Regeneration:
The Foundation Already Exists
I lit on the film “2040: Join the Regeneration” on the last page of a Paul Hawken book called “Regeneration: Ending the Climate Crisis in One Generation.” The film’s director, Damon Gameau, wrote the “Afterward” to the Hawken book.
CampChuck sees LOTS of movies, lots of kinds of movies. That includes lots of documentaries related to climate change. In recent years, many movies leverage optimism and currently existing, practical tactics. The film “2040: Join the Regeneration” reached me rather tangentially, not from my Wild & Scenic (Environmental) Film Festival devotions. This “2040” is one of those optimistic, practical/tactical films that warrants a recommendation.
M ore so, the Hawken book, “Regeneration.” This is more than an awareness raiser. It’s a foundational book. It isn’t incidental that the word “Regeneration” is in the film title and the book title.
One reason the book is such a foundational read is that it overviews how the world … how nature … is already geared to incorporate a human commitment to addressing climate change. Regenerating the soil, for instance, may sound like a small tactic. It’s huge, not only for the food that sustains us. Healthy soil sustains better water dynamics. Food and water! How fundamental can you get? And on an overarching level that addresses climate change … carbon. Healthy soil means carbon in the ground sustaining the infrastructure of life, not in the air making climate change worse.
The book “Regeneration” walks through one component of our natural foundation after the next after the next. It outlines what humans already know how to do with agriculture, with forests, with other organic resources such as grasslands, wetlands, animals …. It addresses big built human environments -- cities … industries. Humans already know how to do better by such things.
We are already primed to handle our most profound existential threat. Don’t shrug at climate change awareness. Don’t shrug at climate change action. Find knowledge; find encouragement in books, movies, wherever. Support people and organizations that address climate change. Support community and politics and policies that address climate change.
Let me calm down from rant mode … how … by mentioning an offbeat movie, a documentary”: “Who Are the Marcuses?” This well-layered film showcases a couple, living modestly, who gave $400 million to a program in Israel. The program works toward addressing water supply problems in the desert Middle East – not just in Israel. It works toward addressing Middle East peace through a fundamental, shared common ground. The story about the Marcuses threads amidst a great story about the water & peace particulars.
OK, you don’t have millions. At whatever level, we can all give to and support practical/tactical ways to turn our only earth ship around.
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