The wish to express my opinion on information ambiguity and manipulation in regards to our consumptive behavior was encouraged after I watched new documentary from well known director Michael Moore. It is called “Planet of the Humans”. Probably it was a moment when I again remembered the term post truth. Which was often discussed and interpreted during first years of Donald Trump presidency. I will try to express my point of view of this topic in the framework of the movie. Leaving deeper on more conceptual thoughts for future.
“Planet of the Humans” presented few story lines and made several accents. However, main ideas of the movie were linked to the message that overpopulation and over consumption might cause our partial or full self-destruction. This theme was already wildly explored by many film directors both in documentary and fiction genres. What was more freshly emphasized by Michael Moore, that fossil fuel energy swift to green and sustainable resources is more or less just a myth. With tremendous investments during quite extended period of time, people managed just to exhaust our planet renewable resources, specifically trees, and boost fossil fuels usage to record highs. It’s hard to argue with that when the data clearly affirms his point of view.
The documentary proposes more unmistakable facts that are leading us to the conclusion of film director. Our thirst for energy and economy growth is unprecedented. It seems that any green or renewable energy resources are just incapable to deal with even a tiny part of the consumer’s appetite. Moreover, a bigger exploitation of these resources will pollute earth more and more. As manufacturing of not so long lasting solar panels, wind turbines and batteries are using our “best” and heavily toxic combinations on raw materials. It looks like that all green energy solutions are just becoming the new form the growth in developed part of the world with some relief to our conscience. These are the main strokes which where left on the top of my mind after I watched it.
Another layer of the topic was much more personalized and emotionalized by putting on the surface such activists as Al Gore or Bill McKibben. Bad guys personas are dragged closer to these front faces tied up with sustainable and renewable energy organizations and funds. Meanwhile, fossil fuel conglomerates are left neutral or even victims of bullying society. The fact that energy billionaires without any rebellion are expanding businesses in green energy field and becoming same conglomerates of both sides, keeps viewers with solid and unchanged negative attitude against them. On the other hand that feeling becomes less black and more gray.
The movie gave us a doubt about all green movement. Maybe the renewable energy is not less harmful than fossil fuel based one? That kind of the fought is the essence of creation of post truth situation in our minds. My primary emotion stood against “green” energy. As the only solution proposed by the director – substantially cutting humans population and consumption. What is for sure a truth but do we really believe that there is just one possible truth in this extremely politicized topic…
By emphasizing this tricky aspect, I’m not defending greed, corruption, disinformation and many other dark sides of some activists and organizations. I have tried logically to compare apple to apple and orange to orange. This misbehavior, to my mind, is much more related with separate humans moral perception and actions than with renewable energy in general.
I already started to oppose ideas of the movie and will continue in the article below. However I would like to make a note here. Probably most important message of the movie was left in the corner of our conscious. Why in the corner? Because it would be rejected immediately if noticed by most of us. However after some time the seed will grow and we, without clearly noticing that, will convincingly agree that fossil fuel energy is currently the best choice to keep or lives at least at the same level as they are. Clever confusion is created by mismatching different values with different objectives.
Coming back to shortcomings of the documentary, first eye catching one began with “experts” opinions, representing critical views of the chosen topic. Texts of subject matter experts such as sales representatives in fairs or professors from universities the ones you might never heard of. Then I just didn’t see any evidences with some reliable data. All in all, it seemed like collected evidences are so outdated, that Greta Thunberg would easily comment this situation – “how dear you”. I do understand that such well know figure of green movement as Greta, still don’t have a direct financial influence. But from moral and political importance of her as an activist, not mentioning Greta in the movie released on April of 2020, at least looks strange. These and many other smaller elements easily confronts full story truthfulness.
Furthermore, structure of the story moves responsibility from governments, industrialists and influential elite to regular citizens. Never the less it allows me legitimately feel anger and abominate regarding activists such as Al Gore and Bill McKibben. But at the end of the day the movie just leaves the feeling that all fault that the planet is dying is on my shoulders.
The only utopian solution, that I already mentioned, according to the director is to limit consumption. And will be forgotten without any remorse after several hours. Simply because it is absolutely ignoring the fact that we are still willing to eat, obliged to buy clothes, medicine and use transportation. Just to fulfill your basic needs. This dramatic solution simply sounds very childish! Not suitable for grown up people to take it seriously and regret not to following it.
Creation of this unsolvable and misery situation again will simply give more strength in the future for the hidden believe from the conscious corner to flourish.
I don’t believe in the concept of one and the only good or right choice. I’m just naturally strive to think that reshape of economy growth expectations, overwhelming consumption and unstoppable population increase is possible. Probably by leaving behind one sided capitalistic view. When biggest part of happiness and life success measures are related mostly with expression of materialistic standards. Yes, it sounds very close to Michael’s Moore proposed utopian solution. Just it sounds much more credible, as it simply lacks of artificial psychological connections used to manipulate our perception.