The 11th Hour Reaction Paper

10837183

Piñon, Jan Catherine G.

The 11^th Hour Reflection Paper

by Samantha Martrella S. Barretto

The 11^th Hour clearly shows how our world is being destroyed naturally and artificially which became an alarming documentary film to everyone. This film was first shown last August 2007 at the Annual Cannes Flim festival. It was directed by Leila Conners Petersen and Nadia Conners. Leonardo de Carpio is the narrator for this film. He is also the producer. The 11th hour is distributed by Warner Independent Pictures.

The 11^th hour talks about the different issues our environment is facing such as global warming. Several individualities shared their ideas on what is happening to our world and suggested concrete solutions on how we can survive this crisis. I agree with Thom Hartmann when he said that the human culture thinks that we are superior life form on this earth but truth is we are part of nature. We are nature. With this thinking, human beings tend to take things for granted like how we treat animals. Some people kill them after which they will eat or even use them for clothing. Seeing this example makes us very inhuman. We don’t take care of each other that’s why endangered species are starting to vanish in our world. The film also says that we may have technology now but we are not using it properly. According to Lester Brown, we should use our technology to adapt to the economy today but sad to say time is running out. The 11^th hour showcases how important the sun is to us. It has the most energy and it can provide energy to everyone around the world thus we can substitute the sun for the fuel we are using today. Solar powered cars and roofs are being promoted for us to use to be able to maximize our sun light. One solution that struck me the most is the dance club being powered by the human movement. I believe that our advancement of technology today can produce this kind of set-up but we were afraid to take the risk. As what mentioned in the film, this can reduce the human’s footprint by 90%. All of the solutions being presented in the film may mean shifting on what we are used too to something that will make us better humans and surpass this crisis. Nevertheless, the 11^th hour reminds us to use our resources wisely.

What bothers me is that this film was shown last 2007, 5 years ago. If 5 years ago our biosphere is greatly damaged what more now after 5 years. This is one truth that everyone is scared to hear and believe. Watching the film, made me realize and appreciate the small things we have such as the sunlight, wind, water and movement we do. I salute the people who are part of this film that they were able to think of alternative ideas that will surely help us solve this predicament. I also realized that our environment is not really the problem, it is us, humans, who are creating the problem and now we are paying for our own actions. As a Lasallian, I am now more conscious of my actions in my environment. I support the no plastic bag campaign in our country. I bring my own reusable bag where I place all my purchases while in my household; they follow strictly the segregation policy of our village where they should separate biodegradable trash from non biodegradable. These small actions may seem overuse and common but I know and believe that it will have a big impact in saving our mother nature. Personal action is the key in making our world the healthy and fit for the future generations. 

The Raising Issue: Global Warming

Echavez, Victoria Ann M
10845844

 

              Disappointing – it’s the word that would best describe how I feel towards the environmental conditions that we have on earth. Indeed the earth’s environmental distraction is brought about the collective harsh treatment that we put on this planet but for me if only the different countries would have been wiser even before that not all the good things that each country have will last forever. For me all this environmental issues that have been rising up on our planet could be stopped if only the different countries would be concern on how they/we have been inflicting damage to the only planet in the universe that is capable of sustaining life.

            There are times that we should learn how to set aside personal gains and be able to think about the benefit of the whole humanity. For me countries would be able to do that if they would be more focused on the different activities that are happening inside their territories. They should be more vigilant in terms of making sure that the natural resources and living conditions of all living things under their governance would be given importance. They should be able to implement laws that would make sure that the planet is not being destroyed. This should be given importance not only for the citizens but as well as the different companies that are within the territory of a certain country. The different countries should have the control over especially when it comes to the big companies out there. Yes, these companies may be helping out the economy of a certain country but are they helping out in the conservation of the planet as well? The government should be wiser enough in monitoring these companies and as well as the people inside their territory when it comes to having one goal of preserving and saving the things that are left of us.
            One thing that I have noticed is that we may have government agencies which handles this concerns but what I can see and feel, specifically in our country is that most of the efforts in helping out or taking care of the environment are coming from the private sectors. I think that indeed private sectors or non-government agencies are indeed more effective in promoting environmental issues that should be taken notice of.
            For me this can be achieved if the laws would be firmer and the different officials of the different agencies in a country would be more concern for the planet and not just always about gaining money. Afterwards if the set of laws that would be implemented are made it will now boils down to the disciple of the citizen of the country to make it happen and a success.