Perth International Arts Festival presents David Suzuki

We all know that human-hating, doomsaying environmentalists have had more than their fair share of publicity lately. But it's amazing just where you'll still find them peddling their nihilistic views on life, the universe and everything.

I just did a search for "Perth arts" and found the website of the Perth International Arts Festival. Guess whose serious visage is taking pride of place on the site's main page?

You'd be forgiven for thinking it's an intense Polish conductor, or some hard living, hard drinking young playwright from Ireland. No, it's the celebrated Canadian doomsayer David Suzuki. While his appearance is later this year, before the festival proper, it does seem very strange.

This guy hates humanity, and thinks humans are no better than maggots. Certainly, he's entitled to his views, however toxic and wrong they may be. And if he can draw a crowd of tragic, gullible acolytes then good luck to him!

But to appear in association with an arts festival? Firstly, he's neither an artist nor an art critic - he's an environmental activist. Unless he's managed to master the cello in recent years then art ain't what he's going to be doing, or even discussing here.

And call me old fashioned, but isn't art one of the things that separates man from animals? When was the last time you saw a bilby with a paintbrush, eh? The practice of art - as well as its analysis - is inherently speciesist, isn't it? While it's pretty obvious that the bureaucrats who organize these shindigs aren't exactly the sharpest pencils in the box, you'd think that they might at least find his poisonously misanthropic views - not to mention his chosen area of expertise - inappropriate here. But no, they think the guy's a star. And a star for art, as well!

And what is this special event featuring Suzuki? From what I can tell it's just a lecture, followed by a book signing. Well, I do hope he is at least mindful of the context of his appearance and livens up his "intimate storytelling" with a bit of mime or juggling.

His featured presence shows just how pervasive the religion of deep green environmentalism is in our institutions now. If you are famous and green enough, you'll be asked to show up pretty much everywhere - regardless of context.