It's a Matter of Survival

Alice Kidd is an editor with The New Catalyst editorial collective in
Lillooet, B.C.

When David Suzuki and Anita Gordon first produced “It’s a Matter of
Survival” on cbc Radio in 1989, it was a controversial series.
“Doomsayers or realists?” was the question. In the recent book of
the same name, Gordon and Suzuki have carried forward their argument
with more recent additions and now give us the opportunity to digest
this frightening environmentalism at a slightly slower pace.

The authors show a bleak picture. They inventory the state of the air,
water, and soil; they list the massive changes human beings have made to
the planet in their search for food, shelter, and energy; they point out
the problems associated with our waste. They also point out that it is
not only an issue between humans and other species, it is a problem
between humans and humans.

Faced with the belief that something must be done globally, and soon,
they have attempted some optimism. If we can accept this new reality; if
we can get together, work together, think together; if we can recognize
what is needed to be done and act on this, we have a chance.

If there is any question in your mind that some of these scary
scenarios might be true, you should read this book. It addresses many
issues of global importance. It brings together disparate voices, and it
has some interesting suggestions for potential solutions. This book
attempts to see the planet as a whole, a rare occurrence in science. In
spite of its apocalyptic framework, it is a statement of optimism, of
belief in the human spirit, and in its capacity for change.