Consumer Choices Have Consequences

“Our personal consumer choices have ecological, social, and spiritual consequences. It is time to re-examine some of our deeply held notions that underlie our lifestyles.”

~David Suzuki
(Canadian environmentalist, scientist and broadcaster)

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Assignment for middle school students:
Document requirements: Vedana, 12 pts, spacing 1.5, black or dark blue.
Standard heading (name, grade, date, TKC) as required by school

• 6th - What are examples of "consumer choices"? Give 1 example of how our lifestyle choices affect us in each of Suzuki's catagories.

• 7th - Find background information on David Suzuki via approved search links listed below. Describe David Suzuki and be sure to include answers to the following questions:

1. What are some of David Suzuki's accomplishments?
2. Where was he born and where does he live now?
3. How old is he?
4. What is his educational background?
5. What are his passions? What are his concerns?
   
6. Describe his "Nature Challenge"
7. What are consumer choices? Give examples.
8. What does this have to do with being Catholic? (hints: Catholics on the Environment)
   

1. http://www.davidsuzuki.org/
2. David Suzuki (Time Magazine & CNN)
3. David Suzuki (cbc.ca)
4. David Suzuki Tree Hugger
5. Museum of Broadcast Communication

• 8th
  

• Give examples of how our lifestyle choices affect us in each of Suzuki's catagories.

• Find background information on David Suzuki via approved search links listed below. Describe David Suzuki and be sure to include answers to the following questions:

1. What are some of David Suzuki's accomplishments?
2. Where was he born and where does he live now?
3. How old is he?
4. What is his educational background?
5. What are his passions? What are his concerns?
   
6. Describe his "Nature Challenge"
7. What are consumer choices? Give examples.

1. http://www.davidsuzuki.org/
2. David Suzuki (Time Magazine & CNN)
3. David Suzuki (cbc.ca)
4. David Suzuki Tree Hugger
5. Museum of Broadcast Communication
   

2 part EXTRA CREDIT for 6th, 7th and 8th: Read the following quote
(1) describe how is David Susuki's philosophy is different from Christianity.

"Native people refer to the Earth as our mother and tell us we are made of the four sacred elements: earth, air, fire and water. On reflection, I realized that they are absolutely right and that science corroborates their insights. We are created by the air, water, earth and sunlight." (from an interview with American Scientist Online)

(2) Can people with different philosophies and religions work together towards a common cause? Why or why not?