Dr David Suzuki of UBC – on human overconsumption,
the need for diversity, local knowledge of sustainability, risks of monoculture,
over fixation on the market economy
Problem of consumption driven by appetite
for stuff is amplifying our ecological footprint. Our numbers, technological power,
consumptive power and global economy makes this the Anthropocene epoch – where our
species undermines the support systems of the planet. Man’s brain invented an
idea called “the future” – we are the only animal who can deliberately avoid
danger and seek opportunity– this foresight allowed humans to survive and make
us the planet’s dominant animal. We are the factor affecting the earth. We are
heading down a dangerous path.
Half of Nobel Prize winning scientists
alerted us and the press ignored it. The scientists warned that if not checked,
our current practices puts at risk what we wish for the future of human society
- fundamental changes are needed to avoid the collision – atmosphere, water,
forest, species, over population etc. No more than one or a few decades for our
chance to avert these threats will be lost.
Diversity is important. At level of the
species there is diversity – genetic polymorphism. Species that thrive have
inbuilt level of diversity, not homogeneity. This is part of life’s reliance.
At ecosystem level, the more diversity, the more resilient it is. As conditions
around the world change, there is a diverse pool.
Diversity should be built into everything
we do. Sustain that diversity. Monoculture over large renders any group
vulnerable to change – climate, new pests and disease. It is a great threat to
long term resilience and survival of live.
For 95% of human existence, we were nomadic
hunter gatherers. You are utterly dependent on nature for your survival and
well-being. As humans spread across the planet, we brought extinction with it. Humans
extinguished woolly mammoths and more, even with simple tools.
Indigenous knowledge is based on place –
hard won practical experience accumulated over long periods of time. This is
priceless knowledge of how to live in that place. Priceless as it cannot be
duplicated by science. Hard won knowledge on how to survive from year to year.
So much loss of what was known – a lot of it had to do with sustainability. Diversity
in this ethnosphere helped humans survive. But now we are monocultured around
the planet with a narrow knowledge base.
In history, most humans were farmers and
they know about weather, pollination, nitrogen fixing plants and they are
embedded in nature. From 1900, and amazing change. World population tripled to
6 billion in 2000. Huge cities and many cities. Transformation from village
farming animal to a big city dweller. You can spend days and weeks not going
outdoors. In a city, our perception of nature changes – who needs that? You
just need a job. Then the economy becomes the highest priority. Thus, the
Canada Prime Minister says you cannot do anything about GHG emissions, it will
spoil the economy. Elevating the economy above all.
CEO of logging company asked “are
environmentalists” willing to pay for the trees. So long as you argue within an
economic framework. The real reason for fighting on the forest was not on
services for humans i.e. pulp and paper versus alternative income form berries,
flower arrangement and maybe a cure for cancer? Ecological services are mere economic
externalities. Environmentalists have failed to shift the frame set by
economics.
If you’ve to breathe polluted air, you’ll
get sick. You need clean water. Bottled water from Europe in Malaysia? That
should be criminal! Food and soil are high priorities too. Then whether you’re
in oil palm or oil; how you do it should not undermine these foundations for
life.
You live in a world constrained by laws of sciences
and we live within it. Remember we are animals, we are subject to laws of
carrying capacity of ecosystems. We have exceeded our biosphere by consuming
the way we are. We are taking away from what rightly belongs to our children
and grandchildren by over consuming.
Capitalism and the market economy. We invented
these things! We can change these things so they conform to laws set by the
natural world. Some see a forest as a sacred grove, rivers as a circulatory
system – others see it as pulp and paper, irrigation system etc. Is the earth
our mother or the mother lode?
Note: a cautionary view on the global free marketism
approach including consumerism and global supply chains for processed products!