Surviving Progress

Surviving Progress

Everybody should be forced to watch this powerful documentary about how we are on a survival course with our civilization. All high schools should show it as a mandatory part of the curriculum. It is powerful, upsetting, informative and shocking.
Telefilm Canada and The National Film Board deserve credit for bringing this upsetting topic to the masses.
We are told throughout the film that there is both good and bad progress. We see old news clippings of signs saying ‘Whites Only.” A picture of Obama with his family also illustrates positive progress. Obama states,” We will move forward.” The problem is that we often interpret moving forward by accumulating more worldly goods and buying bigger and better. In fact it is pointed out that this type of philosophy is a trap leading to our own downfall.
Historical examples are given of past civilizations ( Stoneage, Mayans, Roman era) that actually were extremely productive and eventually led to their own demise. Unfortunately we are told every time history repeats itself the price goes up. It was a new way of looking at history.
“We are currently destroying, damaging and polluting our world.” We need to think into the future of this exploding population and change our paradigm.
Leaders of the Congo misappropriated funds sent to help the people in dire circumstances. The money was misused and ended up back in the western banks and the people who needed it received no benefit.
The people ‘at the top’ are accumulating and purchasing. Even the destruction of the rain forest in Brazil can be blamed on people with resources. The Western banks gave finances to Brazil to purchase property in the rain forest. The poor people did benefit from the money which allowed them to feed and clothe themselves. On the other hand the depletion of resources is speeding up the problems with the environment. The destruction of the rainforest is directly linked to banks in the US .The people in the small towns of the rain forest say they will die if they do not get the money. When you cut away the rain forest you create a desert which ultimately creates environmental problems throughout the world.
Scientists, Psychologists and authors speak out about the way our current lifestyle is speeding up our own demise. Margaret Atwood reminds us that there is not an endless credit card. We must conserve our planet.
Bankers are blamed for much of the problem. Suzuki tells us we are entering a dangerous period of history.
Throughout the film I was faced with facts that caused major concern.
Is there any hope? One scientist claimed we need to spread out into space. George Lucas suggests we need to find another planet. I didn’t find those suggestions very comforting
I did find it exciting to learn that algae is a new possible source of energy. We are going to need to rely on synthetic biology.
The bottom line is we must learn to consume less as our resources are limited.
It was not comforting to hear.” We are at the end of a failed experiment.”
I did not find much hope in the presentation but it certainly made me aware of the problem we are facing. It pointed out the enormity of the problem and how we are
responsible.