‘We need to rediscover how to be sustainable.’
Sir David Attenborough’s new documentary explores the world that was, the world that is and the world that will be if we do not change our ways.
David Attenborough: A Life On Our Planet serves as a both a warning and hope for humanity.
The opening scene takes us through a clearly abandoned dwelling, resembling a wasteland of sorts. Sir David appears explaining how this city, which was once teeming with life, has become uninhabitable due to the Chernobyl explosion in 1986.
The explosion was a result of bad planning, human error and mistakes, Attenborough explains. ‘It triggered an environmental catastrophe that had an impact across Europe.’ You quickly realise the grim metaphor he is trying to convey.
‘Many people regard it as the most costly in the history of mankind,’ the veteran broadcaster continues.
‘But Chernobyl was a single event. The true tragedy of our time is still unfolding across the globe, barely noticeable from day to day.’
‘I’m talking about the loss of the planet’s wild places, its biodiversity.’ Cue the iconic David Attenborough documentary imagery.
‘Yet the way we humans live on Earth now is sending biodiversity into a decline.’
‘This too is happening as a result of bad planning and human error. And it too will lead to what we see here. A place in which we cannot live.’
The documentary is just under an hour and a half long and serves as Attenborough’s account of how the natural world has diminished over his lifetime.
He reiterates that while the planet has been destroyed by humans, we are able to change the planet’s grim fate.
One of the most harrowing and shocking scenes of the documentary is the visual journey of what the world will look like in the next 80 years, based on scientific predictions.
If that doesn’t change your perspective on how we treat the planet, very little else will.
The documentary is packed with facts, visual feasts of the natural world and sad, stark contrasts. It is an absolute must-watch.
‘This is not about saving our planet, it’s about saving ourselves. With or without us, the natural world will rebuild.’
Image: Getaway Gallery
