We're in a giant car heading towards a brick wall and everyone's arguing over where they're going to sit.
David SuzukiRead
Too often, governments are quick to use excessive force and even pervert the course of justice to keep oil and gas flowing, forests logged, wild rivers dammed and minerals extracted. As the Global Witness study reveals, citizens are often killed, too - especially if they're poor and indigenous.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Governments sometimes prioritize resource extraction over justice, leading to violence against marginalized communities.
The quote by David Suzuki highlights the troubling tendency of governments to prioritize the exploitation of natural resources, such as oil, gas, and minerals, often at the expense of justice and human rights. It points out how this overreach can result in violence against vulnerable populations, particularly indigenous and impoverished communities, who often bear the brunt of such policies, illustrating a systemic issue where profit is placed above human life and dignity.
Themes
GovernmentJusticeResource ExtractionViolenceIndigenous Rights
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about environmental protection, one might quote this to emphasize the need for justice.
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