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Let’s go HOME - to a sustainable carbon cycle

Published 23rd September 2009 - 3 comments - 1580 views -

Home, the 2009 environmental film by Yann Arthus-Bertrand is now on both DVD and available for free on YouTube and I'd generally recommend it. Rather than detailing one or a couple of issues or projects this is a "big picture" approach that starts out explaining how life came to be on the piece of rock we call Earth and how we have disrupted this phenomenal emergence of an ecosystem. A fine educational movie with plenty of slow motion and breathtaking bird perspective scenery. To the average ecologist it's a bit romantic at times - which will probably also turn-off the typical in-denial fossil fuel lover.

The scenery - of both nature and civilization - is at many times throughout the film so beautiful I'd like to see it again in an IMAX cinema with friends. Or perhaps invite them over, force them to sit through the DVD on my TV. Because more people need to see this. Having the opportunity to see Home one has no excuse not to understand the very basics of life on earth and the impact of modern human civilization. Unfortunately, in my opinion, it would have benefited from a pinch of simple chemical formulas to nail home the carbon cycle disruption point. But it does have thought provoking punchlines...

The world spends
12 times more on military expenditures
than on aid to developing countries

...which is of course mostly a thought provoker. We can't reverse the situation just like that, but it's a healthy little fantasy to think of. And it underlines the fact that we increasingly protect the resources we have with costly force rather than make efforts to help others sustain themselves.



(Official poster. Also see the Official website of Home | imdb.com entry)

Home does not mention wars or conflicts except indirectly like in the quote. But as it illustrates a wide range of issues - lack of water, deforestation, climate change, you name it - and how they are connected it isn't exactly a quantum leap to see it's subject in relation to possible conflicts. In fact, that was exactly what Francois Roudié, Policy Coordinator of the European Commission, did in Bella Conference Center Monday September 21 (see Ecowar / Climate change: a multiplier for instability).

Rather than being a "climate change movie" Home is a more general "sustainability issues movie". The finishing quarter of an hour is a "positive" segment. We get to see gigantic windmill and solar cell parks, ocean wave harvesting "snakes" and more punchlines...


Over 50% of grain
traded around the world
is used for animal feed or biofuels

The average temperature
of the last 15 years
have been the highest ever recorded

The ice cap is 40% thinner
than 40 years ago

There may be at least 200 million
climate refugees by 2050

It's up to us to write
what happens next

Together

Or is it too much pathos, not enough facts for you? Too slow? Am I getting carried away? Please do comment your own opinion!



(This review is a modified version of my Saturday, June 13, 2009 post at Ecowar. Year 2009 appears to be the year of the environmental movies! Currently I'm planning to see Age of Stupid, Dirt, Crude and a few more.)

Category: Climate History, Sustainable Development, | Tags: climate change, sustainability, movies, yann arthus-bertrand,



Comments

Jodi Bush on 24th September 2009:

I haven’t yet sat down to watch Home, but there is a film called Baraka, which from what you’ve described sounds quite similar (minus punchlines). It is a sweeping pictorial view of the world - scenery, religion, urban life, poverty, destruction… it is very beautiful, and very moving. All images, set to music. No commentary. I can’t watch it without being inspired to do something either for the planet or for others. I recommend you see it.

Simon on 26th September 2009:

I’ve watched HOME. It’s a beautiful film and really well-made.

But if you want to watch a similar film but one that contains a bit more facts you should take a look at the Swedish documentary “Planeten” (=The Planet).

http://svt.se/planeten

Paul Montariol on 17th November 2009:

I think we must forget the negatives ideas and find a lot of positive ones.

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