๐จ๐ฆโค๏ธ๐ฏ An Open Letter to Dr. David Suzuki: Shifting Baseline Syndrome of the Human Body | Mike Rilstone
Dear Dr. Suzuki,
On July 30, 2026, you published an article titled โOn love and legacy: Shifting baseline syndrome strikes home.โ
(LINK: https://davidsuzuki.org/story/on-love-and-legacy-shifting-baseline-syndrome-strikes-home )
In your article, you explain Shifting Baseline Syndrome as follows:
โA socio-psychological phenomenon, shifting baseline syndrome describes how environmental information is lost from memory over time, so changes go unnoticed. Marine biologist Daniel Pauly coined the term in 1995. He observed that fisheries scientists were measuring fish population sizes with reference to those present at the beginning of their careers. Fish stocks declined, and when the next generation of scientists started their monitoring, that declined state became the baseline. โWe transform the world, but we donโt remember it,โ Pauly remarked at a TED Talk two decades later.โ
What an absolute perfect analogy for the state of the average human body in 2026 compared to half a century ago!
Indeed, I see this Shifting Baseline Syndrome phenomenon in the average human body, just like you see it in nature.
Recently, the Georgian Bay News published my article, โThe Golden Age Miracle: Fitness in my 70โs for Cancer Kids.โ
(LINK: georgianbaynews.com/my-golden-age-miracle-mike-rilstone )
In part, my own article states:
โOver my three generations, I have watched the average way of life spiral downwards from very active lifestyles and eating wholesome foods, to sedentary behaviour with an abundance of greasy fast foods. Too many people today are dying many years too early from heart, stroke, diabetes plus a host of other terminal, preventable ills. Even some cancers are caused by being overweight. Today, so many people are taking better care of their lawns & cars than their own bodies! What have I witnessed over seven decades? In the 50โs, we were told to โcome home when the lights come on.โ We were always outside burning calories playing: from when school was let out to dusk, (except for a time-out to scoff down a nutritious, home-cooked dinner 7 nights a week). Kids donโt play outside anymore. I see it. Neighbourhoods are quiet. The joyful sound of kids playing has disappeared. The beautiful, well-equipped playground on our own street is always empty. And good grief: look at this generationโs diet! Kids are eating high calorie, โfast foodโ dinners. On recycle days, I see containers jam-packed with empty pizza boxes. This societal change is noted on page 13 in her book, The Joy of Movement by Stanford Universityโs Dr. Kelly McGonigal. She documents a study on physical health today. Humankindโs physical activity now peaks at AGE SIX! (Yes, thatโs a 6.)โ
Dr. Suzuki, Iโll close this article with a question directed to you:
โIf the average human in 2026 does not respect or adequately take care of his or her own body, what chance do concerned scientists have convincing most humans to take care of Mother Earth?โย
Perhaps scientific thinking needs a reset. Commencing at young school ages, if thereโs a concerted effort to teach humans to take care of themselves, then perhaps scientists will have a better chance of instilling in humankind a better sense of taking better care of our only habitable planet.
Recently, I offered our Prime Minister of Canada, plus all 14 Ministers of Health, a workable template to hopefully achieve a fitness level comparable to half a century ago. None of them replied.
Sincerely,
Mike Rilstone
Grimsby, Ontario
Much Appreciate You Sharing This Post - It Helps MUCH!!!
