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World Scientists' Warning to HumanityThis page is taken from the book "The Sacred Balance" by David Suzuki and Amanda McConnell: Since the beginning of the 1990s, the media have turned away from environmental issues as from an unpleasant sight. They have focused on economics and global competitiveness as our most pressing challenges. On November 18, 1992, a document titled "World Scientists' Warning to Humanity" was released, five months after the Earth Summit in Rio, the largest gathering of heads of state in history. It was signed by over 1600 senior scientists from 71 countries, including more than half of all living Nobel Prize winners. The document began: "Human beings and the natural world are on a collision course. Human activities inflict harsh and often irreversible damage on the environment and on critical resources. If not checked, many of our current practices put at serious risk the future that we wish for human society and the plant and animal kingdoms, and may so alter the living world that it will be unable to sustain life in the manner that we know [emphasis added]. Fundamental changes are urgent if we are to avoid the collision our present course will bring about." The warning went on to list the crises in the atmosphere, water resources, the oceans, the soil, the forests, biodiversity and human population. Then the words became stark: "No more than one or a few decades remain before the chance to avert the threats we now confront will be lost and the prospects for humanity immeasurably diminished. We the undersigned, senior members of the world's scientific community, hereby warn all humanity of what lies ahead. A great change in our stewardship of the Earth and life on it is required, if vast human misery is to be avoided and our global home on this planet is not to be irretrievably mutilated." How was this warning was reported in the news?When the World's Scientists Warning to Humanity was released to the press, how do you think it was received? Canada's national newspaper and television ignored it. In the United States, the Washington Post and the New York Times rejected it as "not newsworthy". On 19 November 1992, (the day after the release of the scientists' warning) the front page of the New York Times included stories about Catholic Bishops rejecting a policy statement on the role of women, police officers firing at their fellow cops, the origins of rock and roll, a New York State legislature enquiry into banking policy, the political motives behind inspection of passport files and Bill Clinton's welcome in Washington as newly elected president, with two photos of Mr. Clinton. That same day, the front page of Canada's Globe and Mail included stories about a report that Progressive Conservative politicians ignored their own polling results, a debate about a CBC program on World War II, loss of confidence among Canadians and the results of delays in AIDS testing, as well as short news hits on a cocaine bust, mutual funds, aid to Canadian airlines and hockey player Wayne Gretzky. A large photograph of cars forming an image of Mickey Mouse took considerable space. All of these items were deemed more newsworthy than the scientists' warning. Source: David Suzuki with Amanda McConnell - "The Sacred Balance" Return to Why Learn Sustainable Living and Survival Skills? scientists warning world
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