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the 11th hour and our new president
Nov 05 08Just a few days ago I received a new Netflix movie in the mail. This time it was Leonardo Dicaprio's documentary "The 11th Hour." In general, I try to educate myself as much as I can when it comes to our environment because I'm concerned for our future and I'm eager to be a part of the solution and not the problem.
Of course, when you hear that an A-list celebrity is making a documentary, your defenses are certainly raised and your expectations lowered but despite all my preconceptions I found this film to be a great achievement. For one, Dicaprio simply narrated, and thus acted only as a conduit for the message. The message itself was relayed by scientists, thinkers, religious figures and political leaders from around the world. And that global participation is key here because the central point of the film was to show how the current environmental issue is merely just a passing problem for planet Earth while it's truly a crisis for the humans who inhabit it. In other words, no matter what happens, planet Earth will be just fine. We are the ones who might not last and it might just be death by our own hands.
So, at the risk of sounding preachy, I urge any responsible human to watch this film, if for no other reason than to be a part of the discussion. You will be frightened. In fact I can't recall a film that left me more hollow and terrified and beaten. It's a grave problem we face and the film paints that morbid picture quite effectively. Upon finishing, I felt quite helpless, believing that the only chance we might have to turn this around would be via an altered government. I said to myself, the only way we can possibly change our course is with a real change in Washington. And then I crossed my fingers.
Last night, on November 4, I got my wish. Humanity got its wish. Of course there are giant battles facing our new leader and all of them need immediate attention. But none more than this. If we can't ensure our survival on the planet, then recent catchphrases like money, housing, war and healthcare become meaningless terms.
That's a lot to put on someone's shoulders. The truth is that government is only a piece of the puzzle. The rest is up to us. And all I'm trying to say is that a few days ago, I was pessimistic and paralyzed. And today I'm hopeful and energized. But I'm still crossing my fingers.
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