Love Thy Nature

Gr 6 Up—Narrated by Liam Neeson in the role of Sapiens, the voice of Mankind, this earnest film mourns the loss of humans' relationship with nature. It presents Earth as a living organism, with man's involvement and presence shown in a time line to have lasted for only a minute's duration. Since the Industrial Revolution, humans have not only affected the well-being of the planet but have also lost touch with nature. The solution proposed here is the adaptation of biomimicry, the emulation of the natural world as a way of solving contemporary problems. Footage of idyllic scenes of natural beauty and young people posing in picture-perfect locations predominates throughout this entreaty to become more aware of our environment. Elegiac music accompanies the peaceful scenes. By contrast, interspersed urban footage shows chaos and anxiety. Talking-head comments by a cosmologist, a mind-body healer, a social ecologist, a psychiatrist, and a medical doctor emphasize the need for more mindfulness toward the natural world. More destructive powers, such as hurricanes, earthquakes, blizzards, plagues, and floods, are not incorporated into this benign view of Mother Nature. Although biomimicry is suggested as a general solution to present-day environmental problems, examples of its use are alluded to only briefly.