More detail in the video clip below from my conversation with Theo, in which she describes her fear of what is happening with small levels of synthetic chemicals that have now spread like a patina over the earth. She and her team at The Endocrine Disruption Exchange have assembled a great deal of literature which highlights the evidence and science behind this degradation and its impact for life on earth, including our own.

Posted on July 2nd, 2009 in Environmentalists, Scientists

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A term that Cal introduced in our conversation (excerpted in the video clip below) - degradation - is a rich word to describe human-induced changes to the earth. I’m a big believer in the power of words and story. On occasion, when somebody signifies a new word for me, I explore its meaning with a little etymological research. Here’s the finding for degradation.

The basic meaning of this action term is that of a reduction or forced step-down in grade, rank, or status, with the sense of moving to a state of lesser quality. Additional meaning for this term, as used by some, includes a stepping down or lowering of moral quality (or character). Tracing the meaning of the term back to its Indo-European roots, we find the root ghredh- which means to walk, go. Other words which share this common root with degradation, with grade, include regress, progress, congress, and transgress. Synonyms include dishonor, discredit, shame, and disgrace.

Posted on July 1st, 2009 in Christians, Educators, Environmentalists

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This week, the blog topic is degradation. I’m asking our interviewees to speak to three ways that humans have degraded the earth; destruction of biodiversity, human-induced climate change, and the introduction of synthetic chemicals into nature. In the raw clip below, scientist and environmental health analyst Theo Colborn speaks about the trace pervasiveness of one kind of synthetic chemical, collectively called PFCs (Perfluorinated Compounds). We filmed her while she was sitting near her beloved Black Canyon in Colorado. Ironically, PFCs were developed to keep things we value from being degraded, to keep things from being destroyed or damaged by water or fire.

Destructive loss of property and loved ones via water and fire can evoke great pain and confusion. But what are the costs of building things that can’t perish in the flood or be burnt in the fire?

Posted on June 30th, 2009 in Environmentalists, Scientists

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We shot a sequence with people in a field on a foggy day. Our production plan? That these visuals will work into musical sequences drawing on the rich tradition of a group chorale format from the 1800’s, called the Shaped Note. Tim Eriksen has performed and recorded with a few Shaped Note groups; most recently one in Amherst, Massachusetts. The singular focusing power of the breath and tone in concert with others, which is a basis for this tradition, has multiple expressions in many cultures around the world.

But here in Maine, this week, fog has three levels of engagement. Thin wispy fog is called “fog.” As it thickens a little, it is called “thick-o-fog.” When it really shuts down such that you cannot see the bow of the lobster boat before you, it becomes “dungeon thick.”

Posted on June 24th, 2009 in Indie Film, Neo-Traditional Music, Scientists

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Capturing the spectacular wonders of the natural world, -sunrise to sunset and beyond- is central to assembling the current film Behold The Earth. For the past several years, I’ve kept an ongoing (and closely guarded!) shotlist of unrecorded creature behaviors within stunning landscapes. I believe each is guaranteed to deliver an eye-opening reaction of “Wow!” To successfully capture the shots on the list, we’re drawing on some of the same talented field staff and technical expertise found in the massively successful Planet Earth series, as well as our own veteran series Sunrise Earth What makes that elusive “wow” factor? The answer is what that word “Behold” is all about. Note: we will not be posting samples of these sequences online, with the possible partial exception of one which involves a dragonfly. Don’t tell.

Posted on June 22nd, 2009 in Environmentalists, Indie Film

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