David Attenborough discovers climate change 02 June 06

I thought that the bbc one programme last night really showed that this is now not a fringe issue but one that is now at the fore front of peoples minds. Unfortunately the viewing figures for X-Factor on itv will be way higher than bbc. But still we need must see that the topic is no longer just about scaring and warning, it is now about doing. And the media is going to be the best way to influence real people. I like sport aid, it works brilliantly, and maybe it is time to start to think on those terms. Fund raising on a massive scale, to one raise awareness and two raise capital for the many programmes schemes that are struggling for funding.

just a thought

I saw last night’s one & I thought it was great. I watched it with my wife and it had a real effect on both of us. (Why have we waited so long for something like this?)

My video isn’t working at the moment. I’d love to get the DVD/video. I hope the BBC comes out with it.

It will be interesting to compare with Al Gore’s Inconvenient Truth.

But a colleague at work has recorded it on VHS and I should get a chance to have a look at it next week. If you can’t get a copy, let me know via Mark, and I can probably send you a copy if we can exchange details off-blog.

best wishes

Colin

For our US friends, if you can get the following link to connect you can watch the BBC’s Panorama documentary that aired tonight on censorship and suppression of sceintific statements about GW.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/panorama/default.stm

I tried sending the link, but the ISP’s just bounce it back. Good luck guys.

best

Colin

Thanks Colin. I’ll contact you through Dan if that’s OK.

Peter

I cannot congratulate the BBC and David Attenborough enough for doing for the UK audience what Al Gore is (hopefully) doing for the US audience – the difference is, though, that in the UK David Attenborough and, largely, the BBC, are both highly trusted institutions and could do a huge amount in turning sceptics and those who have never even considered the problem to a more concerned way of thinking. AL Gore will have to go a hell of a long way to catch up with David Attenborough’s high status as a broadcaster; and here’s where the canny BBC come in.

BBC Worldwide Enterprises’ job is to sell programmes with a wide potential market to other networks. By avoiding the temptation to localise the two programmes too much for the UK audience and providing US and also Chinese interest then the gain for the planet from these two extremely well argued and forceful programmes could possibly tip the balance from an oversaturated, possibly “climate weary” audience, to an engaged one.

Let’s hope.

Keith Farnish http://www.theearthblog.org

Crooked Beak of Heaven, Mother Teresa (or was that Richard?).

Hope the film comes over here.

As a teacher of Science at Comberton Village College in Cambridge I am always on the look out for convincing resourses surrounding the issues with Climate Change. I felt these 2 programmes were of excellent quality. I manged to video them and I will be using them in my teaching in the coming weeks. Alot of my students saw them as well and thought they were very good.

If anyone has any good resources I could use in addition to these I would love to hear from you!

best wishes

Richard

Really great to hear the films were so well received. To answer some of the comments posted here: yes, the films will be shown in the US (on Discovery). However for a reason I can’t quite fathom David Attenborough is to be replaced by a US presenter.

Viewing figures were fantastic (peaked at over 5 million) and as a result I think we can expect to see a lot more of climate change on BBC primetime in the future. Big congratulations should go to Nick Brown (Director), Jeremy Bristow (Producer) and of course to the great Sir David Atteborough for raising awareness of this greatest of all threats in homes right across the world.

I was in the Uk last week and saw several programs relating to Global Warming and was stunned by what I learnt. I would like to get a copy of the programs as I have an idea of how to get this information out to organizations such as Rotary, The Lions and Kiwanis whose global communications within the business community is emmense and powerful. I feel it is futile for these organizations to improve the lives of less fortunate people while the planet continues to deteriorate at an alarming rate. If Rotary can eradicate polio from the world then that same power can be harnessed to make changes to our consuming habits. If you have the programs on DVD is there any way you could copy them for me. I have been on the BBC web site trying to find out how to get copies with out much luck.

You can try typing ‘David Attenborough’ into the search box on the site. Again, you can type in ‘Climate chaos’ and get several links.

Also try the ‘Panorama’ link that Mark has put up.

If you want DVD’s try the ‘contact us’ link and ask if BBC Enterprises will be releasing these anytime soon on DVD. Let them know it’s urgent! Of course the BBC has to earn some cash on top of the licence fees we pay here, so will probably charge, and there will no doubt be a lot of issues about piracy/copying/ public performance etc. but if you have good links into Rotary International and other organisations, then you’ll only need a few copies and then ask the organisation to contact the BBC and negotiate directly.

This is an issue of global public safety first and commercial returns later.

Are you listening Auntie?

best

Colin