Set 35 yrs into the future, time is the predominant theme. From the minute the opening credits start to roll there’s no escaping it, or more specifically, the lack of it. The impressive opening sets an ominous tone, but the cut to supposedly ‘special’ effects representing the impact of climate change on society, although believable as concepts, sadly are not believable as effects.
Things only get worse once the Archive is introduced; a computer generated ‘Matrix’ like structure so foreboding it has to be accompanied by the mandatory clap of thunder every time it’s in shot – it’s more evil villain’s lair than last vestige of civilization. Unfortunately the Archivist Pete Postlethwaite goes on to utterly ruin this film and I can’t stress this strongly enough. The whole idea of the archivist is an appallingly week structure on which to hang such an important narrative, turning a series of fascinating documentaries, into nothing more than Government Warning Footage for schools. It’s not Pete Postlethwaite’s fault, but this character belittles the audience to such a degree you cringe every time he comes onto screen.
Of course there is a seriously powerful message; the film is engineered to make you want to pass the word around. In a perfect world everybody must watch this film and act upon it immediately before it’s too late. Naturally, nobody will really enjoy it, but everyone should see it – seriously.
Together with the educational message there is a liberal dishing out of shame and guilt along side healthy measures of blame, particularly if you live in the developed world. Quite rightly so – the depth and scale of unashamed and revolting corporate corruption is truly shocking. Facts and statistics are brilliantly illustrated, e.g. the immoral and irresponsible actions of Shell Oil in Nigeria and the utter and indiscriminate rape of Africa throughout the ages. The price other people are having to pay for the west’s extravagance and thoughtlessness is really driven home.
All of the above are forgivable, in fact pretty much unavoidable in a film with this subject matter. However, there is very little hope and I think that is a failing. The futility of mankind’s situation corrodes any faith in humanity you may previously have held. Designed to rally people into positive action before it’s too late, it succeeds in casting serious doubt as to whether humanity can even be saved from itself or whether reducing, halting or reversing our carbon emissions is just beyond us.
… Still want to see it? Well you should.
Starring: Pete Postlethwaite. Director: Franny Armstrong
Apparently if all the commuters in England with a journey less than five miles went by bike rather than car or bus, the collective saving would be 44,000 tonnes of CO2! That’s the equivalent of emissions produced by heating nearly 17,000 houses and that’s just in the first week!!
Pedal power is big on the environmental agenda for reducing our carbon emissions, but it is also great for your health and your bank balance. Everybody stands to gain from increased participation in cycling, including local communities and society at large. That’s the motivation behind the Critical Mass movement which is sweeping the world and taking the UK by storm.
Critical Mass is an idea and an event, not an organization. Often described as an ‘unorganised coincidence’ it happens when a lot of cyclists happen to be in the same place at the same time and decide to cycle the same way together for a while. The Critical Mass campaign is designed as a celebration of the alternatives to cars, pollution, accidents and the loss of public spaces and freedoms.
Mass bike rides are taking place regularly up and down the country and around the world and most importantly they are all peaceful, safe and fun. There is even the occasional naked bike ride similar to the one held in Toronto on Sunday.
Critical Mass is not just for bikes – skateboards, roller blades, wheelchairs, pogo sticks – in fact any form of non-motorised, non-polluting transport are all very welcome!
Just in case you need any further incentive to get involved
Cycling for thirty minutes most days, combined with a reduced calorie intake, can achieve a weight loss equivalent to the reduction achieved by three weekly aerobics classes.
Cycling provides cardiovascular exercise without putting excess strain on the musculoskeletal system.
Regular exercise such as cycling is an important safeguard against health problems such as heart disease and cancer.
Unsurprisingly, improvement in cycling rates would have an impact on our purse-strings as well as as on our waistlines. In a study commissioned by Cycling England, it was calculated that a 20 per cent increase in cycling by 2015 would save £107 million in reducing premature deaths, £52 million in lowered NHS costs and £87 million by shrinking absences from work.
Promoting a fun, healthy, sustainable alternative to petrol-dependant transport.
Campaign for Better Transport has launched a competition to find the most expensive local bus journey in the country. By highlighting expensive routes Campaign for Better Transport hope to shame the Government into bringing down fares by investing more in buses. The person who submits the most expensive journey will win a £50 voucher.
Sarah Matthews, a campaigner in the group, said,
“More people would travel by bus if it were cheaper. Higher bus use would reduce traffic, making it easier for us to get around, and be better for the environment. Affordable buses are also a lifeline for many people, making it possible for them to get to work, the shops, the GP and other services. Through this competition we hope to shame the Government into investing more in buses, to bring down the price of bus fares. Funding could go directly to local councils to upgrade services, but could also go to bus priority measures – like bus lanes – to bring down operating costs.”
To enter the competition, people should visit the Campaign for Better Transport website, www.bettertransport.org.uk or email journey details (distance travelled or time taken or destinations served), and cost, along with their name and your email address to campaigns@bettertransport.org.uk.
At least 45 dismembered skeletons have been discovered in a burial pit by archaeologists digging on the site of the planned £87m relief road in Dorset.
The road has been heavily contested on the grounds that it will irrevocably scar an area of outstanding natural beauty. Protestors also contend that the road, which is intended to provide better transport links for the UK sailing venue for forthcoming Olympic games, is unnecessary when taking into account the huge carbon footprint it will generate and that Weymouth’s infrastructure will be unable to cope with the extra traffic the road will create.
David Score, project manager for Oxford Archaeology, called the find ‘remarkable’ saying “We have counted 45 skulls so far, these are in one section of the pit, and several torsos and leg bones in separate sections of the pit. It is rare to find a burial site like this one.”
Experts think that the skulls are predominately those of young men. “At the moment we don’t fully understand how or why the remains have come to be deposited in the pit but it seems highly likely that some kind of catastrophic event such as war, disease or execution has occurred.”
At present it doesn’t look as though this momentous find will impact upon Dorset County Council’s highways project. Mass demonstrations, eco campers living in the trees and continued impassioned pleas from locals and supporters of the campaign Bypass the Bypass have so far been unsuccessful to halt works.
UK train fares are the most expensive in Europe and the Government wants to make passengers pay even more. We’re asking the Government to tax the fuel used for domestic flights – which would make up for any money lost by reduced train fares.
Join in
• Visit the Campaign for Better Transport website www.bettertransport.org.uk to join the campaign and find out how you can help reduce train fares
• Tell your friends about the campaign. The more people who take action, the bigger an impression we can make
• Watch train and plane battle for your business — and then send the video round to your friends
Campaign for Better Transport fight for transport that increases people’s quality of life and reduces the impact on the environment
The Age of Stupid is as much a movement as it is a mainstream movie. Starring Pete Postlethwaite, this futuristic 90-minute feature about climate change was released in UK cinemas on March 20th 2009. What is remarkable, is that although the release date has come and gone the viewing figures are rocketing due relentless on-the-ground support from fans doing all they can to spread the world. Not for profit private showings are being held up and down the country, for example there will be a showing in Bournemouth on June 24th at The Winchester at 7pm. For a complete list a scheduled showings clink here
The basic premise is a man living alone in the devastated world of 2055, looking back at “archive” footage from 2007 and asking: why didn’t we stop climate change when we had the chance? It’s hard hitting stuff, but it’s important and also quite comic in places. What is phenomenal is the speed at which it has been taken-up and carried by the nation – the main drive is just to get as many people to see this film as possible ; go yourself, take a friend, tell everyone you know and make a difference. For more info on how to get involved in what is both a media and human phenomenon click here to visit the website.
Also check out Not Stupid: Changing 250 million viewers into activists notstupid.org
Organised by the United Nations Environment Programme UNEP and this year hosted in Mexico, World Environment Day takes place every year on June 5th. This year’s theme is ‘Your Planet Needs You-UNite to Combat Climate Change’
It’s expected that the 2009 event will focus on the urgency for nations to agree on a new deal at the crucial climate convention meeting taking place in Copenhagen, December 7th – 18th 2009.
WED is an impressive global event which demonstrates that world leaders and governments recognise serious environmental consequences and are prepared to take action. Several countries have already indicated their intention to go carbon neutral, led by Costa Rica, New Zealand and Norway.
Unfortunately the UK doesn’t feature highly in countries preparing to take a stand. Whilst recent findings revealed that EU emissions fell by 3% in 2008 that same news story went onto report “ Some big polluters, notably the UK, increased their emissions rise, but three other big economies – Germany, Italy and France – emitted less than they had in 2007.”
Given that many UK citizens were at the polling stations yesturday, let’s hope that on a local level at least, whoever is elected puts a little more effort into establishing a half decent public transport system rather than suporting the building or more roads and expanding more airports.
To find out more about WED and some helpful hints on how to reduce your own carbon footprint visit: www.unep.org
Rather naively I simply assumed that wind generated energy was a great idea: no burning of coal or oil or dangerous nuclear technology, just wind – that has to be a good thing surely!? I have to admit that now I am not so sure.
DART: Dorset Against Rural Turbines has a great website and it has turned my initial preconception regarding wind turbines on its head. DARTs prime concern is the proposal to erect four wind turbines at East Stoke, clearly visible from the historic town of Wareham.
Personally I struggle with the aesthetic argument, not because it not a very valid point, but because it has never stopped anyone before. Power stations are not exactly easy on the eye, neither are electricity pylons, but governments do not refuse their construction because they are ugly blots on the landscape. Wind Turbines are not pretty either, but will that really stand in the way of our energy needs?
DART’s money over common sense argument is particularly interesting. If the science does not stack up, then why is the government continuing with the scheme? The simple answer appears to be £’s. Surely we have wasted enough time and money on destructive forms of energy generation than to go down another dead-end with this one?
Apparently British Gas sending out 52 million energy saving light bulbs across the UK, will slash carbon emissions by nine million tonnes whereas the most optimistic estimate of a wind farm’s carbon saving is only 20,000 tonnes. Meaning we would need to build 450 wind farms to achieve the same carbon saving as changing our light bulbs! As well as these and other frightening statistics on the DART site there are also some shocking pictures of birds cleanly cut in half … again something I had never considered.
I admit it – I’m confused. Is wind energy really a bad thing? Should we be concentrating on wave generating power or will that electrify our fishes? I genuinely want to know. Any comments very welcome…
