A few days ago, I saw Dr. David Suzuki speak in person for the first time. “The Global Eco-crisis: Is it too late?” was the title of his sold-out talk, and that had me a bit worried. I was not worried of becoming overwhelmed as one might when they begin to assess the health of the ecosphere, but rather worried that I might not hear of any hope during a time in which I no longer wish to use the dire diatribe as a means to inspire change.
"Is it too late?" he asked. "It is late, very late," he replied "but it will never be too late for me." For the entire length of the speech, lasting well over an hour, he explained why the fight is still very real and how we should go about taking up arms. He spoke directly to the youth, reminding us that the future is simply a human construct and how it is this trait, the human trait to plan ahead, that makes our species unique. He decried it is imperative the youth become more politically involved because of how they have more of a future to lose.
Like the idea of a future, the economy is also a human construct. David Suzuki spoke of the things that are truly valued–things regarding family, experience, and the natural world. Such things, things we value more than any manufactured good such as the cherished kitchen cabinets his father made as a gift for David and his wife's first home, are viewed as worthless externalities with regard to the economy. Just as the nonexistence of the future could be argued, the same could be said about the economy. The laws of nature, on the contrary, are irrefutable and unchanging.
"In a city," he reminded us, "our perception of the world changes…[and] it's easy to think we are unique creatures where we only have to worry about our jobs…to buy the things we want. In cities, the highest priority is the economy." Furthermore, because money "doesn't represent anything but itself" and those in power only seem to be representing money and the corporate cause, the public must be those who take up the call in defense of natural systems, of biodiversity, and of healthy air, water, and soil.
Despite his ability to make eloquent connections between human culture and the natural world, his lecture did not present to me any new scientific findings or conclusions. His only hint at ecosystem services was a singular mention of the phrase, "…ecosystems and the services they can provide." However, all of this did not leave me at a loss. Rather, I stood up from my seventh row Chan Centre seat a bit taller during the generous ovation. If David Suzuki, Canada's most trusted person and famed environmentalist, was not telling me anything I didn't already know about our struggle to reverse the damage we have done to our planetary home, perhaps I have been brought up to speed. If ecosystem services were not quite mentioned, perhaps this way of thinking is indeed vanguard. I left feeling it was time to conclude my broad sweep of knowledge regarding this essential concern. It is time to focus, to dig deeper, and to develop my contribution.
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