In 2015, the Oceanic Preservation Society released a documentary by Oscar-winning director Louis Psihoyos called Racing Extinction that predicted that by 2115, half of the world’s species would be gone. In a bold attempt to protect all life from mass extinction, the filmmakers went undercover to expose the hidden and dangerous world of wildlife crime. The film is shocking and eye opening.
The premise? Some scientists believe was have entered the sixth major extinction event in earth’s history. (Number five caused the extinction of dinosaurs). This era is called the Anthropocene or “Age of Man” and points to mankind as the reason behind the impending loss of species. The filmmakers point to the illegal international trade of wildlife as one cause. Examples include the ongoing poaching of African elephants for their tusks, hides and feet; rhinos for their horns; and sharks and rays for their fins.
Another threat and one we’re all familiar with is global warming from greenhouse gas emissions. Many species simply cannot adapt to changes in temperature, weather, ocean chemistry, and atmospheric composition. The film focuses on methane produced by cattle along with carbon dioxide and methane emissions from transportation, factories and animals. What’s interesting, too, is the use of a specially designed high definition FLIR (forward looking infra red) camera, with a special color filter, that reveals the damage being done.
If you or your company has been reticent to join the “green revolution,” watch Racing Extinction. The reason? The battle isn’t over; there’s still time to reverse the damage being done to our planet and preserve the irreplaceable wealth and diversity of living creatures in our world. The good news? It’s pretty easy to make a difference. Some suggestions:
- Get serious about recycling in your home, your place of business, your community, and your travels. Consider something as simple as a PET water bottle. This one item can be recycled over and over again into new bottles. This reduces reliance on virgin resin made from petroleum products and eliminates the need for land-filling used bottles. If you’d like more information on plastic recycling, check out our website.
- Don’t be so quick to trash tools and equipment. Repair and reuse.
- If you’re able, switch to renewable energy like solar. Today, solar energy is powering schools, airports, water treatment plants, and even jails. Corporations like Amazon, Target, and Microsoft are already making the switch.
- Next time you buy a car, go electric. The more people embrace them, the lower the carbon footprint of transportation.
We all have the power to change our world in large and small ways. Here’s the link to Racing Extinction. Let us know what you think.