Mr. Fletcher’s article (or should I say right wing political rant) last week “Environmentalism for dummies” seems truly to miss whatever point he was feebly trying to make against David Suzuki. His interpretation of a Globe and Mail article leaves him wondering why Dr. Suzuki is, by many, seen as a saint, and that the Conservative government is seen as a front for Big Oil.
He also has trouble digesting the fact that Dr. Suzuki is a scientist, and that his personal views of the world are incorporated into his foundation. Why wouldn’t they be, he is a man of conviction, not a two-faced politician who has his/her hands deep in the cookie jars.
There’s some easy answers Mr. Fletcher. First off, many people see Suzuki as a saint because they recognize the non-partisan visions he has made public, the fact that he has devoted his life to the education of people in general and the betterment of our understanding of our planet and a whole, and they believe in the observations he has scientifically endorsed. But more than anything, they see the conviction, and courage he has shown in the face of those opposed to his views all his life.
There is no doubt that those opposed are indeed powerful corporations who have much at stake in growing their empires with impunity and arrogance. They have pulled out all the stops for many years trying to silence and discredit Dr. Suzuki but the more they try the more obvious it becomes that he is absolutely right. Many other saints have similar stories; seeing things in a greater perspective, going against human injustices, speaking their mind, and in the end being seen as correct all along.
I’m sure had he folded his tent and joined the forces so against him he would be a much richer and less harassed man.
Suzuki had little to gain in expressing his findings and observations of life in the early years. He is a man of science yes, but even more importantly he has always remained a human being and speaks from the heart. His interpretation and understanding of this planet both as a scientist and human being forces him to speak out against processes and economies that are detrimental to life. Those who control the processes and economies hate Suzuki and have spent billions, changed and introduced laws, and have hired their own “scientists” in trying to debunk him. Yet, as each year goes by we see most of Suzuki’s warnings and predictions come true. Generally, the diversification, gene pools, and number of species on planet Earth has diminished and most of it has happened in the last 250 years due to human activities driven by manmade economic systems.
Yet Suzuki is always the first to say, there is hope, we can change, economy and environmentalism need not be at opposite ends, we just need to change what be base our economies on, (which is basically economic based vs. resource based). His main mantra is simple. In order to support a growing population we can no longer survive on an out dated economic system that has no accountability, and is based on pure money profit.
Fletcher also touches on the “enviro-scare industry?” and calls the tar sands an exaggerated horror. Wow, I guess when your head is deep in the sand (or someplace else) you could call what’s happening in the tar sands exaggerated but if your eyes are open and untainted by the spoils of mega profits you will be left with nothing but horror and a blatant disregard for nature and all those dependant on her.
As far as fear mongering goes I would say Mr. Harper takes first place on that category. His entire campaign last election was based on nothing else but political fear, saying if we vote for anyone but him the whole economic system would simply fold up and only he could keep the wheels on the track. He is truly a legend in his own mind and a master of propaganda and fear. Now he is introducing laws that will speed up the introduction of mega projects by disposing of any environmental impact studies.
If this is not behaviour that exemplifies a government that fronts Big Oil I don’t know what is.
I’m guessing that’s what all the new prisons are for... once we finally get fed up enough and take to the streets there will be plenty of places to put all those arrested.
Seems to me in a few short years Harper has turned a once respected country that used to choose its business partners based on character and human rights into one that is no longer respected and is stripping its citizens of the rights so hard fought for.
As far as where monies come from supporting environmental organizations, I’d say most of it comes from ordinary citizens and businesses who donate their hard earned cash to help fight the fight against pollution, climate change, industrial injustice, and political meddling. I would suggest that monies acquired by political parties should be far more scrutinized.
Tom Eberhardt
Sooke