I was recently privileged to hear Dr. David Suzuki give his legacy lecture here in Ottawa, as part of the Ottawa International Writers Festival. I’ve spoken about David Suzuki on SuperForest before, when discussing sustainable seafood. Being a Canadian, I cannot imagine anyone who is unfamiliar with David Suzuki, but just in case you are, no worries, you can learn all about him here:
Suzuki created this lecture (and the book and film that followed) in response to the idea of leaving a legacy, or an answer to the question, “If you had one last lecture to give, what would you say?” Suzuki delivered his legacy lecture with passion, vigour and honesty. Much like the title of the film, he reminded us that as a human species, “we have become a force of nature.”
At the ripe old age of 74, David Suzuki spoke with the wisdom of a grandfather and the energy of a young college student. After teaching at UBC for 39 years, he was never officially asked to give a “legacy lecture”, but that hasn’t stopped him. With age comes wisdom, and he believes that his generation should start talking: “it is our duty as elders to distill a legacy [because] we can speak the truth.”
As humans, we must realize that “all other species are our kin”, says Suzuki. We are not the only species on this planet, we do not just have a relationship with the environment, we are the environment. He stresses that “we have to come to grips with how powerful we’ve become.” As a species, we are not any more dominant than the other creatures we started out with in Africa. The only thing that sets humans apart is our memory, our curiosity, our inventiveness and self-awareness. We have foresight to imagine the future, whereas other animals do not. Over the years we have expanded and multiplied at a staggering rate, so that we now occupy every continent on the planet.
It is because of this sheer size that our species must humble itself and realize our impact on the planet. We don’t know our own strength. So many of us have become disconnected to the earth. “The way we see the world shapes the way we treat it”, stresses Suzuki. He provided the example of Peruvian school children who revere the nearby mountain as a god, and therefore respect and honour it. Picture that child and how he or she will treat the environment, then picture a North American suburban child, who sees the nearby mountain or trail as unimportant or unessential in his or her life. How will he or she view that mountain or treat that trail? We are consuming too much and using our environment as a toxic dump.
We are the environment.” — David Suzuki
In days gone by, farming was a main source of income and was the livelihood of most people. Therefore most people lived in rural areas. Nowadays most of the people in the world live in cities. According to Suzuki, this has shifted our focus from environment to economy. What we have forgotten though, is that “an economy is made possible by the biosphere.”
Suzuki went on to share many more kernels of knowledge and wisdom and reminded us all that it seems moot to describe oneself as an “environmentalist” — we should all be environmentalists, it should not be necessary to declare this. I look forward to seeing his film and sharing more of what I’ve learned through his speech. In a world full of opinions, those held by David Suzuki are rooted in scientific fact and expressed eloquently, with a few laughs here and there. Powerful stuff. Definitely to be shared with my nieces, the next generation.
So, SuperForesters, how are you treating the environment? What about your family and friends? Perhaps share one of David Suzuki’s books with a friend or family member and share the passion and the knowledge he has spent many years cultivating. And while you’re at it, why not grow your own food? Like SuperForester Jackson and Jesse have shown, permaculture is the better way! Let’s all become farmers again and be one with our environment. You can start with what disappears when you close your eyes.
Yours Lovingly,
SuperForester Heather
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