David Suzuki launches cross-Canada dialogue on environment

January 29, 2007 VANCOUVER - If you were Prime Minister, what would you do for the environment? David Suzuki wants to know, and he's embarking on a cross-Canada election-style campaign to find out. When the tour wraps up in March, he'll take those Canadian concerns and ideas to Ottawa.

"Polls are telling us that our environment is now the #1 concern for Canadians. But polls are just numbers. I want to hear first hand what Canadians have to say and help them turn politicians' promises and talk into real solutions," says Dr. Suzuki."I think Canadians are sick of rhetoric and are hungry for real leadership."

"We have an amazing opportunity to ride the current environmental momentum to real change and real action."During the 30-day tour, Dr. Suzuki will visit more than 40 communities, speaking to Canadians from St. John's to Victoria. Many Canadian celebrities will join Dr. Suzuki throughout the tour, from musical performers like Sarah Harmer and k-os, to TV personalities like Rick Mercer, to NHL players like Andrew Ference and Robyn Regehr of the Calgary Flames.

"People of all stripes are lending their support to the tour because the environment isn't a partisan issue, says Dr. Suzuki."Issues like global warming not only threaten our environment, but also our economy and even our national identity."

In addition to speaking events, Dr. Suzuki will meet with local community and business groups, First Nations, athletes and others to discuss practical solutions to the challenges posed by global warming. He'll be encouraging Canadians to get involved, both with local environmental organizations, but also in the political process.

"Canada is a great democracy, but the process fails if we just complain about issues, without doing anything about them," Dr. Suzuki says."If Canadians really want environmental change, now is the time to demand it because with so much support, our leaders will have to listen."

Dr. Suzuki is also turning to the web and pop culture to engage the masses. Canadians are encouraged to make 20-second"If YOU were Prime Minister..." videos and upload them to the tour's youtube group through davidsuzuki.org. Celebrities such as Randy Bachman and winter sport athletes Sara Renner and Thomas Grandi have already left their own video messages.

The tour even has a theme song courtesy of iconic Canadian musician Raffi - a rockabilly groove number called "Cool It." This anthemic song on global warming, which will be played throughout the tour, urges government and business leaders to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Staff of the David Suzuki Foundation, and Dr. Suzuki himself, sing back-up. Streaming audio and video versions of"Cool It" will be available at davidsuzuki.org.

The David Suzuki Foundation is committed to reducing and offsetting its greenhouse gas emissions by going Carbon Neutral. All of the major emissions associated with this tour, as well as from day-to-day Foundation operations (including staff commuting, paper use, electricity consumption, and air travel) are offset through investments in sustainable energy projects, such as wind farms, solar installations, or energy efficiency projects.

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An itinerary of all tour stops is available online at: www.davidsuzuki.org. Digital photos and B-roll (DVD format) are also available.

For more information contact:
Jason Curran
Communications Specialist
David Suzuki Foundation
Office: (604) 732-4228, ext. 229
Cell: (604) 961-9591
jcurran@davidsuzuki.org
www.davidsuzuki.org