an executive assistant with a non-for-profit, aiming to increase health literacy in Ontario. With an interest in environmental policy, Madhav hopes to utilize this opportunity to further delve into policy issues related to ocean conservation and increase public awareness regarding the same. - - - PB: How has the world changed since you were a child?

Madhav: I think as time has progressed, we've turned more toward the indoors as a means for seeking entertainment. There's been a gradual retreat in terms of outdoor recreation - and this has been true for both, adults and children. I think a key driver behind our indifference to climate change has been a result of this retreat.

PB: True, that's an interesting point. Now describe one obstacle you’ve encountered while striving to be environmentally conscious. Do you believe it’s worth the effort?

Madhav: I am not fond of reading documents whilst using an electronic device, and like to read them as a hard copy. This generally means that I end up using far more paper than necessary. It's certainly been a struggle to curtail this habit of mine, but lately I've been only printing those documents that I feel I absolutely need a hard copy of.

As for if I think it's worth the effort to be environmentally conscious - yes, without a doubt. At this point, every effort, small or big, is going to count. Whether it's cutting your consumption of meat, shopping smart, or growing mini-gardens within the confines of your condo, if each person did their bit to contribute to the betterment of the environment, it would undoubtedly have a cumulative effect.

PB: Certainly! Finally, what is the strangest thing you have found while near a large body of water?

Madhav: In very specific terms, I would say a mixture oil and human effluent. In fact, I think I've been more confounded by how

littered water bodies are globally than the specific type of litter. It’s a deeply horrifying and disturbing sight to see any litter in our water bodies.

For instance, I remember being startled by people's apathy towards the environment when I'd be near a large water body. In a lot of regions around the world, these areas are a collecting ground for garbage and unwanted material and in some of the developing countries I visited, I’ve specifically noted large amounts of sewage and industrial waste discharged into the ocean - to the point where it covers the surface

#youth #team