News OVER THE EDGE _ February 9, 2007 “Superspecies” About to Destroy — the Earth, Scientist Warns Dr. David Suzuki addressing a fan in Prince George after his lecture ANDREW K.URJATA Eprror-In-CrigF Usually a prominent scientist talking about a “superspecies” growing at such a fantastic rate it threatens the future of the globe is reserved for the realm of science fiction movies and video games. But that’s exactly the message environmentalist and scientist Dr. David Suzuki delivered to an audience of over 600 at the third annual Bob Ewert lecture held at the Prince George Civic Centre on January 27. , The event, a fundraiser for the Northern Medical Programs Trust (which provides scholarships for medical students at. UNBC), chose Suzuki as a keynote speaker because, according to Dr. Donald MacRitchie, the “impact of en- vironmental degradation is prob- ably one of the biggest threats to future health.” Suzuki clearly agreed with this’ assessment as he launched into nearly an hour-long attack on the way in which developed societies are treating the environment. “Foresight, I believe, is the very essence of what it is to be human,” he said, attributing the success of the species to its abil- ity to conceptualize the future-and act accordingly. He explained that today there are more people in the world than any other mammal and our impact is without comparison, making us the very first “super species.” However, he also noted that over, the course of human history we seem to have lost sight of our priorities. “Our so-called leaders... have been telling us the economy is the bottom line,” Suzuki charged. “This is suicidal.” He singled out US President George W. Bush’s comment that Americans should “go out and shop” in the wake of 9-11 as a paritcularly strong indi- cation that “we have become un- believable consumers.” Suzuki also asked Canad- ians to assess their values, ask- ing whether all our material gains have really made us happier. For example, he cited the fact that the average Canadian family has de- creased by 50% and the average family home has doubled in size, giving every person their own bathroom. “I guess today we’re so full of it,” he joked, “we need more bathrooms to get rid of it.” Though Suzuki hasn’t been completely happy with any Can- adian government’s environmental record, he said he was very proud when Jean Chretien ratified the Kyoto Protocol in 2002. His as- sessment of the current Conserva- tive government was not nearly as positive, calling Harper and his ‘ peers “international bandits” for not even attempting to meet the standards Kyoto set. “Chretien ratified [Kyoto] not as a Liberal but as our Prime Minister,” he said, “it was international law.” Suzuki became particularly passionate when he began talking about the way in which the world has ignored environmental issues over past decades. “For over 40 years the lead- ing scientists in the world have been telling us we’re going down a dangerous path,” he said. He brought out a 1992 document en- titled “World Scientists Warning to Humanity,” which was signed by 1700 of the world’s top sci- entists, including over half of the world’s living Nobel Laureates in ~ the sciences. The document warns that current human activity poses a grave threat its. future survival on the planet earth. Reading from the document, Suzuki quoted “4 think we’re in a pretty big pickle.” - Dr. David Suzuki, painting a bleak picture if things aren't done soon. “No more than one or a few dec- ades remain before the chance to avert the threats we now confront will be lost, and the prospect for humanity immeasurably dimin- ished.” “Tf that isn’t a health issue,” he added, “I don’t know what is.” He described the public’s re- sponse to this document “terrify- ing,” as it was deemed not news- worthy by major media outlets across North America. “Half of all Nobel Prize winners telling us we could have as little ten years to avoid castatrophe, and this is not newsworthy?” he asked incredu- lously. “Do you remember a guy named OJ Simpson? Do you re- member Princess Diana? Do you remember Bill and Monica? Do you remember Martha Stewart, ‘Michael Jackson, Brad and Ange- lina? I can guarantee you that in future generations those people and their shenanigans will be of absolutely no significance in hu- man history.” The final half of the lecture was focused on the changes to the world over the last 50 years and how they are skewering people’s perspectives on life. “Most people have lived their entire lives in an ANOREW KURJATA absolutely unsustainable period of growth,” and accepted it as nor- mal. Suzuki warned. “This cannot continue.” In the talk he also encour- aged people to be more discerning about the information they find on the internet and in the news, saying that in the world of TV and radio an “in-depth report” is two minutes long. He also said it is important that people stay in touch with the natural side of the world so that they understand the dangers of environmental deg- radation. “Kids don’t know where electricity, food, and water comes from. In a city, it’s easy to think that it’s the economy that mat- ters. Suzuki’s talk concluded with a plea to reorder our society’s pri- orities in a way that makes long- term sense, saying “Let’s put the ‘eco’ back in “economics.”” Among those in attendance were area MLAs Shirley Bond, Pat Bell, and John Rustad, UNBC President Don Cozzetto, and stu- dents from the UNBC medical program. “Brad and Angelina? I can guarantee you that in future generations those people and their shenanigans will be of absolutely no significance in human history.”