Aaron Vansintjan
MSc candidate, Renewable Resources with Environment
Bio
Aaron Vansintjan completed his BA in Philosophy in 2012. Originally from Belgium, Aaron currently lives in Montréal.
He is interested in
· Environmental justice and food sovereignty
· Gentrification and political ecology
· Community-involved research
· Journalism
He is interested in
· Environmental justice and food sovereignty
· Gentrification and political ecology
· Community-involved research
· Journalism
Research
Aaron's Masters thesis focuses on the case of food banks in Canada. Food banks are often seen as band-aid solutions to inadequate social welfare systems. However, a historical analysis with a material framework shows that food banks were only possible because of an industrial, high-waste food system. Furthermore, a case study of one food bank in Montréal shows that food banks do go beyond charity and can be quite political. This food bank's approach raises questions about the role of the public in guaranteeing local food security, the role of the state, current austerity measures, and a society based on overproduction. Finally, the research will both work toward identifying best practices for local food organizations, and highlight the policies and incentives that can be put in place to ensure a more just and dignified access to food.
In another project, Aaron is doing research on gentrification happening in a Montréal neighbourhood, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce, within a political ecology framework. The displacement of one food bank by a condo developer can be seen as a land grab facilitated by the state, capitalizing on public wealth.
Aaron is also helping to organize a Montréal-wide group on food sovereignty, Justice Alimentaire pour Montreal, meant to be a hub for activists, academics, and organizations trying to change the food system. The intent is to critically approach food at different levels: institutions, Montréal and its peri-urban and rural surroundings, as well as the broader ‘Global South,’ which is facing immediate issues of food crisis.
In another project, Aaron is doing research on gentrification happening in a Montréal neighbourhood, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce, within a political ecology framework. The displacement of one food bank by a condo developer can be seen as a land grab facilitated by the state, capitalizing on public wealth.
Aaron is also helping to organize a Montréal-wide group on food sovereignty, Justice Alimentaire pour Montreal, meant to be a hub for activists, academics, and organizations trying to change the food system. The intent is to critically approach food at different levels: institutions, Montréal and its peri-urban and rural surroundings, as well as the broader ‘Global South,’ which is facing immediate issues of food crisis.
Degrees received
BA Philosophy with minor in Environment. McGill University: 2012
Presentations
"What's wrong with our food system?"
Course lecture. Society and Environment. Montréal: 2013
"Women and environmental justice."
Course lecture. Society and Environment. Montréal: 2013
"Alternative food? Rethinking local and organic food movements."
ASFA Talks. Concordia University, Montréal: 2013
"Food and degrowth: Food security outside and supply-and-demand economics."
Degrowth in the Americas. Montréal: 2012
"Sustainability is corporate: the technological character of neoliberalism."
Society for Phenomenology and Existential Philosophy 50th annual meeting. Philadelphia: 2011
"Anarchy, hunter‐gatherers, and philosophy."
Philopolis. Montréal: 2011
"Foucault, Gadamer, and the Environment."
Dimensions of the Self Conference. Montréal: 2010
Course lecture. Society and Environment. Montréal: 2013
"Women and environmental justice."
Course lecture. Society and Environment. Montréal: 2013
"Alternative food? Rethinking local and organic food movements."
ASFA Talks. Concordia University, Montréal: 2013
"Food and degrowth: Food security outside and supply-and-demand economics."
Degrowth in the Americas. Montréal: 2012
"Sustainability is corporate: the technological character of neoliberalism."
Society for Phenomenology and Existential Philosophy 50th annual meeting. Philadelphia: 2011
"Anarchy, hunter‐gatherers, and philosophy."
Philopolis. Montréal: 2011
"Foucault, Gadamer, and the Environment."
Dimensions of the Self Conference. Montréal: 2010
Articles
Newspaper articles:
Vansintjan, Aaron. "The potential of food banks." The McGill Daily. 27 January, 2014.
http://www.mcgilldaily.com/2014/01/35008/
Vansintjan, Aaron. "Just what is gentrification anyway?" The McGill Daily. 17 February, 2014.
http://www.mcgilldaily.com/2014/02/just-what-is-gentrification-anyway/
Quoted in:
Héritier, Isabelle. "Reprendre le pouvoir sur notre alimentation." Alternatives Journal. 1 December, 2013.
http://journal.alternatives.ca/spip.php?article7606
Vansintjan, Aaron. "The potential of food banks." The McGill Daily. 27 January, 2014.
http://www.mcgilldaily.com/2014/01/35008/
Vansintjan, Aaron. "Just what is gentrification anyway?" The McGill Daily. 17 February, 2014.
http://www.mcgilldaily.com/2014/02/just-what-is-gentrification-anyway/
Quoted in:
Héritier, Isabelle. "Reprendre le pouvoir sur notre alimentation." Alternatives Journal. 1 December, 2013.
http://journal.alternatives.ca/spip.php?article7606