Legacy: David Suzuki

This week on Radio Ecoshock, we are listening to a speech by famous geneticist, broadcaster, and author David Suzuki. For almost 50 years, he hosted the Canadian Broadcasting TV show "The Nature of Things", published 40 books, won awards. This is his "legacy" speech - before the release of a biographical film "David Suzuki - Force of Nature," at the Toronto Film Festival.

This talk was recorded by Alex Smith, at a standing room only auditorium at the Kitsilano High School, Vancouver, on September 17th, 2010. Dr. Suzuki tries to place humans in proper perspective, in the real world. I think you are going to learn, and like it.

Suzuki takes us back 4 billion years, as time travelers, to see how we would do without the services provided by the web of life. We don't last long.

Then he examines how our cultural lens - shapes our vision of Nature. Contrary to all previous humans, and continuing aboriginal societies, OUR myth is that all the other living things are "commodities" that we can use, abuse, or kill off at will. That could be our death myth.

But I won't try to put words in the mouth of Canada's most famous environmentalist, and a master communicator. I've heard David Suzuki before. This speech moved me more than any other. It is, as he says, his legacy. Please, take in the wisdom for yourself.

Dr. Suzuki went on to say his real legacy may be his children - all environmentalists - and the David Suzuki Foundation - which has been very active in many environmental problems, especially climate change. Find out how you can help, at davidsuzuki.org

Our close-out music for the show was "350 Getdown" by May Earlwine - from the 350.org web site.

Thanks for joining us again this week.

Our own web site almost broke the servers this past month, with listener downloads, of green mp3 audio. More than half a terabyte heading out into the ears of the many, every month!

Thanks to some show volunteers, we've taken steps to strengthen our delivery system - meaning go ahead! Grab our free audio. Make CD's up for your friends, neighbors and citizens. Spread it around.

Maybe, eventually, enough people will understand the triple crunch, and take action to save - ourselves, our future, and the Planet for all the living creatures. That is the dream.

Get the free audio at ecoshock.org - still, the Net's largest green audio download site.

Alex