Top takeaways from the environmental documentary ‘Tomorrow’
The documentary Tomorrow begins with a harsh reality that i’ve heard in some shape or form before but never delivered quite like this. A report by Nature magazine in 2012 said that we are facing the sixth extinction ever on earth, death on a mass scale that hasn’t been seen since the time of the dinosaurs. This also included the prediction that the human race could also become extinct between 2040 and 2100. But, if we were to change our behaviour and consumption now, we could change this fate.
The documentary visits 10 countries and explores how creative initiatives are paving the way for sustainable change in the areas of democracy, education, economy and agriculture. In highlighting this kind of progress the documentary gives an optimistic view of the future that can inspire and set an example for the road to change.
Icelandic Financial crisis creates waves for democracy
When the 2008 financial crisis hit, Icelandic people protested everyday until the bankers and those responsible resigned, their prime minister at the time was also convicted of negligence. What is true of many governments is that big corporations tend to also be political advisers and so the needs of citizens are often overlooked for capital gain. The Icelandic grassroots group, Alda — the Association for Sustainability and Democracy countered this problem by initially introducing public debate and then promoting the idea of randomly selected community representative who will listen and prioritise the needs of the people by embedding themselves in the government.
Finland, one of the best countries in the world for education
The documentary team visit the Kirkkojarvi Comprehensive School in Espoo, Finland built in one of the poorer neighborhoods of Helsinki. Here children are taught in multiple ways with the understanding that everyone learns differently. There are no school inspections but each teacher has to complete a 4 year masters covering subjects such as child development and psychology as well as the core teaching modules. It is also optional for students to participate in exams at the end of primary school. If the teacher does want the class to participate it is done out of curiosity over competition.
Totnes Transition Town the home of the £21 note “because we can”
Rob Hopkins the founder of the Transition Towns movement is just one example the documentary explores in regards to resilient economies. In understanding that our simple daily needs rely on oil and that our money inevitably filters back to this source, the local currency was founded to connect local businesses and economies and keep money in local pockets.
Permaculture farms vs industrial farms
It is repeated throughout the documentary from multiple expert sources that small scale farms can produce more food by hand than a tractor can using 10 times the land. This can be achieved using permaculture techniques that don’t actually use mechanisation, just efficient layering and positioning that make the most of a plot of land. The documentary team visits Bec Hellouin farm in Normandy, France that uses these techniques and is considered a seminal work for organic gardening. In the event that our water and oil resources to deplete, industrial farming will no longer be able to operate on the same scale. It is going to be the combination of small scale farms and urban gardens that will create our future food supplies.
Tomorrow offers simple solutions that are already improving life for citizens around the world. It affirms that small actions can make a difference and that the future of sustainable change lies in local initiatives that bring together communities. Not long now.
Visit this link to rent the award winning documentary, Tomorrow.
