Home/Articles in: Videos & Documentaries
Articles in: Videos & Documentaries
Climate Change, Videos & Documentaries, Dec 13th, 2009,
Forest preservation seems to be creeping back up towards the top of the environmental agenda and will hopefully be a major part of any agreement reached in Copenhagen. Rainforests are after all a natural resource with an ecological value that humanity cannot afford to underestimate. So many environmental issues are connected to the conservation of the world’s rainforests: climate change, protection of endangered wildlife, indigenous land rights and scientific and medical discovery. Rainforests sequester CO2 and provide some 28% of the Earth’s oxygen turnover. Yet logging – both sanctioned and illegal – industrial agriculture and the expansion of urban areas…
Tags: carbon, deforestation, emissions, environmental, forest, Indonesia, rainforest
Nature, Videos & Documentaries, Dec 12th, 2009,
Back in the 80s Sting got a bit of stick for “bro-ing down” with Amazon Indians in colorful headdresses. Well Sting is back in the news for yet again trying to protect Brazil’s rainforest lands and their inhabitants from developers. And he’s the victim of criticism again – for both the large carbon footprint of his tours and for seeking publicity for his career. Is he doing something good in order to create publicity, even if he benefits from it personally as well as the Amazon or is he standing in the way of the development of a huge renewable…
Tags: amazon, rainforest, Sting
Climate Change, Videos & Documentaries, Dec 11th, 2009,
Many of Brazil’s ultra-poor survive by recycling in the cities or farming in the Amazon in underground economies that both harm and help local and global ecology. A similar dichotomy is reflected in Brazil’s legitimate energy and farming markets. ‘If the desecration of the rainforest is Brazil’s carbon footprint, it is ethanol and hydro that ensure that 50% of the country’s energy usage rates as renewable.’ –John Snow, ITN ITN’s John Snow reports from Brazil on the South American country’s contrasting urbanization and farming; illegal logging, rainforest preservation, deforestation and renewable energy production; waste and recycling; and rich and poor….
Tags: Brazil, CNN, farming, ITN, rainforest, Recycling
Climate Change, Videos & Documentaries, Dec 10th, 2009,
Death, birth defects, contaminated soil and water as well as skin, vision and breathing diseases, are some of the effects that linger in the Indian city of Bhopal some 25 years after a massive poison gas leak. On December 3rd, 1984, the worst chemical disaster in history took place in this central Indian city, causing death, sickness and lasting problems such as brain damage, irregular menstrual cycles and a wide range of disabilities. ‘The Bhopal industrial disaster killed about 4,000 people in the early hours of Dec. 3, 1984. A few days later the death toll had doubled. Over the…
Tags: Bhopal, chemical, chemical disaster, disaster, gas leak, India, msnbc, poison, Union Carbide
Climate Change, Videos & Documentaries, Dec 9th, 2009,
Science isn’t something we can vote on. Nonetheless, everyone seems to have an opinion on it – no matter how unqualified they might be. Unfortunately, as with many other issues, belief and opinion seem to largely adhere to political ideology and partisanship. It’s honestly a bit like watching a football game: the validity of the referee’s call is determined by whether it goes against your team or not. And passions are running just as hot in the climate debate as they are on the football field. Regardless of the validity of the science, recent polling reflects a chilling trend in…
Tags: belief, climate, environment, global warming, science
Climate Change, Nature, Politics, Videos & Documentaries, Dec 8th, 2009,
“Climate change has been produced principally by the rich countries,” he has said, “and they have a duty to take responsibility for that. What we are proposing is a constructive way to redress the imbalance and stop further polluting of the planet.” –President of Ecuador Rafael Correa (source: London Times) Just the thought of an oilfield that is also a rainforest instantly conjures a multitude of problems: deforestation, toxic spills, economic upheaval and violation of indigenous land rights – not to mention the emissions. All this is happening in the Ecuadoran Amazon and with violent, deadly consequences for local inhabitants…
Tags: amazon, Ecuador, Ecuadoran, London Times, oil, Rafael Correa, rainforest
Climate Change, Videos & Documentaries, ,
If so-called ‘climate skeptics’ think that the mainstream media is ignoring the story of the emails that were either leaked or hacked from the Climate Research Unit (CRU) of the University of East Anglia, then they are obviously not watching television news broadcasts or reading major publications. Climategate is everywhere. If the Copenhagen summit is mentioned, so naturally is the Climategate scandal. Amazing what the words ‘trick’ and ‘hide the decline’ can do amongst a sea of otherwise boring, presumably impenetrable scientific language – all apparently camouflage for the ‘smoking gun’ that was embodied in one deadly sentence. The liberal,…
Tags: climate, ClimateGate, cop15, copenhagen, media
Climate Change, Videos & Documentaries, ,
The UNFCCC opened on December 7th, 2009 in Copenhagen, Denmark with a moving four minute film featuring a girl who has a nightmare about natural disasters brought on by climate change. “We have made a film which speaks to the heart rather than to the brain,” says the Danish director of the film Mikkel Blaabjerg Poulsen (from the COP15 blog). Watch the film below and see what you think – or feel – for yourself. I dare you not to get a little misty-eyed. “Please Help the World”, film from the opening ceremony of the United Nations Climate Change Conference…
Tags: Climate change, cop15, copenhagen, opening film, Please help the world
Green living, Videos & Documentaries, ,
Defra, the U.K.’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, runs a number of campaigns and projects around themes of environmental responsibility sustainable development. Here are two videos produced by Defra: The first is a very slick production about a Defra project in cooperation with the Indian government concerning India’s textile industry. Termed the U.K. – India Sustainable Development Dialogue, the aim of the project is to encourage clothing design and manufacturing with an emphasis on ethics and sustainability. The second video gives an overview of the concept of sustainable development and is a bit of a ‘corporate video’ but…
Tags: clothing, Defra, India, sustainable development, UK
Climate Change, Videos & Documentaries, Dec 7th, 2009,
Portugal is not a country you often find taking up headlines in major international news sources. But the small Iberian nation has recently been home to two major events focusing on the subject of the environment, especially sustainable development. From November 20th – 22nd Portugal’s capital city of Lisbon hosted Planet Earth Lisbon 2009, or PEL2009, a conference celebrating the end of the International Year of Planet Earth. A project by the Earth Sciences for Society, the International Year of Planet Earth is actually three years long, lasting from 2007 to 2009 and ‘aims to ensure greater and more effective…
Tags: cop15, copenhagen, environmental, International Year of the Planet, Planet Earth Lisbon 2009, Portugal, sustainable development
Climate Change, Videos & Documentaries, ,
![]( "<!--:en-->Black gold in Tinseltown: The surprising tale of Los Angeles")
' src='http://gf2.statico.be/wp-content/themes/greenfudge/thumbnails/2368.jpg' alt='black-gold-in-tinseltown-the-surprising-tale-of-los-angeles-oil-fields' class='art-teaser' width='95' height='95' /> There are oil fields in Beverly Hills. In West Hollywood too, right under the famous Farmers Market. Despite L.A.’s fame for being a city driven by film and entertainment, it began principally as an oil town. From the late 19th century and into the present day, the Los Angeles metropolitan area, home to the third largest oil field in the contiguous United States, has had a flourishing oil industry. The enclave of Signal Hill, within the city of Long Beach, just 20 miles south of downtown Los Angeles, used to be known as ‘Porcupine Hill’ because it was covered with…
Tags: Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, oil, oil field, oil well, rig, Signal Hill, tower
Climate Change, Videos & Documentaries, Dec 6th, 2009,
![]( "<!--:en-->More environmental TV ads from Defra")
' src='http://gf3.statico.be/wp-content/themes/greenfudge/thumbnails/2363.jpg' alt='more-environmental-tv-ads-from-defras-act-on-co2-campaign-drive-less-and-save-water' class='art-teaser' width='95' height='95' /> The U.K.’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, or Defra for short, has a number of campaigns and programs focusing on environmental issues such as driving less, energy efficiency, saving water, recycling and climate change. Defra’s ACT ON CO2 project is one such campaign. Below are two current TV ads and links to their respective websites, which contain helpful information about driving less and saving water – two effective ways to reduce your individual and household carbon footprints. Also included is a previous ad from an earlier version of the ACT ON CO2 campaign. ACT ON CO2 – Could…
Tags: ACT ON CO2, carbon emissions, carbon footprint, Climate change, Defra, save water
Climate Change, Politics, Videos & Documentaries, ,
![]( "<!--:en-->Mixed reactions for Obama")
' src='http://gf2.statico.be/wp-content/themes/greenfudge/thumbnails/2357.jpg' alt='mixed-reactions-for-obamas-emissions-target' class='art-teaser' width='95' height='95' /> Though Barack Obama has confirmed that he’ll be attending the COP15 climate summit in Copenhagen, the U.S. president’s recently stated goals have received ‘Lukewarm praise’ from the UNFCCC among others. While many welcomed news of President Obama’s participation in Copenhagen, organizations like the WWF and Friends of the Earth would clearly like to a greater commitment than the promised 17% drop from 2005 levels of greenhouse gas emissions for the U.S. According to an AFP article: ‘The European Union has vowed to reduce its emissions by 20 percent from 1990 levels before 2020, raising the target to 30 percent in…
Tags: cop15, emissions, european union, japan, Obama, US
Climate Change, Videos & Documentaries, ,
![]( "<!--:en-->")
' src='http://gf1.statico.be/wp-content/themes/greenfudge/thumbnails/2352.jpg' alt='act-on-co2-television-ads-by-british-director-shane-meadows' class='art-teaser' width='95' height='95' /> Acclaimed British filmmaker Shane Meadows, whose work includes the motion pictures This is England, Dead Man’s Shoes and Somers Town, has also directed public service advertisements for the U.K.’s Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs, or Defra. Part of Defra’s wider ACT ON CO2 campaign, Meadow’s ads highlight the campaign ‘Save Money, Save Energy’ which aims to encourage families in Britain to be more energy smart in areas such as insulation, cars and driving, and electricity use in the home. Fans of Shane Meadows as well as those in need of cost-effective, energy-saving tips should appreciate these small pieces…
Tags: ACT ON CO2, carbon emissions, Defra, energy, Shane Meadows
Nature, Videos & Documentaries, Dec 5th, 2009,
Jeff Corwin discusses his new documentary film on animal conservation, called ’100 Heartbeats’, with MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow. The upcoming film, part of MSNBC’s Future Earth series, deals with the issues of animal endangerment and extinction as they relate to habitat loss, human population growth and climate change. Check out the interview, as Corwin has some interesting things to say, including the fact that his favorite animals are frogs. Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy By Graham Land Additional resources: msnbc.com – Future Earth
Tags: 100 Heartbeats, Corwin, Jeff Corwin, msnbc, Nature, Rachel Maddow
Videos & Documentaries, Dec 4th, 2009,
Those intrepid ‘slacker’ journalists at VBS.tv certainly have a knack for finding fascinating stories. This time it’s the curious tale of Centralia, a former coalmining town in Pennsylvania, which had an active mining industry from the mid 19th century until a mine fire broke out in 1962. It’s still burning. Watch the VBS report about Centralia below. By Graham Land Additional resources: Smithsonian Magazine – Fire in the Hole Pictures of Centralia
Tags: Centralia, fire, mine
Climate Change, Videos & Documentaries, Dec 1st, 2009,
’100 Heartbeats’: A story you can’t afford to miss “100 Heartbeats”, part of MSNBC’s landmark Future Earth series, starts at 8 p.m. ET Sunday. Reported by famed naturalist Jeff Corwin, it tells the story of the “Sixth Extinction” — caused by people and which can only be stopped by people. Keep checking futureearth.msnbc.com for information about the next premiere, “Waterless World,” which will air on Dec. 20. –msnbc.com Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy By Graham Land Additional resources: msnbc.com – Future Earth
Tags: Climate change, future earth, Jeff Corwin, msnbc
Nature, Videos & Documentaries, Wildlife & Flora, Nov 30th, 2009,
In the oceans around the world tuna stocks are disappearing due to massive overfishing, causing imbalances in ecosystems and a loss of livelihood for many who depend on their healthy stocks. General Santos City in the southern Philippines is one place where plummeting tuna populations spell economic hardship for many of residents. Much of the large yellowtail tuna caught off of General Santos is shipped for consumption in Japan, another place feeling the economic strain of tuna depletion. Japan also consumes 80% of the 60,000 tons of bluefin tuna caught annually around the world. And bluefin can be expensive. A…
Tags: bluefin, environmental, japan, overfishing, Philippines, tuna, yellowfin
Climate Change, Science & Technology, Videos & Documentaries, Wildlife & Flora, Nov 27th, 2009,
Life in the deep sea is just as weird and wonderful as any alien creatures from outer space that our imaginations might conjure up, a massive study of marine biology shows. Comprising of some 210 expeditions spanning ten years by over 300 scientists from 34 nations, the international Census of Marine Life is in fact the culmination of ‘hundreds of years of research’. Very little is known about ocean life when compared to the eco-systems on land, especially the deep, where ‘unidentified species are often the norm, not the exception’, according to a November 23rd article in the London Times….
Tags: census, Census of Marine Life, Climate change, deep sea, ocean, species, Wildlife & Flora
Videos & Documentaries, Wildlife & Flora, ,
![]( "<!--:en-->Get ready to go")
' src='http://gf0.statico.be/wp-content/themes/greenfudge/thumbnails/2193.jpg' alt='get-ready-to-go-aw-kenyas-orphaned-baby-elephants' class='art-teaser' width='95' height='95' /> Kenyan keepers hold up umbrellas and slather sunscreen onto tiny baby elephants’ ears to protect them from the harsh sun as they walk the grounds of a Kenyan wildlife trust. Cute little creatures that will one day grow into giants of the African plains. Unfortunately, many elephants are dying due to serious drought conditions in the East African nation of Kenya, leaving their young behind to fend for themselves. An orphanage in the capital city of Nairobi takes care of the babies, but the reality of drought conditions, poaching and the shrinking of the elephants’ natural habitat have deadly consequences….
Tags: baby elephant, drought, endangered species, Kenya, orphaned elephants
