2007 National Vital Signs Report
Comments - Simon Jackson
Canada is a nation that is heralded around the world for being a peacemaker, a true multicultural society, and a leader in environmental sustainability. Yet Vital Signs echo’s what many Canadians are already beginning to realize: Canada is quickly losing the mantle of global environmental leader. Of course, as a country, we trumpet our vast ecological inheritance, yet reality is painting a stark counter-image – one that suggests the next generation will inherit an environment far less becoming than the one our generation enjoys and is quickly letting slip away. But lest we not lose hope, for hope is on the way.
The environment – and global warming specifically – is the great challenge of the 21st Century and we cannot simply download the issue to politicians and policymakers. This is a societal challenge and as with all epic struggles of moral integrity of generations gone by, if the political process fails to yield the results we collectively desire or require, we must take action ourselves. And while it is hard to know where to begin with this or any seemingly unstoppable or overwhelming issue like it, we must remember that we cannot give into apathy; we cannot lose hope. Every decision we make, every action we take has consequences. If we chose to continue to turn a blind eye to the environment; to the issues that affect our future, it is a conscious decision that through inaction will drive the final nail into our coffin. But if each and every one of us does take a stand; if we do choose to make our voices heard, we can begin to reverse the tide of environmental degradation. Our actions can be as simple as turning off a light to save energy or taking five minutes to write an elected official to ask for the protection of an endangered animal – make no mistake, there are simply no insignificant endeavors. And as each act is assessed in the collective, we will begin to see the ripples of change that, together, will forge a wave that can tear down the walls of resistance and begin to create new solutions to long staled debates.
I was seven-years-old when I was lucky enough to discover my passion for the environment and learned first hand, through a lemonade stand and a couple of letters in support of protecting the Kodiak bears in Alaska, that each person – no matter where they lived, no matter what their age – can make a difference for all life. It was the most important lesson I ever learned and it was the foundation from which I built my involvement in the quest to give a voice to the spirit bear at the age of 13. Today, as we begin to see positive results for our spirit bear, I remember that it began with that belief in a single, but powerful idea – the power of one.
As Canadians, we must take back the role of global environmental steward and to do that, it begins with each of us. We must illustrate to each other and to the world that the greatest sin is not trying and that by trying, together - as one voice - our dreams are possible and our missions are most certainly winnable. It is our most important endeavor and it is our greatest tool for a better tomorrow. As a proud Canadian, it is a challenge I know we are up for and one that we’ll win…for the bears, for the environment, and for generations to come.
Simon Jackson, now 25, is the founder and Chairman of the 6 million strong Spirit Bear Youth Coalition and is the Executive Producer of THE SPIRIT BEAR – the forthcoming Hollywood CGI animated movie. For his efforts, he has been named a Hero for the Planet by Time Magazine and was the inspiration for a recent made-for-TV movie – Spirit Bear: The Simon Jackson Story.
