By Bibiana Dianiskova
It is undeniable that the current state of our world and our planet is in a decline. We only have one planet to live on and we depend on it to make us healthy. However, modern life is a huge threat to Earth and it is damaging its ecosystems. Deforestation, greenhouse gas emissions, pollution, globalisation, plastic waste, and climate change are only some of the rising factors impacting our planet.
“Look after the land and the land will look after you, destroy the land and it will destroy you.” – Aboriginal Proverb
Netflix has been recently coming out with some great conscious documentaries focusing on how the planet Earth is changing and what we ‘humans’ can do in order to save and preserve it. These documentaries raise awareness and bring the much needed attention on what we can do to save our environment. There is so much bad news about our planet, which can get overwhelming. Therefore, if you find yourself in the mood to learn, to listen, to watch and to change the way you think and behave, put on the following shows on Netflix!
1. David Attenborough: A Life On Our Planet
‘David Attenborough: A Life On Our Planet’ is one of the most recent environmentally conscious documentaries on Netflix. It is a witness statement of 93-year-old David Attenborough; English broadcaster, writer and naturalist. He is mostly known for his long time career in making educational television programs about the planet, animals, plants and life.
Now at 93, David Attenborough released this documentary as his witness statement urging us to act on climate emergency. In these 80 minutes he warns us about how the planet has changed over his lifetime. He looks at the data dated from 1937 until 2020.
The data gathered shows changes in the numbers of world population, carbon in atmosphere, and the percentage of remaining wilderness. The difference in statistics from 1937 to 2020 is so horrifying that the climate change and our planet’s decline is impossible to deny anymore.
There is also a lot of different ‘before and after’ footage which is brutal. Animal species and the biodiversity of nature is most definitely disappearing. The documentary is led by David in a very emotional and urging manner, so everyone realises how important it is to act upon his words.
What now?
In the last 30 minutes David Attenborough unveils how we as a humanity can do better, and it is not too late. He urges us that we must re-wild the world in order to not only save our planet, but to save ourselves!
WE MUST
- Raise the standard of living by lowering the birth rate
- Phase out fossil fuels by using nature and renewables to create the energy
- Create no fishing zones in order to save oceans
- Reduce meat consumption and adopt a largely plant-based diet to save our land
- Hold deforestation, the forests are the centres of biodiversity; the wilder the forests, the more effectively they can absorb the carbon emissions
Every single one of us is responsible! Hence why, it is necessary that everyone watches this eye-opening documentary.
2. Down to Earth with Zac Efron
Now, there are a lot of reasons why you should watch this travel documentary TV show, and Zac Effron is just one of them! It is led by Zac Efron and Darin Olien, who travel to different parts of the world in order to find healthier and more sustainable ways for the production of food, water and energy.
There are 8 episodes and each episode is shot in a different country with a different conscious or ecological focus. Darin Olien and Zac Efron travel to Iceland, France, Costa Rica, Sardinia, Lima, Puerto Rico, London and Iquitos with a mission to learn and experience different ways in which these cities and countries try to be more sustainable and improve civilisation. Through Iceland and its focus on renewable energy to Sardinia and their high longevity rates, this TV show has a lot to offer!
This is definitely a lighter watch than the previously mentioned ‘Life on our planet’. Some of the segments of this travel show, such as shirtless appearances of Zac, are definitely used for entertainment purposes. However, there are segments which have a huge educational potential and raise awareness on how to combat climate change and be more mindful.
Even though this Netflix TV series got some mixed reviews due to its lightheartedness, it focuses on a different approach of saving and preserving the earth, which is extremely important.
Down to earth’ is not only easy to follow, it is also insightful and definitely not boring! Therefore, if you are in a mood to watch a travel documentary, now at times when we are unlikely to travel, I would add this show to your Netflix watchlist!
3. Kiss the Ground
Kiss the Ground’ is going to be probably the most complex documentary mentioned, however in 90 minutes it gives us a solution on how soil can reverse climate change. If we manage to restore the Earth’s soil, we will be able to balance the climate, save the endangered species, eat better and replenish the water supply.
This documentary focuses on how we can save our planet and reverse global warming by taking better care of the soil. Now, with the two thirds of the world desertifying due to constant tilling and use of toxic chemicals, industrial agriculture needs to be changed.
Regenerative agriculture can be applied anywhere in the world in order to reverse the desertification of the soil. It can be done through no tillage system, diversity of the crops planted, planned grazing of the livestock such as kettle, and biosequestration.
Although it may seem necessary and simple, the regenerative agriculture phases an educational issue with the farmers being reluctant to change. However, if we can restore the degraded land of the earth we can reverse global warming. Soil can be saving us as it can sequester carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere. Additionally, the higher the quality of the soil is, the better quality of food we can have access to.
Therefore, we need to take care of the microbes in the soil and avoid spraying them with toxic chemicals which kill the microbes we need for our health and pull the carbon from the atmosphere. ‘Kiss the ground’ is extremely educational and interesting, so hopefully it will have a big impact on everyone who will watch it.
Some things you can start doing today in order to preserve the soil:
Turn the food waste into compost
Implement a more plant-based diet
Educate others about the soil
Implement the above mentioned principles into your garden- if you have one!
“Nature is our biggest ally and our greatest inspiration. If we take care of nature, nature will take care of us.”David Attenborough
These are some of the most impactful Netflix TV shows I have watched in the past couple of months, and I highly recommend them to everyone! They have made me think and learn so much about the alarming state of our planet. On the other hand, they have also made me feel hopeful. I believe that we can restore our planet if we can all be more eco-conscious and mindful about our behaviour and actions.
Bibiana Dianiskova
Bibiana is a marketing graduate based in London with a huge passion in content creation. She is a proper beauty and wellness enthusiast and a lover of books, podcasts and Netflix.
