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‘The Age of Stupid’ is Sadly Lacking

Published 24th September 2009 - 5 comments - 1347 views -

A few nights ago I was fortunate enough to attend the global premier of "The Age of Stupid" as did many others around the world but found myself heartily depressed and frustrated as I left.

Make no mistake, "The Age of Stupid" is a brilliantly shot, smartly produced and compelling movie. Greenpeace has earned my great admiration for producing a top-quality, feature length movie and I hope that it reaches the largest possible audience. It serves as important catalyst for individuals to consider their own paradoxical positions as we persist in this "age of stupid." I have more admiration yet for the brilliant campaign and slogan which undresses our current global complacency, revealing how fantastically absurd our current behavior is and capturing today's zeitgeist so precisely. Check out this short summary by fellow Th!nk2 blogger Fidelius.


So what's wrong with the movie and why did it leave me frustrated and depressed? It lacked hope, heroes or solutions. The very same urgency that the flim and campaign convey are precisely why we cannot afford to have campaigns like this that contain only frustration, fear and pessimism. It is disempowering and counter-productive to target distant and un-trusted "leaders" by rallying citizens around an apocalyptic scenario.


The real tragedy lies in the fact that we have tons of climate heroes, tons of personal ambition, private initiative and countless solutions that are already making a difference. Søren Hermansen, champion of the Samsø Energy Academy provided more motivation and solutions in a 25 minute presentation to our Th!nk2 Group than the whole "Age of Stupid" did in it's full length (here's another presentation of his on youtube). Saul Griffith in a Next Agenda interview lays out more practical information and existing solutions for one country in 8 minutes than the entire movie did.


We don't need the government to solve climate change and if we wait for them to do it, I'm not sure anyone will really be happy. We need to solve climate change ourselves and governments, to the best of our efforts, should reflect our ambitions and endeavors. We need to consider carefully what are we demanding of our politicians and how we demand it. In reality I think most of them are no better informed than we are and they're certainly not higher quality humans than we are. So why do we expect them to have solutions or take action when we don't? It's time to put solutions in everyone's hand, and therefore make them everyone's responsibility.


The addition of just a few of these great people or ideas could have planted powerful and positive seeds in people's minds and given them examples to demand from politicians as well as achieve on their own. Yet the best "the Age of Stupid" could do was leave us with a trite little "?" next to "The End" at the conclusion of the movie. We deserve and must demand more from our leaders, both in politics and activism.

Category: Climate Heroes, International Action, | Tags: greenpeace, age of stupid, saul griffith, next agenda,



Comments

Aija Vanaga on 24th September 2009:

not higher quality humans than we are - like this idea!

Peter Sain ley Berry on 25th September 2009:

I agree with you about solutions.  The film also did not say much about the role of our destruction of the biosphere in global warming.

But ultimately governments need to act as well. Local initiatives cannot construct a European super-grid, for instance to relay solar energy from the hot mediterranean to northern Europe (or from California perhaps to Washington State)

Devin McIntire on 25th September 2009:

Thanks Peter, I think you’re absolutely right about the fact that governments must also take strong action. I didn’t mean to diminish the importance of government action, my point is that with solutions in the hands of citizens, we can not only begin on our own but we will know better what to demand from our governments, such as supporting a super-grid for solar energy relay as you mention.

james wellford on 25th September 2009:

Just a technical point, Greenpeace did not create the film. It was the work of a small group of incredibly dedicated individuals working on near to wminimum wage for 5 years. Just to let you know, I think they should be credited with that. I think the

Paul Montariol on 07th November 2009:

The government think with the past, not the future.
We must have a big problem which can be seen in the TV and they make what is necessary.

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