David Suzuki Foundation – we have to protect our environment
by Denise Nanni and Milena Rampoldi, ProMosaik. In the following we are moving to Canada where we talked to Brendan of the David Suzuki Foundation to understand the important connection between humans and environment, and the essential importance of protecting our environement because it is our space of life. Brendan described us the aims, projects, and cooperation modalities of the David Suzuki Foundation. For ProMosaik, the protection of the environment is a fundamental issue closely related to human rights.
With what
aims was the David Suzuki Foundation founded?
aims was the David Suzuki Foundation founded?
In 1989, David Suzuki’s award-winning CBC radio
series It’s a Matter of Survival sounded an alarm about the
looming environmental crises the world was facing, including global warming.
Over 17,000 of his shocked fans sent him letters (in pre-email days) asking for
ways to avert the catastrophe.
series It’s a Matter of Survival sounded an alarm about the
looming environmental crises the world was facing, including global warming.
Over 17,000 of his shocked fans sent him letters (in pre-email days) asking for
ways to avert the catastrophe.
David and his wife Tara Cullis gathered a
dozen or so thinkers and activists on Pender Island to discuss creating a
solutions-based organization to address the concerns raised. After many
planning meetings, they incorporated the David Suzuki Foundation on September
14, 1990.
dozen or so thinkers and activists on Pender Island to discuss creating a
solutions-based organization to address the concerns raised. After many
planning meetings, they incorporated the David Suzuki Foundation on September
14, 1990.
Although early projects were international in
scope — working with Indigenous peoples in Japan, Colombia, Brazil, Australia and
Canada — the Foundation now focuses on Canada to protect the diversity of nature and our quality of life, now and for
the future.
scope — working with Indigenous peoples in Japan, Colombia, Brazil, Australia and
Canada — the Foundation now focuses on Canada to protect the diversity of nature and our quality of life, now and for
the future.
We collaborate
with Canadians from all walks of life, including government and business, to
conserve our environment and find solutions that will create a sustainable
Canada through science-based research, education and policy work.
with Canadians from all walks of life, including government and business, to
conserve our environment and find solutions that will create a sustainable
Canada through science-based research, education and policy work.
Our vision is
that within a generation, Canadians will act on the understanding that we are
all interconnected and interdependent with nature.
that within a generation, Canadians will act on the understanding that we are
all interconnected and interdependent with nature.
To provide some guiding
principles in the Foundation’s early days, David,
Tara and others wrote The
Declaration of Interdependence. At the 1992 Rio Earth Summit, others from
around the world used portions of our declaration to create the Earth Charter,
whose adherents are still growing. (We’ve now had the Declaration translated
into more than 25 languages.)
principles in the Foundation’s early days, David,
Tara and others wrote The
Declaration of Interdependence. At the 1992 Rio Earth Summit, others from
around the world used portions of our declaration to create the Earth Charter,
whose adherents are still growing. (We’ve now had the Declaration translated
into more than 25 languages.)
The David Suzuki Foundation is now a national,
bilingual organization. In addition to our Vancouver head office, we have busy
offices in Toronto and Montreal.
bilingual organization. In addition to our Vancouver head office, we have busy
offices in Toronto and Montreal.
What are the
main threats to sustainability nowadays?
main threats to sustainability nowadays?
Climate change is perhaps the most serious
threat to humankind today, but pollution and degradation of land and ocean
ecosystems also present many challenges.
threat to humankind today, but pollution and degradation of land and ocean
ecosystems also present many challenges.
We’re working to end carbon emissions in Canada,
joining with citizens, businesses and all levels of government to speed the
transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy.
joining with citizens, businesses and all levels of government to speed the
transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy.
We’ve seen some progress, but there’s still
lots to do. We want to help Canada become a global climate leader by calling
for strong national targets for emissions reductions, a nationwide price on
carbon emissions, investment in public transportation and other low-carbon
infrastructure, and strict energy-efficiency standards for vehicles,
buildings and consumer products.
lots to do. We want to help Canada become a global climate leader by calling
for strong national targets for emissions reductions, a nationwide price on
carbon emissions, investment in public transportation and other low-carbon
infrastructure, and strict energy-efficiency standards for vehicles,
buildings and consumer products.
U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision on January 24 to approve
two pipeline projects was a major disappointment. It represents a missed opportunity for the U.S. to act as a leader in
the transition to renewable energy sources.
two pipeline projects was a major disappointment. It represents a missed opportunity for the U.S. to act as a leader in
the transition to renewable energy sources.
What are the
main activities of the Foundation?
main activities of the Foundation?
The David Suzuki Foundation focuses on three key priorities:
·
The right to a healthy environment
The right to a healthy environment
o
Our Blue Dot campaign has succeeded in getting
municipalities and provinces throughout Canada to pass declarations on the
right to a healthy environment. We are now focusing efforts on getting a
national environmental bill of rights and to have environmental rights
eventually enshrined in the Canadian Constitution’s Charter of Rights and
Freedoms.
Our Blue Dot campaign has succeeded in getting
municipalities and provinces throughout Canada to pass declarations on the
right to a healthy environment. We are now focusing efforts on getting a
national environmental bill of rights and to have environmental rights
eventually enshrined in the Canadian Constitution’s Charter of Rights and
Freedoms.
·
Climate solutions
Climate solutions
o
Our climate team is working to help expedite
the transition to renewable energy sources, while also reducing carbon emissions
through innovative active transportation and transit systems.
Our climate team is working to help expedite
the transition to renewable energy sources, while also reducing carbon emissions
through innovative active transportation and transit systems.
·
Biodiversity
Biodiversity
o
Our science and policy team works to
protect at-risk habitats and populations — from beluga whales and caribou to
butterflies and bees — ultimately teaching all Canadians that our very survival
depends on healthy and diverse ecosystems.
Our science and policy team works to
protect at-risk habitats and populations — from beluga whales and caribou to
butterflies and bees — ultimately teaching all Canadians that our very survival
depends on healthy and diverse ecosystems.
Do you carry
on awareness raising activities? If yes, how has civil society been responsive
so far?
on awareness raising activities? If yes, how has civil society been responsive
so far?
Every
day, we leverage the latest in digital technologies, as well as traditional
communications, to spread the word on the vital work of our Foundation and partners,
ultimately engaging fellow Canadians in our work by making it as
easy as possible for people to take action. We also hold public
events and work with volunteers throughout the country to raise awareness on
the ground.
day, we leverage the latest in digital technologies, as well as traditional
communications, to spread the word on the vital work of our Foundation and partners,
ultimately engaging fellow Canadians in our work by making it as
easy as possible for people to take action. We also hold public
events and work with volunteers throughout the country to raise awareness on
the ground.
Over
the years, we have been fortunate to grow significant contact databases and
social media followings, as well as a growing legion of committed donors and
volunteers, without whom our work would be impossible.
the years, we have been fortunate to grow significant contact databases and
social media followings, as well as a growing legion of committed donors and
volunteers, without whom our work would be impossible.
·
475,000 Facebook likes https://www.facebook.com/DavidSuzuki/?fref=ts
475,000 Facebook likes https://www.facebook.com/DavidSuzuki/?fref=ts
·
145,000 Twitter followers: https://twitter.com/DavidSuzukiFDN?lang=en
145,000 Twitter followers: https://twitter.com/DavidSuzukiFDN?lang=en
·
100,000 volunteers – 50,000 general +
50,000 Blue Dot campaign
100,000 volunteers – 50,000 general +
50,000 Blue Dot campaign
·
More than a million readers for David
Suzuki’s weekly syndicated Science
Matters column, published in numerous media outlets
More than a million readers for David
Suzuki’s weekly syndicated Science
Matters column, published in numerous media outlets
Do you
cooperate with local authorities and institutions? If yes, how?
cooperate with local authorities and institutions? If yes, how?
We work tirelessly to maintain positive working relationships
with all levels of government — municipal, provincial and federal — and with
academia, by participating in consultations, undertaking collaborative projects
and keeping key partners involved in and informed about our work.
with all levels of government — municipal, provincial and federal — and with
academia, by participating in consultations, undertaking collaborative projects
and keeping key partners involved in and informed about our work.
The David Suzuki Foundation cannot work in a silo to protect
the people and places we love for generations to come. We are extremely
grateful for the ongoing support of all our donors, supporters, volunteers and
partners.
the people and places we love for generations to come. We are extremely
grateful for the ongoing support of all our donors, supporters, volunteers and
partners.
