Search - National Geographic: Six Degrees Could Change the World on DVD

Informative but questionable

kris killarney | 02/15/2008

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I think a break down of the ratings speak for themselve a bit.



One person put a 1 because they found it offensive(perhaps they don't like the idea of spending money to find an alternative to dumping their company's waste in the river.)



The other person put a 5 (perhaps they bought everything this propa-documentary said and hate selfish people that are too profit motivated or believe everything the powers that be try to sell them.)



Well I thought it was informative. But I also noticed some things that attempted to manipulated the viewers thoughts and opinions, like showing the nuclear plant's exhaust while talking about carbon dioxide and fossil fuels. That exhaust is water vapor from cooling towers, not smoke plumes.

Same with the catasrophic weather and katrina. Yes it was a catasrophic storm, but a lot of the suffering in N.O. was partly to blame on gross negligence of the powers that be.



I did notice it had high production values. Which is also what annoyed me with the manipulative information. If you are going to invest that much time and money into a film why do you have to shape the truth? Can't we ever get documentaries that are only moderately biased so that we can decide for ourselves? These films just fall on deaf ears to some and make others look like tin foil hat wearers. Integrity was compromised.



I still learned a lot however.



"

The truth is hard to swallow

Eastsideenzo | Woodinville, WA United States | 02/15/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"
Instead of listening to the blather of Savoy Scat in the only review to date. Just buy the dvd, watch and learn. With over 2500 scientists world wide validating global warming as a man made caused event it at times is alarming which I'm sure it is supposed to be. Maybe Savoy Scat is better at reviewing pizza, burgers and sandwiches which is mostly what has been reviewed so far."

Spectacular. Professional. Visually Powerful. Life Changi

Robert D. Steele | Oakton, VA United States | 04/13/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a spectacular piece of professional work and so compelling as to be inspirational.



I watched this with my wife with no lights, and decided to take no notes. Here are the highlights from my memory.



1) Brilliant, utterly brilliant, history, photography, personalities (such as the Indian guru that has photographed the source of the Ganges for 50 years) and sequencing. I don't want to overdo it, but this may well be the single most important DVD of the century, and so worthy of both buying, showing to groups, and giving as a gift to others.



2) We are well on our way to 2-3 degrees rise, and if we do not begin to act sensibly now, toward six degrees. I absolutely loved the way this film developed, showing the changes one degree at a time. My wife had to point out the computer simulations, the producers and editors of this film are world class--they should share the Nobel with Herman Daly, Lester Brown, Paul Hawkin, and Anthony Lovin, Gore's Nobel was an ill-advised politicized award, he is in the fourth grade compared to this film and the serious people it focused upon.



3) Oceans as the critical carbon absorbing element, and coral as the "canary in the coal mine" really grabbed me The overall screenplay, photography, voice overs, everything about this is spectacularly professional and rivieting.



4) Amazon as the next most critical element, with riveting views of the Amazon river drying up in 2005, and the potential scenarios of drought, fires, more drought.



5) Increasing destructiveness of weather. Katrina as the first of what could become every month storms, instead of 100 year storms. In passing, the film shows the world-class levies built by the Europeans, and they do not show the downright retarded cement levees of the US Army Corps of Engineers, levees that are the laughing stock of the rest of the (sophisticated) world.



A highlight of the film was its focus on the one man that has figured out the total carbon footprint of the cheeseburger, to include the methane farts of the cows. I am not making this up. This film is AMAZING, it is spectacular, it is professional, it is precisely the kind of well-crafted material that We the People need to begin self-governing rather than entrusting war criminals and and cronies (both parties) who sell us out.



Here are ten links that augment the deep insight and value that this DVD provides to anyone able to see it.



High Noon 20 Global Problems, 20 Years to Solve Them

The Future of Life

Plan B 3.0: Mobilizing to Save Civilization, Third Edition

The leadership of civilization building: Administrative and civilization theory, symbolic dialogue, and citizen skills for the 21st century

How to Change the World: Social Entrepreneurs and the Power of New Ideas, Updated Edition

Green to Gold: How Smart Companies Use Environmental Strategy to Innovate, Create Value, and Build Competitive Advantage

Natural Capitalism: Creating the Next Industrial Revolution

The Philosophy of Sustainable Design

Running On Empty: How The Democratic and Republican Parties Are Bankrupting Our Future and What Americans Can Do About It

Collective Intelligence: Creating a Prosperous World at Peace



Apart from these, allowed by Amazon, I recommend the many books on climate, catastrophe, etcetera. See my many lists.

"

Follow the Science

jbreiner | Poolesville, Moldova, Republic of | 02/15/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Dido Eastsideenzo's comment. Buy Six Degrees, watch, learn, research and act. The science it contains is accurate and the consequences it presents range from probable to speculative, and is clearly stated so. Obviously, reviewer Scat Savoy does not give a hoot about science and did not read the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) 2007 report nor the 2005 Joint science academies' statement: Global response to climate change in which the U.S. National Academy of Sciences joined 10 other national science academies in calling on world leaders to acknowledge that the threat of climate change is clear and increasing, to address its causes, and to prepare for its consequences. The statement says sufficient scientific understanding of climate change exists for all nations to identify cost-effective steps that can be taken now to contribute to substantial and long-term reductions in net global greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming. (and this was based on IPCC 2001 data!) These documents are a simple Google search away. Nations are made up of individuals. This documentary helps to educate the individuals, all of us, who need to understand this issue and be moved to act...if not for yourself, then for your children and grandchildren."