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Climate change theatre
Garry Peterson, Resilience Science
There has been a lack of art that addresses climate change, and this lack reduces the ability of people to envision possible futures and consequently make better decisions today. This appears to be changing.
Playwright Steve Waters double play – Contingency Plan: On the Beach/Resilience focuses on science and politics of climate change. The Observer writes Writers and artists are getting warmer
It is a striking stage experience. A group of cabinet ministers and scientific advisers, part of David Cameron’s newly elected government, gathers in a Whitehall basement to monitor a storm of unprecedented violence that is sweeping Britain. High seas, engorged by melted ice caps, threaten the country. Reports of gales, flooding and stricken communities pour in. Then, abruptly, the emergency telephone lines go dead and the lights fail. The tiny upstairs theatre at the Bush, London, is plunged into total darkness. Outside, a nation is drowning.
It is riveting stuff, though it is not climate change itself that forms the core of Steve Waters’s Resilience. It is the human and cultural reaction to it. “Who supplies us with electricity?” demands an infuriated minister in the pitch black. “EDF! Christ, I have got fucking shares in EDF.” Thus a national crisis becomes a battleground of self-interest, political ideology, buck-passing and bungled responses to scientific warnings.
According to Guardian theatre critic Michael Billington, Resilience has no theatrical rival for its emotional intensity at present and I am sure he is right. The play, with its partner work, On the Beach, is absorbing, intelligent, daringly imaginative and superbly performed. What really intrigues, however, is the fact that this is the London stage’s first serious attempt to tackle the issue of climate change and its impact on society.
(26 May 2009)
Calling Earth from the Air: world release of green movie ‘Home’
AFP via Grist
World Environment Day on Friday sees the worldwide release of a movie billed by producers as “the greatest green event ever,” a high-budget documentary from Yann Arthus-Bertrand about saving the planet.
From New York’s Central Park to the Champs de Mars by Paris’ Eiffel Tower, the French photographer known for the “Earth From The Air” books and “Seen From The Air” on TV, is releasing the green-awareness movie “Home” in over 100 countries simultaneously.
“More than a movie, Home will be a major event,” the producers said.
Shot from the air in a chopper, the environmental documentary will be available across the globe June 5, mostly free of charge, in open-air spaces as well as theatres, TV, DVD, and the Internet at www.youtube.com/homeproject.
“The idea is to explain what’s happening to the planet by beginning at the beginning, by the miracle of life on earth,” the photographer-director told AFP.
Kicking off with stunning aerial views of the earth’s natural wonders before focusing from the air on polluting factories, airfields and oil platforms, the message translated into more than a score of languages is: “It’s too late to be a pessimist.”
(4 June 2009)
It’s the end of the world as we know it (annotated)
James Hrynyshyn, Science Blogs
For your consideration: Two possible, if not probable, future scenarios for the human race should the business of fossil fuel combustion continue as usual for the next few decades. The first, an ABC-TV special that aired this Tuesday night, “Earth 2100.” The second, a film by UK documentarian Frannie Armstrong, “The Age of Stupid.” The former depicts a world that is increasing hostile to civilization as the century draws to a close, the latter an even less habitable planet, not just for humans, by 2055.
Are either visions realistic, or just more worse-case scenarios that grossly exaggerate what the science says? Let’s look first at The Age of Stupid.
James Hrynyshyn is a freelance science journalist based in western North Carolina, where he tries to put degrees in marine biology and journalism to good use.
(4 June 2009)
Your Chance to See ‘In Transition’, the emerging plans for its release, as well as an appeal for help in finishing it…
Rob Hopkins, Transition Culture
As you know, we have been making a film about Transition, called ‘In Transition’, which was previewed at the Transition Network conference to a standing ovation, and which we had, unsuccessfully, tried to show online simultaneous to the conference screening. Now, after much technical fiddling about, we can tell you when and where you can see it, and unveil the plans for its release. So, you will be able to watch the film online at any time on Friday 12th and Saturday 13th June 2009 (BST). We are running it over two days so as many people get a chance to fit in watching it around their busy lives as possible, one week day and one weekend day. We think you’re going to rather like it… There will be several stages to the release of ‘In Transition’, which are set out below…
Stage 1. The Online Preview.
The exact url. of where to find the film will be posted here, at Transition Culture, on the evening of Thursday 11th 2009 (BST). The film will then remain online until early Sunday morning, when it will be taken down, … this means that it’s available for a full 48 hours in all timezones. That is, from New Zealand’s midnight Thursday 11th to Alaska’s midnight Sat 13th. The version of the film that will be available is not the final version, as there are still a few tweaks to make, and one final section to add to it, but it is nearly there, and we can’t keep you waiting any longer. During those two days you will be able to watch it as many times as you like, and leave your thoughts and comments. Tell your friends!
Stage 2. Indie Screenings.
This young man and his geodesic climbing frame are the real stars of ‘In Transition’…
We’re planning then to make the film available via the Age of Stupid’s Indie Screenings website (although this is still being finalised). The idea is that people will be able to buy the film via the website, on a sliding scale, depending on whether they are individuals, businesses, groups organising community screenings and so on. Our hope would be that as many Transition initiatives as possible will get copies via. Indie Screenings and organise a screening on Wednesday 9th September… be great to have a simultaneous premiere across the world (more details to follow).
Stage 3. Pay What You Wish
From November 1st 2009, the film will then be made available as a download on a Pay What Its Worth To You basis, like ‘In Rainbows’ by top pop combo Radiohead.
Stage 4. Limited Edition DVD Release
Then, on December 1st 2009, we will be releasing a beautifully packaged limited edition 2 disc DVD of the film containing loads of extras, out-takes, some of those clips on YouTube that people like but don’t have good quality versions of, talks, and assorted other Transition film stuff, comprising a real Transition activists resource. It will be to be such a wonderful artifact that you will pass it on to your great-grandchildren (although heaven knows what they will be able to play it on by then…).
Stage 5. Shown on Mainstream TV Around the World
Well, maybe. I think we are getting a bit carried away now…
Stage 6. Essential Viewing for Every MP
It will be screened every day in the Houses of Parliament, and standing for re-election will depend on a 20 question exam about the contents of the film (now we really are getting a bit silly, but who knows…)
Hopefully this is all clear, do send any questions, as comments below, as you are almost certainly not the only person wondering…. you could also send in your ideas for other Stages….
Helping to Fund the Film.
We have been very lucky in raising finances to make the film from several charitable trusts. However, we have reached the end of that, and still need a few thousand pounds for the final editing stages of the film. Any donations are welcome, but any that are over £1,000 would be very welcome, and would mean your name would appear in the titles, and we would be eternally in your debt and grovellingly grateful. You can use the ‘Donate’ button below… please support this important tool for spreading the Transition message. Thanks.
Comments, more pictures, (and the actual Donate button!) follow on Transition Culture, as well as bringing up the important issue of only white middle-class Transition Initiatives being represented and Rob’s answer to that. Having seen the current version of the film at the Conference, I can say that despite this concern it is a beautiful, moving, and well-made piece. We gave it a standing ovation (also probably not the most unbiased audience!). KS
(8 June 2009)
