Farley Mowat is one of our countries greatest and most inspirational authors. Mowat, a passionate Ontarian, has spoken out on many occasions on various topics relating to the environment. His books are often accurate depictions of various injustices as well as tales of adventures and excursions around the world. Educated at the University of Toronto (possibly his biggest downfall, ;)) Mowat began his literary career when he published his work People of the Deer in 1952. If you read any of Mowat's works you will find a hilarious variety of colloquiums in addition to new words he picked up throughout his voyages. I say voyages because I am referring to one particular classic of Mowat's that I think is particularly significant, The Boat that Wouldn't Float, 1969. The book is a classic tale of bravery, commradership and a genuine love for the seas. From a historical perspective the book does not claim much but it does provide a hilarious perspective of Newfoundland culture. Mowats experiences with various types of animals entrenched in him an appreciation for all living things, except perhaps humans. I find it particularily interesting how our life experiences always shape our understanding of various issues and often motivate us to pursue our various beliefs and desires. It can not be said with certainty that Mowat's experience out east can be entirely credited with his desire to evoke environmental change, but it surely did play an important role.
Most recently in the news "Mowat put up bail money to free anti-sealing activists arrested on the waters off Cape Breton, saying the seizure of a ship named after him was a totalitarian act. Mowat, 86, said he was deeply honoured when the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society named their vessel the Farley Mowat, and was ashamed of the Canadian government when he saw it being towed under arrest into Sydney on the weekend" - http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/414380.
Mowat, even at his age, continues to battle environmental injustices and continues to write books to help inspire his readers to be ascertive and active in their beliefs. So what can we understand or take away from Mowat? Well, what have I done to foster change in what I believe in? To be quite honest I don't really know what I believe in. In a fast paced world filled with Starbucks and McDonalds it is easy to become dissillusioned and lost. We are all on a desperate path to achieve something and get somewhere but what is it and where? When we get that job we wanted will we finally say, ok I'm content now? I think Mowats actions reflect an important dynamic, do our actions contribute to our cause? Do our life experiences and what we have come to believe reflect in what we do and how we act? If so how is it relevant or beneficial to either ourselves or the world we live in? Does it have to be?
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