Washington, DC : Screenscope, [2005-2009].

eVideo

English

Streaming video of a program previously broadcast on Public Television.

Edited by Marc Masters ; cinematographer, Dennis Boni ; music, Frank Ferrucci.

Narrator, Matt Damon.

State of the planet -- Are populations soaring out of control? Today the Earth's population has surged to nearly 6.5 billion and is increasing by nearly 80 million people each year. Yet the population explosion that began in the mid 1900s is finally slowing down - and it is happening in some of the most unexpected places. Are we running out of water? Over 97% of our planet's water is undrinkable seawater and another 2% is locked up in polar ice caps. Coupled with the fact that the demand for water doubles every 20 years, this does not bode well for the state of our planet, especially in the mega-cities of the world. Will there be enough water and food for future generations? In the last three decades we have increased available food per person by almost 20%, yet more than 800 million people still go hungry each day. Today the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is higher than it has been for hundreds of thousands of years, and global temperatures are rising faster than at any other time in recorded history. The consequences of these human-induced changes are becoming more and more profound. The State of the Planet visits parts of the world which suffer from human overcrowding, hunger, despair and rampant disease, but it also introduces stories of hope and courage, celebrating the beauty and diversity of the natural world.

State of the planet's oceans -- From Portugal to Peru, from Bangladesh to Belize, this program investigates the health and sustainability of the world's oceans, with a special emphasis on issues affecting marine preserves, fisheries, and coastal ecosystems. Today, the oceans are home to nearly 80% of the planet's plants and animals, providing sustenance to billions of people. What was once considered an inexhaustible source of food is now known to be a resource in danger of being completely depleted. And as the ocean's health declines, so do the seafaring communities that have depended on it for their livelihood for centuries. While presenting evidence of the threats to the oceans, The State of the Planet's Oceans also reveals stories of hope, courage, and redemption. Hosted and narrated by Hollywood actor Matt Damon, The State of the Planet's Oceans is the most recent installment of the award-winning Journey to Planet Earth series which reports on the most important environmental and sustainable development issues of the 21st century.

State of the ocean's animals -- Join Academy Award-winning actor Matt Damon as he discovers how global warming, sea-level rise, over-fishing, and habitat destruction are beginning to empty the world's oceans. Damon's dramatic journey takes us to the Pacific Northwest, (salmon and sea otters), New England (coastal fisheries), Florida (sea-level rise and its effect on loggerhead turtles), Japan (the slaughter of dolphins), China (shark fin trade), the Antarctic (threats to Emperor Penguins), the Caribbean and Indonesia (coral reefs), and Africa (whales and coastal fisheries). The State of the Ocean's Animals uncovers the diversity of our planet's marine life: the beauty, the incredible animals, and the dangers that threaten them all. The sobering reality is that our oceans are becoming dead zones. What was once ablaze with color has become a world without life. The question that lies at the heart of the documentary is this: How can the existence of one of our planet's most abundant resources be in jeopardy? Most importantly, how can we repair the damage we have already created?

State of the planet's wildlife -- The State of the Planet's Wildlife visits the high country of Montana, Florida's Everglades, South Africa, Singapore, Bangladesh, Kenya, Zambia, the Amazon, the Arctic, and China. Specific case studies explore the loss of wildlife as a result of climate change, population and poverty pressures, poaching, the international bush-meat trade, and the loss of wildlife corridors. From severe drought to melting ice, from trophy hunting to loss of habitat through overdevelopment, The State of the Planet's Wildlife makes a comprehensive examination of the many threats faced by animals today. There are also stories of hope and success, from ranchers learning to restore marshes and bird sanctuaries on their rangeland, to communities who have given up poaching to become stewards of the land, to diverse groups of citizens in Montana who came together to create wildlife corridors to protect endangered species such as the grizzly bear.

Closed-captioned for the hearing impaired.

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