David Suzuki - A Man of Conservation

Abstract

An environmentalist, a geneticist, a broadcaster and an all around conservationist, Dr. David Suzuki is a Canadian born “lover of the land”, directing the world’s attention to the environment and the damage that human life has bestowed on it.  In his youth, Suzuki faced much racial discrimination as a Japanese Canadian born during the Second World War.  He quickly grew fondness of nature and biology, spending most of his early life outdoors learning from nature.  His professional career began as an Assistant Professor in Genetics at the University of Alberta, where it was quickly evident that he was an outstanding speaker.  His speaking ability, combined with his love of nature, landed him many broadcasting positions; his most notable being his time spent hosting “The Nature of Things”.

Aside from his many awards, one of Suzuki’s greatest achievements was his creation of the David Suzuki Foundation, a tool through which people could learn about and address environmental issues, a combined idea of Suzuki and his wife Tera Cullis.  The foundation has not only provided challenges for individuals to make a difference, but has also government and industry leaders, inspiring people everywhere. “I have no Illusions that I am so important that I can turn everything around, I have no illusions that my foundation is going to make a huge difference, but I believe if millions of people like me and thousands of organizations like mine are all doing their small part we can become an irresistible force” – David Suzuki.