- Nov 2, 2016
Earlier today, I was able to catch Leonardo DiCaprio's recent documentary film, "Before the Flood" on National Geographic Channel.
It tackles about climate change -- the most important issue in our planet today that we all share.
It offers a comprehensive view as Leonardo DiCaprio traveled across the globe to understand environmental situations in developed and developing nations, as well as having meaningful discussions with experts, green movers, and world leaders on what we should do NOW to prevent further damage to our planet.
Its scope touched different facets that its viewing time lasted to an hour and thirty minutes. Nevertheless, it was informative, moving, and could spark voluntary change to each of its viewers.
Our climate crisis today is a product of our excessive human activity -- activities that all required fossil fuels from the depths of the earth, producing carbon that harms the fragile layers of the atmosphere. Thus, resulting to global warming, melting glaciers, rising sea level, destroying ecosystems both in land and water, and changing weather patterns that make drought and typhoons more catastrophic.
All of these are happening now, and it is expected to get worse as we continue to pursue advanced technologies and urban lifestyle that only aims to "make life more convenient" at the expense of spoiling the only earth we have.
While the number one culprit is the burning of fossil fuels necessary to sustain our daily activities, the documentary also exposed how the choices we make in supermarkets contribute to the ongoing deforestation in Indonesia to convert the lush rainforest to palm oil plantation. Aside from the danger of its carbon emission, the deforestation has killed thousands of its inhabitants, prompting volunteers to save and protect the remaining ones.
"The reason why people keep chopping forests to plant palm oil is because people keep buying the stuff."
But how are we going to avoid palm oil if almost everything in our grocery shelves contain one -- from cooking needs to producing shampoo, soap, junk food, laundry soap, and cosmetics among many others?
However DiCaprio said, "If these products have such devastating impact, why is the government not setting restrictions to prevent these big corporations from destroying the planet just so they can save money?"
And that's where corporate greed and government corruption comes along as the answer.
In the US, 'Climate Bill' hasn't been passed and there is an ongoing campaign by climate change deniers allegedly funded by fossil fuel corporations. The campaign tags climate change as a hoax, discrediting scientists and environmental advocates who devoted their lives to bring awareness and address this issue.
Unlike its powerful counterpart in Asia, China has changed its government policy after mass demonstrations over environmental concerns sparked.
Today,China's policy is towards renewable energy, moving away from using fossil fuels and transitioning to green growth. It is claimed that China has the largest wind and solar companies in the world now. And through media cooperation, The Republic Peoples of China can monitor carbon activity of factories through their smartphones.
So far, what has been done is a collective effort and commitment from 55 different nations all over the globe is to reduce carbon emissions, agreed during the Paris Climate Agreement in 2015.
However, critics say its agreements does not include penalties and regulations to those who fail to comply. But more than this agreement is the call to stop using fossil fuels and start investing in renewable energy. The sun and wind isn't a scarce resource and putting our money to something that will not diminish, no matter how expensive is better than to ones not sustainable.
More importantly, solving the climate crisis is not all about changing government policies and ending the use of fossil fuels, it's all about changing our lifestyle. It starts within us, and it is up to us how are we going to save this place for future generations. After all, companies will not exploit our diminishing resources if not for the significant number of demand. We have to change our ways and be involved in this issue, and we have to do it now before it's too late.
Full documentary can be viewed here.
A number of articles can be also found here at www.beforetheflood.com written by climate scientists and communicators, as well as ways on how you can support the cause.
