While a few Congressmen, who probably still believe the Earth is flat, continue to insist that there is no such thing as a danger out there involving global warming, greenhouse gases, rising oceans and the like, others out there are extremely worried about the fate of our planet, and still others think that we're already too late, that the earth and its inhabitants are doomed to perish in the next few centuries.
"Earth Days," a new documentary film opening today, looks at those who have been speaking out for many years. Writer-director Robert Stone begins with clips from the speeches of every American president since John F. Kennedy, each one talking about the potential problems caused by chemical pollution, drought, clear-cutting of timber, and the fact that the U.S. needs to heed this call to action.
A handful speak up, all now elderly men and women, still with fire in their eyes and passion in their voices. Stewart Udall and Pete McCloskey, former members of Congress; biologist Paul Ehrlich; former astronaut Rusty Schweickart; activists and scientists like Denis Hayes, Hunter Lovins, Stewart Brand, Stephanie Mills and others speak of the problems we face, and this film was made before we realized that the disappearance of the Arctic ice mass is so great that ships now can sail from North America to Asia through open water.
As in most documentaries, there's a point of view, and there also is hard evidence that tragedy is ahead unless the nations of the world, and the people of the world, do something about it, something that may be unpleasant. But there's an international conference coming up in Copenhagen before the end of the year, and it will offer another opportunity to create change, and perhaps to make a difference.
Stone's film may influence some people. We can only hope.
Opening today at the Plaza Frontenac
–Joe