We're in a giant car heading towards a brick wall and everyone's arguing over where they're going to sit.
David SuzukiRead
Over and over, the economy has determined the extent of our response, but how much value does it place on breathable air, drinkable water, edible food and stable weather and climate? Surely the economy is the means to a better future, not an end in itself. Surely it must be subordinate to a rich, diverse ecosphere that sustains all life.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The economy should not override the importance of a healthy environment.
David Suzuki's quote emphasizes the need to prioritize ecological sustainability over economic growth. He argues that while the economy is crucial for societal well-being, it should serve as a means to achieve a better future that includes protecting our natural resources like air, water, and food, rather than being seen as the ultimate goal.
Themes
EconomyEnvironmentSustainabilityNatureValue
In practice
Example use cases
During a climate change panel discussion to highlight the importance of sustainable practices.
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The medical literature tells us that the most effective ways to reduce the risk of heart disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes, Alzheimer's, and many more problems are through healthy diet and exercise. Our bodies have evolved to move, yet we now use the energy in oil instead of muscles to do our work.
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Do you know how much land is under ice, rock and snow? Do you know why 90 percent of us live within 100 kilometres of the U.S. border? We have this idea we're a vast country. But the reality is that a lot of it, a huge amount, is uninhabitable.
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We no longer see the world as a single entity. We've moved to cities and we think the economy is what gives us our life, that if the economy is strong we can afford garbage collection and sewage disposal and fresh food and water and electricity. We go through life thinking that money is the key to having whatever we want, without regard to what it does to the rest of the world.
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