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David Suzuki

David Suzuki Quotes

Professor

David Suzuki is a Canadian professor, author, television host, environmental activist, and scientist. He is renowned for his contributions to environmental protection, particularly in the areas of climate change, biodiversity, and sustainability. Born on March 24, 1936, Suzuki has been active in the public sphere since the 1960s.

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Famous David Suzuki Quotes

“The way we see the world shapes the way we treat it. If a mountain is a deity, not a pile of ore; if a river is one of the veins of the land, not potential irrigation water; if a forest is a sacred grove, not timber; if other species are biological kin, not resources; or if the planet is our mother, not an opportunity -- then we will treat each other with greater respect. Thus is the challenge, to look at the world from a different perspective.”

“Planting native species in our gardens and communities is increasingly important, because indigenous insects, birds and wildlife rely on them. Over thousands, and sometimes millions, of years they have co-evolved to live in local climate and soil conditions.”

Years Important Sometimes Community Millions Conditions Bird Garden Climate Species Locals Rely Soil Native Insects Indigenous Wildlife

Author:David Suzuki

“Ultimately we need to recognize that while humans continue to build urban landscapes, we share these spaces with others species.”

Needs Humans Space Share Species Landscape Urban Urban Landscape

Author:David Suzuki

“Humans are an infant species, a mere 150,000 years old. But, armed with a massive brain, we've not only survived, we've used our wits to adapt to and flourish in habitats as varied as deserts, Arctic tundra, tropical rainforests, wetlands and high mountain ranges.”

Years Humans Used Brain Mountain Mere Species Wit Desert Range Massive Survived Infant Arctic Habitat Tropical Rainforest Mountain Ranges Wetlands

Author:David Suzuki

“The damage that climate change is causing and that will get worse if we fail to act goes beyond the hundreds of thousands of lives, homes and businesses lost, ecosystems destroyed, species driven to extinction, infrastructure smashed and people inconvenienced.”

People Ifs Home Lost Failing Climate Species Climate Change Driven Destroyed Damage Infrastructure Extinction Ecosystems

Author:David Suzuki

“Human use of fossil fuels is altering the chemistry of the atmosphere; oceans are polluted and depleted of fish; 80 per cent of Earth's forests are heavily impacted or gone yet their destruction continues. An estimated 50,000 species are driven to extinction each year. We dump millions of tonnes of chemicals, most untested for their biological effects, and many highly toxic, into air, water and soil. We have created an ecological holocaust. Our very health and survival are at stake, yet we act as if we have plenty of time to respond.”

“My Prime Minister regards the economy as our highest priority and forgets that economics and ecology are derived from the same Greek word, oikos, meaning household or domain. Ecology is the study of home, while economics is its management. Ecologists try to define the conditions and principles that enable a species to survive and flourish. Yet in elevating the economy above those principles, we seem to think we are immune to the laws of nature. We have to put the ‘eco’ back into economics.”

“For the first time since life appeared on earth, one species- us- is single-handedly altering the physical, chemical and biological nature of earth. We have become a force of nature”

Firsts Earth Force First Time Species Chemicals Forces Of Nature

Author:David Suzuki

“Wind power, if not properly planned and sited, can harm birds and bats (although Danish studies of 10,000 bird kills revealed that almost all died in collisions with buildings, cars and wires; only 10 were killed by windmills). Alternative energy sources are absolutely necessary. Global warming will kill birds and bats, as well as other species, in much greater numbers than wind power.”