Members of the York community are invited to attend a presentation on April 7 by Canadian environmentalist Severn Cullis-Suzuki. An accomplished television host and presenter, the 23-year-old daughter of environmentalist David Suzuki has appeared and participated in many programs in Canada, the US and Britain. Most recently she was the host of Suzuki’s NatureQuest, a children’s television series currently airing around the world. She has written numerous articles on environmental issues for magazines and newspapers, and has also published a book titled Tell the World (Doubleday, 1993).
Left: Severn Cullis-Suzuki
A discussion and reception will follow Cullis-Suzuki’s presentation. Her talk will start at 7pm in room 306, Lumbers Blding. The presentation by Cullis-Suzuki is part of a series of events organized by York’s Faculty of Environmental Studies as part of a theme day titled “Change Your World”.
During the day of April 7, more than 500 students from 33 Ontario high-schools will come to York’s Keele campus to attend a full day of “Change Your World” workshops conducted by FES and community groups. The workshops will celebrate youth involvement in environmental and social action. Displays will be set up on the second and third floors of Vari Hall as part of the day’s events.
To RSVP for the Severn-Cullis Suzuki presentation, please contact Dianne Zecchino by e-mail at diannez@yorku.ca or call ext. 55285. For information about the daytime events, click here.
More about Severn Cullis-Suzuki
Born and raised in Vancouver, Cullis-Suzuki has been active in environmental and social justice work since kindergarten. At age nine, she and several friends started the Environmental Children’s Organization (ECO), a small group of children committed to learning and teaching other children about environmental issues. They were successful in many local projects and in raising enough money to appear at 1992’s Rio Earth Summit, with the aim of reminding the decision makers of who the conference would ultimately affect. The goal was reached when 12-year-old Cullis-Suzuki closed a Plenary Session with a powerful speech to the political representatives.
Now Cullis-Suzuki continues to speak to schools and corporations, and at many conferences and international meetings. Often speaking on the necessity of defining values, acting with the future in mind, and on individual responsibility; she is especially passionate about encouraging young people to speak out for their future.
In 1993, Cullis-Suzuki received the UN Environment Program’s Global 500 Award at a ceremony in Beijing, China.
In the spring of 2002, Cullis-Suzuki and friends spearheaded an Internet-based think-tank called The Skyfish Project. And as a member of Kofi Anan’s Special Advisory Panel, she and members of the group brought their first project, a pledge called the “Recognition of Responsibility” to the recent UN World Summit in Johannesburg in August 2002. Their trip also was the subject of a documentary film that aired on CBC’s long running documentary series, The Nature of Things, in January of last year.