James Cameron and Elvis Mitchell discuss the environmental message of Avatar (part 2)

Summary

The speaker discusses the human struggle with arrogance and impotence, particularly in the context of climate change. They highlight the collective impact of human activity on the environment and the need for individual and group action to effect change. The conversation also touches on the real-world application of the film 'Avatar,' where it was used to raise awareness for the indigenous Schwar people of Ecuador, emphasizing dialogue over violence as a means to address environmental exploitation. The speaker critiques the film's message, advocating for a technological and social solution to global challenges rather than a return to a romanticized past.

Takeaways

• 🌍 The speaker discusses the dual issues of arrogance and impotence among humans, particularly in relation to the vastness of the world's environmental challenges.
• 🤔 There's a noted difficulty in accepting human responsibility for climate change, despite the consensus among climate scientists.
• 🔍 The speaker emphasizes the importance of individual and collective action, suggesting that change is possible through group efforts and organizations.
• 🎬 The movie 'Avatar' is used as a metaphor for real-world issues, with the speaker recounting how it was used to raise awareness for the plight of the Schwar people in Ecuador.
• 🌳 The Schwar people, despite living in one of the most biodiverse areas, face threats from oil extraction, highlighting the conflict between environmental preservation and industrial interests.
• 🗣️ A tribal elder from the Schwar community critiques 'Avatar' for promoting violence as a solution, advocating instead for dialogue.
• 🤝 The speaker argues against the movie's message of returning to a simplistic, Edenic lifestyle, recognizing the complexity and population challenges of modern society.
• 💡 The need for a technological and social solution to environmental issues is highlighted, suggesting that sustainability and smart energy are part of the answer.
• 🌐 The speaker acknowledges the global nature of environmental challenges, noting that they are not limited to any one country or corporation.
• 🌿 There's a call for a better message in media and entertainment, one that promotes dialogue and sustainable solutions rather than violence or escapism.

Q & A

What is the main issue the speaker identifies with humanity's approach to the environment?

The speaker identifies a dual issue of arrogance and a sense of impotence. People believe they can't affect something as vast as the ocean or the atmosphere, leading to debates about human-caused climate change, while also feeling entitled to exploit the environment.

How do climate scientists view human impact on climate change according to the speaker?

The speaker states that climate scientists around the world have largely agreed and are united in their stance that human activity is indeed causing climate change.

What does the speaker suggest as a solution to environmental issues?

The speaker suggests that individuals cannot make a significant impact alone and that collective action within groups and organizations is necessary to effect change.

How was the movie 'Avatar' used in a real-world context as mentioned in the script?

The movie 'Avatar' was used for fundraising purposes in Quito, Ecuador, to draw global media attention to the plight of the Schwar people and their struggle against oil exploitation in their biodiverse rainforest.

What is the significance of the India suni preserve mentioned in the script?

The India suni preserve is noted for being one of the most biodiverse rainforests on the planet, with a significantly higher number of species per acre compared to even the Amazon basin.

What was the reaction of the Schwar tribal elders to the movie 'Avatar'?

The Schwar tribal elders found a parallel between their situation and that depicted in 'Avatar', but they disagreed with the movie's message of solving problems through violence, advocating instead for dialogue.

Why do some critics focus on attacking the movie 'Avatar' rather than its message?

Some critics, particularly right-wing bloggers, avoid addressing the specific issues the movie raises, such as corporate exploitation, by instead criticizing the movie as a whole, calling it 'stupid', 'fatuous', and 'godless'.

What is the speaker's stance on the role of corporations in environmental issues?

The speaker believes that while people running corporations are not inherently evil, the way corporations operate, influence governments, and lobby for policies that harm the general population is wrong and a global issue.

How does the speaker view the future in terms of addressing environmental challenges?

The speaker is optimistic, believing that humans are resourceful and have overcome many challenges historically. They suggest that technological advancements and social rearrangements are key to future solutions.

What does the speaker think about the message of 'Avatar' in terms of returning to a more primitive lifestyle?

The speaker disagrees with the idea of reverting to a primitive lifestyle as portrayed in 'Avatar', citing the practical impossibility of such a change for the global population and the current state of the environment.

Outlines

00:00

🌍 Human Impact and Collective Action

The speaker discusses the dual issues of arrogance and impotence that humans face in addressing global challenges like climate change. They highlight the difficulty in accepting human responsibility for environmental damage and the concurrent belief in individual powerlessness. The speaker emphasizes the importance of collective action, citing the example of the movie 'Avatar' where the protagonist unites various groups to effect change. They also recount a real-life event where the movie was used to raise awareness for the plight of the indigenous Schwar people in Ecuador, whose rainforest home is under threat from oil exploitation. The speaker contrasts the movie's message of violent confrontation with the Schwar people's preference for dialogue, suggesting a need for a more nuanced approach to problem-solving.

05:01

🚀 Facing Challenges with Technology and Social Change

In this segment, the speaker expresses optimism about humanity's ability to overcome civilizational challenges, citing our history of resilience and innovation. They critique the simplistic message of the movie 'Avatar' that suggests a return to a pre-industrial Eden, arguing that such a solution is impractical and unrealistic given the planet's limited resources and the current population. The speaker advocates for a future that combines technological advancements with social reorganization to achieve sustainability. They stress the need for smart energy solutions and imply that societal structures must evolve to support these changes, suggesting a more complex and integrated approach to environmental and social issues.

Keywords

💡arrogance

Arrogance in the context of the video script refers to the overbearing attitude of the industrialized world, which assumes that human actions have negligible impact on vast natural systems like the oceans and the atmosphere. This term is used to criticize the belief that humans are incapable of affecting the environment significantly, leading to a lack of urgency in addressing issues like climate change. The speaker uses the term to highlight the paradoxical combination of overconfidence and powerlessness that humans feel towards environmental issues.

💡impotence

Impotence, as mentioned in the script, describes the feeling of powerlessness that many people have regarding their ability to influence large-scale environmental problems. It is contrasted with 'arrogance' to illustrate the dual attitudes that humans have towards their impact on the planet. The speaker suggests that this sense of impotence contributes to the ongoing debate about human-induced climate change, as people struggle to accept that individual and collective actions can make a difference.

💡climate change

Climate change is a central theme in the video, with the script discussing the reluctance of some to accept that human activities are the primary cause. The term is used to underscore the urgency of the environmental crisis and the need for collective action. The speaker points out the consensus among climate scientists that human activities are indeed causing climate change, yet there is still skepticism among the general public, which is seen as a barrier to effective action.

💡individual action

Individual action is highlighted in the script as a necessary component in addressing environmental issues. The speaker argues that while individuals may feel powerless, it is crucial to recognize that every person can contribute to change. This concept is exemplified by the character Jake, who, despite feeling incapable of acting alone, unites with others to effect change, emphasizing the importance of collective effort.

💡corporate influence

Corporate influence is portrayed negatively in the script, with the speaker discussing how corporations, likened to super organisms, can have undue influence over governments and engage in practices that harm the environment and public interest. The term is used to critique the power dynamics that allow corporations to prioritize profit over sustainability and the well-being of the planet and its inhabitants.

💡sustainability

Sustainability is a key concept in the video, referring to the ability of the planet to support human life without depleting natural resources or causing irreversible environmental damage. The speaker suggests that humanity is at the threshold of the Earth's carrying capacity and that moving forward requires a combination of technological innovation and social change to ensure a sustainable future.

💡dialogue

Dialogue is presented as a preferred method of resolving conflicts and addressing issues, in contrast to the violent confrontation depicted in the movie 'Avatar'. The script includes a story about the Schwar people of Ecuador, who advocate for dialogue over violence as a means to protect their land and culture from exploitation. This term is used to emphasize the importance of peaceful and communicative approaches to problem-solving.

💡biodiversity

Biodiversity is mentioned in relation to the Sunni preserve in Ecuador, which is described as one of the most biodiverse rainforests on the planet. The term is used to highlight the richness of life and the variety of species that exist in certain ecosystems, and the importance of preserving these environments. The script uses the concept of biodiversity to argue against the exploitation of natural resources at the expense of ecological balance.

💡lobbying

Lobbying is discussed in the script as a tactic used by corporations to influence government policies in their favor, often at the expense of the public good. The term is used critically to illustrate the power that money and corporate interests can have on political decision-making, which can lead to policies that are not aligned with environmental sustainability or social justice.

💡technological answer

A technological answer is suggested in the script as part of the solution to environmental challenges. The speaker implies that innovation in technology, such as smart energy solutions, will be crucial in addressing issues like climate change and moving towards a sustainable future. This term is used to emphasize the role of technology in finding solutions that can support both human needs and environmental health.

Highlights

The speaker discusses the dual issues of arrogance and impotence in the industrialized world's approach to environmental issues.

There's a debate about human activity causing climate change despite a consensus among climate scientists.

Individuals struggle to accept their impact on vast systems like the ocean or atmosphere.

The importance of collective action over individual effort in addressing environmental challenges.

The story of Jake from the movie 'Avatar' uniting clans is used as a metaphor for collective action.

Anecdote about the 'Avatar' movie being used for fundraising to support the Schwar people in Ecuador.

The Schwar people's comparison of their plight to the narrative in 'Avatar', highlighting the need for dialogue over violence.

Criticism of the movie's message by indigenous leaders, suggesting a need for a better approach to problem-solving.

Discussion on the historical ineffectiveness of negotiation for indigenous people facing corporate interests.

Right-wing bloggers' critique of the movie, focusing on its perceived lack of intelligence and morality rather than its message.

The speaker refutes claims that 'Avatar' is anti-American, arguing it critiques corporate behavior globally.

Corporations are criticized for their influence over governments and prioritizing profits over public good.

The speaker expresses optimism about humanity's ability to overcome challenges through intelligence and resourcefulness.

The speaker argues against the idea of returning to a simplistic, pre-industrial lifestyle as a solution to environmental issues.

Emphasis on the need for technological advancements and social rearrangements to address sustainability.

The importance of smart energy solutions in moving forward is highlighted.

Transcripts

he's trying to force his way that

arrogance I'm talking about that

industrialized world arrogance see I

think that our problem has no as humans

on this planet right now comes from from

simultaneously arrogance and a sense of

impotence we also don't believe kind of

intrinsically that human beings can

actually affect something as vast as the

ocean something as vast as the

atmosphere something as as big as the

world is so it's that's why there's

still debate about whether whether you

know it's human activity that's actually

causing climate change even though all

this you know the climate scientists in

the world have pretty much locked arms

on this thing and said no guys this is

this is us that's doing this we have a

hard time accepting that and we also

have a hard time accepting that we as

individuals can make a difference at the

same time you've got that that arrogance

that sense that it's all there for us to

take we're not just individuals and

we're not just individuals as a whole we

can affect change and that's really key

Hume the way that it hasn't been

anything you've done before yeah well no

I it's that that's true I mean Jake Jake

knows that he can't do anything by

himself so he goes you know he goes out

and unites the clans and and and so on

you know and I think that's that's true

we're not going to do as individuals we

have to find ways to work within within

groups

and with organizations you know like

like the NRDC to to affect change I want

to tell you an interesting story because

I was thinking about what Jake does in

the movie he raises an army and they

they have they have a violent

confrontation the the avatar was used

for fundraising purposes in Quito in

Ecuador capital city of Ecuador to draw

attention draw global media attention

there's not done by me this is done by

by others I only heard about it after

effect to the plight of the Schwar

people who in in the Sunni preserve

which is the most biodiverse rainforest

still remaining on the planet I mean you

have you have you know sort of an order

of magnitude more species per acre in

the India suni preserve than you do

anywhere else even in the Amazon basin

let alone the rest of the rest of the

planet and these people have lived there

you know it since forever and it turns

out of course that they're sitting on

million barrels of oil and the

Ecuadorian government is opening it up

for oil leases so they had this

fundraiser and they brought in these uh

Schwar people there's some tribal elders

and it was the most amazing photo I ever

saw they're all lined up with their

glasses on they'd never been to a movie

theater before and they must think that

all movies look like this and you know

they had their kind of feathered

ornamentation and stuff you know and one

woman said who was a tribal elder

basically the kind of the equivalent of

Mowatt in the movie said these people in

this movie are like us they have the

same problem we have but they solve

their problem through fighting and we

don't believe in that we believe that we

need to solve our problem with dialogue

so this movie needed a better message

wow I've been I've been schooled if she

sees monsters vs. aliens your mind about

them exactly yeah I mean historically it

hasn't worked out that well I mean yeah

epically indigenous people try and

negotiate their way out of this and it

doesn't work

it never is historically never worked by

the way you know they always get screwed

even right wing bloggers that have seen

the movie the funny thing is they don't

actually attack the specific issue they

don't attack the fact that that you know

the the you know kind of the enemy in

the movie is this corporate enterprise

which is which is devastating this place

because how do you attack that it's the

truth it's what happens here on our

planet it's happening in thousands you

know thousands of examples all over the

world right now so the one thing they do

is they call the movie stupid and

fatuous and God written and godless yeah

they'll go there as well you know but

it's almost kind of like criticized the

movie outside of the of the specific

thing that upset them in the first place

a part of this if they can't get their

hands around because as an entertainment

it works so they can try and say all

these things but it's not deterring

audiences from and and their own

constituency in fact is going to it

right right now you know I mean there

are things I do I would argue against

you know saying that the film's

anti-american it's not it may be anti

corporate and Americans tend to be kind

of hard on themselves you know what I

mean see them see themselves in

movie but that doesn't mean that I was

trying to make an anti-american

statement I think every developing or

developed nation that has industry and

has corporations is equally sort of

guilty of this all over the world it's

not just it's not just America I don't

think the people that run corporations

are evil I think that the way

corporations do business as these kind

of super organisms in influencing

governments having undue influence over

governments and doing things for you

know you know spending billions of

dollars in lobbying to get governments

to do things that are against the good

of the of their general population I

think that's wrong and I think that's

happening in this country and all over

the world you know we've got some major

major challenges ahead of us as a

civilization but you know we're smart

resourceful people we've we've survived

amazing things through throughout

history we're gonna figure this out and

you know I think it's a wrong message

from Avatar that I'm saying you know

everybody should just rip off their

clothes and go back to the Garden of

Eden first of all we bulldoze most of it

it doesn't exist that much anymore

you know secondly we wouldn't know how

to live there anyway and thirdly you

know how are six and a half billion

people going to do that it's not going

to happen I mean we're right at the

sustainability threshold of the carrying

capacity of the planet as it is some

would say that we've gone gone beyond it

but the answer going forward is is it's

going to be a technological answer and

it's going to be a social rearrangement

and those two things have to go together

we need smart energy you know

and that's probably a perfect Ascended

so let's bring thanks to joy

thank so much Jason

you