If you ever thought that all the gloom and doom about global warming was a bunch of hype, then you're not alone. "Cool It," a new documentary on DVD scheduled to be released Tuesday, tackles global warming and if what we're doing really matters.
The film, directed by Ondi Timoner ("We Live in Public"), features controversial author and economist Bjorn Lomborg and starts off by introducing Lomborg's background as an environmentalist and the controversy that erupted after the publication of his book "The Skeptical Environmentalist."
Lomborg, a former member of Greenpeace, questioned the authenticity of some of the prominent environmental warnings and reports. After extensive research, he concluded that global warming is a real threat, but that much of what is spread through the media is over-exaggerated and inaccurate information. In addition, Lomborg believes that the policies created and money spent are doing very little to counteract global warming, namely the Kyoto Protocol.
The most interesting portion of the film is when Lomborg exposes the "alarmist" tactics and exaggerated science behind environmental powerhouse, "An Inconvenient Truth." Lomborg tackles four points from the film: polar bears, rising sea level, hurricanes and malaria.
For example, the threat of polar bear population, which has become synonymous with the effects of global warming, is shown to be exaggerated. According to Lomborg, the polar bear population has been on a steady rise over the past 50 years and the real threat is the 300 to 500 polar bears that are killed every year by humans.
"If you want to help polar bears now, the best way is to stop shooting them," he said.
Another interesting portion of the film deals with Lomborg's work as founder and director of the Copenhagen Consensus Center in Denmark. The center is a " 'think-tank' of the world's top economist to prioritize the world's toughest problems based on cost-benefits analysis for the best solutions."
We watch as Lomborg travels around the world, talking with laureates, scientists, community activists and ordinary people to discuss alternatives and promising technologies that can help solve problems. Some of the possible solutions discussed are solar energy, urban cooling and geo-engineering.
There is also an informative segment on doing good versus doing what feels good. For example, does driving a Toyota Prius or switching light bulbs actually put a dent in saving the environment? Lomborg addresses whether these changes are really doing anything or if it "just looks good."
"Cool It" is an enjoyable, educational film. The film does a good job of exposing the dishonest tactics and political bullying of the environmental world. The film's overall message is to encourage consumers to know the facts and be wary of scare tactics used to push a certain agendas.
"Cool It" runs approximately 88 minutes, and had a PG rating, but some images may be uncomfortable for young children to watch.
The film, directed by Ondi Timoner ("We Live in Public"), features controversial author and economist Bjorn Lomborg and starts off by introducing Lomborg's background as an environmentalist and the controversy that erupted after the publication of his book "The Skeptical Environmentalist."
Lomborg, a former member of Greenpeace, questioned the authenticity of some of the prominent environmental warnings and reports. After extensive research, he concluded that global warming is a real threat, but that much of what is spread through the media is over-exaggerated and inaccurate information. In addition, Lomborg believes that the policies created and money spent are doing very little to counteract global warming, namely the Kyoto Protocol.
The most interesting portion of the film is when Lomborg exposes the "alarmist" tactics and exaggerated science behind environmental powerhouse, "An Inconvenient Truth." Lomborg tackles four points from the film: polar bears, rising sea level, hurricanes and malaria.
For example, the threat of polar bear population, which has become synonymous with the effects of global warming, is shown to be exaggerated. According to Lomborg, the polar bear population has been on a steady rise over the past 50 years and the real threat is the 300 to 500 polar bears that are killed every year by humans.
"If you want to help polar bears now, the best way is to stop shooting them," he said.
Another interesting portion of the film deals with Lomborg's work as founder and director of the Copenhagen Consensus Center in Denmark. The center is a " 'think-tank' of the world's top economist to prioritize the world's toughest problems based on cost-benefits analysis for the best solutions."
We watch as Lomborg travels around the world, talking with laureates, scientists, community activists and ordinary people to discuss alternatives and promising technologies that can help solve problems. Some of the possible solutions discussed are solar energy, urban cooling and geo-engineering.
There is also an informative segment on doing good versus doing what feels good. For example, does driving a Toyota Prius or switching light bulbs actually put a dent in saving the environment? Lomborg addresses whether these changes are really doing anything or if it "just looks good."
"Cool It" is an enjoyable, educational film. The film does a good job of exposing the dishonest tactics and political bullying of the environmental world. The film's overall message is to encourage consumers to know the facts and be wary of scare tactics used to push a certain agendas.
"Cool It" runs approximately 88 minutes, and had a PG rating, but some images may be uncomfortable for young children to watch.
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