“Human beings and the natural world are on a collision course… If not checked, many of our current practices put at serious risk the future we wish for human society…No more than one or a few decades remain before the chance to avert the threats we now confront will be lost and the prospects for humanity immeasurably diminished… A great change in our stewardship of the earth and the life on it is required if vast human misery is to be avoided and our global home on this planet is not to be irretrievably mutilated.” Those words are taken from the World Scientists’ Warning to Humanity, from November 1992, over two decades ago. It was signed by over 1,700 senior scientists from 71 countries and included more than half of all Nobel prizewinners. Since the World Scientists’ Warning, scientific study after scientific study has documented the perilous state of the atmosphere, oceans, forests, vanishing species, toxic pollution and the unanticipated consequences of powerful new technologies. Now we stand on the edge of a precipice that is of our own making. In less than 100 years, we have managed to lose sight of our absolute dependence on nature, and our responsibility not to foul our own home. We congratulate ourselves for growth, expansion, technological advances, and profits, and we live with the illusion that our inventiveness enables us to keep the economy growing without limit. .... I accuse corporations, including the automobile, energy, pharmaceutical, chemicals, and agricultural sectors; of putting profit and growth before all else including the survival and health of society. That their corporate lobbying is setting our country’s agenda is shameful. I accuse Canadian politicians of intergenerational crimes. Their actions will affect our grandchildren, and their grandchildren. I accuse Canadian corporations and government of immoral activity with devastating consequences for the poorest, most vulnerable nations on the globe. I accuse Canada’s politicians and its citizens of wilful blindness, of failing to be informed about critical issues that they have the power to influence and of failing to take action when they are aware of avoidable ecological crises. If my country refuses to exonerate me, then it stands guilty of failing to defend its vaunted claim of freedom of speech. If my words are judged treasonous, then so be it. With my carbon manifesto, I aim to stop these crimes: Fossil fuels as our primary energy source are over. Within a generation they must stay in the ground. That means exploration and subsidies to the fossil fuel industry end now. Save the earth’s largest carbon sinks: Canada’s Boreal forest and our oceans must be protected. Seventy per cent of our energy must be renewable energy within one generation. A carbon tax of $150 per tonne starts now. Canadian climate scientists must be able to share their findings uncensored and unimpeded by political and corporate interests. trialofsuzuki.ca/#home
Posted on: Mon, 18 Nov 2013 03:30:04 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015