David Suzuki

David Suzuki
CC OBC FRSC

Suzuki in 2009
Born David Takayoshi Suzuki
(1936-03-24) March 24, 1936
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Residence Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Nationality Canadian
Institutions University of British Columbia
Alma mater
Doctoral advisor Bill Baker
Other academic advisors
  • Bill Hexter
  • Dan Lindsley
Influences Ian McTaggart-Cowan
Notable awards

Signature

David Takayoshi Suzuki CC OBC FRSC (born March 24, 1936) is a Canadian academic, science broadcaster and environmental activist. Suzuki earned a Ph.D. in zoology from the University of Chicago in 1961, and was a professor in the genetics department at the University of British Columbia from 1963 until his retirement in 2001. Since the mid-1970s, Suzuki has been known for his television and radio series, documentaries and books about nature and the environment. He is best known as host of the popular and long-running CBC Television science program The Nature of Things, seen in over 40 countries. He is also well known for criticizing governments for their lack of action to protect the environment.

A longtime activist to reverse global climate change, Suzuki co-founded the David Suzuki Foundation in 1990, to work "to find ways for society to live in balance with the natural world that does sustain us." The Foundation's priorities are: oceans and sustainable fishing, climate change and clean energy, sustainability, and Suzuki's Nature Challenge. The Foundation also works on ways to help protect the oceans from large oil spills such as the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.[1] Suzuki has also served as a director of the Canadian Civil Liberties Association from 1982 to 1987.

Suzuki was awarded the Right Livelihood Award in 2009. His 2011 book, The Legacy, won the Nautilus Book Award. He is a Companion of the Order of Canada. In 2004, David Suzuki ranked fifth on the list of final nominees in a CBC Television series that asked viewers to select The Greatest Canadian of all time. Suzuki was the top finalist still alive.

Early life

Suzuki has a twin sister named Marcia, as well as two other siblings, Geraldine (now known as Aiko) and Dawn. He was born in 1936 to Setsu Nakamura and Kaoru Carr Suzuki in Vancouver, British Columbia, where his parents were also born.[2] Suzuki's maternal and paternal grandparents had emigrated to Canada at the beginning of the 20th century from Hiroshima and Aichi Prefecture respectively.[3]

A third-generation Japanese-Canadian ("Canadian Sansei"), Suzuki's family suffered internment in British Columbia from early during the Second World War until after the war ended in 1945. In June 1942, the government sold the Suzuki family's dry-cleaning business, then interned Suzuki, his mother, and two sisters in a camp at Slocan in the British Columbia Interior.[4] His father had been sent to a labour camp in Solsqua two months earlier. Suzuki's sister Dawn was born in the internment camp.[5]

After the war, Suzuki's family, like other Japanese Canadian families, were forced to move east of the Rockies. The Suzukis moved to Islington, Leamington, and London, Ontario. Suzuki, in interviews, has many times credited his father for having interested him in and sensitized him to nature.

Suzuki attended Mill Street Elementary School and Grade 9 at Leamington Secondary School before moving to London, Ontario, where he attended London Central Secondary School, eventually winning the election to become Students' Council President in his last year there by more votes than all of the other candidates combined.[6]

Academic career

Suzuki received his Bachelor of Arts degree in biology in 1958 from Amherst College in Massachusetts where he first discovered genetics study,[7] and his Doctor of Philosophy degree in zoology from the University of Chicago in 1961. From 1961 to 1962, Suzuki worked at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. From 1962 to 1963, he was an assistant professor at the University of Alberta. He was a professor in the genetics department at the University of British Columbia for almost forty years, from 1963 until his retirement in 2001, and has since been professor emeritus at a university research institute.[8]

Early in his research career he studied genetics using the popular model organism Drosophila melanogaster (fruit flies). To be able to use his initials in naming any new genes he found, he studied dominant temperature-sensitive (DTS) phenotypes. (As he jokingly noted at a lecture at Johns Hopkins University, the only alternative subject was "(damn) tough skin".)

Broadcasting career

Suzuki in 2006

Suzuki began in television in 1970 with the weekly children's show Suzuki on Science. In 1974, he founded the radio program Quirks and Quarks, which he also hosted on CBC AM radio (the forerunner of CBC Radio One) from 1975 to 1979. Throughout the 1970s, he also hosted Science Magazine, a weekly program geared towards an adult audience.

Since 1979, Suzuki has hosted The Nature of Things, a CBC television series that has aired in nearly fifty countries worldwide.[9] In this program, Suzuki's aim is to stimulate interest in the natural world, to point out threats to human well-being and wildlife habitat, and to present alternatives to humanity for achieving a more sustainable society. Suzuki has been a prominent proponent of renewable energy sources and the soft energy path.

Suzuki was the host of the critically acclaimed 1993 PBS series The Secret of Life.[10] His 1985 hit series, A Planet for the Taking, averaged more than 1.8 million viewers per episode and earned him a United Nations Environment Programme Medal. His perspective in this series is summed up in his statement: "We have both a sense of the importance of the wilderness and space in our culture and an attitude that it is limitless and therefore we needn't worry." He concludes with a call for a major "perceptual shift" in our relationship with nature and the wild.

Suzuki's The Sacred Balance, a book first published in 1997 and later made into a five-hour mini-series on Canadian public television, was broadcast in 2002.[11][12] Suzuki is now taking part in an advertisement campaign with the tagline "You have the power", promoting energy conservation through various household alternatives, such as the use of compact fluorescent lightbulbs.

For the Discovery Channel, Suzuki also produced "Yellowstone to Yukon: The Wildlands Project" in 1997. The conservation-biology based documentary focused on Dave Foreman's Wildlands Project, which considers how to create corridors between and buffer zones around large wilderness reserves as a means to preserve biological diversity. Foreman developed this project after leaving Earth First! (which he co-founded) in 1990. The conservation biologists Michael Soulé and Reed Noss were also directly involved.

Climate change activism

At the 2007 Global Day of Action event in Vancouver, B.C.. The sign in the background refers to the Greater Vancouver Gateway Program.

Suzuki's first advocacy on climate change was in the early 1970s, when he was publicly speaking of the pressing problem of the coming next ice age.

In recent years, Suzuki has been a forceful spokesperson on global climate change. In February 2008, he urged McGill University students to speak out against politicians who fail to act on climate change, stating "What I would challenge you to do is to put a lot of effort into trying to see whether there's a legal way of throwing our so-called leaders into jail because what they're doing is a criminal act."[13][14]

Suzuki is unequivocal that climate change is a very real and pressing problem and that an "overwhelming majority of scientists" now agree that human activity is responsible. The David Suzuki Foundation website has a clear statement of this:

The debate is over about whether or not climate change is real. Irrefutable evidence from around the world – including extreme weather events, record temperatures, retreating glaciers, and rising sea levels – all point to the fact climate change is happening now and at rates much faster than previously thought.

The overwhelming majority of scientists who study climate change agree that human activity is responsible for changing the climate. The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is one of the largest bodies of international scientists ever assembled to study a scientific issue, involving more than 2,500 scientists from more than 130 countries. The IPCC has concluded that most of the warming observed during the past 50 years is attributable to human activities. Its findings have been publicly endorsed by the National Academies of Science of all G8 nations, as well as those of China, India and Brazil.[15]

Suzuki says that despite this growing consensus, many in the public and the media seemed doubtful about the science for many years. The reason for the confusion about climate change, in Suzuki's view, was due to a well organized campaign of disinformation about the science involved. "A very small number of critics" denies that climate change exists and that humans are the cause. These climate change "skeptics" or "deniers", Suzuki claims, tend not to be climate scientists and do not publish in peer-reviewed scientific journals but rather target the media, the general public, and policy makers. Their goal: "delaying action on climate change." According to Suzuki, the skeptics have received significant funding from coal and oil companies, including ExxonMobil. They are linked to "industry-funded lobby groups", such as the Information Council on the Environment (ICE),[16] whose aim is to "reposition global warming as theory (not fact)."[15]

Social commentary

Genetically Modified Food

Suzuki's views on the health and safety of genetically modified foods, or GMOs, are at odds with the scientific consensus on the subject. He has written that “products of biotechnology are being rammed into our food, onto our fields and into our medicines, without any public participation in discussions and with the complicity, indeed, the active support and funding of governments. But there are profound health, ecological and economic ramifications of this activity.”[17] In a 1999 CP Wire article, Suzuki is quoted as saying: "Any politician or scientist who tells you these products are safe is either very stupid or lying."[18] In an interview with CBC TV, Suzuki argues that the science showing GMOs are safe is "very, very bad science" and that the commercialization of GMOs is “driven by money.”[19] His foundation’s website includes an “Understanding GMO” page which claims, “the safety of GMO foods is unproven and a growing body of research connects these foods with health concerns.”[20]

Immigration

In L'Express, the French news magazine, Suzuki called Canada's immigration policy "disgusting" (We "plunder southern countries to deprive them of their future leaders, and wish to increase our population to support economic growth") and insisted that "Canada is full" ("Our useful area is reduced").[21] This prompted Canada's Immigration Minister, Jason Kenney, to denounce Suzuki as "xenophobic", labelling his comments as "toxic".[21][22]

Canadian justice system

While being interviewed by Tony Jones on Australia's ABC TV network in September 2013, Suzuki alleged that the Harper government was building prisons even though crime rates were declining in Canada. He suggested that the prisons might be being built so that Stephen Harper can incarcerate environmental activists.[23][24] Jean-Christophe De Le Rue, a spokesman for Public Safety Minister Steven Blaney, denied the claims, emphasizing that the Canadian government is not building any prisons, nor do they have plans to build any.[23] There was, however, an increase in federal spending on prisons, which included expanding existing prisons, in order to accommodate the growing inmate population. This is thought to be due to legislation such as the Tackling Violent Crimes Act which increases the length of sentences. [25][26] In 2010-2011, $517-million was "spent on prison construction". [27]

Carbon footprint

Suzuki himself laments that in travelling constantly to spread his message of climate responsibility, he has ended up "over his [carbon] limit by hundreds of tonnes." He has stopped vacationing overseas and taken to "clustering" his speaking engagements together to reduce his carbon footprint. He would prefer, he says, to appear solely by video conference.[28]

Personal life

David Suzuki was married to Setsuko Joane Sunahara,[29] from 1958 to 1965; the couple had three children, Tamiko, Troy, and Laura.[30] In 1973, Suzuki married a second time to Tara Elizabeth Cullis, 13 years his junior,[31] with whom he had two daughters, Severn and Sarika. He is also a grandfather to six grandchildren.[32] Suzuki is an atheist.[33]

Publications

Suzuki signing a copy of his work.

Suzuki is the author of 52 books (nineteen for children), including David Suzuki: The Autobiography, Tree: A Life Story, The Sacred Balance, Genethics, Wisdom of the Elders, Inventing the Future, and the best-selling Looking At Senses a series of children's science books. This is a partial list of publications[34] by Suzuki:

Awards and honours

Suzuki receives the Right Livelihood Award from Jakob von Uexkull

Honorary degrees

Suzuki has received numerous honorary degrees from over two dozen universities around the world.[47]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Protecting Canada from an Oil Spill". David Suzuki Foundation. Retrieved 28 October 2014.
  2. ↑ http://davidsuzuki.org/david/excerpt-from-the-legacy-an-elders-vision-for-our-sustainable-future-by-david-suz/
  3. ↑ Environmentalist David Suzuki has words of warning for ancestral homeland Kris Kosaka, April 25, 2009, The Japan Times.
  4. ↑ Gordon, K. (2007) The Slocan Valley - Our History, Slocan Valley Economic Development Commission. Retrieved on July 28, 2007.
  5. ↑ Panorama (May 3, 2007). "May is Asian Heritage Month". Metroland Media. Retrieved 3 October 2014.
  6. ↑ Wong, Jan (1997-02-20). "Lunch with Jan Wong: Free clams, an eyeball and Suzuki's world view", The Globe and Mail, p. E1.
  7. ↑ https://www.amherst.edu/aboutamherst/magazine/bookclub/featurehome/bio
  8. ↑ "David Suzuki's profile". Greenfestivals.org. Retrieved 2011-02-21.
  9. ↑ "CBC website on Nature of Things". Cbc.ca. 2007-05-18. Archived from the original on August 6, 2010. Retrieved 2011-02-21.
  10. ↑ Review of The Secret of Life 25 September 1993 New York Times. Retrieved 21 July 2008.
  11. ↑ "Broadcast schedule of The Sacred Balance". Sacredbalance.com. Archived from the original on 2010-09-07. Retrieved 2011-02-21.
  12. ↑ "Production Team of The Sacred Balance". Sacredbalance.com. 2002-10-13. Archived from the original on 2010-09-07. Retrieved 2011-02-21.
  13. ↑ Babbage, Sarah (2008-02-04). "Jail politicians who ignore science: Suzuki". Canada: The McGill Daily. Archived from the original on 2008-02-08. Retrieved 2008-02-10.
  14. ↑ Offman, Craig (2008-02-07). "Jail politicians who ignore climate science: Suzuki". Canada: National Post. Retrieved 2008-02-07.
  15. 1 2 "Climate change deniers". Climate Change Science and Policy. The David Suzuki Foundation. Retrieved 2011-08-13.
  16. ↑ The Heat is Online. "The Coal Industry's "ICE" Campaign (1999)." Retrieved on: 2011-08-13.
  17. ↑ "Biotech Essay" (PDF).
  18. ↑ "CP Wire".
  19. ↑ "CBC Interview".
  20. ↑ "Understanding GMO".
  21. 1 2 "David Suzuki and Jason Kenney amplify each other". The Globe and Mail. Toronto. 2013-07-15. Retrieved 2013-10-04.
  22. ↑ "Jason Kenney slams 'xenophobic' David Suzuki after environmentalist claims Canada is 'full'". National Post. Retrieved 2013-10-04.
  23. 1 2 "Suzuki: Harper is building prisons for eco-activists". Toronto Sun. Retrieved 2013-10-04.
  24. ↑ "Suzuki: Harper is building prisons for eco-activists". Chatham Daily News. Retrieved 2013-10-04.
  25. ↑ "Critics say Harper government throwing prison expansion money away". Toronto Star. 2011-01-10. Retrieved 2013-12-02.
  26. ↑ "Harper government to announce more prison expansions". iPolitics.ca. Retrieved 2013-12-02.
  27. ↑ "Prison costs soar 86% in past five years: report". National Post. Retrieved 2013-12-02.
  28. ↑ Cernetig, Miro. "Suzuki gets the irony as popularity increases". Vancouver Sun. CanWest Global. Archived from the original on 2011-11-25. Retrieved 2008-01-09.
  29. ↑ Jonathon Gatehouse. "The nature of David Suzuki". Macleans.ca.
  30. ↑ David Suzuki still has hope
  31. ↑ Maclean's Nov 25, 2013
  32. ↑ Letters to My Grandchildren, David Suzuki
  33. ↑ Nancy Schiefer (2006-04-28). "Review: Suzuki laments conscience role". The London Free Press. Archived from the original on 2006-09-03. Retrieved 2007-10-29. As an atheist, Suzuki declares, he has no illusions about life and death, adding that the individual is insignificant in cosmic terms. Review of book "David Suzuki: The Autobiography", by David Suzuki (Greystone Books, 2006)
  34. ↑ Books and Sound Recordings by David T. Suzuki David Suzuki Foundation. Complete Book List. Retrieved on: September 20, 2010.
  35. ↑ "More Good News - D&M Publishers". Dmpibooks.com. Retrieved 2010-07-28.
  36. ↑ "Force of Nature, The David Suzuki Movie : The Nature of Things with David Suzuki : CBC-TV". Cbc.ca. 2011-03-29. Archived from the original on August 8, 2011. Retrieved 2011-10-31.
  37. ↑ "| Arapahoe Library District". Arapahoelibraries.org. 2011-08-25. Archived from the original on 2012-03-20. Retrieved 2011-10-31.
  38. ↑ Force of Nature on IMDb
  39. ↑ "Received Order of Canada". Davidsuzuki.org. 2011-02-03. Retrieved 2011-10-31.
  40. ↑ "Received Order of British Columbia". Vpl.ca. Retrieved 2011-10-31.
  41. ↑ "Received UNESCO prize". Cbc.ca. 2007-05-18. Archived from the original on March 30, 2009. Retrieved 2011-02-21.
  42. ↑ "Microsoft Word - Great_minds_in_science_7.doc" (PDF). Retrieved 2011-10-31.
  43. ↑ "The Unlikely Activist". The Unlikely Activist. Retrieved 2011-02-21.
  44. ↑ "Right Livelihood Award: 2009 - David Suzuki". Rightlivelihood.org. Retrieved 2010-07-28.
  45. ↑ https://www.amherst.edu/aboutamherst/magazine/bookclub/featurehome/bio ... URL will need updating when archived on that site
  46. ↑ "Freedom of the City". City of Vancouver. Retrieved 2015-11-03.
  47. ↑ Host: Dr. David Suzuki, CBC, 2010
  48. ↑ "Recipients of Honorary & Degrees" (PDF). Trent University. Retrieved 2010-07-28.
  49. ↑ "In The News | Lambton College - The Bridge to Your Future". Lambton.on.ca. Archived from the original on 2011-09-27. Retrieved 2011-10-31.
  50. ↑ CA (2010-03-20). "Université Sainte-Anne to honour Suzuki - News - The Vanguard". Thevanguard.ca. Retrieved 2011-10-31.

Bibliography

Further reading

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