I was really worried.

Through the years I’ve come to realize that Dad has a great connection with his audience. I didn’t want to interfere with that. I was worried that showing a more personal side of David Suzuki in The Suzuki Diaries that aired last November*- as a father, as a mentor, as a friend- would change the positive dynamic between him and his viewers.

I waited anxiously.

Then the people wrote in.

It was fascinating. The overwhelming majority of positive comments centered on just two things: the intergenerational theme, and the undersong of hope. (Amazingly, these were the same matters that we had wanted to come through on Suzuki Diaries, but had no idea if they would be successfully conveyed).

So why did these two components resonate with people?

Hmm. Maybe we should look to Obama to help us understand.

Alright no, we weren’t fortunate enough to have Obama endorse the show. But reflect on what we think of when we hear his name- likely they are the very same things that led to his presidential victory last year- Change. Hope. Youth. Yes We Can.

These things resonate with people because they are about truly human qualities. They strike a chord in us because they represent dreams. They make us stir because being part of a social revolution is perhaps the most exhilarating, challenging, unifying, meaningful, important and distinctly human occurrence that people could go through. These things matter because they make us feel, and we all know that feeling trumps not feeling. Perhaps we are finally coming to understand that environmental progress and social justice are the same things and that by focusing on the issues that touch people the most- our relationships with others; our children; unadorned, simple hope- we will guide ourselves towards that very Change.

It’s time to acknowledge the (relatively short) historical trends of the environmental movement and recognize that, well, our appeal just hasn’t been appealing: ecological campaigns, despite some monumental successes (think of the Stein Valley, the Tatshenshini, think of South Moresby), have been devastatingly few and far between. We have worn a mask of impending doom and despair long enough (hey, I, too, think it’s warranted but let’s admit it: it’s just not working!).

In truth, the environmentalist’s ultimate utopia represents much more than simply a healthy environment: it represents a world of fairness, of diversity, of progress and wealth. It represents a world in which we can live without fear. And without hope, how can we possibly think we can achieve it?

Now that sounds like a social crusade to me.

I am so pleased and moved that people took the time to write to us and tell us what they thought worked and what didn’t on the show- thank you. I am so struck with what gives people hope and what inspires them and what is important to them; what a lesson in people this whole experience has unexpectedly brought!

I am compelled and uplifted in the finding that dreams and social movements go hand in hand, and that a little bit of hope breeds more hope, and that hope, as we have just seen, can win elections. And after that, well… the still-not-too-polluted sky’s the limit.

I remain absolutely encouraged. I am thankful for having had this opportunity. It has definitely given me a multitude of ideas, and plenty of fuel for thought.

Solar fuel, that is.

* The Suzuki Diaries airs again January 22nd, 2009, @ 8pm on CBC-TV. You can also watch it online at: http://www.cbc.ca/documentaries/natureofthings/2008/suzukidiaries/