Karnataka - Bangalore   

An exhortation to act

BANGALORE: A travel notebook showing landscapes captured from above, following water currents, boulder trails, and rain forests interspersed with text detailing the history of the impact of human interaction with the earth, Home is an effort to tell people it is not too late to start caring about the environment.

At a 90-minute screening at Alliance Franciase, the documentary and the discussion following it drew more than 300 people on Sunday.

Released on World Environment Day on June 5, and conceived by director Yann Arthis Bertrand, a French artist and United Nations Environment Programme Goodwill Ambassador, the film aims to inspire global action by raising awareness of our shared responsibility for the planet and all its inhabitants.

While the film highlights the damage caused by human beings to the earth, it also offers new perspectives on how we can take steps to preserve what is left of the environment.

Krithika Naidu, a student present at the screening, said the film was disturbing because it spoke about the urgency of the issue in a candid manner, but also that “it shows that we can and we must do something about the environment immediately”.

An intense discussion followed the screening, where people asked questions ranging from whether global warming was a myth, to whether we can do anything now to salvage the earth.

Sudha Murthy, social worker and writer, and panellist at the discussion, stressed on “moderation”, and said that most environmental problems could be solved if each one of us consumed only what was necessary, thereby reducing the burden on natural resources and our environment.

Raman Sukumar, Chairman of the Centre for Ecological Sciences, IISc., answered various questions regarding the scientific aspects of environmental degradation. The screening also provided a platform for Sangha, an NGO from Hassan, to talk about their ongoing biogas project.

Girish Karnad, theatre person and the third panellist, suggested that the film be translated into Kannada and Hindi so that it could be disseminated more widely in India.

Thierry Boisseaux, Scientifique Attache, Embassy of France, and one of the organisers of the event, said: “The screening received an extremely good response and I hope this results in some action being taken towards more sustainable forms of development.”

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