11th Hour

The "11th Hour" is a documentary that is narrated by Leonardo DiCaprio. The film encompasses a variety of topics that center around the idea that we, as a species, are doomed to become extinct in the near future if we do not create sustainable methods that will allow all organisms on Earth to flourish. Many speakers are present throughout this film, ranging from Steven Hawking to neuroscientists, who are perceived as experts in their field. The speakers share their thoughts on the different ideas, and at the conclusion of the film, many of the speakers agree that extinction of the human race may not be a dramatic loss to life on Earth.
Throughout this film, viewers are able to not only learn about humans are spoiling Earth's environment, but they are also able to view live footage from events such as tornadoes, glacial ice breaking, floods, starvation, and more. The dramatic music that is played along with these events created a sense of urgency and severity that is not present when reading a book about climate change and destruction. The speakers also included a wide assortment of individuals, ranging from disabled, to Native American, to celebrities, which may allow some viewers to understand that climate change is not just an issue for scientists, but the general public.
To me, the most interesting aspect of the "11th Hour" was the concept of humans accepting that they are a part of nature. Many of the speakers suggested that humans view Earth as a place for nature, and a place for humans. In actuality, humans are a large part of nature, however we do not treat our counterparts as equals. As we have talked about in class, humans have a tendency to deplete resources rapidly, which has led to tremendous turmoil over the last century. Before the Industrial Revolution, our lives were based off of sunlight, rather than technology.

Sunlight was the driving force of plant growth, which in turn created food for livestock and the human race. Sunlight determined the circadian rhythm cycles of our species, and allowed other species to live peacefully at night. For many years, sunlight indirectly provided clothing, shelter, food, water, and more to the human race. Not long ago, some of the sun's power was replaced with that of coal, fossil fuels, and a shift in agriculture. We resorted to the Earth's resources, rather than the Sun's rays. As we have seen, this change prompted a series of unfortunate events.
We have become "environmental refugees" who rely on resources that are rapidly declining. We are simply "astronauts floating in space, in solidarity, who are dependent upon information that is sent to us from millions of miles away." In order to see a change, we must "bridge public policy with public opinion." As discussed many times throughout the "11th Hour," American's are governed by a Constitution that was created in a time when deforestation, global warming, and processed food were completely foreign. In order to thoroughly combat and overcome Earth's destruction, we must create a shift in culture. A shift that focuses on nature and human being part of the same body, rather than two separate and unequal entities. Without this union, the human race, as well as many other species, will soon come to a fatal end.