Rated: PG

These are the kind of people who think problems get solved when you turn your back on them or look away. These are the kind of people that will ultimately bring about the end of the world as we know it, unless someone (everyone) can talk some sense into them.

The 11th Hour DVD explains the how and why behind Global Warming, its effects, what to expect in the future, and how to solve the problem at hand lest we suffer an inevitable devastation without swift action.

We have the technology -- we can create cleaner, more efficient energy -- without fossil or bio fuels. That's right, bio fuels are not good either. Know why? Because to produce bio fuels, thousands and thousands of acres of natural rain forests and other forests have to be destroyed and turned into farmland. Why is this bad? Because this releases a mass amount of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, and consequently, those trees and plants in the rain forests that once stored the carbon dioxide and gave off oxygen are then gone, decreasing our earth's ability to maintain an atmospheric balance.

It is incredibly obvious how we are ravaging our planet. We are fishing the seas to the point the fish are almost non-existent in many areas -- fishermen are now forced to go further, into sometimes treacherous locations, just to get enough to fill their "quota". And the bad thing? They kill thousands and thousands of fish getting the ONE species they are looking for, dumping the other fish back in the ocean -- dead...wasted.

Our oceans are being poisoned by the corporations too. Millions of gallons of mercury, copper and other toxins are dumped into our oceans EVERY DAY. We are killing the very animals upon which we depend for survival. When the ecosystem of the ocean is destroyed it won't be long before that of the land will follow. The temperature of the ocean has risen just slightly due to global warming, and as a result, the expansive annihilation of coral reefs and other underwater cities have grown exponentially over the last decade. When these go, so do the fish, and then the dolphins, whales, sharks and other sea creatures.

That's not all. If the temperature of the surface and lower water levels warms up until they are both nearly the same temperature, the ocean's ability to filter, or push and pull the tides and churn the upper and lower waters that swap out food and oxygen, which keeps the water flowing (swap the bottom and surface waters), will become stagnant and all sea life will die. The ocean needs a lower level of water with a cooler temperature to maintain this pulley system. Think fish tank without air filtration or "bubbles". It gets dirty and the fish suffocate, starve and die.

Warmer waters also mean less ice in the North and South Poles, more hurricanes and typhoons with tighter rotation and stronger winds, more unstable weather systems and more flooding of coastal regions. Coastal regions won't be the only areas affected by extreme weather however. You will start to see many more tornadoes, drought, severe thunderstorms, mudslides, floods, fires, etc. inland as well. No one is safe anywhere. All will be affected in one way or another.

Will we spiral down into oblivion? Will the earth eventually dry up or throw itself into another ice age? Well...I guess that is up to the earth -- but all are possible scenarios unless we take action NOW. Sound hopeless? Well, it isn't. There are many things YOU can do to help things along and this DVD talks about some of those things.

The first and most important weapon you have is this -- CHOICE. You have the power to choose NOT to buy from a corporate company that does not operate with an environmental consciousness. You have a voice, use it. Send letters to your local representatives, your congressmen, your president. Be conscious about how you interact with the world around you. Be mindful of your wasteful habits, find ways to re-think your consumptions and de-program yourself from the corporate-fed bullshit that has taught you how to live your life. You really don't need five hundred pairs of designer shoes! Ask yourself - AM I REALLY THAT BRAIN DEAD? Do you allow other people to tell you what will make you happy, what you need or want....or do you make these decisions yourself?

The first step to healing the planet is admitting WE have a problem. The second step involves the invocation of imagination. What better time to live than a time in history where you have the opportunity to make things better in a real way? Environmental agencies are popping up all over the globe with new technologies, ideas and creative ways to save energy, replenish the earth and heal our global culture. Every little bit helps. Check out some of these sites to see what you can do:

• 11th Hour Official Site
  
• GoGreen Initiative
• EarthDay Network

In addition to all of the information available on this DVD about global warming (all based on scientific data) and other environmental issues, it also contains a massive amount of extras regarding the topic, mainly consisting of more commentary from the various experts in the field. DiCaprio does a great job narrating. This DVD should be required viewing in all schools across the country. It is something everyone needs to view -- young or old. It will affect you -- all of you.

This Reviewer's Rating: 4.5 / 5

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Kait   |2008-04-12 23:42:04 It's so good to see that people are still actively fighting to stop global warming and it's not being treated like some trendy form of activism. Our Earth is sick and we need to fix it! Let's get to it! Reply 0   0

sirwritesalot   |2008-04-12 23:14:06 wow great review - and column (haha) i agree with you about teaching about global warming in schools. i must see this movie!! Reply 0   0

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