The Age of Stupid - Human ignorance

I watched a movie called 'The Age of Stupid' this afternoon, and although it was a low budget, independent film, it indeed put across a powerful message. The film itself is set in 2055, where global warming has resulted in a flooded, war-torn world. Wow, you might say....original! But wait, were not talking a 'Day After Tomorrow' style action Hollywood bonanza (a flop if you ask me), but instead a drama/documentary style production, which really appeals to the watcher to take the issue of climate change seriously.

A single archivist, entrusted with the safekeeping of humanity's surviving store of art and knowledge looks back at news reports and interviews from 2008, asking the question 'why didn't we stop climate change when we had the chance?'. As he himself notes, it is not the first time that a species has wiped itself out, but perhaps we are the first to knowingly destroy our own future.

The documentary follows ordinary people in places like Iraq, France, England, Africa and America, as the characters come into contact with the issue of climate change. An entrepreneur in India struggles to create a new Indian airline, whilst an environmentalist in England fights to push through the building of renewable wind farms, fighting against fierce opposition from local residents who Want to protect their scenic views. Fact is, there wont be a planet to look at soon if we don't do something to save our home.



Yes, it may just be another guilt-inducing documentary, and the fact is, that having watched it, im unlikely to do anything to help the situation. i mean yes, i will recycle, i don't own a car, and i would support the need for renewable energy sources, but its unlikely to stop me using aeroplanes, or make me sit in the dark twiddling my thumbs. And this brings me onto my point....i am amazed at our own ignorance when it comes to the issue of climate change.

We know that oil will run out, and we are all witnessing the changing climate (take the record breaking low temperatures this winter in the UK, the floods and droughts affecting Australia, or the Hurricanes that have devastated America in the past few years for example), but we still continue our way of life as if it will go on forever. The question is: would you not do anything you could right now to save the lives of your future grandchildren?

The films UK premier was shown in a solar powered cinema tent in March 2009, and linked by satellite to over 60 cinemas all over the UK. "An independent audit conducted by Carbon Accounting Systems found the event's carbon emissions to be 1% of those produced by a normal blockbuster premiere", leading to it being branded the 'worlds greenest premiere'.

I really enjoyed the movie, and appreciated its thought provoking and meaningful approach on the subject of climate change. I just hope that we can reverse the cycle of human ignorance (including my own), and finally get our governments taking the issue seriously. Check the movie out if you get a chance either online (http://tvshack.net/movies/The_Age_of_Stupid__2009_/) or if you prefer, it is available on DVD right now!