David Suzuki was born in 1936 to British Columbia. As a Japanese-Canadian, he and his family were put in internment camps from 1943 until the war was over. Suzuki Studied at the Amherst College of Massachusetts where he got his Ph.D in zoology and his Bachelor of Arts in 1958. He began to study genetics using fruit flies.
He began his broadcasting career in 1970 when he started a children's show called "Suzuki on Science". He also founded a radio program which he hosted for 5 years. Additionally, he hosted "Science Magazine". Starting in 1979 he hosted another television show on CBC called "The Nature of Things" and this is perhaps his most recognized path in his broadcasting career. The series highlighted on environmental threats and presenting alternatives to help achieve a more sustainable world. In 1993 Suzuki hosted yet another series, this time on PBS called "The secret of life". A 1985 series "A Plant for the Taking" got him a medal from the. United Nations Environment Programme. He published "The Sacred Balance" in 1997 and the book was made into a mini series for television. In total, Suzuki has authored 52 books, many of which were for children, including an autobiography. His latest publication was "The Legacy: An Elder's vision for a sustainable future" in 2010.
As for his activism, Suzuki is a strong activist for global climate change. He also implemented a carbon neutral program in his foundation's offices. He has even stopped taking vacations overseas to reduce his own carbon footprint, and prefers to usually speak from video conference if at all possible. Suzuki used a diesel bus the make a cross-country tour in 2007 where he spoke to Canadians about carbon footprints and climate changes. Although Suzuki doesn't belong to a specific political party, he has talked to the Green, NDP, and liberal parties of Canada.
Suzuki has seen many awards in his life time. In 2004, he was ranked the 5th "Greatest Canadians" out of ten by CBC viewers. In 2009 he was the recipient of the Honorary "Right Livelihood Award", and in 2010 he was named a "Citizen of the Next Century". Suzuki has also received multiple honorary degrees from several Universities, Including ones in Australia, the UK, and even in Nova Scotia. You can Check out more about Suzuki at his foundation's website, http://www.davidsuzuki.org/
Links of interest: Order of Canada
