Past the 11th hour
By Daphne D'Gama
The 11th Hour explores how humanity has arrived at this moment- the 11th hour- how we live, and the impact our lifestyles have on the earth’s ecosystems, and what we can do to change this adverse effect. Featuring ongoing dialogues of experts from all over the world, including former Soviet Prime Minister Mikhail Gorbachev, renowned scientist Stephen Hawking, former head of the CIA R. James Woolsey and sustainable design experts William McDonough and Bruce Mau in addition to over 50 leading scientists, thinkers and leaders who discuss the most important issues that face our planet and people. Everyone is well aware of the impending ecological doom- depletion of forests, polluted air, poisoned oceans, toxicity, soil degradation, dying coral reefs, mass extinction of species… the list is endless. But The 11th Hour is quick to assure us that the planet will be just fine, after humankind is extinct. What we should worry about is ourselves. Human beings, sitting right on top of the food chain has to realise that natural resources that have been fueling our species explosive growth is running out or is become too contaminated. The film takes us through the growth and development of mankind, from the birth of life through our evolutionary history to the current moment, the 11th hour, when our impact on the ecosystem is threatening our own survival. Leonardo DiCaprio admirably lends his star power to the project who acts more as a guide, posing questions and introducing segments while Wangari Maathai, Ray Anderson, Thom Harmann, Stephen Hawking, Mikhail Gorbachev, and Bill McKibben are among those who explain the cultural conditions that produced this global ecological crisis: our consumerism, the mistaken emphasis on economic growth and rise technology over quality of life. Progressive designs such as a carbon-neutral city and self-sustaining buildings already offer ideas for a new direction. David Suzuki, an award-winning scientist, environmentalist and broadcaster, says in one segment of the documentary,
The 11th Hour gives a message of hope...there is still time to save our planet.We all must do our bit towards a better future...
The 11th HOUR
Director: Leila Conners Petersen, Nadia Conners
Narrator: Leonardo DiCaprio
Cast: Mikhail Gorbachev, Stephen Hawking, Andrew Weilear
Music: Jean-Pascal Beintus and Eric Avery
Release: 17.08.2007
Length: 2 hrs 4 mins
It was the human mind that was the key to our very survival. Now when you think that we evolved in Africa about a hundred and fifty thousand years ago, and compared to the other
animals that must have been born on the plains of that time, we weren't very impressive. We weren't very many, we weren't very big, we weren't gifted with special senses. The one thing,
the key to our survival and our taking over the planet, was the human brain.
But because the human mind invented the concept of a future, we're the only animal on the planet
that was able to recognize: we could affect the future by what we do today."
Leila Conners Petersen and Nadia Connners - the directors
Leonardo DiCaprio - the narrator
Writer-directors (and sisters) Leila Conners Petersen and Nadia Connners bring out the fact that real change will require our understanding the motivations and confronting the institions and forces that resist change, including corporations, government, economies, and cultural influences. For example, American children, exposed to hundreds of television advertisements daily, may recognise thousands of corporate logos and not known the names of any plants in their backyard. Psychologist James Hillman observes that "We have lost the beauty of the world so we try to possess the world." Author, environmentalist, and green entrepreneur, Paul Hawken, says that this is actually an exciting time to be alive because we get to "reimagine everything we do. This generation gets to completely change this world."
Wade Davis of the National Geographic Society agrees, saying "All of these forces sweeping over the planet are the forces created by human beings. And if human beings are the source of the problem we can be the foundation for the solution." There is a ray of hope. There are things that every individual can do to make a change. The ozone layer, previously thought to be permanently damaged, is healing, and the rest of the ecosystem can recover as well. But it will take the application of our technology and ingenuity to new ways of living.
We may be in the 11th hour, the last moment when change is possible, but change is possible.
