Environmental movies - how successful can they be?

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Permalink Reply by Christer Soderberg on July 16, 2008 at 3:40pm

Good point, or, How can we make them successful?
(We are looking at doing mini documentaries about and for the sponsors of our "Replanting a Rainforest" project.) How could we do that for maximum impact, or am I way off your theme here?

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Permalink Reply by Edward Byers on July 16, 2008 at 4:22pm

I'm not sure off the top of my head but I'll think about it.
But when I watched 11th Hour, in the middle I became increasingly depressed as the film went on! But fortunately the last 3rd of the film was inspiring and uplifting.

I think its important to empower the viewer. besides showcasing new technologies and inspiring projects, we might be foolish to lure the viewer into a sense of security that in the end things will be ok. What would be more effective in my opinion is to engage the viewer by actually making them feel that they must do something, and more importantly that they can do something...people want to help, but they don't know where to start, and giving money is just boring!

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Permalink Reply by Edward Byers on July 16, 2008 at 4:26pm

this is an awesome little video, which screened a lot during the commercial breaks in the UK.
Great music, informative and engaging..
http://youtube.com/watch?v=zzjOcOcQ90U

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Permalink Reply by Christiana Söderberg on July 18, 2008 at 9:39pm

Very cool clip! Makes you aware in a good way.

I agree with you that donating money is boring, people want to get involved in a different, more active way. In this hopefully-to-happen documentary one could give tips on how one can make a change on a small scale basis, e.g. in your own home. More practical advice such as reducing the use of electricity, "planting trees" etc. I bet you would come up with some good ideas for the script of the documentary...lets see what happens!

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Permalink Reply by Manu on July 30, 2008 at 7:16pm

I think that human's have a primary need to be entertained. The best way to get a message through to them is to keep them entertained. Movies are a great medium but with the recent movies (And most environmental documentaries) such as you have mentioned, the message gets lost in the scare-mongering.

While I dont know how humour could have a role in environmental action (we have gone past the awareness stage... people who once said "Global warming is a lie" have now moved to "Its too late to do anything") I think it would really get the message across.

In short, I dont think another scary environment movie would work but something entertaining would have a long last effect.

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Permalink Reply by Christer Soderberg on August 1, 2008 at 7:07am

How about "It's a Party" as theme? I agree that this whole scaremongering and "woe me" is not going to get things done, and not do much positive for the environment. What if we organize parties - fun parties, to increase awareness about environmental issues? They would have to be different though, I don't think Sex, Drugs, & Rock-n-Roll will help increase awareness about the environment if people are stoned. I do believe that FUN, real FUN, could be the result of a well organized, clean, healthy, and inspiring event, or series of events.

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Permalink Reply by Edward Byers on October 18, 2008 at 3:52pm

This is also quite a cool commerical from the EDF

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=s-_LBXWMCAM

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Permalink Reply by Edward Byers on April 5, 2009 at 9:55pm

has anyone seen "The Age of Stupid" - apparently its good!

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Permalink Reply by Christer Soderberg on April 21, 2009 at 8:24am

Hi Ed, I will look into age of stupid, what do you think about James Lovelock's book " The Vanishing Face of Gaia"? He is against wind and in favour of nuclear - what do you think?

Returned one week ago from Brazil, where we now have a partnership with Fazenda Ambiental Fortaleza (www.fafbrazil.com) to start our "Road map to Sustainability" with "Replanting a Rainforest." We will have different workshops there starting this fall; 3-4 day weekend and full-week programs (two full-week workshops described here on the events page), tell me if you have any ideas or suggestions.

Best,

Christer

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Permalink Reply by Edward Byers on April 21, 2009 at 11:57am

Cool, I didn't know much about him so have done a bit of reading. I'm not sure what it says in the book, but from what I could find it seems one of his main objections to wind is the UK governments attempts to relax planning laws and build them even with local public opposition - I think he thinks his democratic rights are being violated - but that seems to happen the whole time in this country anyways.

I like what he says about nuclear - it almost seems that he would like there to be a lot of waste and large decreases in human populations so that the natural environment can thrive again. Reminded me about the book 'The World Without Us'.

I also liked what he has said about saving the planet being nonsense, and that we are saving ourselves - the planet will persist and flourish for a long time after us.

BUT, whilst nuclear might have great potentials to reduce CO2 emissions, at least in the UK we won't have it before 2020 due to such long lead times - wind is one of the only ways we will meet the 20-20 by 2020 EU targets, which have already been reduced for the UK to 15% because we are so far behind!
Furthermore, at current consumption levels, uranium resources will only last about 70 years - employed all over the world we would finish it all within a few years. In the future we might have fast-breeder reactors, but where the risks of making weapons are currently low, it becomes very easy when we start reprocessing material for breeder-reactors.

Lastly, I think that by pursuing nuclear in the EU and US for example, to rapidly reduce emissions, would direct far too much investment away from other technologies which are clean, and much safer than nuclear. Technologies that can be used all over world, in countries big and small, safe or dangerous. We have no right to continue to pursue nuclear, and then tell other countries that they cannot, that they must reduce their emissions through technologies that we have snubbed as being inadequate for ourselves.


Seems that turned into a bit of a rant! But I will add that book to my long list of books to read. Am currently reading a book called Cool it by Bjorn Lomberg, a Danish economist who is quite against all the spending on climate change etc

The new farm looks really nice, and a coffee plantation seems really nice - perfect supplier for the OWC in Stockholm no? Also good location since it is much closer to Europe and US, so more convenient for some of the people I think you are trying to attract? If all goes tits up on the job hunt maybe I'll go and volunteer ;)

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Permalink Reply by Edward Byers on May 20, 2009 at 2:00am

I have looked more into this 'Age of Stupid' film - apparently it's really great.

The official UK release is in 2 days but only through independent viewings, one of which I am hoping to arrange myself in Newcastle. As for across Europe, I think they will be releasing from September.

Based on what I have seen on the UK website, the system is VERY easy. You just tell them what sort of event you are planning, where it is held, for how many people, and they quote you immediately for the 'license' on the website. A few days before the showing they send you the DVD. If you want, it will show in their public listing. You are also free to charge as little or as much as you want.

Based on a University showing in a lecture hall, I was quoted £156 for 201-500 people - you can see that it is affordable, so keep yourself informed, and maybe you could arrange your own event in Stockholm at the OWC.

www.ageofstupid.net

Best regards,

Ed

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Permalink Reply by Christer Soderberg on May 20, 2009 at 7:17am

Thank you Ed, Great tip. Also on the Prodes project, although unfortunately when I got down to 2 km the screen went black; perhaps they start charging when the resolution gets usable. The person who is doing the geotechnical survey uses similar pictures however, he may be getting them from Prodes, and he is paying quite a bit, from what I heard (we're not paying). I'll look up the movie!

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