I now know what time it is
I saw Leonardo DiCaprio’s new film, The 11th hour, this weekend. I have to say it felt really strange to sit in a theater and watch this movie. Strange because it was a whole movie of people saying really intelligent, powerful, and profound things about really important issues. How rare is that in a film distributed by Time Warner?
The best way to describe the movie is to say that it is kinda like “An Inconvenient Truth, Part II.” Instead of trying to prove that global warming is real, this film starts by going into some depth explaining that global warming is just a one of a number of crises that are all converging right now including an extinction crisis, massive health issues, peak oil, and others. From there it moves on to discussing the root causes of these problems (notably unregulated ever-expanding global capitalism, the myth of the possibility of infinite economic growth, the unchecked power of corporations, the self-loathing and consumption-based evaluation of our own worth instilled by the advertising industry, and a whole lot more).
Just two quick notes on the analysis they offer. First, the film has one zinger of statistic about the concentration of wealth in the U.S. that’s stuck with me: People in the U.S spend more money on lawn care each year than the nation of India, with 3-4 times as many people, collects in tax revenue. Wow.
Second, I was particularly impressed that the film discusses not just the international policy structures that enable global environmental destruction, but also the personal and interpersonal causes. At one point a commentator says that these environmental crises are “external reflections of an internal problem.” I think that’s a very important point. At the deepest level, people’s own fears and pain are causing them to make destructive choices and to deal with issues like global warming we are going to need to address the personal and interpersonal causes along with macro-economic and global policy causes.
While the movie doesn’t try to offer a comprehensive solution to every issue, it does end up pointing to the idea that we need to take individual actions, beyond changing lightbulbs, to build a movement for systemic, cultural, political, global change. And, in an even rarer stroke of intelligence, the film even mentions that this movement is already happening and that over 1 million organizations around the world are working for change right now.
See, I told you it was a strange movie.
4 Responses to “I now know what time it is”
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September 4th, 2007 at 7:18 pm
Thank you for the synopsis of “The 11th Hour.” It is a definite “must see.” I feel so helpless and disheartened by people’s ignorance and unwillingness to steer away from “business as usual.” BAU is killing us and our Planet. You have helped give me hope for a brighter tomorrow.
September 8th, 2007 at 9:47 am
I have not seen this movie yet,and actually im afraid to,although i know i should. And this is about changes,something no one wants to do,I love this planet,it’s all we have and not very large at that.And i get discouraged wondering how we will stop a bullet train on a dime and turn it around just as fast.Because this is about a complete social change for a planet.YES!i want to be part of it ,although i’m sure this is the biggest challange this species and all other species we are charged to protect will ever face.I HOPE WE CAN DO IT!!! R.LEE
September 21st, 2007 at 8:52 am
Having stumbled across your website I found this somewhat interesting to read.
Everyone talks about stopping these huge corps from destroying the world, and Hollywood loves this concept. Revolution, rebellion, it all sells well to the public who fancies themselves somehow unique and better for recycling or doing things in a more ‘green’ manner. This while they ignore the fact that many of these things are just as harmful for the environment in different and new ways.
So many people bite wholeheartedly into the concept that we are destroying our world, however this is an illusion. I must point out that the world will not be destroyed, even if it is left uninhabitable by humans at some point, life will continue with or without us. Let us be clear: we’re not talking about the end of our world, we’re talking about the survival of our race.
Little can really be done to stop these corporations, even as we desperately try to ensure the survival of humanity. There are those who would work peacefully through diplomatic channels who will fail because the corporations will not play by their rules. There are those who would become more militant, yet they will also fail because they lack the resources to overcome more than a small part of any mega-corporation like ExxonMobil.
I think that perhaps the best solutions is to accept it. Adapt to the world as it changes around you, that is what we have always done. If you want to ensure the survival of humanity, don’t bite into Leonardo DiCaprio’s stylized idealism that Hollywood loves to sell. Instead act as an individual to prepare yourself for that day when your ability to survive will be tested.
It is impossible for one person or even a group of people to build a dam to stop this oncoming flood. Rather than waste your effort and drown in vain with the others… build a boat.
September 21st, 2007 at 2:40 pm
Seeing as you’re my nemesis, Darth, I feel obligated to reply.
One lesson of RAN’s history is that we CAN, in fact, change corporate behavior with well-targeted campaigns. Even the world’s largest bank, Citi, signed a policy with us a few years back. Now we’re trying for more.
The kind of deterministic resignation you describe is pretty widespread, I think, but it doesn’t reflect reality. It stems from thinking of one’s self as an isolated individual against the monolith of corporate power. But the fact is that we are not alone, and when we organize to demand change, we do have the power alter the course of history (if not dam its flow). Also, it’s important to remember that corporations, ultimately, are only groups of well-organized people — like us.
I’ll refer you to some lines by Shelley: