By Mark Taliano
For a man who has contributed immeasurably to Canadian society, Dr. David Suzuki has been persecuted more than most.
During the years of the Second World War in the 1940s, he was incarcerated with thousands of other Japanese Canadians under the War Measures Act and its racist deliberations.
David Suzuki, Canadian environmentalist and host of the award-winning CBC program ‘The Nature of Things’. Photo courtesy of the CBC
Now, he and a multitude of other Canadians are being smeared by a federal government that views opposition to its policies as radical, extreme, and somehow anti-Canadian.
History has not judgedCanadakindly in the first case, nor will it judge us kindly in the second case.
We need the voices of Suzuki and like-minded Canadians now more than ever to counter-balance the federal government’s efforts to nurture scientific illiteracy in its pronouncements and policies. Louder scientific voices are needed because the earth’s changing climate (caused by humans), is exacting huge environmental and economic expenses daily.
Similar to Republican ideologies south of the border, our current federal regime is antithetical to the laws of science which demonstrate that economic and environmental policies must be linked and that they need to be based on sound footings.
Consider, for example, Harper’s gutting of the Fisheries Act, (no doubt precipitated by political motivations to rush tar sands exploitation). The notion that some species are more “valuable” than others is not derived from sound science. Biodiversity is necessary for a healthy ecosystem, and one species can’t be adequately protected if others in the same ecosystem are disregarded or devalued
A study by David Pimentel, as described in Suzuki’s Earth Time Essays outlines the following functions provided by biodiversity on this planet:
- pollinating crops and wild plants (each year in theUnited States, bees, both wild and domesticated, pollinate $30 billion worth of crops);
- recycling manure and other organic wastes;
- degrading chemical pollutants;
- purifying water and soil; and
- acting as a source of genetic diversity for agriculture and forestry
It follows from this that the current obsession to degrade environmental regulations accompanied by a debasement and muzzling of the scientific conversation will only serve to diminish this country’s reputation and reinforce our “colonial”, third rate status.
The on-going corruption of environmental safeguards, and our commodities based, regressive economy, exploited as it is by a preponderance of foreign-owned businesses, will not serve us well.
The rest of the developed world is moving forward with alternate energies and innovations, while we remain addicted to our third rate status as an energy supermarket and denier of scientific realities.
The earth’s biodiversity will decrease, the climate will worsen, and the international community will not soon forget our misdeeds.
The world will, however, remember pioneers such as David Suzuki, persecuted in his own country, but celebrated by progressive countries not satisfied with a failing, anti-science mentality, or the “status quo” of “business as usual”.
Mark Taliano is a Niagara resident and regular contributor to Niagara At Large.
(Niagara At Large invites our readers to share their views on this post. We only post comments by individuals who share their name.)
Canada’s Crucifixion Of An Environmental Icon
By Mark Taliano
For a man who has contributed immeasurably to Canadian society, Dr. David Suzuki has been persecuted more than most.
During the years of the Second World War in the 1940s, he was incarcerated with thousands of other Japanese Canadians under the War Measures Act and its racist deliberations.
Now, he and a multitude of other Canadians are being smeared by a federal government that views opposition to its policies as radical, extreme, and somehow anti-Canadian.
History has not judgedCanadakindly in the first case, nor will it judge us kindly in the second case.
We need the voices of Suzuki and like-minded Canadians now more than ever to counter-balance the federal government’s efforts to nurture scientific illiteracy in its pronouncements and policies. Louder scientific voices are needed because the earth’s changing climate (caused by humans), is exacting huge environmental and economic expenses daily.
Similar to Republican ideologies south of the border, our current federal regime is antithetical to the laws of science which demonstrate that economic and environmental policies must be linked and that they need to be based on sound footings.
Consider, for example, Harper’s gutting of the Fisheries Act, (no doubt precipitated by political motivations to rush tar sands exploitation). The notion that some species are more “valuable” than others is not derived from sound science. Biodiversity is necessary for a healthy ecosystem, and one species can’t be adequately protected if others in the same ecosystem are disregarded or devalued
A study by David Pimentel, as described in Suzuki’s Earth Time Essays outlines the following functions provided by biodiversity on this planet:
- pollinating crops and wild plants (each year in theUnited States, bees, both wild and domesticated, pollinate $30 billion worth of crops);
- recycling manure and other organic wastes;
- degrading chemical pollutants;
- purifying water and soil; and
- acting as a source of genetic diversity for agriculture and forestry
It follows from this that the current obsession to degrade environmental regulations accompanied by a debasement and muzzling of the scientific conversation will only serve to diminish this country’s reputation and reinforce our “colonial”, third rate status.
The on-going corruption of environmental safeguards, and our commodities based, regressive economy, exploited as it is by a preponderance of foreign-owned businesses, will not serve us well.
The rest of the developed world is moving forward with alternate energies and innovations, while we remain addicted to our third rate status as an energy supermarket and denier of scientific realities.
The earth’s biodiversity will decrease, the climate will worsen, and the international community will not soon forget our misdeeds.
The world will, however, remember pioneers such as David Suzuki, persecuted in his own country, but celebrated by progressive countries not satisfied with a failing, anti-science mentality, or the “status quo” of “business as usual”.
Mark Taliano is a Niagara resident and regular contributor to Niagara At Large.
(Niagara At Large invites our readers to share their views on this post. We only post comments by individuals who share their name.)
Niagara At Large 
A paint and chemical company once had a slogan “Better living through chemistry” that was 60 years ago, these untested chemicals can and do play havoc with our immune systems and can un leash an environmental catastrophy, that has the ability to inflict death and injury to our whole ecosphere., the beneficial insects and the nasty ones are no longer around, case in point, we no longer have the Sand flies in Fort Erie, back in the 1970s we had tens of millions along the Niagara Parkway, every August and September, that is no longer the case. The new genetically modified crops have killed most of the pollinating bees and flies, these crops carry a death gene that kills any bugs, good or bad, David Suzuki has been preaching for years about how fragile the food chain is, and he has educated generations about the unforeseen dangers we all face without testing these Frankenstein crops.The present Government gives no heed to scientific facts about how dangerous un-tested chemicals are, so they say it is not proven.so blindly push ahead with their own agenda, damn the torpedos ,full steam ahead,
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I agree with you wholeheartedly Mark. Just what are we to do when the government won’t listen and the voters are led like sheep by vapid promises? Suzuki should have a Nobel Prize. Harper and Kent deserve booby prizes.
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Sorry, I do not consider David Suzuki to be a great man. Sure, he is passionate about his concern – the same way that former U-S president is — all the way to the bank!
The earth’s history has been a constant series or waves of climatic change. There is little we can do to stop or change things.
Granted, we must reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. But we can’t do it overnight. And as long as big oil companies can buy and sell entire countries and governments as they do now, we will not get the leadership that is needed to reduce fossil fuel dependence.
David Suzuki does little more than shout “the sky is falling, the sky is falling.!
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With all due respect Will, someone has to yell “The sky is falling”. The problem is not enough people are doing it vociferously and maybe if there were we would listen. It’s not just about climate change, although that will have massive repercussions too widespread to discuss here, but about an earth that we want to live on. Who wants filthy water and air? Not me!
I don’t think Suzuki is doing what he does to become rich or famous.
That being said, I totally agree with the oil/gov’t Siamese twin syndrome. There are alternatives, they just don’t want to utilize them. Short term gain for long term pain.
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I agree with Mark, George and Linda and will not get into a shouting match with Mr. MacKenzie for I have already been there on numerous occasions with journalist hacks who support QMI and its corporate agenda. Recently, in fact within the past two days I watched a documentary that put into true perspective the corruptive influence that a billionaire media magnate was able to garner beginning with a Lady Prime Minister and continuing with successive PMs to this day and NO at least it was Canada in the documentary though?
It seems the most powerful force at play in this universe is not a immense military anymore but a media that is owned lock, stock and barrel by corporate giants who will do whatever it takes to secure its position of almost supreme power.
Look at the Farce that is the American Primaries and the length of time it is drawn out, a length of time where so many millions of people are out of work as billions of dollars is raked in by an uncaring fat cat media media. Recently I was stated and written that the actual election cost of the future president will see a billion dollars spent by each parties to hopefully secure that Presidency and guess what the media will be the only winners as their coffers are filled
Ralph Nader once said it matters not which party wins for they are both Corporate parties and they will do whatever is necessary to fill their agenda and the bottom line on a profit and loss statement.
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Typing Correction
I agree with Mark, George and Linda and will not get into a shouting match with Mr. MacKenzie for I have already been there on numerous occasions with journalist hacks that support QMI and its corporate agenda. Recently, in fact within the past two days I watched a documentary that put into true perspective the corruptive influence that a billionaire media magnate was able to garner beginning with a Lady Prime Minister and continuing with successive PMs to this day and NO at least it was Canada in the documentary………. though?
It seems the most powerful force at play in this universe is not an immense military anymore but a media that is owned lock, stock and barrel by corporate giants who will do whatever it takes to secure its position of almost supreme power.
Look at the Farce that is the American Primaries and the length of time it is drawn out, a length of time where so many millions of people are out of work as billions of dollars is raked in by an uncaring fat cat media. Recently It was stated and written that the actual election cost of the future President will see a billion dollars spent by each parties to hopefully secure that Presidency and guess what the media will be the only winners as their coffers are filled
Ralph Nader once said it matters not which party wins for they are both Corporate parties and they will do whatever is necessary to fill their agenda and the bottom line on a profit and loss statement
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David Suzuki sold out for the big bucks years ago.
A note from Niagara At Large – Okay Nick, if Suzuki sold out to the big bucks years ago, how many big bucks (do you know the figure?) is he making as an environmentalist as opposed to what he could have made if he did what many other scientists, half as smart as he is, who sold out to the pharmaceutical and petro-chemical and cancer-treatment industries, thirty or forty or fifty years ago during his adult lifetime as a scientist? Let us challenge you to tell us how much more prosperous David Suzuki is today working for environmental groups that, if you know anything about them, are always begging for money from supporters, versus working for the pharaceutical and petro chemical outfits you would apparently rather be screwed by. After all, if you are going to slam Suzuki for beng a sell out pig when it comes to science, why aren’t you also ranting on about scientists who work for the tobacco and chemical industries, and so on. Let’s here it Nick. Send us a rant about the scientists who say it is okay to go on mining a known lung cancer causing agent like asbestos for profit. … If you are going to go after Suzuki as a sell out, at least try to be balanced and fair. Doug Draper, Niagara At Large.
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Fair enough. Those you refer to are sell-out pigs just like the sell-out pig David Suzuki who makes money off of the enviromental groups that are always begging for money. Now how about you be balanced and stop holding Suzuki up as some type of environmental demi-god. That would also be fair.
Okay Nick, I think we get it. Even though the point NAL was trying to make – that Suzuki, had me been greedy, could have made one hell of alot more money working for a pharmaceutical or oil or tobacco corporation – blew right through whatever you are working with between your ears, I guess everyone who would care for some monetary compensation to keep their ship affloat is “a sell-out pig” except you. We’re just guessing that you never expected any compensation in the form of money for any of the great achievements you have made at any job in our communities. We’ve learned a lesson from this for anyone who hopes to be compensated for their efforts – you are a sell-out pig if you do – and thank you so much for your thoughtful and insightful input … Doug Draper, Niagara At Large.
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CRA is examining the tax free status of charities that violate rules for overextending political advocacy outside of their mandate. Whether the Suzuki Foundation or the Fraser Institute, I have no problem with CRA doing the investigations. If they have broken the rules then penalize them accordingly.
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Eric Morgan as a one who often disagrees with other commentators and they with me it is okay to disagree but save the ad homs for someplace else.,
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A picture is worth a thousand words:
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You always know that you are correct if you are criticized by Eric Morgan. Doug it is nice to see that you have allowed the blog that you are responsible to be used for posting libelous statements.
A note from NAL – This time I owe an apology to Nick Struger who has had his own record of slinging around the mud. But the Eric Morgan comment – now off the air here – was a personal attack and way out of line …. Hey you folks down there in Fort Erie, can we not engage in some more civil discourse. It is okay to attack each other’s positions, and go ahead and challenge the views of David Suzuki if you don’t agree with him. But can we please stay away from demonizing people because we don’t like the way the look or whatever it is? Doug Draper
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This is why Suzuki is important:
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Elizabeth May has her work cut out, to try and stop this insanity, to push a pipe line through our pristine wilderness, This movie for me was like a spiritual journey through paradise , thank you Mark for this treat. The Green Party needs more MP s to fight for the planet also money to fight the leviathon called big oil,Davis Suzuki has been adopted by a west coast native tribe and I believe his daughter married into the tribe. not exactly the high life his enemies try to accuse him of..
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A (former) federal scientist speaks out:
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Correction to my above comment. Naomi worked for Environment Canada, but she is not a scientist. The links that she provides are particularly useful and relevant.
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