On September 14th, 1990, David Suzuki and a group of activists started the David Suzuki Foundation as a solution based organization looking out for the environment.
The David Suzuki Foundation is a non-profit organization and their head offices are located in Vancouver, Canada. Other offices are also well established in Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal.
It is an organization that operates on a global scale and works with not only businesses and individuals, but governments as well.
It focuses on educating on environmental issues through the use of science-based findings. The organization’s mission is simple – they strive to not only protect the diversity of nature, but the quality of life as well.
Their five main goals include preventing climate change, using resources efficiently in order to transform the economy, protecting natural resources and environments, reconnecting and realizing the importance of nature and building more eco-friendly communities.
The foundation focuses very much on education and publishes newsletters, research reports and news releases. It also takes the responsibility of education further by publishing books as well as information kits.
Working in Canada, the foundation focuses on its oceans and incorporating sustainable fishing ideas. It focuses on climate change and the use of cleaner energy, sustainability and it even established the Nature Challenge.
The Nature Challenge was created in order to raise awareness and encourages the public to take action against the environmental damage they cause daily. Along with the Union of Concerned Scientists, the Suzuki Foundation came up with a list that would help alleviate the impact people had in their daily lives on the environment.
The list includes things such as reducing energy used by homes by 10%, buying locally produced products such as foods and choosing fuel efficient vehicles.
This list goes on to pose more challenges such as eating one meat free meal a week, choosing more energy efficient products and appliances, cutting the use of pesticides and supporting alternative transportation.
Furthermore, the public was challenged to use carpools or bicycles and, when choosing a home, that it be close to their places of work or school. Many took up this challenge and they took it seriously.
The David Suzuki Foundation receives 51% of donations from individuals, 30% from other foundations and businesses make up for 12% of donations.
It is truly a future oriented organization and, with more of these kinds of projects and challenges, normal people will be encouraged to help make a difference.
