Extinction Rebellion defends David Suzuki's pipeline comments

The group insists that Suzuki's comments were not controversial, and are indicative of what is to come if the climate crisis is not addressed

Mike Raptis

Nov 23, 2021 •

Extinction Rebellion, a global environmental movement, occupies the Granville Bridge in Vancouver, BC, May 2, 2021. PHOTO BY ARLEN REDEKOP /PNG

Extinction Rebellion Canada is defending the comments made by Vancouver environmentalist David Suzuki, who said on Saturday that “there are going to be pipelines blown up if our leaders don’t pay attention to what’s going on.”

In a release issued late Tuesday night, the environmental group insists that Suzuki’s comments were not controversial, and are indicative of what is to come if governments do not address the climate crisis.

“Not only will pipelines be blown up, but we can be certain that world leaders will be put on trial for treason or worse — be killed,” said National Action & Strategy Coordinator Zain Haq. “Although Extinction Rebellion activists are non-violent, we cannot control the actions of those outside of this movement who may commit acts of violence.

“The same goes for the media. When the Canadian public realizes that the press has been misleading them about how the climate emergency is being addressed, you can be sure that some people will become violent.”

Environmentalist David Suzuki in 2019. PHOTO BY SEAN KILPATRICK /The Canadian Press

Suzuki was later asked whether or not he supported the bombing of pipelines and said, “of course not.”

On Monday, the David Suzuki Foundation distanced itself from his comments , saying Suzuki “speaks on his own behalf — not for the David Suzuki Foundation.”

David Suzuki co-founded the non profit in 1990 with his wife Tara Cullis as a solutions-based response to tackle the environmental crisis.

Extinction Rebellion says it is an international grassroots movement that uses non-violent direct action to mobilize the public to drive systemic change in the face of the climate and ecological crisis.

The group has occupied bridges in the Vancouver area, as well as intersections. 18 climate activists from the group were arrested last month for blocking a key intersection that leads to Vancouver International Airport.

mraptis@postmedia.com

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— with a file from Devika Desal