Learn more about CJI's 2026 fall campaign, Ecological Justice: It's not Complicated ➡️ Click link in bio.

Today, CJI guest speaker Brex Arevalo, a Filipino environmental activist from the Philippines, highlighted the important role young people play in the fight for ecological justice with students at Holy Trinity High School and St. Peter’s High School in Ottawa. Brex shared the stories of young people Manila who opposed a plan for a waste incinerator in urban poor communities. Brex is speaking at various events in Canada as part of CJI’s 2026 fall campaign, Ecological Justice: It’s not complicated. Learn more: https://bit.ly/4if8T5S The students engaged in a thoughtful conversation about what they can do now. Questions ranged from careers in the environmental sector and alternatives to plastic, to how young people can participate safely and effectively in protests. Brex explained that, for communities on the front lines, the issue is clear: reduce waste, reduce consumption, and move toward zero waste. Hazardous burning of waste and plastics is harming people’s health, land, and livelihoods, leaving no time for approaches that do not address the root causes. He also cautioned that incineration, often marketed as “waste-to-energy,” thermal treatment, or waste combustion, is a false solution to managing the waste created by overconsumption. Thank you to the students and staff for their curiosity, energy, and commitment to caring for our common home. #Ottawa #Jesuits #ecologicaljustice #climatejustice #wildwildwaste #waste

Kim Gottfried Piché, CJI Social Justice Animator, shared this summary and reflection from last night's event at Saint Paul University in Ottawa, Margins at the Centre: Navigating a Just Transition in the Wild Wild Waste, which featured guest speaker, Brex Arevalo, an environmental activist from the Philippines. "Brex’s talk at Saint-Paul University was timely as the city is debating whether to accept a proposal for a waste-to-energy incineration plant that will abolish the three-item garbage limit that the City of Ottawa has put into effect in an effort to curb waste production as the Trail Road landfill approaches its capacity. The participants were engaged and asked important questions around the zero waste hierarchy presented in Brex’s talk. Should citizens push for an extension of producer responsibility for waste produced (top down of the hierarchy)? Or should we tackle the challenge from the bottom-up perspective of reducing our waste and consumption? One participant suggested that perhaps we should focus on the middle of the hierarchy by engaging culture and youth about zero waste practice. Many expressed an interest in learning about the origins of the Quebec Week of Waste Reduction and how it has evolved for over 26 years. Brex shared that for the marginalized urban communities, also known as the waste sorters in Manila or the “climate champions: as they are called, the issue of this ecological justice debate is simple. Reduce waste, reduce consumption, go zero waste. They don’t have the time to approach the issue any other way because hazardous burning of waste and plastics is destroying their health, their land and their livelihoods. Incineration (also known as waste to energy, thermal treatment, waste combustion) is a false solution to managing waste produced by overconsumption, Brex said. The talk at Saint Paul University was thought-provoking and led us to consider deeper aspects of the issue, such as waste colonization and ecological debt of the Global North who consume excessively and export their toxic, unsorted and hazardous waste to less-affluent countries in the Global South."

About 170 @loyolamontreal students welcomed CJI guest speaker Brex Arevalo and participated in a solidarity activity on ecological justice as part of CJI’s Fall 2026 campaign. Brex, a Filipino environmental activist and researcher, underscored the importance of bringing marginalized people at the centre of decision-making, especially on issues that affect them, such as the environment. Brex talked about the impact of incineration on urban poor communities, and noted how Canada is among the countries who ship an enormous amount of waste to the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Vietnam. #montreal #jesuits #jesuitschools

Don't miss this CJI and @lourdestoronto parish event in TORONTO this Friday, October 23, at 6 p.m. Brex Arevalo is an environmental planner, climate justice advocate, and researcher who has dedicated his career to promoting environmental and social justice in the Asia-Pacific region. After spending years at Ecojesuit — the global communications platform and online resource centre for the Global Ignatian Advocacy Network — where his work was guided by Ignatian values, Brex now works with urban poor communities in Manila, Philippines, as Climate and Anti-Incineration Campaigner for the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA). He supports the advocacy efforts of these communities, whose homes, livelihoods, and dignity are threatened by a destructive waste-burning facility. He also advocates for policies that support a safe and just energy transition in the Global South.

Today, CJI guest speaker @brexarevalo spoke to @mcgillu students and Newman Centre staff about his journey to becoming an ecological justice activist, emphasizing the importance of Ignatian values. He discussed the ecological injustices suffered by marginalized communities and noted how waste workers are at the forefront of efforts to address environmental concerns in Manila. He also underscored the important role that young people can play in these initiatives. After Brex’ talk, the conversation centred around the challenges of ecological conversion for decision-makers and the general public. The students were keen to discuss how they could address these issues at the formation stage, and the conversation was fruitful. Fr Anthony Atansi, the Newman Centre chaplain, expressed his gratitude, commenting on how the event incorporated the Centre's spiritual, intellectual, and social legacy. Brex is touring Canada as part of CJI’s Fall 2026 campaign, Ecological Justice: It’s not Complicated. An environmental planner, climate justice advocate, and researcher, he has dedicated his career to promoting environmental and social justice in the Asia-Pacific region.He works with marginalized communities, civil society organizations, and policymakers to promote equitable and sustainable solutions to environmental challenges. CJI’s ecological justice campaign highlights how care for our common home cannot be separated from human dignity, social justice and peace. Learn more about the campaign and other speaking events: Click link in bio. #mcgill #newmancentre #montreal #jesuits #cji

Canadian Jesuits International (CJI) International Programs Coordinator Juan Emilio Hernandez is representing CJI at the 50th Congress of Fe y Alegria International in Peru. CJI is supporting Fe y Alegria projects, including its preschool education program in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Chad, Madagascar, and Haiti; bilingual and ecological education in the Amazon; and an entrepreneurship and employment program for young people in Central America and Cuba. Juan Emilio had an opportunity to meet with Fe y Alegria partners, including Irma Lucia Mariño Vargas, director of the Integral Ecology and Panamazonia Initiative of the International Federation of Fe y Alegría. Click link in bio to visit our website and learn more about our partnership with Fe y Alegria. #jesuits #peru #education #feylalegria