We would recommend everyone to watch The 11th Hour, not for Leonardo DiCaprio or the images and graphs, but for the ideas and thoughts expressed by the film’s experts, scientists and visionaries. They correctly pointed out the causes of the environmental problem - the disconnect between humans and nature, and the human population which is consuming too much. The film synopsis and some quotes that we like are shown below. You can also watch the trailer and related videos at The 11th Hour Youtube site.

Film Synopsis (from the 11th Hour Action)

Leonardo DiCaprio’s “The 11th Hour” is a feature length documentary concerning the environmental crises caused by human actions and their impact on the planet. “The 11th Hour” documents the cumulative impact of these actions upon the planet’s life systems and calls for restorative action through a reshaping of human activity. With the help of over fifty of the world’s most prominent thinkers and activists, including reformer Mikhail Gorbachev, physicist Stephen Hawking, and Nobel Prize winner Wangari Maathai, “The 11th Hour” documents the grave problems facing the planet’s life systems. Global warming, deforestation, mass species extinction, and depletion of the oceans’ habitats are all addressed, and their causes rooted in human activity. The combination of these crises call into question the very future not of the planet, but of humanity.

However, the most powerful element of “The 11th Hour” is not a portrait of a planet in crisis, but the offering of hope and solutions. Scientists and environmental advocates such as Paul Hawken and David Suzuki paint a portrait for a radically new and exciting future in which humanity seeks not to dominate the earth’s life systems, but to mimic them and coexist. “The 11th Hour” calls for a future now within our grasp that is both sustainable and healthier.

Quotes from The 11th Hour

Wes Jackson, President of The Land Institute:

The deterioration of the environment of our planet is an outward mirror of an inner condition.

Kenny Ausubel,  Founder of Bioneers:

… at the end of the day when we talk about saving the environment, in a way it’s mis-stated because the environment is going to survive. We’re the ones who may not survive or we may survive in a world that we don’t particularly want to live in.

Thom Hartmann, Author and Radio Host: 

The problem is not a problem of technology. The problem is not a problem of too much carbon dioxide. The problem is not a problem of global warming. The problem is not a problem of waste. All of those things are symptoms of the problem. The problem is the way that we are thinking. The problem is fundamentally a culture problem.

Gloria Flora, Director of Sustainable Obtainable Solutions:

Vote. And I don’t mean voting at a voting booth. Anybody of any age can vote because you vote every day that you pay for something. Every time you lay money down on the counter to buy something, you are saying that I approve of this object. I approve of how it was made, the materials that are in it, and what’s going to happen to it when I no longer need it and throw away.

Paul Hawken, Environmentalist, Author, Entrepreneur:

What a great time to be born, what a great time to be alive because this generation gets to essentially completely change this world.

Source: 11th Hour Action. Image attribution: 11th Hour Action.

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The current issue of Time magazine spotlights the Heroes of the Environment, the extraordinary people who are working hard to protect our environment. They are divided into four groups: Leaders and Visionaries; Activists; Scientists and Innovators; Moguls and Entrepreneurs. Let’s start by looking at the list of Leaders and Visionaries:

• Mikhail Gorbachev: Chairman of Green Cross International and former Soviet Union leader
• David Attenborough: Naturalist and best-known broadcaster of nature documentaries
• Lee Myung Bak: South Korea presidential candidate and former Seoul mayor
• Al Gore: Nobel Peace Prize winner, climate change activist and former Vice-President of the United States
• Janine Benyus: Author of the book, Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature, and president of The Biomimicry Institute
• Tommy Remengesau Jr.: Palau President
• Jose Goldemberg: Father of the ethanol program in Brazil
• Prince Charles: The Prince of Wales
• James Lovelock: Author of the Gaia Theory
• Robert Redford: Film director and founder of the Sundance Channel
• David Suzuki: Scientist, environmentalist, broadcaster and co-founder of the David Suzuki Foundation
• Barnabas Suebu: Governor of Papua
• Angela Merkel: Chancellor of Germany

Source: Time. Image attribution: Emrys.Roberts.

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The article below was first published in the Apr-Jun 07 edition of NADi by the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS). We find the article enlightening and it gave us more insights on how the teachings of Islam promote environmental consciousness and protection. We think that more people should be exposed to the relationship between the environment and religion. So we have republished the article below (in two parts) with kind permission from MUIS.

Continued from Part 1.

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Air

“And He it is Who sends the winds as tidings heralding His grace: until when they have raised a heavy-laden cloud, We drive it to a dead land and cause the rain to descend upon it, and thereby bring forth fruits of every kind.” (Al A’raf 7:57)

On Earth, Allah has created the perfect environment for life to exist. As vicegerents, we have the responsibility to ensure that we do not abuse this gift in our use. Gases like carbon dioxide are released into the atmosphere when we burn petrol, coal and oil. These ‘greenhouse’ gases trap heat from the sun’s radiation, just like glass traps heat in a greenhouse. Scientists estimate that almost half of the carbon dioxide emissions come from energy we use every day - at home and when we travel. Read the rest

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The article below was first published in the Apr-Jun 07 edition of NADi by the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS). We find the article enlightening and it gave us more insights on how the teachings of Islam promote environmental consciousness and protection. We think that more people should be exposed to the relationship between the environment and religion. So we have republished the article below (in 2 parts) with kind permission from MUIS.

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“Strive for your life in the hereafter as if you will die tomorrow.
Strive for your life on earth as if you will live forever.”

A community of excellence which is well adjusted contributes towards the care of the larger society they live in.

On 18 April 2007, Singapore celebrated Earth Day with a host of activities aimed at promoting environmental consciousness among the people. Muslims here responded positively to this effort and lent it our full support. This article explains that in contributing to the protection of the environment, Muslims are actually performing a sacred duty commanded by Allah S.W.T to all man, as stewards of the Earth.

As Muslims we believe strongly in the hereafter. In the famous hadith, Rasulullah S.A.W reminds us to be prepared for our future life in the next world, as if we would leave this one tomorrow.

Read the rest

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When you think of famous Western stars and environmentalism, you think of Leonardo DiCaprio. When you think of Asian stars and going green, who comes to your mind? Asian music and movie stars hardly talk about the environment and climate change but recently Taiwanese singer, Wang Leehom, has called for everyone to love our earth and make the world a better place with his latest Chinese album, Change Me. Read the rest

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