I watched a documentary video that was released for free at www.youtube.com on Earth Day. It is titled Planet of the Humans and is a sobering look at the ecological costs of industries that are touted as “clean energy.” The program was executive produced by Michael Moore.
This feature length film (1 hr. 40 min.) didn’t really surprise me, as I have suspected much of what was revealed for some time, but altogether I found it very provocative. While we are at this global pause moment in human society, this is an excellent time to seriously look at where we are now and where we are going as a species.
When I first heard that this movie was being put forward I recoiled at the idea that anyone would try to undermine the integrity of renewable energy, given how critical it is to dealing with climate change and diminishing global resources. But I felt I should at least watch it to find out with what logic and motive they might be coming from.
My take-away is that advocates of green technologies and life styles need to be careful to maintain an open mind about all of the possible consequences of any given approach. We need to be aware of possible green-washing by corporate extractive industries, who will take advantage of any possible angle that might influence the public to accept their profit driven plans. And we need to maintain a global consciousness regarding the role that humans play in the drama of life on Earth.
From the blurb at Youtube:
“…we are losing the battle to stop climate change on planet earth because we are following leaders who have taken us down the wrong road — selling out the green movement to wealthy interests and corporate America. This film is the wake-up call to the reality we are afraid to face: that in the midst of a human-caused extinction event, the environmental movement’s answer is to push for techno-fixes and band-aids. It’s too little, too late.”
“Removed from the debate is the only thing that MIGHT save us: getting a grip on our out-of-control human presence and consumption. Why is this not THE issue? Because that would be bad for profits, bad for business. Have we environmentalists fallen for illusions, “green” illusions, that are anything but green, because we’re scared that this is the end—and we’ve pinned all our hopes on biomass, wind turbines, and electric cars?”
“No amount of batteries are going to save us, warns director Jeff Gibbs (lifelong environmentalist and co-producer of “Fahrenheit 9/11” and “Bowling for Columbine”). This urgent, must-see movie, a full-frontal assault on our sacred cows, is guaranteed to generate anger, debate, and, hopefully, a willingness to see our survival in a new way—before it’s too late.”
Featuring: Al Gore, Bill McKibben, Richard Branson, Robert F Kennedy Jr., Michael Bloomberg, Van Jones, Vinod Khosla, Koch Brothers, Vandana Shiva, General Motors, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sierra Club, the Union of Concerned Scientists, Nature Conservancy, Elon Musk, Tesla.
We are on the edge of an exciting time. We are witnessing the Death of BIG OIL and the Internal Combustion Engine(ICE)…These are being replaced by clean, reusable SOLAR energy( solar PV panels in buildings and EV(Electric Vehicles). The two biggest polluters are the ICE ( witness during the virus lock down how some of the worst cities with air pollution have actually seen the blue sky again, Ex., Mumbai, many cities in china, etc)..and buildings with in-efficient heating and cooling systems (HVAC). Now that we are going EV and solar we should not become TOO fixed that some of these items use resources and may even pollute to a lesser degree. In the LONG run if you build a solar panel and true it takes power and resources to make it….it will last 20 years and produce clean energy. This is a far cry from a fossil powered HVAC unit that spews carbon in the atmosphere…Dont let fear mongering Michael Moore or others make you doubt that going solar and EV are not the better course for man to take. I am thrilled that builders and planners are striving for the Passive House which will reduce the amount of power needed to heat and cool our buildings. Also the renewed interest with building with wood over aluminum and steel ( wood is a renewable resource, aluminum and steel not so much)..is encouraging….We don;t need radical legislation like the Green New Deal which is just a cover to forward more BIG GOV’t…..Just replace your ICE vehicle with an EV and upgrade your building to reduce carbon emissions…and the Green Dream will become a reality…
I just watched the film today. I just feel that there is no way out. Best regards.