Jail politicians who ignore climate science: Suzuki

[Azure]

David Suzuki has called for political leaders to be thrown in jail for ignoring the science behind climate change.


At a Montreal conference last Thursday, the prominent scientist, broadcaster and Order of Canada recipient exhorted a packed house of 600 to hold politicians legally accountable for what he called an intergenerational crime. Though a spokesman said yesterday the call for imprisonment was not meant to be taken literally, Dr. Suzuki reportedly made similar remarks in an address at the University of Toronto last month.

http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=290513

[Locke]

Its a good thing nobody gave Dave the authority to throw people in jail.

Here is a tip:

Listen up Dave, more people would listen to what you have to say if you didnt come off as a total whackjob half the time.

[redforever]

Perhaps we should jail environmentalists who fear monger?

[rubecube]

I used to like David Suzuki...before he went all Tom Cruise on everybody. He's turning environmentalism into a cult. Oh wait...

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Locke

Its a good thing nobody gave Dave the authority to throw people in jail.

Here is a tip:

Listen up Dave, more people would listen to what you have to say if you didnt come off as a total whackjob half the time.

Half? He's getting better.

I'm going to dump a litre of oil down the storm drain in his "honour"...

[Table 5]

I'm not sure it's called fear mongering when the majority of what he speaks of is based in truth. Politicians shouldn't be jailed, but with the power they hold, they do need to be accountable for their (lack of) actions. Ideally, this would be done with kicking them out of office during voting season...

[llama64]

Originally Posted by Table 5

I'm not sure it's called fear mongering when the majority of what he speaks of is based in truth. Politicians shouldn't be jailed, but with the power they hold, they do need to be accountable for their (lack of) actions. Ideally, this would be done with kicking them out of office during voting season...

What Suzuki is doing isn't helping the cause. By making outlandish statements about intergenerational crimes and throwing politicians in jail all he is accomplishing is further alienating the general population from grasping that climate change needs to be acknowledged and dealt with.

There is a correct way to get a message out. This is not it. And as someone who wants to see our government get it's head out of its collective rear regarding climate change, I'm appalled at what Suzuki is saying here.

[Devils'Advocate]

Well, this is an issue that bothers the bejebus out of me.

I don't have a car for environmental reasons.
I am a vegetarian for environmental reasons.
I have had my home evaluated to reduce electrical and gas consumption.

And I know that anything I do will be for nought because there are way too many politicians who are ignoring the problem.

And the people who are ignoring the problem will be long dead before the major consequences are felt.

I can plant failsafe bombs set to go off in 2208 and be fairly certain that I won't be up on murder charges. Because the people I kill will only be dead long after I am. I haven't read that "is time travel possible" thread cause I think we really need it.

For the monkeys that we are, we really can't be expected to think about consequences that will happen 100 years from now. That monkey inside of us is far too concerned with hookers and blow.

[redforever]

Originally Posted by Table 5

I'm not sure it's called fear mongering when the majority of what he speaks of is based in truth. Politicians shouldn't be jailed, but with the power they hold, they do need to be accountable for their (lack of) actions. Ideally, this would be done with kicking them out of office during voting season...

A lot of his so called truth is hypothelizing on unknown quantities, but he considers those unknown quantities as absolute.

[llama64]

Originally Posted by Devils'Advocate

For the monkeys that we are, we really can't be expected to think about consequences that will happen 100 years from now. That monkey inside of us is far too concerned with hookers and blow.

Well, technically Apes are closer to us then Monkeys.

But you make a good point!

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by redforever

A lot of his so called truth is hypothelizing on unknown quantities

and yet somehow politicians and lobbyists are more informed on a matter than a scientist who has been working with this subject all his life?

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally Posted by llama64

What Suzuki is doing isn't helping the cause. By making outlandish statements about intergenerational crimes and throwing politicians in jail all he is accomplishing is further alienating the general population from grasping that climate change needs to be acknowledged and dealt with.

There is a correct way to get a message out. This is not it. And as someone who wants to see our government get it's head out of its collective rear regarding climate change, I'm appalled at what Suzuki is saying here.

I agree.

Suzuki isn't "the authority on climate change", but he's clearly the most prominent voice in Canada. He shouldn't be grandstanding or making outlandish statement like this.

It does nothing, as evidenced already in this thread, but give ammunition to his detractors and obscures the ultimate and rather more important message.

One interesting thing is that the whole argument has gone from "it's not happening" to "it's not happening because of us" or even "it's too late now". The denial period seems to be half-over.

[CaptainCrunch]

Maybe we should jail environmentalists who cruise across the country in massive diesel chugging buses.

Suzuki has become a crusader, but in a sense he's a hypocrite when it comes to his own science. He refuses to keep an open mind and listen to any opinion but his own.

Its great that people like him, the Kennedy's and Al Gore all want to save the world. But frankly a politician's job is to serve the masses, and if the masses don't want radical environmental change at the costs of thier economic well being, then the masses are going to win.

Frankly I've met Suzuki, and I've found him to be an arrogant boorish, rude and annoying person who tends to think of himself as more of a rock star then an actual scientest.

There are researchers and scientests that aren't convinced that the global warning science is correct, should they be inprisoned too because they don't agree with Suzuki's view?

And at this point, is his stance more about selling books and speaking engagements then actually doing something about the environment.

[MaxPower]

Originally Posted by Table 5

and yet somehow politicians and lobbyists are more informed on a matter than a scientist who has been working with this subject all his life?

No one said that. The point is why should politicians act on one person's theory as opposed to another?

[llama64]

Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos

One interesting thing is that the whole argument has gone from "it's not happening" to "it's not happening because of us" or even "it's too late now". The denial period seems to be half-over.

Perhaps it's because younger generations (tail end of gen-x and younger) are beginning to take control of the market. 2 out of 3 car commercials I see now are for hybrids and they are marketed directly at me.

The boomers still hold political power, but that is likely to change in the next couple political cycles. I think the focus on green policy will increase as time goes on. The scientific evidence of climate change (note, not "global warming") is getting more and more significant. Only the wilfully ignorant are arguing against the basics at this point.

Which is why Suzuki is shooting himself in the foot by emulating Jack Layton.

[MelBridgeman]

Originally Posted by Table 5

and yet somehow politicians and lobbyists are more informed on a matter than a scientist who has been working with this subject all his life?

totally true, especially politicians like Al Gore

[Table 5]

don't listen to al gore. do listen to the scientists who study this for a living and agree with him.

[Eric Vail]

"Scientists" who claim that global warming is not influenced by human activity sound a lot like the "scientists" who said that smoking did not harm your health 40 years ago.

[Lanny_MacDonald]

Just watched a couple of excellent documentaries on climate change and the politics of the situation. For those who are still "not convinced" feel free to watch "Everything's Cool" and "Energy Crossroads: A Burning Need to Change Course". Very sobering. You'll find that the disagreement in the scientific community really is manufactured and funded by those with the most to lose. It is mind boggling to think that the original call to arms in the American political arena was made over 20 years ago, and censored by the Reagan and Bush administrations, and then the same scientists have again been censored by this Bush administration. The lack of clarity is not because of science, but because of politics and lobbyists.

[peter12]

This whole environmental issue is going to be solved by religion. There I said it. A social alliance of sorts between moderate science and religious groups will push the environment into the centre stage and change the way we view the role of government, society, and industry in human interaction with the natural world.