1 00:00:00,043 --> 00:00:01,961 (train passing on tracks) 2 00:00:02,011 --> 00:00:04,241 - When people look at the environment, 3 00:00:04,291 --> 00:00:07,411 look at the world and say, oh everything's fine, 4 00:00:07,461 --> 00:00:10,361 it makes me think of a friend of mine. 5 00:00:10,411 --> 00:00:14,461 And he was a heroin addict and an alcoholic. 6 00:00:14,511 --> 00:00:17,871 And he was a pretty happy heroin addict and alcoholic. 7 00:00:17,921 --> 00:00:19,591 And one day he got into his car, 8 00:00:19,641 --> 00:00:21,241 he'd been shooting up and he'd been drinking. 9 00:00:21,291 --> 00:00:24,091 He got into his car and had some friends in the car 10 00:00:24,141 --> 00:00:25,381 and he was driving, 11 00:00:25,431 --> 00:00:27,161 no one was wearing their seatbelt, 12 00:00:27,211 --> 00:00:28,781 I think you see where this is going. 13 00:00:28,831 --> 00:00:30,861 And if you had asked him and his friends, 14 00:00:30,911 --> 00:00:33,181 as they're in their car, listening to music, 15 00:00:33,231 --> 00:00:35,701 going 100 miles an hour on the freeway, 16 00:00:35,751 --> 00:00:37,021 how they felt, they'd be like, 17 00:00:37,071 --> 00:00:39,631 we feel great, everything's fine! 18 00:00:39,681 --> 00:00:41,571 Ask them three seconds later 19 00:00:41,621 --> 00:00:42,981 when they were in a huge accident, 20 00:00:43,031 --> 00:00:45,791 he lost his legs and two of his friends died. 21 00:00:45,841 --> 00:00:49,221 And how do I convince you that you are that 22 00:00:49,271 --> 00:00:51,401 heroin addict alcoholic in the car 23 00:00:51,451 --> 00:00:53,231 driving without a seatbelt? 24 00:00:53,281 --> 00:00:55,631 'Cause right now, you think things are fine. 25 00:00:55,681 --> 00:00:57,311 I think things are fine. 26 00:00:57,361 --> 00:00:59,991 And I can guarantee you, they are not. 27 00:01:00,041 --> 00:01:05,041 (train passing on tracks) (solemn music) 28 00:02:00,511 --> 00:02:02,101 - Whether we know it or not, 29 00:02:02,151 --> 00:02:04,101 whether we like it or not, 30 00:02:04,151 --> 00:02:08,341 humanity is currently facing existential challenges. 31 00:02:08,391 --> 00:02:11,441 Experts warn that life on Earth is likely to change 32 00:02:11,491 --> 00:02:14,601 drastically in just our generation's lifetime 33 00:02:14,651 --> 00:02:17,436 if we continue business as usual. 34 00:02:17,486 --> 00:02:20,201 So, what does our future have in store for us 35 00:02:20,251 --> 00:02:22,621 just in the next few decades? 36 00:02:22,671 --> 00:02:25,061 To explore this compelling question, 37 00:02:25,111 --> 00:02:28,081 we're first going to watch a short 15 minute story 38 00:02:28,131 --> 00:02:32,721 we created that takes place in the year 2050. 39 00:02:32,771 --> 00:02:35,851 After that, we'll come back and hear what scientists 40 00:02:35,901 --> 00:02:40,439 have to say today about the challenges humanity is facing. 41 00:02:40,489 --> 00:02:43,239 (dramatic music) 42 00:02:45,341 --> 00:02:47,981 - A dramatic day in northern Alaska, 43 00:02:48,031 --> 00:02:51,051 as a 300 foot section of the Dalton Highway 44 00:02:51,101 --> 00:02:55,711 near Sagwan was obliterated by a methane gas explosion. 45 00:02:55,761 --> 00:02:58,411 Leaving behind a large crater. 46 00:02:58,461 --> 00:03:00,331 You are seeing live footage from our 47 00:03:00,381 --> 00:03:03,131 Consolidated News Service Worldeye Drone, 48 00:03:03,181 --> 00:03:08,181 operating 431 miles north of Fairbanks Alaska. 49 00:03:08,301 --> 00:03:10,391 No casualties have been reported, 50 00:03:10,441 --> 00:03:12,711 but the loss of this critical roadway 51 00:03:12,761 --> 00:03:15,671 is expected to cause serious disruptions 52 00:03:15,721 --> 00:03:17,834 for communities throughout the region. 53 00:03:20,891 --> 00:03:23,601 The volatile nature of methane events in this 54 00:03:23,651 --> 00:03:27,921 and other regions if of utmost concern for scientists 55 00:03:27,971 --> 00:03:29,291 monitoring the problem. 56 00:03:29,341 --> 00:03:32,451 For more, we're joined by Dr Marcus Cohen, 57 00:03:32,501 --> 00:03:35,011 who's an advisor to the National Weather Service's 58 00:03:35,061 --> 00:03:37,671 Event Mitigation Unit. 59 00:03:37,721 --> 00:03:39,021 Hello, Dr Cohen. 60 00:03:39,071 --> 00:03:41,041 - Good morning, Megan, glad to be here. 61 00:03:41,091 --> 00:03:43,151 - Dr Cohen, you were telling me over the break 62 00:03:43,201 --> 00:03:46,541 that these methane explosions are nothing new 63 00:03:46,591 --> 00:03:49,391 and you didn't seem to be entirely surprised 64 00:03:49,441 --> 00:03:51,051 by this event either. 65 00:03:51,101 --> 00:03:53,321 - Well, we've been monitoring this phenomenon for decades 66 00:03:53,371 --> 00:03:54,611 and while it's nothing new, 67 00:03:54,661 --> 00:03:57,481 we have seen an increase in the frequency 68 00:03:57,531 --> 00:04:00,331 of these methane bubbles, which is very concerning. 69 00:04:00,381 --> 00:04:03,591 Basically, as the ice melts, underground methane bubbles 70 00:04:03,641 --> 00:04:06,911 rise and eventually leak into the atmosphere. 71 00:04:06,961 --> 00:04:09,241 And sometimes it does so in the form of these 72 00:04:09,291 --> 00:04:11,361 dramatic explosions like we saw today. 73 00:04:11,411 --> 00:04:13,841 - So why is this happening now? 74 00:04:13,891 --> 00:04:16,431 - Well, in short, because the planet is warming, 75 00:04:16,481 --> 00:04:18,341 which is melting the ice and permafrost 76 00:04:18,391 --> 00:04:20,481 that covers the methane. 77 00:04:20,531 --> 00:04:23,171 Methane in the atmosphere heats the planet 78 00:04:23,221 --> 00:04:26,021 and when more of it leaks out from under the ice, 79 00:04:26,071 --> 00:04:28,171 it causes even more warming, 80 00:04:28,221 --> 00:04:30,121 which in turn causes the ice to melt, 81 00:04:30,171 --> 00:04:33,181 which then allows even more methane to reach the surface 82 00:04:33,231 --> 00:04:34,431 and so on and so on. 83 00:04:34,481 --> 00:04:38,391 And this vicious cycle is what we refer to as a 84 00:04:38,441 --> 00:04:40,781 positive feedback loop. 85 00:04:40,831 --> 00:04:44,121 Which, once it gets going, it sustains itself. 86 00:04:44,171 --> 00:04:47,051 - Now that the new International Carbon Mandates 87 00:04:47,101 --> 00:04:49,421 are in place, do you think there's any chance 88 00:04:49,471 --> 00:04:52,643 we can lessen or reverse the situation? 89 00:04:52,693 --> 00:04:54,021 - Well, we started very late, 90 00:04:54,071 --> 00:04:56,301 on meaningful greenhouse gas reforms. 91 00:04:56,351 --> 00:04:59,311 The problem is manmade emissions aren't the only 92 00:04:59,361 --> 00:05:01,151 problem we're facing now. 93 00:05:01,201 --> 00:05:03,131 Even if we completely stop all industrial, 94 00:05:03,181 --> 00:05:05,471 agricultural, and transportation emissions, 95 00:05:05,521 --> 00:05:07,591 bring them down to zero immediately, 96 00:05:07,641 --> 00:05:08,901 the methane and other gasses 97 00:05:08,951 --> 00:05:11,211 that are now being released from under the permafrost 98 00:05:11,261 --> 00:05:13,961 may still push recovery out of reach. 99 00:05:14,011 --> 00:05:16,401 - That is sobering but we have to leave it there 100 00:05:16,451 --> 00:05:18,191 Dr Cohen, on that note, 101 00:05:18,241 --> 00:05:20,181 thank you for being with us today 102 00:05:20,231 --> 00:05:22,656 and helping us understand the situation. 103 00:05:22,706 --> 00:05:24,271 - Thank you, Megan. 104 00:05:24,321 --> 00:05:27,701 - In other news, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 105 00:05:27,751 --> 00:05:31,111 Authority, or NOAA, issued new warnings. 106 00:05:31,161 --> 00:05:35,321 They are reporting that the ocean's pH is still decreasing, 107 00:05:35,371 --> 00:05:37,911 meaning it's further acidifying. 108 00:05:37,961 --> 00:05:40,961 This, despite concerted attempts to regulate carbon 109 00:05:41,011 --> 00:05:44,961 emissions and industrial and agricultural runoff. 110 00:05:45,011 --> 00:05:47,141 NOAA reports that as a result, 111 00:05:47,191 --> 00:05:49,681 phytoplankton populations in the ocean 112 00:05:49,731 --> 00:05:51,911 are still on the decline. 113 00:05:51,961 --> 00:05:54,521 And last night in an emergency session, 114 00:05:54,571 --> 00:05:58,611 the United Nations extended the ICM Operational Window 115 00:05:58,661 --> 00:06:01,421 through June of 2052. 116 00:06:01,471 --> 00:06:04,241 Prolonging what were intended to be short term 117 00:06:04,291 --> 00:06:06,871 food and water rationing measures. 118 00:06:06,921 --> 00:06:10,431 We are just receiving some breaking news. 119 00:06:10,481 --> 00:06:13,141 An anti-government group in Seattle 120 00:06:13,191 --> 00:06:16,921 has reportedly taken hostages and barricaded themselves 121 00:06:16,971 --> 00:06:19,671 in Pike Place Market. 122 00:06:19,721 --> 00:06:22,821 We're going to try to Consolidated News reporter 123 00:06:22,871 --> 00:06:25,803 Jasmine Patel, live in Seattle. 124 00:06:25,853 --> 00:06:29,241 Hello, Jasmine, are you there. 125 00:06:29,291 --> 00:06:30,731 - Yes, thank you Megan. 126 00:06:30,781 --> 00:06:33,291 We're outside the old Pike Place Fish Market, 127 00:06:33,341 --> 00:06:35,971 once a Mecca for tourists and shoppers looking 128 00:06:36,021 --> 00:06:38,201 to buy fresh Pacific seafood. 129 00:06:38,251 --> 00:06:40,351 It is here that a group calling themselves 130 00:06:40,401 --> 00:06:44,861 Free American Patriots have staged their symbolic stand. 131 00:06:44,911 --> 00:06:47,431 Last night, 30 members of the group took an estimated 132 00:06:47,481 --> 00:06:50,801 25 people hostage from a nearby rail station. 133 00:06:50,851 --> 00:06:53,041 They are armed and barricaded themselves 134 00:06:53,091 --> 00:06:55,021 inside the old fish market. 135 00:06:55,071 --> 00:06:58,415 - What do we know about the group? 136 00:06:58,465 --> 00:07:01,131 - They are another group of what is being referred to 137 00:07:01,181 --> 00:07:03,221 as the Fish Truth Movement. 138 00:07:03,271 --> 00:07:05,881 They believe fishless oceans are a fabrication 139 00:07:05,931 --> 00:07:08,471 of a government conspiracy trying to force 140 00:07:08,521 --> 00:07:12,111 a vegan agenda on an unknowing American public. 141 00:07:12,161 --> 00:07:14,344 - Have they made any demands? 142 00:07:15,431 --> 00:07:17,351 - They say they will release the hostages 143 00:07:17,401 --> 00:07:20,421 once the government reopens and restocks the fish market. 144 00:07:20,471 --> 00:07:22,411 Something that experts have reiterated 145 00:07:22,461 --> 00:07:24,801 is literally impossible. 146 00:07:24,851 --> 00:07:26,874 - Nurse, nurse! 147 00:07:27,951 --> 00:07:30,351 - [News Anchor] Thank you, Jasmine, for that report. 148 00:07:30,401 --> 00:07:31,184 - Nurse! 149 00:07:31,234 --> 00:07:33,951 - What is it Mr. Baker? - It's time for my water. 150 00:07:34,001 --> 00:07:35,641 - [News Anchor] I'm looking at a recent US poll-- 151 00:07:35,691 --> 00:07:38,213 - Okay, yeah, I'll go get it. 152 00:07:38,263 --> 00:07:40,481 - [News Anchor] That shows at least 23% of viewers actually 153 00:07:40,531 --> 00:07:44,891 agree with these groups and believe that fishless oceans 154 00:07:44,941 --> 00:07:46,084 are not real. 155 00:07:47,141 --> 00:07:49,901 I don't think any serious person doubts the UN 156 00:07:49,951 --> 00:07:53,021 when they say fisheries are empty, but 157 00:07:53,071 --> 00:07:54,814 who wouldn't wish it weren't so. 158 00:07:56,213 --> 00:07:58,786 For historical context, fishless oceans 159 00:07:58,836 --> 00:08:03,191 were actually predicted at least 40 years ago. 160 00:08:03,241 --> 00:08:06,501 At a time when about a third of all seafood species 161 00:08:06,551 --> 00:08:08,561 had already crashed. 162 00:08:08,611 --> 00:08:11,201 Some experts predicted back then that we would 163 00:08:11,251 --> 00:08:14,161 have fishless oceans by 2048. 164 00:08:14,211 --> 00:08:15,541 - Here you go. - [News Anchor] As we now 165 00:08:15,591 --> 00:08:18,343 know, that was very close to the mark. 166 00:08:18,393 --> 00:08:21,135 - The ICM mandate specifically allows each 167 00:08:21,185 --> 00:08:24,571 citizen eight eight ounce glasses of water a day. 168 00:08:24,621 --> 00:08:26,651 Eight times eight, remember? 169 00:08:26,701 --> 00:08:28,831 My right, as a human being, 170 00:08:28,881 --> 00:08:31,521 even if I am locked up in this nuthouse. 171 00:08:31,571 --> 00:08:34,091 - Yes, Mr Baker, you do have rights. 172 00:08:34,141 --> 00:08:37,391 And I just gave you exactly eight ounces of water. 173 00:08:37,441 --> 00:08:41,221 The dispenser measures it exactly every time. 174 00:08:41,271 --> 00:08:42,701 (laughs) 175 00:08:42,751 --> 00:08:44,701 - That's what they want you to believe. 176 00:08:46,111 --> 00:08:48,788 - Mr Baker, come back here, Mr Baker! 177 00:08:51,912 --> 00:08:52,695 Mr Baker. 178 00:08:52,745 --> 00:08:53,714 - Hey, hey, hey! 179 00:08:53,764 --> 00:08:56,403 - Hey, calm down, back back. 180 00:08:56,453 --> 00:08:58,117 - No, I need water! 181 00:08:58,167 --> 00:08:59,375 - [Karen] Get him in the bed. 182 00:08:59,425 --> 00:09:03,811 - No, no, I need water! - Okay, okay. 183 00:09:03,861 --> 00:09:05,982 - No, not fair! - You'll get water, 184 00:09:06,032 --> 00:09:07,411 - I need water. - Calm down. 185 00:09:07,461 --> 00:09:09,391 Mr Baker, calm down. - Water. 186 00:09:09,441 --> 00:09:11,244 - [Karen] It's gonna be okay. - I need water. 187 00:09:11,294 --> 00:09:14,221 Need water. - Shh, okay, okay. 188 00:09:14,271 --> 00:09:15,744 We'll get you some water. 189 00:09:18,196 --> 00:09:20,946 (dramatic music) 190 00:09:29,641 --> 00:09:30,981 - What's goin' on, who called the page? 191 00:09:31,031 --> 00:09:34,391 - I did, a patient was acting very aggressively, 192 00:09:34,441 --> 00:09:35,581 but he's calmed down now. 193 00:09:35,631 --> 00:09:37,164 - So, what happened? 194 00:09:38,121 --> 00:09:40,214 Oh, Mr Baker again. 195 00:09:41,861 --> 00:09:43,811 - He was complaining I didn't give him his ration 196 00:09:43,861 --> 00:09:45,991 of water and it blew up from there. 197 00:09:46,041 --> 00:09:47,651 - Well, did ya? 198 00:09:47,701 --> 00:09:49,331 - [Karen] Did I what? 199 00:09:49,381 --> 00:09:50,600 - Give him the right amount. 200 00:09:50,650 --> 00:09:52,231 - What? 201 00:09:52,281 --> 00:09:53,301 What do you think? 202 00:09:53,351 --> 00:09:56,501 I've been hoarding the patients' water for myself? 203 00:09:56,551 --> 00:09:58,791 Of course, I gave it to him and everyone else. 204 00:09:58,841 --> 00:10:00,611 A full eight ounce glass. 205 00:10:00,661 --> 00:10:02,091 What are implying? 206 00:10:02,141 --> 00:10:04,441 - Nothing, sorry, it's just that some of the facilities 207 00:10:04,491 --> 00:10:06,351 had to reduce their rations, so I just wanted 208 00:10:06,401 --> 00:10:08,361 to be sure of our supply and make sure you were 209 00:10:08,411 --> 00:10:10,491 distributing the right amount. 210 00:10:10,541 --> 00:10:12,109 Come on, let's go take a look. 211 00:10:12,159 --> 00:10:14,909 (dramatic music) 212 00:10:18,181 --> 00:10:21,581 - I'm telling you, she did not give me eight ounces. 213 00:10:21,631 --> 00:10:22,661 - Did you get a glass, sir? 214 00:10:22,711 --> 00:10:25,361 - Yeah, with like maybe five ounces, 215 00:10:25,411 --> 00:10:26,801 but not the full eight. 216 00:10:26,851 --> 00:10:30,491 See, they think you can't tell, but I can, 217 00:10:30,541 --> 00:10:33,021 so I said something, it's my right. 218 00:10:33,071 --> 00:10:35,581 And the orderlies went crazy! 219 00:10:35,631 --> 00:10:37,261 They went crazy, but not me. 220 00:10:37,311 --> 00:10:38,221 I was calm. 221 00:10:38,271 --> 00:10:40,964 - It says here you tried to break the water machine. 222 00:10:42,691 --> 00:10:46,081 I thought you said this morning you were ready to go home. 223 00:10:46,131 --> 00:10:49,681 Really, Mr Baker, I want to discharge you, 224 00:10:49,731 --> 00:10:51,631 but you're making it very difficult to do so. 225 00:10:51,681 --> 00:10:54,271 - Oh come on, I'm ready to go. 226 00:10:54,321 --> 00:10:56,331 Look how calm I am. 227 00:10:56,381 --> 00:11:00,371 And I'm not, I'm not suicidal either, 228 00:11:00,421 --> 00:11:02,021 and you know that. 229 00:11:02,071 --> 00:11:03,261 I just wanna go home. 230 00:11:03,311 --> 00:11:05,341 I can have more water there anyway. 231 00:11:05,391 --> 00:11:06,174 - Mr Baker-- 232 00:11:06,224 --> 00:11:08,871 - Oh, you think a hospital, of all places, 233 00:11:08,921 --> 00:11:10,671 wouldn't hold water from its patients. 234 00:11:10,721 --> 00:11:13,681 - Mr Baker, we're just following the ICM mandates. 235 00:11:13,731 --> 00:11:16,401 You're not seriously suggesting that we don't. 236 00:11:16,451 --> 00:11:19,641 And besides, we all need to ration water 237 00:11:19,691 --> 00:11:21,266 while there's a shortage, 238 00:11:21,316 --> 00:11:22,831 and once you're discharged, 239 00:11:22,881 --> 00:11:24,821 you should be doing the exact same thing at home. 240 00:11:24,871 --> 00:11:26,274 - Okay, whatever. 241 00:11:27,951 --> 00:11:30,091 - What's this I hear about fish? 242 00:11:30,141 --> 00:11:32,761 The staff say you're asking for fish at every meal. 243 00:11:32,811 --> 00:11:33,786 You know we don't have any 244 00:11:33,836 --> 00:11:35,073 and you don't have any at home either. 245 00:11:35,123 --> 00:11:36,687 (laughs) 246 00:11:36,737 --> 00:11:39,131 - So, I'm not gonna get a fish sandwich 247 00:11:39,181 --> 00:11:40,745 at my going away party? 248 00:11:40,795 --> 00:11:42,878 (laughs) 249 00:11:43,869 --> 00:11:46,076 ♪ Where have all the fishies gone? ♪ 250 00:11:46,126 --> 00:11:48,341 (laughs) 251 00:11:48,391 --> 00:11:52,650 It's fishy, I mean, who's hiding all those fish? 252 00:11:52,700 --> 00:11:56,291 You, the government, the Japanese? 253 00:11:56,341 --> 00:11:58,731 - Mr Baker, I need to know whether or not 254 00:11:58,781 --> 00:12:00,751 you think there are any fish to eat. 255 00:12:00,801 --> 00:12:02,561 It's for cognitive purposes, 256 00:12:02,611 --> 00:12:04,131 it's very important that I know this. 257 00:12:04,181 --> 00:12:05,560 Please answer the question. 258 00:12:05,610 --> 00:12:06,393 (laughs) 259 00:12:06,443 --> 00:12:08,661 - A smart doctor like you doesn't know? 260 00:12:08,711 --> 00:12:10,011 - I'd like you to tell me. 261 00:12:11,351 --> 00:12:14,051 - If this was a game show, I could win a bunch of money. 262 00:12:14,101 --> 00:12:15,290 - You don't know, do you? 263 00:12:15,340 --> 00:12:17,991 (laughs) 264 00:12:18,041 --> 00:12:20,951 - Oh no, sorry to report to the world, 265 00:12:21,001 --> 00:12:24,401 but as predicted by many fishy scientists, 266 00:12:24,451 --> 00:12:26,521 we have fished all the fishies. 267 00:12:26,571 --> 00:12:27,861 Well, almost all the fishies. 268 00:12:27,911 --> 00:12:30,001 Any that are left are kinda hard to find, 269 00:12:30,051 --> 00:12:31,731 unless you have enough money. 270 00:12:31,781 --> 00:12:32,821 Then you can treat yourself 271 00:12:32,871 --> 00:12:34,654 to some of the old frozen stocks. 272 00:12:36,401 --> 00:12:39,826 And great news folks, we still have plenty of jellyfishies. 273 00:12:39,876 --> 00:12:43,811 Oh, get ready, 'cause we're about to learn to cook 274 00:12:43,861 --> 00:12:47,901 and eat jellyfish, and in other related news, 275 00:12:47,951 --> 00:12:51,801 those tiny little ocean phytoplankton thingies, 276 00:12:51,851 --> 00:12:53,751 well they're dyin' off too, 277 00:12:53,801 --> 00:12:55,820 but no big deal, I mean, 278 00:12:55,870 --> 00:12:58,471 they just make half of our oxygen. 279 00:12:58,521 --> 00:13:00,421 We still have the other half, right? 280 00:13:00,471 --> 00:13:03,801 No problemo, just skip every other breath, folks. 281 00:13:03,851 --> 00:13:05,399 You'll be sound as a pound. 282 00:13:05,449 --> 00:13:07,741 (cries) 283 00:13:07,791 --> 00:13:09,401 - Thank you, thank you, Mr Baker, 284 00:13:09,451 --> 00:13:11,151 that was an excellent explanation. 285 00:13:14,331 --> 00:13:15,981 I remember when I was just a kid, 286 00:13:16,911 --> 00:13:18,411 they warned us about the fish. 287 00:13:20,501 --> 00:13:22,201 Really screwed that up, didn't we? 288 00:13:23,254 --> 00:13:24,747 Couldn't be bothered, I guess. 289 00:13:24,797 --> 00:13:26,841 - It wasn't just the fish. 290 00:13:26,891 --> 00:13:29,221 They warned us about everything, really. 291 00:13:29,271 --> 00:13:31,701 I mean, you're the psychiatrist, you tell me. 292 00:13:31,751 --> 00:13:34,059 Why did we ignore it all? 293 00:13:34,109 --> 00:13:37,151 Really, indulge me, no BS. 294 00:13:37,201 --> 00:13:39,904 - Okay, think about it like this. 295 00:13:40,905 --> 00:13:45,241 What do you get when you mix a lot of shortsightedness 296 00:13:45,291 --> 00:13:48,591 with a little selfishness and just a dash of apathy, 297 00:13:48,641 --> 00:13:52,571 and oh, no shortage of scientific illiteracy, 298 00:13:52,621 --> 00:13:56,181 and don't forget, a whole lot of power and technology, too. 299 00:13:56,231 --> 00:14:01,231 In my opinion, we're two hairs short of being chimpanzees. 300 00:14:01,251 --> 00:14:04,281 We're extremely emotional, with powerful, primitive, 301 00:14:04,331 --> 00:14:06,861 shortsighted survival drives, 302 00:14:06,911 --> 00:14:08,671 and in the blink of an evolutionary eye, 303 00:14:08,721 --> 00:14:10,591 we developed this powerful technology 304 00:14:10,641 --> 00:14:13,284 that completely changed the shape of the planet. 305 00:14:16,181 --> 00:14:19,321 Anyway, let's get back to business. 306 00:14:19,371 --> 00:14:22,821 Probably do need to discharge Mr Baker 307 00:14:22,871 --> 00:14:25,371 and some of the other patients, too. 308 00:14:25,421 --> 00:14:28,451 Beds are full and the waiting list 309 00:14:28,501 --> 00:14:29,971 isn't getting any shorter. 310 00:14:30,021 --> 00:14:34,181 We have what, 21 patients now? 311 00:14:34,231 --> 00:14:35,881 Yeah, 21 patients. 312 00:14:35,931 --> 00:14:37,311 - All suicide attempts? 313 00:14:37,361 --> 00:14:38,144 - Looks like it. 314 00:14:38,194 --> 00:14:41,381 Suicide attempts, suicidal ideation, suicidal gestures. 315 00:14:41,431 --> 00:14:42,481 - I don't blame them. 316 00:14:43,621 --> 00:14:45,631 - Are you all right, why would you say that? 317 00:14:45,681 --> 00:14:47,911 - No, actually, I'm not all right. 318 00:14:47,961 --> 00:14:49,431 Why would I be? 319 00:14:49,481 --> 00:14:53,561 One meal a day, just one measly meal? 320 00:14:53,611 --> 00:14:56,334 Rationing food and water doesn't get you down, too? 321 00:14:57,281 --> 00:15:00,271 And I can't remember the last time we could eat three meals, 322 00:15:00,321 --> 00:15:01,201 just like normal-- 323 00:15:01,251 --> 00:15:04,811 - Look, I know it's hard, but it's just temporary. 324 00:15:04,861 --> 00:15:06,914 - Yeah, that's what they said a year ago. 325 00:15:09,571 --> 00:15:12,201 I feel hungry and weak all the time, 326 00:15:12,251 --> 00:15:14,771 and then the methane bubbles that keep resurfacing. 327 00:15:14,821 --> 00:15:16,411 That doesn't worry you too? 328 00:15:16,461 --> 00:15:17,981 And the plankton thing, 329 00:15:18,031 --> 00:15:20,481 everything just seems to be crashing down all around us-- 330 00:15:20,531 --> 00:15:21,691 - Look, Karen. 331 00:15:21,741 --> 00:15:24,594 The plankton thing's going okay for now, right? 332 00:15:25,521 --> 00:15:27,731 Yes, some types have died off, 333 00:15:27,781 --> 00:15:29,704 but others are supposedly doing okay. 334 00:15:30,601 --> 00:15:33,217 Everything's going to be fine. 335 00:15:33,267 --> 00:15:35,217 (laughs) - Everything's gonna be fine. 336 00:15:36,701 --> 00:15:39,214 Really, just like us? 337 00:15:49,141 --> 00:15:51,801 - Really, Karen, this is about us now? 338 00:15:51,851 --> 00:15:55,041 - No, actually, this is not about us, 339 00:15:55,091 --> 00:15:58,341 but the Department of Agriculture doesn't exactly 340 00:15:58,391 --> 00:16:00,641 share your optimistic views. 341 00:16:00,691 --> 00:16:04,711 I think you're trying to tell me what I wanna hear, again. 342 00:16:04,761 --> 00:16:06,811 Do you really think they can figure out how to farm 343 00:16:06,861 --> 00:16:08,504 so much food with so little water? 344 00:16:08,554 --> 00:16:10,071 - Why are you so mad at me? 345 00:16:10,121 --> 00:16:11,461 I didn't cause this. 346 00:16:11,511 --> 00:16:13,271 - You just take what you want, when you want it, 347 00:16:13,321 --> 00:16:14,971 and you don't care who you hurt? 348 00:16:15,021 --> 00:16:18,251 - Are you talkin' about us or the Earth? 349 00:16:18,301 --> 00:16:19,971 - Both. 350 00:16:20,021 --> 00:16:21,251 We've been down this road before. 351 00:16:21,301 --> 00:16:23,001 You make all kinds of promises-- 352 00:16:23,051 --> 00:16:24,448 - Hey, Karen. 353 00:16:24,498 --> 00:16:27,121 Let's not rehash this again, okay? 354 00:16:27,171 --> 00:16:30,901 It happened, it was good for a time, 355 00:16:30,951 --> 00:16:33,461 but we both knew it wasn't gonna last. 356 00:16:33,511 --> 00:16:35,731 - Sort of like our food and water? 357 00:16:35,781 --> 00:16:37,301 - That's not fair. 358 00:16:37,351 --> 00:16:38,651 I never meant to hurt you. 359 00:16:40,721 --> 00:16:42,681 We've got more important things to focus on, 360 00:16:42,731 --> 00:16:44,271 don't you think? 361 00:16:44,321 --> 00:16:48,674 - I know, I'm sorry, I'm just frustrated. 362 00:16:49,561 --> 00:16:52,284 I don't understand how we let everything get so bad. 363 00:16:53,634 --> 00:16:56,211 - You're back to talking about the Earth again, right? 364 00:16:56,261 --> 00:16:58,654 - Yes, yes, the Earth. 365 00:17:00,031 --> 00:17:03,341 You know, my parents were educated people, 366 00:17:03,391 --> 00:17:06,271 just totally oblivious. 367 00:17:06,321 --> 00:17:08,091 We grew up with so much water and food 368 00:17:08,141 --> 00:17:09,251 we didn't know what to do, 369 00:17:09,301 --> 00:17:13,981 and all the while this whole little mess was brewing. 370 00:17:14,031 --> 00:17:16,311 We ended up turning our one little planet 371 00:17:16,361 --> 00:17:18,801 completely upside down. 372 00:17:18,851 --> 00:17:20,531 - When I was growing up, my folks used to tell me 373 00:17:20,581 --> 00:17:22,201 oh, these are problems in third world countries, 374 00:17:22,251 --> 00:17:23,451 it'll never happen here. 375 00:17:26,051 --> 00:17:28,831 It's the elephant in the room and we all just ignored it. 376 00:17:28,881 --> 00:17:31,344 - Jesus, elephants. 377 00:17:32,621 --> 00:17:35,671 I mean I think there's one left in a zoo somewhere. 378 00:17:35,721 --> 00:17:36,651 Call it what you want, 379 00:17:36,701 --> 00:17:38,701 but we created this mess on our own, 380 00:17:38,751 --> 00:17:40,721 with a mass extinction to boot. 381 00:17:40,771 --> 00:17:43,671 You know, my folks had eight frickin' kids, eight! 382 00:17:43,721 --> 00:17:45,911 Don't get me wrong, I love my parents 383 00:17:45,961 --> 00:17:47,581 and my brothers and my sisters, 384 00:17:47,631 --> 00:17:48,431 but what the hell, right? 385 00:17:48,481 --> 00:17:49,621 It's like we're a plague! 386 00:17:49,671 --> 00:17:52,100 - Karen, calm down, right now. 387 00:17:52,150 --> 00:17:53,664 This isn't helping anything. 388 00:17:56,221 --> 00:17:58,564 The experts, they're getting on top of this. 389 00:17:59,811 --> 00:18:01,528 Let's stick to the facts, 390 00:18:01,578 --> 00:18:04,569 you know, take it a day at a time. 391 00:18:04,619 --> 00:18:09,261 You know what, why don't you take tomorrow off and relax? 392 00:18:09,311 --> 00:18:10,524 - I was planning on it. 393 00:18:16,321 --> 00:18:18,531 - You've got a lot of frozen food. 394 00:18:18,581 --> 00:18:19,881 Why don't you sit down to a big meal 395 00:18:19,931 --> 00:18:22,561 and forget any of this is even happening? 396 00:18:22,611 --> 00:18:24,751 We'll get you back in shape, okay? 397 00:18:24,801 --> 00:18:26,441 - Yeah, sure. 398 00:18:26,491 --> 00:18:30,121 - Karen, I still care about you, I always have-- 399 00:18:30,171 --> 00:18:32,094 - Don't, please don't. 400 00:18:33,031 --> 00:18:34,894 I'm sorry I even brought it up. 401 00:18:37,091 --> 00:18:37,924 - Karen-- 402 00:18:39,631 --> 00:18:41,854 - Thank you for everything, really. 403 00:18:44,171 --> 00:18:45,164 Goodbye, Jerry. 404 00:18:52,262 --> 00:18:55,012 (dramatic music) 405 00:19:05,521 --> 00:19:07,071 - Morning Susan, what's on my plate today? 406 00:19:07,121 --> 00:19:10,841 - Well, we are understaffed and completely full. 407 00:19:10,891 --> 00:19:14,654 It's gonna be a crazy day today, no pun intended. 408 00:19:15,921 --> 00:19:17,451 - Well, when it rains, it pours. 409 00:19:17,501 --> 00:19:20,131 When you see Karen, just send her to my office? 410 00:19:20,181 --> 00:19:21,754 - Jerry, Karen's not, 411 00:19:23,481 --> 00:19:24,384 didn't you hear? 412 00:19:27,551 --> 00:19:28,931 - Hear what? 413 00:19:28,981 --> 00:19:31,361 - Her sister found her yesterday morning. 414 00:19:31,411 --> 00:19:33,584 She's, she's dead. 415 00:19:38,941 --> 00:19:40,844 She was a good kid, sorry. 416 00:19:46,705 --> 00:19:47,538 - Yeah. 417 00:19:49,462 --> 00:19:52,212 (dramatic music) 418 00:19:54,511 --> 00:19:57,451 - Well, that was very shocking and sad. 419 00:19:57,501 --> 00:20:00,061 But in fact, scientists today are warning 420 00:20:00,111 --> 00:20:02,721 that many of the problems in our future scene 421 00:20:02,771 --> 00:20:06,232 could be upon us, and surprisingly soon. 422 00:20:06,282 --> 00:20:09,032 (dramatic music) 423 00:20:10,471 --> 00:20:14,191 Our characters from the future mentioned a mass extinction. 424 00:20:14,241 --> 00:20:16,791 - It's the elephant in the room and we all just ignored it. 425 00:20:16,841 --> 00:20:17,761 - Call it what you want, 426 00:20:17,811 --> 00:20:19,801 but we created this mess on our own, 427 00:20:19,851 --> 00:20:21,971 with a mass extinction to boot. 428 00:20:22,021 --> 00:20:24,641 - [Sofia] Unfortunately, a rapid and widespread 429 00:20:24,691 --> 00:20:26,901 loss of species is something that's 430 00:20:26,951 --> 00:20:29,631 already happening right now. 431 00:20:29,681 --> 00:20:32,421 In fact, biologists have classified our time 432 00:20:32,471 --> 00:20:36,291 as the sixth mass extinction in Earth's history. 433 00:20:36,341 --> 00:20:38,527 - First, let me start by saying that 434 00:20:38,577 --> 00:20:42,331 we have millions of species on the planet 435 00:20:42,381 --> 00:20:46,281 and they have evolved over hundreds of millions 436 00:20:46,331 --> 00:20:49,541 of years into a fantastic array of different 437 00:20:49,591 --> 00:20:52,631 types of plants and animals and microbes. 438 00:20:52,681 --> 00:20:54,551 And it's really fascinating. 439 00:20:54,601 --> 00:20:57,821 At the same time, right now we're undergoing 440 00:20:57,871 --> 00:21:00,011 what's called a mass extinction. 441 00:21:00,061 --> 00:21:03,301 And that means that the rates of extinction 442 00:21:03,351 --> 00:21:07,621 are much faster, much higher than they normally would be. 443 00:21:07,671 --> 00:21:10,401 - In the past, there have been five episodes 444 00:21:10,451 --> 00:21:14,111 of mass extinctions in which the majority of the 445 00:21:14,161 --> 00:21:17,651 plants and animals of the planet were wiped out. 446 00:21:17,701 --> 00:21:21,101 The last one was 65 million years ago 447 00:21:21,151 --> 00:21:24,011 when we lost the dinosaurs and a lot of other things. 448 00:21:24,061 --> 00:21:27,941 Since then we've built up a huge amount of biodiversity, 449 00:21:27,991 --> 00:21:29,671 and then in the last 200 years, 450 00:21:29,721 --> 00:21:31,961 we've started destroying it. 451 00:21:32,011 --> 00:21:34,721 - To recap, the Earth has been around for about 452 00:21:34,771 --> 00:21:37,181 4.5 billion years, 453 00:21:37,231 --> 00:21:39,801 and in those years, there have been a total of 454 00:21:39,851 --> 00:21:42,611 five mass extinctions so far. 455 00:21:42,661 --> 00:21:46,091 The Permian mass extinction was the third and largest one 456 00:21:46,141 --> 00:21:48,591 around 252 million years ago. 457 00:21:48,641 --> 00:21:51,581 The the fifth, and most recent one, 458 00:21:51,631 --> 00:21:53,701 was when the dinosaurs went extinct 459 00:21:53,751 --> 00:21:56,711 about 65 million years ago. 460 00:21:56,761 --> 00:22:00,361 But now we're in the sixth mass extinction. 461 00:22:00,411 --> 00:22:02,641 And unlike the previous five, 462 00:22:02,691 --> 00:22:05,781 this one is the first one that is not caused 463 00:22:05,831 --> 00:22:07,401 by natural phenomena, 464 00:22:07,451 --> 00:22:09,551 like meteors hitting the Earth, 465 00:22:09,601 --> 00:22:11,971 or major volcanic eruptions. 466 00:22:12,021 --> 00:22:13,601 This one is different. 467 00:22:13,651 --> 00:22:17,491 It's being caused by humans and our activities. 468 00:22:17,541 --> 00:22:20,701 It's the first time a single species 469 00:22:20,751 --> 00:22:23,581 is causing a mass extinction. 470 00:22:23,631 --> 00:22:27,581 So, we're truly navigating through uncharted waters. 471 00:22:27,631 --> 00:22:29,681 - We have a catastrophic situation 472 00:22:29,731 --> 00:22:32,881 that's basically unrecognized. 473 00:22:32,931 --> 00:22:34,881 In about the last 40 years, 474 00:22:34,931 --> 00:22:38,314 we've lost more than half the wildlife on the planet. 475 00:22:39,275 --> 00:22:41,121 - That bears repeating. 476 00:22:41,171 --> 00:22:44,541 Over one half of all wild animals on our planet 477 00:22:44,591 --> 00:22:48,331 have disappeared in just the last 40 years. 478 00:22:48,381 --> 00:22:50,641 - I'm sure many people think 479 00:22:50,691 --> 00:22:52,711 what has biodiversity ever done for me 480 00:22:52,761 --> 00:22:54,491 and why should I worry about it? 481 00:22:54,541 --> 00:22:59,301 Well, if you don't have a functioning 482 00:22:59,351 --> 00:23:01,841 ecological system that produces oxygen, 483 00:23:01,891 --> 00:23:03,615 that produces food, 484 00:23:03,665 --> 00:23:06,101 people will not survive. 485 00:23:06,151 --> 00:23:08,531 - Many of our crops, many of the ones that are 486 00:23:08,581 --> 00:23:11,681 the most important really for our own health, 487 00:23:11,731 --> 00:23:14,381 are dependent on an animal pollinator, 488 00:23:14,431 --> 00:23:16,501 like a bee, to pollinate it. 489 00:23:16,551 --> 00:23:18,671 And so, without these pollinators, 490 00:23:18,721 --> 00:23:22,351 we wouldn't have important components of our food supply. 491 00:23:22,401 --> 00:23:25,581 Pollinators help to produce 75% 492 00:23:25,631 --> 00:23:27,841 of our different crop species. 493 00:23:27,891 --> 00:23:30,361 That's how important they are to our diet. 494 00:23:30,411 --> 00:23:32,881 As well as things we really like, like chocolate. 495 00:23:32,931 --> 00:23:35,271 Many people don't know that cacao, 496 00:23:35,321 --> 00:23:36,831 which chocolate comes from, 497 00:23:36,881 --> 00:23:38,791 is pollinated by a tiny fly. 498 00:23:38,841 --> 00:23:42,021 Without that tiny fly, we wouldn't have chocolate. 499 00:23:42,071 --> 00:23:44,735 Personally, I think that would be a catastrophe. 500 00:23:44,785 --> 00:23:47,271 (dramatic music) 501 00:23:47,321 --> 00:23:50,551 - Even if we were to take a more selfish view 502 00:23:50,601 --> 00:23:54,431 of not caring about other species or the natural world, 503 00:23:54,481 --> 00:23:57,511 we should still literally be doing everything 504 00:23:57,561 --> 00:24:00,891 in our power to protect and preserve biodiversity 505 00:24:00,941 --> 00:24:03,501 for our own survival. 506 00:24:03,551 --> 00:24:06,891 - If you had visited the planet three billion years ago, 507 00:24:06,941 --> 00:24:08,661 you would not have survived a minute 508 00:24:08,711 --> 00:24:11,571 because there was no oxygen to breathe, 509 00:24:11,621 --> 00:24:12,941 the water was toxic, 510 00:24:12,991 --> 00:24:15,361 there was no food to eat, 511 00:24:15,411 --> 00:24:17,401 so you wouldn't have survived. 512 00:24:17,451 --> 00:24:20,431 And three billions years of evolution, 513 00:24:20,481 --> 00:24:23,981 of the web of life that makes the planet habitable 514 00:24:24,031 --> 00:24:27,981 is what we are rapidly destroying. 515 00:24:28,031 --> 00:24:33,031 - So why is this tragic loss of biodiversity happening? 516 00:24:33,061 --> 00:24:38,061 - The biggest cause of extinctions is habitat destruction. 517 00:24:38,891 --> 00:24:43,381 We know that all organisms need appropriate habitats 518 00:24:43,431 --> 00:24:45,451 and when you destroy the habitats, 519 00:24:45,501 --> 00:24:48,501 you are wiping out populations. 520 00:24:48,551 --> 00:24:51,871 The basic cause of the extinction episode 521 00:24:51,921 --> 00:24:55,691 of the sixth mass extinction is the much too large 522 00:24:55,741 --> 00:24:58,461 a size of the human enterprise. 523 00:24:58,511 --> 00:25:00,311 - Habitat loss is the number one driver 524 00:25:00,361 --> 00:25:02,611 of biodiversity loss. 525 00:25:02,661 --> 00:25:07,151 And what's behind that is really our population growth, 526 00:25:07,201 --> 00:25:10,604 and also how we consume resources. 527 00:25:11,611 --> 00:25:14,291 - [Sofia] There are several causes for the dramatic loss 528 00:25:14,341 --> 00:25:16,881 of biodiversity we are experiencing. 529 00:25:16,931 --> 00:25:21,571 For example, poaching is a serious threat to many species. 530 00:25:21,621 --> 00:25:25,331 However the biggest driver of species extinctions 531 00:25:25,381 --> 00:25:30,261 is actually the destruction of natural habitats by humans. 532 00:25:30,311 --> 00:25:33,601 According to the United Nations, the livestock sector 533 00:25:33,651 --> 00:25:37,881 is by far the single largest user of land on the planet. 534 00:25:37,931 --> 00:25:41,341 And it is the major driver of deforestation. 535 00:25:41,391 --> 00:25:45,621 Livestock systems occupy a staggering 45% 536 00:25:45,671 --> 00:25:47,594 of the global surface area. 537 00:25:48,911 --> 00:25:51,471 I don't think annual agriculture comes to mind 538 00:25:51,521 --> 00:25:54,291 immediately for most people as the largest 539 00:25:54,341 --> 00:25:56,221 land user on the planet. 540 00:25:56,271 --> 00:25:57,811 But it is. 541 00:25:57,861 --> 00:26:00,011 - [Dr Kremen] So then, as we're eating more meats, 542 00:26:00,061 --> 00:26:02,121 we're eating more of a product that really 543 00:26:02,171 --> 00:26:03,781 just takes a lot to produce. 544 00:26:03,831 --> 00:26:05,221 It takes a lot of land, 545 00:26:05,271 --> 00:26:06,381 it takes a lot of energy, 546 00:26:06,431 --> 00:26:08,211 it takes a lot of water. 547 00:26:08,261 --> 00:26:12,501 And as we use these more expensive products, 548 00:26:12,551 --> 00:26:14,741 as we consume more expensive products, 549 00:26:14,791 --> 00:26:17,981 it means that we basically are co-opting 550 00:26:18,031 --> 00:26:21,201 more of the Earth's resources for ourselves, 551 00:26:21,251 --> 00:26:23,681 and that's competing with biodiversity. 552 00:26:23,731 --> 00:26:26,251 It's meaning that we need to take up 553 00:26:26,301 --> 00:26:27,901 a lot of their habitats. 554 00:26:27,951 --> 00:26:30,701 (dramatic music) 555 00:26:34,941 --> 00:26:39,941 - The fact that we, you know, this weird primate species, 556 00:26:40,731 --> 00:26:45,731 of like relatively hairless, defenseless apes, 557 00:26:45,911 --> 00:26:50,841 are destroying the only home that we know of in the universe 558 00:26:50,891 --> 00:26:52,124 that will support life. 559 00:26:53,612 --> 00:26:58,612 It's horrifying on a scale that we can't even conceive of. 560 00:27:00,771 --> 00:27:03,451 Which is why, like, I feel badly for humans, 561 00:27:03,501 --> 00:27:06,071 but there is a part of me that just thinks, that like, 562 00:27:06,121 --> 00:27:08,641 if we can't change ourselves, 563 00:27:08,691 --> 00:27:12,081 if we can't learn how to live in sort of 564 00:27:12,131 --> 00:27:15,301 sustainable harmony with the only world 565 00:27:15,351 --> 00:27:17,121 that will support us, 566 00:27:17,171 --> 00:27:18,214 we need to go away. 567 00:27:19,221 --> 00:27:21,334 And the other thing is, we will go away. 568 00:27:22,301 --> 00:27:25,701 - In other news, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 569 00:27:25,751 --> 00:27:29,161 Authority, or NOAA, issued new warnings. 570 00:27:29,211 --> 00:27:33,421 They are reporting that the oceans' pH is still decreasing, 571 00:27:33,471 --> 00:27:36,021 meaning it's further acidifying. 572 00:27:36,071 --> 00:27:39,041 This despite concerted attempts to regulate carbon 573 00:27:39,091 --> 00:27:42,518 emissions and industrial and agricultural runoff. 574 00:27:42,568 --> 00:27:45,318 (dramatic music) 575 00:27:48,271 --> 00:27:50,041 - [Sofia] The newscast in the future reported 576 00:27:50,091 --> 00:27:52,671 that the ocean was acidifying. 577 00:27:52,721 --> 00:27:56,091 Yet again, this is another problem that we don't really 578 00:27:56,141 --> 00:27:58,521 need to go to the future to see, 579 00:27:58,571 --> 00:28:01,601 because it's already happening today. 580 00:28:01,651 --> 00:28:04,431 So, what does ocean acidification mean? 581 00:28:04,481 --> 00:28:07,911 It means the pH of the oceans' water is decreasing. 582 00:28:07,961 --> 00:28:10,931 pH simply measures how acidic or alkaline 583 00:28:10,981 --> 00:28:12,761 a given substance is. 584 00:28:12,811 --> 00:28:16,011 But why is the ocean acidifying? 585 00:28:16,061 --> 00:28:20,631 Well, because a third of all the carbon dioxide, or CO2, 586 00:28:20,681 --> 00:28:23,371 that we are releasing into the atmosphere, 587 00:28:23,421 --> 00:28:25,601 gets absorbed by the ocean, 588 00:28:25,651 --> 00:28:28,231 where it turns into carbonic acid. 589 00:28:28,281 --> 00:28:30,271 And it happens to be the case 590 00:28:30,321 --> 00:28:34,701 that we've put huge amounts of CO2 in the atmosphere 591 00:28:34,751 --> 00:28:37,434 in a very short period of time. 592 00:28:38,281 --> 00:28:41,881 - As we are emitting CO2, a constant fraction of it 593 00:28:41,931 --> 00:28:44,661 goes into the ocean and turns it into an acid. 594 00:28:44,711 --> 00:28:47,601 For every pound of CO2 we emit into the atmosphere, 595 00:28:47,651 --> 00:28:50,621 about 30% of it ends up in the ocean. 596 00:28:50,671 --> 00:28:53,071 So, acidification is a very linear, 597 00:28:53,121 --> 00:28:55,541 very predictable affair. 598 00:28:55,591 --> 00:28:58,751 - The oceans' average pH already dropped from 599 00:28:58,801 --> 00:29:00,831 8.2 to 8.1 600 00:29:00,881 --> 00:29:03,021 since pre-industrial times. 601 00:29:03,071 --> 00:29:05,431 And scientists estimate that it will drop further 602 00:29:05,481 --> 00:29:07,241 by the end of this century, 603 00:29:07,291 --> 00:29:10,791 to an average pH of 7.8 604 00:29:10,841 --> 00:29:15,191 So after being relatively stable for thousands of years, 605 00:29:15,241 --> 00:29:17,831 now we're looking at a total pH drop 606 00:29:17,881 --> 00:29:20,171 of zero point four units 607 00:29:20,221 --> 00:29:22,801 in only about 300 years. 608 00:29:22,851 --> 00:29:27,851 And while point four pH units may not sound like a lot, 609 00:29:27,881 --> 00:29:31,031 for the plants and animals who live in the ocean, 610 00:29:31,081 --> 00:29:33,211 it's a huge change. 611 00:29:33,261 --> 00:29:36,411 - Life, as we know it, has evolved to depend on those 612 00:29:36,461 --> 00:29:40,141 very constant, very well buffered conditions in the ocean. 613 00:29:40,191 --> 00:29:41,941 If the ocean turns more acidic, 614 00:29:41,991 --> 00:29:45,721 it's a chemical environment that a lot of species 615 00:29:45,771 --> 00:29:48,121 are not accustomed to because they've never seen this 616 00:29:48,171 --> 00:29:49,821 in their species lifetime, 617 00:29:49,871 --> 00:29:51,326 millions of years. 618 00:29:51,376 --> 00:29:53,176 And, as such, this can really present 619 00:29:53,226 --> 00:29:55,871 a large challenge to ocean life. 620 00:29:55,921 --> 00:29:58,481 For example, the western United States, 621 00:29:58,531 --> 00:30:00,861 there's a big oyster industry, 622 00:30:00,911 --> 00:30:02,621 and some of the oyster hatcheries, 623 00:30:02,671 --> 00:30:05,581 where the very fragile larvae of the oysters form, 624 00:30:05,631 --> 00:30:08,401 had to be moved to Hawaii because the water 625 00:30:08,451 --> 00:30:10,951 was turning too acidic for them to survive. 626 00:30:11,001 --> 00:30:13,331 And what a lot of people don't realize is that 627 00:30:13,381 --> 00:30:16,371 ocean acidification is already outside the bounds 628 00:30:16,421 --> 00:30:17,624 of natural variability. 629 00:30:20,707 --> 00:30:23,107 - [Sofia] Another creature that has attracted a lot of 630 00:30:23,157 --> 00:30:26,221 concern for its sensitivity to ocean acidification 631 00:30:26,271 --> 00:30:29,181 and warming is phytoplankton. 632 00:30:29,231 --> 00:30:30,481 Why is that? 633 00:30:30,531 --> 00:30:32,181 Well, for a number of reasons. 634 00:30:32,231 --> 00:30:35,021 One of which is that ocean phytoplankton 635 00:30:35,071 --> 00:30:37,331 are responsible for one half 636 00:30:37,381 --> 00:30:40,781 of the world's oxygen production. 637 00:30:40,831 --> 00:30:41,921 Half of it. 638 00:30:41,971 --> 00:30:44,731 - So, half of all plant production happens in the ocean, 639 00:30:44,781 --> 00:30:47,341 and that also means half of our oxygen that is produced 640 00:30:47,391 --> 00:30:49,821 annually on the globe, happens in the ocean. 641 00:30:49,871 --> 00:30:52,431 It's produced by tiny algae called phytoplankton, 642 00:30:52,481 --> 00:30:54,641 which produce the same amount of oxygen 643 00:30:54,691 --> 00:30:56,841 as all other plants in the world combined. 644 00:30:56,891 --> 00:30:58,711 In some sense, every second breath we take 645 00:30:58,761 --> 00:31:00,261 comes from the ocean. 646 00:31:00,311 --> 00:31:03,671 - The further changes in phytoplankton that are projected 647 00:31:03,721 --> 00:31:07,361 if ocean acidification and warming continue, 648 00:31:07,411 --> 00:31:09,881 are completely unprecedented. 649 00:31:09,931 --> 00:31:11,461 So we really don't know how 650 00:31:11,511 --> 00:31:13,504 exactly it's all going to play out. 651 00:31:14,451 --> 00:31:18,671 - In 2018 my one wish for Christmas 652 00:31:18,721 --> 00:31:20,911 was some device that will suck CO2 653 00:31:20,961 --> 00:31:22,991 out of the atmosphere. 654 00:31:23,041 --> 00:31:25,284 But in a way, 655 00:31:27,251 --> 00:31:30,241 I wonder if that would actually be the best thing, 656 00:31:30,291 --> 00:31:33,221 'cause of course, we're on a sorta like, 657 00:31:33,271 --> 00:31:37,511 collision course with disaster and tragedy. 658 00:31:37,561 --> 00:31:40,651 I hate to say this, but we kind of deserve it. 659 00:31:40,701 --> 00:31:43,571 Like, we're the cause of the problem. 660 00:31:43,621 --> 00:31:44,771 You're the cause of the problem. 661 00:31:44,821 --> 00:31:46,351 I'm the cause of the problem. 662 00:31:46,401 --> 00:31:49,691 And sure, it would be nice to magically push a button 663 00:31:49,741 --> 00:31:51,401 and suck all, well, not all of it, 664 00:31:51,451 --> 00:31:54,301 a lot of the CO2 out of the atmosphere, 665 00:31:54,351 --> 00:31:56,711 but what would we have learned? 666 00:31:56,761 --> 00:32:01,041 I don't want a magic fix that will reduce CO2, 667 00:32:01,091 --> 00:32:03,661 I want us to stop treating this planet 668 00:32:03,711 --> 00:32:04,771 like a garbage dump, 669 00:32:04,821 --> 00:32:07,111 and I want us to stop pretending that there 670 00:32:07,161 --> 00:32:10,641 is some, like, plan B, some other planet we can move to. 671 00:32:10,691 --> 00:32:14,331 Like, I'm sorry Elon Musk, Mars is not a viable solution. 672 00:32:14,381 --> 00:32:17,981 You can't move eight billion people to Mars, 673 00:32:18,031 --> 00:32:19,461 which does not support life. 674 00:32:19,511 --> 00:32:22,231 - Sorry to report to the world, but 675 00:32:22,281 --> 00:32:24,831 as predicted by many fishy scientists, 676 00:32:24,881 --> 00:32:26,931 we have fished all the fishies, 677 00:32:26,981 --> 00:32:28,281 well almost all the fishies. 678 00:32:28,331 --> 00:32:30,431 Any that are left are kinda hard to find. 679 00:32:30,481 --> 00:32:32,171 Unless you have enough money. 680 00:32:32,221 --> 00:32:33,261 Then you can treat yourself 681 00:32:33,311 --> 00:32:34,920 to some of the old frozen stocks. 682 00:32:34,970 --> 00:32:37,720 (dramatic music) 683 00:32:39,481 --> 00:32:41,411 - We saw in our future world, 684 00:32:41,461 --> 00:32:43,981 that fish were very hard to come by. 685 00:32:44,031 --> 00:32:46,331 This is based on a simple reality. 686 00:32:46,381 --> 00:32:49,331 We're taking too much life out of the ocean, 687 00:32:49,381 --> 00:32:53,131 while dumping too many harmful things into it. 688 00:32:53,181 --> 00:32:56,141 The World Economic Forum recently issued 689 00:32:56,191 --> 00:32:57,924 a sobering prediction. 690 00:32:57,974 --> 00:33:00,374 With a business as usual scenario, 691 00:33:00,424 --> 00:33:05,401 by 2050 there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish. 692 00:33:06,421 --> 00:33:09,111 The pervasiveness of plastic seems to have really 693 00:33:09,161 --> 00:33:10,721 snuck up on us. 694 00:33:10,771 --> 00:33:14,401 It's a manmade substance, first created in 1907, 695 00:33:14,451 --> 00:33:16,631 but now, barely a century later, 696 00:33:16,681 --> 00:33:19,191 it's literally everywhere. 697 00:33:19,241 --> 00:33:22,671 Most plastic is never recycled either. 698 00:33:22,721 --> 00:33:25,061 In fact, a lot of it can't be recycled, 699 00:33:25,111 --> 00:33:26,691 even if we wanted to, 700 00:33:26,741 --> 00:33:30,441 because of certain components that are used in its making. 701 00:33:30,491 --> 00:33:34,061 According to the United Nations, more than eight million 702 00:33:34,111 --> 00:33:37,081 metric tons of plastic find their way 703 00:33:37,131 --> 00:33:39,901 to the ocean every year. 704 00:33:39,951 --> 00:33:41,967 That's the equivalent of dumping 705 00:33:42,017 --> 00:33:46,698 1,440 garbage trucks of plastic 706 00:33:46,748 --> 00:33:51,748 into the sea every single day. 707 00:33:53,251 --> 00:33:54,201 - Plastic doesn't break down. 708 00:33:54,251 --> 00:33:56,821 It stays in the environment and accumulates. 709 00:33:56,871 --> 00:33:58,791 The more we dump in, the more there is. 710 00:33:58,841 --> 00:33:59,931 It doesn't go away. 711 00:33:59,981 --> 00:34:01,811 It breaks into smaller and smaller pieces, 712 00:34:01,861 --> 00:34:05,901 but those micro-plastics remain and they have toxic effects 713 00:34:05,951 --> 00:34:07,601 that we don't even really understand, 714 00:34:07,651 --> 00:34:09,691 we are only beginning to study now. 715 00:34:09,741 --> 00:34:11,661 Including their effects on humans. 716 00:34:11,711 --> 00:34:15,091 For example, if you eat a muscle, or any shellfish 717 00:34:15,141 --> 00:34:18,001 or any product from the sea is almost guaranteed now 718 00:34:18,051 --> 00:34:20,601 to have little plastic filaments in them. 719 00:34:20,651 --> 00:34:22,911 Because the plastic is everywhere 720 00:34:22,961 --> 00:34:25,431 and is being fed upon by these animals. 721 00:34:25,481 --> 00:34:28,301 - Scientists have even measured the proportion of plastic 722 00:34:28,351 --> 00:34:32,141 mass to the proportion of plankton mass in the ocean 723 00:34:32,191 --> 00:34:35,971 and in some places, like the North Pacific Gyre, 724 00:34:36,021 --> 00:34:40,144 they found there was six times more plastic than plankton. 725 00:34:41,071 --> 00:34:45,001 So we're really turning the oceans into a plastic soup. 726 00:34:45,051 --> 00:34:48,151 - You find plastic in almost all seafood now. 727 00:34:48,201 --> 00:34:51,411 So, when you take a muscle from Halifax Harbor, 728 00:34:51,461 --> 00:34:54,441 it has about 100 plastic filaments in it. 729 00:34:54,491 --> 00:34:56,871 When you take a muscle from an aquaculture farm, 730 00:34:56,921 --> 00:34:58,691 it has about 200 plastic filaments, 731 00:34:58,741 --> 00:35:00,311 because they grow it on plastic ropes 732 00:35:00,361 --> 00:35:02,421 that shed the micro-fibers that then 733 00:35:02,471 --> 00:35:04,011 are eaten up by the muscle. 734 00:35:04,061 --> 00:35:07,401 - So, if you're eating seafood, you're probably also 735 00:35:07,451 --> 00:35:10,001 eating quite a bit of plastic, too. 736 00:35:10,051 --> 00:35:12,151 Embedded in the animal's tissue, 737 00:35:12,201 --> 00:35:15,551 even if you don't see the plastic or taste it. 738 00:35:15,601 --> 00:35:18,201 A recent study from the University of Belgium 739 00:35:18,251 --> 00:35:22,851 actually examined how much plastic seafood-loving 740 00:35:22,901 --> 00:35:26,411 Europeans were eating and estimated it could be 741 00:35:26,461 --> 00:35:31,461 around 11,000 tiny pieces of plastic per person, per year. 742 00:35:31,731 --> 00:35:34,261 We don't know how eating all this plastic 743 00:35:34,311 --> 00:35:36,321 will affect human health. 744 00:35:36,371 --> 00:35:39,031 We've only just started to study this, 745 00:35:39,081 --> 00:35:41,551 so it's still largely an unknown, 746 00:35:41,601 --> 00:35:43,761 which is not reassuring at all. 747 00:35:43,811 --> 00:35:47,521 On top of that, we've also seen that the nano-plastics 748 00:35:47,571 --> 00:35:50,891 which are the very small plastic particles, 749 00:35:50,941 --> 00:35:55,271 can actually cross cell membranes in some fish. 750 00:35:55,321 --> 00:35:58,711 We've seen that they can accumulate in organs, 751 00:35:58,761 --> 00:36:01,961 like the brain, testicles, and liver 752 00:36:02,011 --> 00:36:04,640 and cause problems with the reproduction, 753 00:36:04,690 --> 00:36:06,851 immune system, and behavior. 754 00:36:06,901 --> 00:36:11,001 And this ability of plastic to cross cell membranes 755 00:36:11,051 --> 00:36:14,641 is, in my opinion, one of the most concerning. 756 00:36:14,691 --> 00:36:16,881 Because, if it's affecting wildlife, 757 00:36:16,931 --> 00:36:18,731 I don't know how we can be certain that 758 00:36:18,781 --> 00:36:21,186 it's somehow not going to affect us, too. 759 00:36:21,236 --> 00:36:26,236 (dramatic music) (ocean waves crashing) 760 00:36:29,110 --> 00:36:31,693 (solemn music) 761 00:36:41,631 --> 00:36:44,271 We've known about the problem of fatal encounters 762 00:36:44,321 --> 00:36:46,581 between marine wildlife and debris 763 00:36:46,631 --> 00:36:48,001 for a long time. 764 00:36:48,051 --> 00:36:51,031 Since at least the 1960s. 765 00:36:51,081 --> 00:36:54,661 But today, of course, the magnitude is many times 766 00:36:54,711 --> 00:36:56,631 greater than it was then. 767 00:36:56,681 --> 00:36:58,931 And now we also have more technology, 768 00:36:58,981 --> 00:37:02,041 like cellphones with cameras and YouTube, 769 00:37:02,091 --> 00:37:05,591 so it's easier to witness the plight of these poor animals. 770 00:37:05,641 --> 00:37:07,611 With just a quick Google search, 771 00:37:07,661 --> 00:37:09,941 you'll see clips and pictures uploaded 772 00:37:09,991 --> 00:37:14,544 from all over the world of animals tangled in plastic, 773 00:37:18,391 --> 00:37:19,704 eating plastic, 774 00:37:23,311 --> 00:37:26,024 with plastic forks in their nostrils, 775 00:37:28,521 --> 00:37:31,614 with plastic straws stuck in their noses, 776 00:37:37,231 --> 00:37:40,544 birds dying with plastic-filled stomachs, 777 00:37:43,921 --> 00:37:47,201 baby birds being fed plastics by their mothers, 778 00:37:47,251 --> 00:37:49,501 who mistake it for food, 779 00:37:49,551 --> 00:37:51,711 and even whales, stranded ashore, 780 00:37:51,761 --> 00:37:54,991 starving and dying, unable to eat anything 781 00:37:55,041 --> 00:37:58,211 because their stomachs are filled with plastic, 782 00:37:58,261 --> 00:38:00,051 like this one in severe distress 783 00:38:00,101 --> 00:38:01,701 in the last moments of her life. 784 00:38:04,971 --> 00:38:09,071 I just can't imagine the level of despair and helplessness 785 00:38:09,121 --> 00:38:11,751 whales and all the other animals must feel 786 00:38:11,801 --> 00:38:15,141 as their stomachs fill with plastic to the point 787 00:38:15,191 --> 00:38:18,424 that they cannot eat food anymore and die. 788 00:38:23,791 --> 00:38:26,891 Remember this problem is all because of us. 789 00:38:26,941 --> 00:38:31,091 100 years ago, there was virtually no plastic anywhere, 790 00:38:31,141 --> 00:38:33,362 so it's a tragedy of our own making. 791 00:38:33,412 --> 00:38:36,162 (dramatic music) 792 00:39:44,644 --> 00:39:47,394 (dramatic music) 793 00:39:49,232 --> 00:39:52,371 With a human population of 7.5 billion 794 00:39:52,421 --> 00:39:55,541 and growing, if we all want to eat fish, 795 00:39:55,591 --> 00:39:58,111 then over-fishing seems to be the result. 796 00:39:58,161 --> 00:40:01,431 - Most fishing, prior to 1950, was coastal. 797 00:40:01,481 --> 00:40:05,391 Few fisheries happened way outside in the open oceans. 798 00:40:05,441 --> 00:40:07,491 That changed after World War II because of new 799 00:40:07,541 --> 00:40:10,001 technology, more power diesel engines. 800 00:40:10,051 --> 00:40:12,031 New materials for nets, and so on, 801 00:40:12,081 --> 00:40:14,481 that made it feasible to fish way offshore 802 00:40:14,531 --> 00:40:17,241 in fish populations that had never been fished before. 803 00:40:17,291 --> 00:40:20,241 And what we documented is that within 20 to 30 years, 804 00:40:20,291 --> 00:40:22,361 a lot of those populations became depleted, 805 00:40:22,411 --> 00:40:24,921 particularly for the very large fish. 806 00:40:24,971 --> 00:40:28,381 So the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization 807 00:40:28,431 --> 00:40:30,311 comes out with a report every two years 808 00:40:30,361 --> 00:40:32,011 and what they've shown is that the larger 809 00:40:32,061 --> 00:40:34,701 and larger fraction of those fish populations 810 00:40:34,751 --> 00:40:36,661 is being depleted and right now, 811 00:40:36,711 --> 00:40:40,412 about 80% or more are fully fished, 812 00:40:40,462 --> 00:40:42,321 meaning their fished to capacity 813 00:40:42,371 --> 00:40:44,771 or they're over-fished and being depleted. 814 00:40:44,821 --> 00:40:48,127 - Using data from the UNFAO, scientists from 815 00:40:48,177 --> 00:40:52,401 Dalhousie University projected that by the year 2048 816 00:40:52,451 --> 00:40:55,871 all fisheries would be practically empty. 817 00:40:55,921 --> 00:40:59,501 In other words, if we continue business as usual, 818 00:40:59,551 --> 00:41:03,441 they're warning we could have virtually fishless oceans 819 00:41:03,491 --> 00:41:05,694 in just a few short decades. 820 00:41:06,921 --> 00:41:09,131 - Many studies have concluded that if we keep 821 00:41:09,181 --> 00:41:11,281 fishing the way we've been fishing in the past 822 00:41:11,331 --> 00:41:13,301 we will collapse many or most 823 00:41:13,351 --> 00:41:15,961 fish populations by the middle of the century. 824 00:41:16,011 --> 00:41:18,911 There was just a new paper last year that showed this again 825 00:41:18,961 --> 00:41:22,971 using new data for fisheries management worldwide. 826 00:41:23,021 --> 00:41:25,771 - When people are confronted with this reality 827 00:41:25,821 --> 00:41:27,571 they sometimes think, well, 828 00:41:27,621 --> 00:41:30,281 we can just have farmed fish instead, right? 829 00:41:30,331 --> 00:41:33,191 Although farm fish, or aquaculture, is sometimes 830 00:41:33,241 --> 00:41:36,391 touted as an alternative approach to commercial fishing, 831 00:41:36,441 --> 00:41:40,271 in reality, it has its own set of very serious problems 832 00:41:40,321 --> 00:41:42,291 and can still be detrimental to both 833 00:41:42,341 --> 00:41:44,391 wild fish and ecosystems. 834 00:41:44,441 --> 00:41:48,261 From destruction and contamination of natural habitats, 835 00:41:48,311 --> 00:41:52,164 to genetic problems from the inbreeding of farm fish 836 00:41:52,214 --> 00:41:55,801 that sometimes escape and pass on their problems 837 00:41:55,851 --> 00:41:57,631 to the wild populations, 838 00:41:57,681 --> 00:42:00,371 making them less likely to survive. 839 00:42:00,421 --> 00:42:03,241 In addition, the crowded farming conditions 840 00:42:03,291 --> 00:42:06,971 are a breeding ground for diseases and parasites. 841 00:42:07,021 --> 00:42:10,041 One good example is parasitic sea lice, 842 00:42:10,091 --> 00:42:13,391 which feed on the skin and blood of salmon 843 00:42:13,441 --> 00:42:16,271 and can ultimately kill the fish. 844 00:42:16,321 --> 00:42:19,461 Wild salmon populations have been severely affected 845 00:42:19,511 --> 00:42:22,151 by lice spread from fish farms. 846 00:42:22,201 --> 00:42:26,051 On top of all that, many farmed fish are also carnivorous. 847 00:42:26,101 --> 00:42:29,074 Meaning they need to be fed wild caught fish. 848 00:42:32,731 --> 00:42:35,121 I don't think farming fish is the most effective 849 00:42:35,171 --> 00:42:37,501 or realistic solution to the problem. 850 00:42:37,551 --> 00:42:39,461 A more elegant and simple approach 851 00:42:39,511 --> 00:42:42,751 for all of us who have access to basic food options, 852 00:42:42,801 --> 00:42:44,744 is to simply stop eating fish. 853 00:42:44,794 --> 00:42:47,544 (dramatic music) 854 00:42:59,055 --> 00:43:01,482 - I have some friends who think that like 855 00:43:01,532 --> 00:43:03,561 by being environmentally responsible, 856 00:43:03,611 --> 00:43:05,921 they're going to stop eating land animals and only eat 857 00:43:05,971 --> 00:43:10,424 sea animals, fish and crustaceans and things. 858 00:43:10,474 --> 00:43:11,651 Like, if you care about the ocean, 859 00:43:11,701 --> 00:43:15,301 you have to stop eating animals that live in the ocean. 860 00:43:15,351 --> 00:43:17,261 It's so self-evident, 861 00:43:17,311 --> 00:43:21,281 I don't know how destroying fish 862 00:43:21,331 --> 00:43:23,861 and destroying the ecosystem of the ocean 863 00:43:23,911 --> 00:43:27,291 is somehow environmentally responsible, 864 00:43:27,341 --> 00:43:30,071 but we're a messed up species, 865 00:43:30,121 --> 00:43:31,461 so I'm not surprise that like, 866 00:43:31,511 --> 00:43:33,901 someone came up with that terrible idea. 867 00:43:33,951 --> 00:43:38,171 - My parents were educated people, just totally oblivious. 868 00:43:38,221 --> 00:43:42,881 And all the while, this whole little mess was brewing. 869 00:43:42,931 --> 00:43:45,201 We ended up turning our one little planet 870 00:43:45,251 --> 00:43:46,958 completely upside down. 871 00:43:47,008 --> 00:43:49,758 (dramatic music) 872 00:43:52,441 --> 00:43:55,913 - Our rapidly growing population is a multiplier that 873 00:43:55,963 --> 00:44:00,001 affects every global environmental issue we face. 874 00:44:00,051 --> 00:44:03,601 The fact is, we've had an unprecedented spike 875 00:44:03,651 --> 00:44:07,201 in our population over the last two centuries. 876 00:44:07,251 --> 00:44:10,131 That, coupled with our consumption patterns, 877 00:44:10,181 --> 00:44:13,501 is placing serious strain on our planet's finite 878 00:44:13,551 --> 00:44:16,281 natural resources and ecosystems 879 00:44:17,121 --> 00:44:19,971 - The number of people on the planet would not matter 880 00:44:20,021 --> 00:44:22,541 if we were ethereal beings. 881 00:44:22,591 --> 00:44:25,811 What matters is the combination of the number of people 882 00:44:25,861 --> 00:44:28,941 and their economic activity, namely consumption 883 00:44:28,991 --> 00:44:30,471 and waste products. 884 00:44:30,521 --> 00:44:33,771 - Our species, modern humans, has been around 885 00:44:33,821 --> 00:44:36,438 for about 200,000 years. 886 00:44:36,488 --> 00:44:40,695 And it took us all that time to reach a population of 887 00:44:40,745 --> 00:44:45,661 one billion, which we finally did relatively recently, 888 00:44:45,711 --> 00:44:47,921 in the early 1800s. 889 00:44:47,971 --> 00:44:52,471 But today, only about 200 years after that, 890 00:44:52,521 --> 00:44:55,961 we've multiplied seven times over. 891 00:44:56,011 --> 00:44:59,521 We're not more than 7.5 billion humans 892 00:44:59,571 --> 00:45:04,571 and on track to hit close to ten billion by the year 2050. 893 00:45:04,711 --> 00:45:05,991 - I'm concerned about population, 894 00:45:06,041 --> 00:45:08,691 because if you look over all of human history, 895 00:45:08,741 --> 00:45:11,071 it took up until the 1800s to reach 896 00:45:11,121 --> 00:45:13,161 the first one billion people on Earth. 897 00:45:13,211 --> 00:45:15,501 And the last one billion people, 898 00:45:15,551 --> 00:45:17,611 to go from six to seven billion people on Earth, 899 00:45:17,661 --> 00:45:19,504 took only about 12 years. 900 00:45:21,171 --> 00:45:24,301 - Why did our population grow so quickly in just 901 00:45:24,351 --> 00:45:25,874 the last two centuries? 902 00:45:26,731 --> 00:45:30,081 Well, simply put, we've had the very good fortune 903 00:45:30,131 --> 00:45:33,071 of being able to decrease child mortality 904 00:45:33,121 --> 00:45:35,831 and increase our life expectancies 905 00:45:35,881 --> 00:45:38,549 as a result of the agricultural revolution 906 00:45:38,599 --> 00:45:42,191 and technological advances in modern medicine. 907 00:45:42,241 --> 00:45:45,181 So more children now grow up, 908 00:45:45,231 --> 00:45:48,433 live longer and have children of their own. 909 00:45:48,483 --> 00:45:51,731 And this in the aggregate dramatically increased 910 00:45:51,781 --> 00:45:54,921 the world population in a short period of time. 911 00:45:54,971 --> 00:45:57,771 - Every year we're adding about 80 million 912 00:45:57,821 --> 00:45:58,971 extra people to the planet, 913 00:45:59,021 --> 00:46:01,271 and that is about the population of Germany. 914 00:46:01,321 --> 00:46:04,231 So, if you think about the need to find a good 915 00:46:04,281 --> 00:46:05,651 home for those people, 916 00:46:05,701 --> 00:46:07,551 to ensure that they have access to food, 917 00:46:07,601 --> 00:46:09,651 that they have access to clean water, 918 00:46:09,701 --> 00:46:12,231 that they have healthcare and education. 919 00:46:12,281 --> 00:46:14,331 It really puts things into perspective. 920 00:46:14,381 --> 00:46:18,431 - When I was born, in 1932, 921 00:46:18,481 --> 00:46:20,941 there were two billion people on the planet, 922 00:46:20,991 --> 00:46:24,651 now there are 7.5 billion people. 923 00:46:24,701 --> 00:46:28,601 The size of the human population has more than tripled 924 00:46:28,651 --> 00:46:30,394 in my one lifetime. 925 00:46:32,891 --> 00:46:34,691 One of the really critical things, 926 00:46:34,741 --> 00:46:39,301 the resource that we'll never run out of, is morons. 927 00:46:39,351 --> 00:46:41,261 Morons, for instance, say, 928 00:46:41,311 --> 00:46:43,181 it's only consumption, it's not the 929 00:46:43,231 --> 00:46:45,331 number of people that counts. 930 00:46:45,381 --> 00:46:48,331 That's like saying the area of a rectangle 931 00:46:48,381 --> 00:46:51,741 is determined only by its width, not by its length. 932 00:46:51,791 --> 00:46:54,731 Certainly, consumption is a big problem, 933 00:46:54,781 --> 00:46:56,861 so is population size. 934 00:46:56,911 --> 00:47:00,206 The two multiply together to give you your impact 935 00:47:00,256 --> 00:47:02,268 on your life support systems. 936 00:47:02,318 --> 00:47:03,391 (dramatic music) 937 00:47:03,441 --> 00:47:07,241 - Never in human history, have we asked so much 938 00:47:07,291 --> 00:47:11,671 of our environment, our infrastructure, and our society 939 00:47:11,721 --> 00:47:15,201 to accommodate such large increases in our population 940 00:47:15,251 --> 00:47:18,011 over such a short period of time. 941 00:47:18,061 --> 00:47:21,121 Just as one example, at the pace we are currently 942 00:47:21,171 --> 00:47:23,971 growing our population, we need to be building 943 00:47:24,021 --> 00:47:28,051 63 thousand new classrooms every single week, 944 00:47:28,101 --> 00:47:30,441 repeatedly, week after week, 945 00:47:30,491 --> 00:47:34,091 if we want every child to have access to education. 946 00:47:34,141 --> 00:47:38,121 Funding, building, and staffing 63 thousand new 947 00:47:38,171 --> 00:47:41,791 classrooms every single week, over and over. 948 00:47:41,841 --> 00:47:43,551 So are we building them? 949 00:47:43,601 --> 00:47:46,011 And are we prepared to keep building at that pace 950 00:47:46,061 --> 00:47:47,721 every single week? 951 00:47:47,771 --> 00:47:51,641 The answer is no, unfortunately we are not building them. 952 00:47:51,691 --> 00:47:53,601 And I don't think it's realistic 953 00:47:53,651 --> 00:47:56,561 to think that we could at that pace. 954 00:47:56,611 --> 00:47:59,829 - The impact of human beings on the planet 955 00:47:59,879 --> 00:48:01,819 doubles every 17 years. 956 00:48:01,869 --> 00:48:04,609 That is, if you take the rate of population growth, 957 00:48:04,659 --> 00:48:06,441 and add to it the rate of economic growth, 958 00:48:06,491 --> 00:48:08,281 and put those two things together, 959 00:48:08,331 --> 00:48:11,871 we make twice the impact on the planet every 17 years 960 00:48:11,921 --> 00:48:13,968 and you can't do that for many doublings before 961 00:48:14,018 --> 00:48:15,364 you destroy the planet. 962 00:48:17,371 --> 00:48:19,731 - A lot of people think the population problem 963 00:48:19,781 --> 00:48:23,441 is too many Indians, or too many people in Africa and so on. 964 00:48:23,491 --> 00:48:25,891 Actually, it's too many people in the United States 965 00:48:25,941 --> 00:48:27,201 to start out with. 966 00:48:27,251 --> 00:48:30,661 You and I consume much more than the average person 967 00:48:30,711 --> 00:48:33,371 in Africa or the average person in India. 968 00:48:33,421 --> 00:48:35,201 And that's part of the problem. 969 00:48:35,251 --> 00:48:38,271 To support the people we have today, 970 00:48:38,321 --> 00:48:39,981 the current estimate is you'd need 971 00:48:40,031 --> 00:48:41,971 one and a half Earths to do it. 972 00:48:42,021 --> 00:48:44,101 To support the people we have today 973 00:48:44,151 --> 00:48:46,531 at the style of the average American, 974 00:48:46,581 --> 00:48:49,391 you would need four or five more Earths. 975 00:48:49,441 --> 00:48:53,101 We're living on our capital, not on our interest. 976 00:48:53,151 --> 00:48:56,091 It's as if we were an idiot child that inherited 977 00:48:56,141 --> 00:48:59,671 a million dollars and kept writing bigger checks 978 00:48:59,721 --> 00:49:01,771 on the bank account every year, 979 00:49:01,821 --> 00:49:03,951 and never looking at the balance. 980 00:49:04,001 --> 00:49:06,171 We're using up our precious soils, 981 00:49:06,221 --> 00:49:09,211 we're using up our easily accessible resources. 982 00:49:09,261 --> 00:49:11,911 Basically, we're behaving like idiots, 983 00:49:11,961 --> 00:49:15,291 because we're the only species we know of 984 00:49:15,341 --> 00:49:17,964 that is determinedly set out to destroy itself. 985 00:49:23,971 --> 00:49:27,301 - Supposing the moon had water and an atmosphere, 986 00:49:27,351 --> 00:49:29,381 and we had a cheap way of getting there. 987 00:49:29,431 --> 00:49:31,061 At the present rate of population growth, 988 00:49:31,111 --> 00:49:32,411 we'd fill it up in 10 years. 989 00:49:32,461 --> 00:49:34,291 It wouldn't help us. 990 00:49:34,341 --> 00:49:37,391 - Given the fundamental importance that our population 991 00:49:37,441 --> 00:49:41,111 plays in so many converging environmental issues, 992 00:49:41,161 --> 00:49:43,321 you would think that environmental organizations 993 00:49:43,371 --> 00:49:46,491 would be having a robust conversation about it, 994 00:49:46,541 --> 00:49:50,001 yet most don't talk about population growth that much, 995 00:49:50,051 --> 00:49:51,261 if at all. 996 00:49:51,311 --> 00:49:54,551 - If you think about any controversial topic, 997 00:49:54,601 --> 00:49:59,601 people are always aware of difficult subjects 998 00:49:59,692 --> 00:50:02,751 and if they bring those difficult subjects up, 999 00:50:02,801 --> 00:50:04,011 it may get them into trouble. 1000 00:50:04,061 --> 00:50:07,091 So, if you go to a dinner party and you bring up 1001 00:50:07,141 --> 00:50:09,601 population and people jump all over you, 1002 00:50:09,651 --> 00:50:11,381 you'll say, okay I won't touch that again. 1003 00:50:11,431 --> 00:50:13,071 - There are a few reasons why people are afraid 1004 00:50:13,121 --> 00:50:16,391 to talk about population, but I thing at the heart of it 1005 00:50:16,441 --> 00:50:21,021 because there have been some coercive population programs 1006 00:50:21,071 --> 00:50:24,005 and policies, people are afraid that if they 1007 00:50:24,055 --> 00:50:27,431 make these links between population and the environment, 1008 00:50:27,481 --> 00:50:31,041 that it's suggesting that we have to control the population, 1009 00:50:31,091 --> 00:50:33,421 that there has to be some external force. 1010 00:50:33,471 --> 00:50:36,711 But, good population policies and programs respect what 1011 00:50:36,761 --> 00:50:40,921 couples want and they're about giving women and men 1012 00:50:40,971 --> 00:50:43,631 what they want and not telling people what to do. 1013 00:50:43,681 --> 00:50:46,211 - In talking about the very real problem of 1014 00:50:46,261 --> 00:50:49,251 unsustainable population growth, I believe 1015 00:50:49,301 --> 00:50:53,250 the focus needs to be on raising the awareness of the issue, 1016 00:50:53,300 --> 00:50:56,511 promoting gender equality and women's rights 1017 00:50:56,561 --> 00:51:00,421 around the world, supporting things like family planning, 1018 00:51:00,471 --> 00:51:03,381 so that all women have the means to determine 1019 00:51:03,431 --> 00:51:06,261 the number and spacing of their children, 1020 00:51:06,311 --> 00:51:11,121 encouraging small family norms, supporting adoption efforts, 1021 00:51:11,171 --> 00:51:15,291 increasing education, eradicating poverty, 1022 00:51:15,341 --> 00:51:19,554 and abolishing horrid practices like child marriages. 1023 00:51:20,601 --> 00:51:23,691 These human rights efforts are critically important 1024 00:51:23,741 --> 00:51:26,781 in their own right, but they also happen to be 1025 00:51:26,831 --> 00:51:29,611 some of the most effective actions we can take 1026 00:51:29,661 --> 00:51:32,664 to help slow our population growth rate. 1027 00:51:33,561 --> 00:51:36,861 Also, in our culture, there are still sometimes 1028 00:51:36,911 --> 00:51:39,861 some religious or social pressures that can make 1029 00:51:39,911 --> 00:51:43,051 people feel like they have to have children, 1030 00:51:43,101 --> 00:51:45,991 or they have to have a certain number of children, 1031 00:51:46,041 --> 00:51:48,311 even if they don't really want to. 1032 00:51:48,361 --> 00:51:51,021 Even if you are capable of having and supporting 1033 00:51:51,071 --> 00:51:54,581 children, no one should feel like they must have children 1034 00:51:54,631 --> 00:51:56,831 if that's not what they want to do. 1035 00:51:56,881 --> 00:52:00,881 As a personal example, I actually underwent tubal ligation, 1036 00:52:00,931 --> 00:52:04,681 or permanent sterilization surgery, several years ago 1037 00:52:04,731 --> 00:52:06,841 while single and childless. 1038 00:52:06,891 --> 00:52:10,381 Even though I love kids, I just don't have the inclination 1039 00:52:10,431 --> 00:52:14,121 to have any children of my own, and that's okay. 1040 00:52:14,171 --> 00:52:17,918 But no woman or man should feel like they have to have 1041 00:52:17,968 --> 00:52:21,601 children simply in response to social pressures. 1042 00:52:21,651 --> 00:52:23,803 And for the benefit of all humans, 1043 00:52:23,853 --> 00:52:27,761 including today's children and future generations to come, 1044 00:52:27,811 --> 00:52:31,141 I think we have a moral obligation to raise awareness 1045 00:52:31,191 --> 00:52:35,061 about the unsubstantiality of our current population growth 1046 00:52:35,111 --> 00:52:39,441 rate and the importance of slowing that rate down, 1047 00:52:39,491 --> 00:52:42,441 as well as changing our consumption patterns 1048 00:52:42,491 --> 00:52:46,091 so that we avoid irreparably depleting and destroying 1049 00:52:46,141 --> 00:52:49,801 the very environmental systems on which we humans 1050 00:52:49,851 --> 00:52:52,191 and all other species depend. 1051 00:52:52,241 --> 00:52:55,841 - So, I think that the silence around population 1052 00:52:55,891 --> 00:52:59,731 has to be broken, and people have to speak out 1053 00:52:59,781 --> 00:53:02,881 about the relationship between population and environment, 1054 00:53:02,931 --> 00:53:05,621 that there is something we can do to slow population growth 1055 00:53:05,671 --> 00:53:09,741 and it will have drastic benefits for access to resources, 1056 00:53:09,791 --> 00:53:13,591 access to land, access to water, food security, 1057 00:53:13,641 --> 00:53:17,341 and clean air, stable climate. 1058 00:53:17,391 --> 00:53:19,211 All of that's affected by population. 1059 00:53:19,261 --> 00:53:22,281 It will be much easier to manage these challenges 1060 00:53:22,331 --> 00:53:25,271 if we can slow and stabilize population growth. 1061 00:53:25,321 --> 00:53:28,251 Than if we continue on a business as usual path. 1062 00:53:28,301 --> 00:53:31,914 - A lot of us, myself included, everyone watching, 1063 00:53:31,964 --> 00:53:36,061 most of us self-identify as good people. 1064 00:53:36,111 --> 00:53:38,791 Of the 7.7 billion people on the planet, 1065 00:53:38,841 --> 00:53:40,628 I guarantee you almost all of them think 1066 00:53:40,678 --> 00:53:43,239 they're a good person, and they're leading a good life, 1067 00:53:43,289 --> 00:53:45,611 they're like, lookin' after their family. 1068 00:53:45,661 --> 00:53:49,778 But we are not judged 1069 00:53:49,828 --> 00:53:52,294 on how we self-identify. 1070 00:53:52,344 --> 00:53:55,441 We're judged on our actions, you know, 1071 00:53:55,491 --> 00:53:59,131 and if our actions cause misery and destruction 1072 00:53:59,181 --> 00:54:01,998 and suffering, we're not good people. 1073 00:54:02,048 --> 00:54:05,281 And you know, I'm not God, it's not my place to judge, 1074 00:54:05,331 --> 00:54:07,901 but like, where do we get the idea that we're living good, 1075 00:54:07,951 --> 00:54:10,321 benign lives if the product of our lives 1076 00:54:10,371 --> 00:54:12,861 is nothing but suffering and destruction? 1077 00:54:12,911 --> 00:54:15,661 (dramatic music) 1078 00:54:26,261 --> 00:54:28,341 - Dr Cohen, you were telling me over the break 1079 00:54:28,391 --> 00:54:31,781 that these methane explosions are nothing new, 1080 00:54:31,831 --> 00:54:34,561 and you didn't seem to be entirely surprised 1081 00:54:34,611 --> 00:54:36,241 by this event either. 1082 00:54:36,291 --> 00:54:38,461 - Well, we've been monitoring this phenomenon for decades 1083 00:54:38,511 --> 00:54:41,821 and while it's nothing new, we have seen an increase 1084 00:54:41,871 --> 00:54:43,631 in the frequency of these methane bubbles 1085 00:54:43,681 --> 00:54:45,309 which is very concerning. 1086 00:54:45,359 --> 00:54:48,109 (dramatic music) 1087 00:54:50,111 --> 00:54:52,851 - Our fictional characters in the future were worried 1088 00:54:52,901 --> 00:54:56,531 about methane bubbles escaping from under the Arctic. 1089 00:54:56,581 --> 00:54:59,841 But we actually don't have to go to the future to see this, 1090 00:54:59,891 --> 00:55:03,531 because it's something that's already happening today. 1091 00:55:03,581 --> 00:55:07,111 In fact, the image we used for the fictional newscast 1092 00:55:07,161 --> 00:55:11,211 is from a real life crater in Siberia, thought to have been 1093 00:55:11,261 --> 00:55:15,521 formed by a recent methane pocket explosion in an area 1094 00:55:15,571 --> 00:55:18,611 that used to be covered by frozen permafrost. 1095 00:55:18,661 --> 00:55:21,361 Some places in the Arctic are starting to look like 1096 00:55:21,411 --> 00:55:24,794 bubbling jacuzzis, not because the water is boiling, 1097 00:55:24,844 --> 00:55:28,761 but because methane that was previously trapped in ice 1098 00:55:28,811 --> 00:55:31,274 is now bubbling up to the surface. 1099 00:55:32,231 --> 00:55:34,351 Some daring scientists, like this one from the 1100 00:55:34,401 --> 00:55:37,791 University of Alaska, can even dig just a little bit 1101 00:55:37,841 --> 00:55:42,231 into the ice and light escaping methane right on fire. 1102 00:55:42,281 --> 00:55:44,471 But why does it matter if frozen methane 1103 00:55:44,521 --> 00:55:47,201 is now being released into the atmosphere? 1104 00:55:47,251 --> 00:55:50,351 Well, it's a concern for two main reasons. 1105 00:55:50,401 --> 00:55:53,366 First, because the total amount of methane trapped in frozen 1106 00:55:53,416 --> 00:55:57,371 parts of our planet is truly enormous. 1107 00:55:57,421 --> 00:56:00,961 There's several tons more methane trapped by ice 1108 00:56:01,011 --> 00:56:04,041 than there is in the entire atmosphere. 1109 00:56:04,091 --> 00:56:06,261 The second reason why methane matters, 1110 00:56:06,311 --> 00:56:10,221 is it happens to be an extremely powerful greenhouse gas. 1111 00:56:10,271 --> 00:56:14,631 It's at least 20 times more powerful than carbon dioxide 1112 00:56:14,681 --> 00:56:17,511 in trapping heat from the sun. 1113 00:56:17,561 --> 00:56:21,370 If this enormous store of frozen methane or a big 1114 00:56:21,420 --> 00:56:25,591 part of it is released into our atmosphere, 1115 00:56:25,641 --> 00:56:30,401 it could amplify the degree and speed of climate change. 1116 00:56:30,451 --> 00:56:31,991 - It's a very unusual kind of ice 1117 00:56:32,041 --> 00:56:33,401 that you can actually burn. 1118 00:56:33,451 --> 00:56:36,901 Also, of course, like regular ice, it can melt. 1119 00:56:36,951 --> 00:56:39,281 - It's actually methane trapped in water molecules, 1120 00:56:39,331 --> 00:56:41,761 but frozen and it's under pressure and at cold 1121 00:56:41,811 --> 00:56:43,981 temperatures under the oceans. 1122 00:56:44,031 --> 00:56:45,891 There's a lot of it, but it's deep in the ocean, 1123 00:56:45,941 --> 00:56:47,671 it's hard to get at, it's very unstable, 1124 00:56:47,721 --> 00:56:49,771 so people just generally leave it alone, 1125 00:56:49,821 --> 00:56:51,221 and that's a good thing. 1126 00:56:51,271 --> 00:56:54,041 But in the Arctic Ocean, it's more shallow, 1127 00:56:54,091 --> 00:56:55,671 and so we're already starting to see, 1128 00:56:55,721 --> 00:56:57,298 due to warming, the melting of ice, 1129 00:56:57,348 --> 00:56:58,651 the warming of the Arctic Sea, 1130 00:56:58,701 --> 00:57:00,511 we're starting to see methane bubbles 1131 00:57:00,561 --> 00:57:02,551 coming out of the Arctic Ocean. 1132 00:57:02,601 --> 00:57:06,541 And it's hard to say how much that is so far, 1133 00:57:06,591 --> 00:57:08,961 but we know that with further warming, 1134 00:57:09,011 --> 00:57:10,894 it's going to get worse. 1135 00:57:15,391 --> 00:57:18,681 - The good news is, when methane is locked under 1136 00:57:18,731 --> 00:57:20,421 or within a frozen surface, 1137 00:57:20,471 --> 00:57:24,131 it's harmless because it doesn't enter the atmosphere. 1138 00:57:24,181 --> 00:57:27,381 The bad news is, over the past century, 1139 00:57:27,431 --> 00:57:30,171 we've been putting a lot of carbon dioxide into our 1140 00:57:30,221 --> 00:57:33,371 atmosphere, which traps heat from the sun 1141 00:57:33,421 --> 00:57:36,751 and has been causing the average global temperature 1142 00:57:36,801 --> 00:57:39,471 to warm up, and as a result, 1143 00:57:39,521 --> 00:57:42,471 places that were once permanently frozen, 1144 00:57:42,521 --> 00:57:46,531 are now thawing, or thawing for part of the year. 1145 00:57:46,581 --> 00:57:48,666 - I think the danger of the methane is even though 1146 00:57:48,716 --> 00:57:51,651 we're starting to see the melting of the permafrost, 1147 00:57:51,701 --> 00:57:54,021 we're starting to see bubbling out of the Arctic, 1148 00:57:54,071 --> 00:57:55,881 it's not that it's a lot now, 1149 00:57:55,931 --> 00:57:59,249 but it's a sign of something that could happen in much 1150 00:57:59,299 --> 00:58:00,711 greater amounts in the future, 1151 00:58:00,761 --> 00:58:02,411 and therefore we want to stop it 1152 00:58:02,461 --> 00:58:04,631 before it gets out of control. 1153 00:58:04,681 --> 00:58:08,931 Right now, the biggest contributor to climate change 1154 00:58:08,981 --> 00:58:10,414 and global warming is CO2. 1155 00:58:11,887 --> 00:58:14,356 - So we refer to these gasses, like CO2 1156 00:58:14,406 --> 00:58:18,431 as greenhouse gasses because of this metaphor 1157 00:58:18,481 --> 00:58:20,131 with an actual greenhouse. 1158 00:58:20,181 --> 00:58:23,111 A greenhouse is a glass building that lets sunlight 1159 00:58:23,161 --> 00:58:26,631 come in and then it traps some of the heat in there 1160 00:58:26,681 --> 00:58:29,491 so it's warmer inside the greenhouse 1161 00:58:29,541 --> 00:58:31,441 than outside the greenhouse. 1162 00:58:31,491 --> 00:58:33,561 And I have firsthand experience with a greenhouse, 1163 00:58:33,611 --> 00:58:37,381 having had my wedding reception in a greenhouse, 1164 00:58:37,431 --> 00:58:40,821 in July, in Massachusetts, with no air conditioning. 1165 00:58:40,871 --> 00:58:42,281 So, they work. 1166 00:58:42,331 --> 00:58:46,731 In fact, on our planet, if we didn't have CO2 and those 1167 00:58:46,781 --> 00:58:50,871 greenhouse gasses, the planet would freeze over. 1168 00:58:50,921 --> 00:58:53,941 It would freeze over, from the pole down to the equator. 1169 00:58:53,991 --> 00:58:57,721 - The problem is that in a very short period of time 1170 00:58:57,771 --> 00:59:01,301 we have rapidly increased the amount of these 1171 00:59:01,351 --> 00:59:03,941 heat-trapping substances in our atmosphere, 1172 00:59:03,991 --> 00:59:07,101 not over thousand or millions of years 1173 00:59:07,151 --> 00:59:09,541 like has happened naturally in the past, 1174 00:59:09,591 --> 00:59:14,021 we're literally doing it in the blink of a geological eye. 1175 00:59:14,071 --> 00:59:17,361 The amount of CO2 in the atmosphere used to be around 1176 00:59:17,411 --> 00:59:21,481 280 parts per million for thousands of years, 1177 00:59:21,531 --> 00:59:24,351 until we had the Industrial Revolution. 1178 00:59:24,401 --> 00:59:27,271 And then, in a very short period of time, 1179 00:59:27,321 --> 00:59:32,321 less than 300 years, we increased the concentration 1180 00:59:32,371 --> 00:59:36,504 to over 400 parts per million today. 1181 00:59:37,531 --> 00:59:39,361 Ending our use of fossil fuels, 1182 00:59:39,411 --> 00:59:42,431 by transitioning to clean renewable energy 1183 00:59:42,481 --> 00:59:45,980 is urgently needed to stop this dangerous increase 1184 00:59:46,030 --> 00:59:50,351 in the amount of heat-trapping CO2 in our atmosphere. 1185 00:59:50,401 --> 00:59:53,581 And while we need to absolutely remain diligent 1186 00:59:53,631 --> 00:59:56,721 in the crucial task of transitioning to clean, 1187 00:59:56,771 --> 01:00:00,601 renewable energy, there is also another critical action 1188 01:00:00,651 --> 01:00:03,181 that is available to us as individuals 1189 01:00:03,231 --> 01:00:05,131 that we can all take right now, 1190 01:00:05,181 --> 01:00:08,821 that would have a significant and almost immediate impact, 1191 01:00:08,871 --> 01:00:13,061 and that does not require any new laws or technology. 1192 01:00:13,111 --> 01:00:15,321 According to the United Nations, 1193 01:00:15,371 --> 01:00:19,341 animal agriculture is responsible for more human-caused 1194 01:00:19,391 --> 01:00:22,931 greenhouse gas emissions than the entire global 1195 01:00:22,981 --> 01:00:26,261 transportation sector combined. 1196 01:00:26,311 --> 01:00:28,631 This means that livestock sector, 1197 01:00:28,681 --> 01:00:30,451 the sector that raises animals, 1198 01:00:30,501 --> 01:00:33,091 like cows, pigs, chickens, and goats, 1199 01:00:33,141 --> 01:00:37,484 produces more heat-trapping greenhouse gas emissions 1200 01:00:37,534 --> 01:00:40,641 than all of the cars, buses, trains, 1201 01:00:40,691 --> 01:00:43,231 ships, and airplanes combined. 1202 01:00:43,281 --> 01:00:45,552 In addition, the United Nations reports 1203 01:00:45,602 --> 01:00:50,341 the livestock sector is also the major driver 1204 01:00:50,391 --> 01:00:53,548 of deforestation in the world. 1205 01:00:53,598 --> 01:00:57,511 And trees are an important carbon dioxide sink, 1206 01:00:57,561 --> 01:01:01,704 meaning they absorb and sequester it out of our atmosphere. 1207 01:01:03,751 --> 01:01:07,291 In addition to continued development and implementation 1208 01:01:07,341 --> 01:01:11,231 of clean energy technologies, a mass global shift 1209 01:01:11,281 --> 01:01:15,151 away from animal foods is urgently needed 1210 01:01:15,201 --> 01:01:17,941 and would have significant and almost immediate 1211 01:01:17,991 --> 01:01:21,001 impact in addressing our climate crisis. 1212 01:01:21,051 --> 01:01:23,391 - It's funny, when I became a vegan in 1987, 1213 01:01:23,441 --> 01:01:24,581 my reason was simple. 1214 01:01:24,631 --> 01:01:26,921 I loved animals and I didn't want to do anything 1215 01:01:26,971 --> 01:01:29,591 that contributed or caused animal suffering. 1216 01:01:29,641 --> 01:01:31,871 But as time passed, I began to find out more about 1217 01:01:31,921 --> 01:01:34,461 the role of animal agriculture in human health 1218 01:01:34,511 --> 01:01:36,771 and in the environment, but especially 1219 01:01:36,821 --> 01:01:38,541 what has reinforced my veganism, 1220 01:01:38,591 --> 01:01:42,211 is the role that animal agriculture in climate change. 1221 01:01:42,261 --> 01:01:43,631 - Why are you a vegetarian? 1222 01:01:43,681 --> 01:01:45,801 I asked him and it wasn't even because meat's bad for you, 1223 01:01:45,851 --> 01:01:48,521 he said that raising cattle was bad for the planet 1224 01:01:48,571 --> 01:01:51,921 with cow flatulence in the ozone and the clearing 1225 01:01:51,971 --> 01:01:54,181 of land for the raising of cattle. 1226 01:01:54,231 --> 01:01:56,764 What are you doing to help the environment? 1227 01:01:57,781 --> 01:01:59,223 I'm eatin' the cow. 1228 01:01:59,273 --> 01:02:00,821 (audience laughs) 1229 01:02:00,871 --> 01:02:01,951 - It's your choice, 1230 01:02:02,001 --> 01:02:05,061 comedians and everyone else, you can continue to make jokes 1231 01:02:05,111 --> 01:02:08,511 about cow farts, or you can address the fact 1232 01:02:08,561 --> 01:02:10,701 that animal agriculture and the way it contributes 1233 01:02:10,751 --> 01:02:13,311 to climate change is going to make this planet 1234 01:02:13,361 --> 01:02:15,491 uninhabitable for us. 1235 01:02:15,541 --> 01:02:17,201 - One meal a day? 1236 01:02:17,251 --> 01:02:18,824 Just one measly meal? 1237 01:02:19,671 --> 01:02:22,852 Rationing food and water doesn't get you down, too? 1238 01:02:22,902 --> 01:02:25,791 And I can't remember the last time we could eat 1239 01:02:25,841 --> 01:02:27,291 three meals just like normal. 1240 01:02:28,891 --> 01:02:31,301 - Civilization has only flourished 1241 01:02:31,351 --> 01:02:34,261 when there is food availability. 1242 01:02:34,311 --> 01:02:38,051 Well, unfortunately, severe food and water shortages 1243 01:02:38,101 --> 01:02:41,371 are anticipated in the not-so-distant future 1244 01:02:41,421 --> 01:02:44,191 if we continue business as usual. 1245 01:02:44,241 --> 01:02:48,041 Global resource depletion, our own consumption patterns, 1246 01:02:48,091 --> 01:02:51,008 and population growth all play a part. 1247 01:02:51,058 --> 01:02:53,808 (dramatic music) 1248 01:02:56,551 --> 01:02:59,831 - There are three projections for the year 2050 1249 01:02:59,881 --> 01:03:01,831 made by the UN Population Division. 1250 01:03:01,881 --> 01:03:03,901 High, medium, and low. 1251 01:03:03,951 --> 01:03:07,386 If we're at the high or even the medium projection, 1252 01:03:07,436 --> 01:03:12,436 so somewhere between 9.5 and 10.5 billion people by 2050, 1253 01:03:12,631 --> 01:03:16,221 we will clearly face a food crisis. 1254 01:03:16,271 --> 01:03:19,101 - Right now enough calories certainly are produced 1255 01:03:19,151 --> 01:03:22,031 to feed everyone, so right now enough food is produced, 1256 01:03:22,081 --> 01:03:24,761 but there are these issues that lead to food insecurity 1257 01:03:24,811 --> 01:03:26,691 due to distribution. 1258 01:03:26,741 --> 01:03:28,801 Projecting forward into the future, 1259 01:03:28,851 --> 01:03:31,021 it's easy to imagine that it's less of a distribution 1260 01:03:31,071 --> 01:03:34,131 issue and becomes more of a issue that it's very very 1261 01:03:34,181 --> 01:03:36,871 difficult to actually produce all the calories 1262 01:03:36,921 --> 01:03:38,571 that will be demanded. 1263 01:03:38,621 --> 01:03:40,501 - According to the United Nations, 1264 01:03:40,551 --> 01:03:42,841 with our current population growth 1265 01:03:42,891 --> 01:03:45,611 and the current trends of a growing middle class 1266 01:03:45,661 --> 01:03:47,781 who are consuming more animal foods, 1267 01:03:47,831 --> 01:03:50,631 we'll need to double our crop production 1268 01:03:50,681 --> 01:03:54,711 by the year 2050, just to keep up. 1269 01:03:54,761 --> 01:03:57,301 The problem is our planet doesn't really 1270 01:03:57,351 --> 01:03:59,661 have the land to do this. 1271 01:03:59,711 --> 01:04:02,621 - We're currently using pretty much all of the good 1272 01:04:02,671 --> 01:04:05,536 arable land for agriculture. 1273 01:04:05,586 --> 01:04:07,121 If it's good land for growing crops, 1274 01:04:07,171 --> 01:04:09,321 we're probably already growing crops there. 1275 01:04:09,371 --> 01:04:11,821 There is some other land that could be turned into 1276 01:04:11,871 --> 01:04:14,771 cropland, but generally that's a bad idea, 1277 01:04:14,821 --> 01:04:17,981 because other lands are either sensitive forests, 1278 01:04:18,031 --> 01:04:20,741 or simply not suitable for agriculture. 1279 01:04:20,791 --> 01:04:23,381 - It turns out that feeding the human population 1280 01:04:23,431 --> 01:04:26,871 with animal foods is tremendously inefficient. 1281 01:04:26,921 --> 01:04:29,151 Animal foods require a lot more land, 1282 01:04:29,201 --> 01:04:31,771 a lot more water, and a lot more energy, 1283 01:04:31,821 --> 01:04:34,291 as compared to producing plant foods. 1284 01:04:34,341 --> 01:04:36,381 Keep in mind that we're not just talking about the 1285 01:04:36,431 --> 01:04:39,911 animals themselves, we're also talking about all the food 1286 01:04:39,961 --> 01:04:42,821 that has to be grown to feed all those animals. 1287 01:04:42,871 --> 01:04:45,601 And all the land and water that goes into growing 1288 01:04:45,651 --> 01:04:47,171 all those feed crops. 1289 01:04:47,221 --> 01:04:50,771 Animals are extremely inefficient converters of food, 1290 01:04:50,821 --> 01:04:54,311 meaning they eat much more food than they produce. 1291 01:04:54,361 --> 01:04:57,711 - Globally, about 36% of 1292 01:04:57,761 --> 01:04:59,977 plant-based crop production 1293 01:05:00,027 --> 01:05:01,641 goes to feed animals. 1294 01:05:01,691 --> 01:05:05,181 But only about four percent of that is actually 1295 01:05:05,231 --> 01:05:08,541 returned to our food system in meat that we eat. 1296 01:05:08,591 --> 01:05:12,911 In other words, there's this huge conversion inefficiency. 1297 01:05:12,961 --> 01:05:16,411 We're losing about 90% of the calories 1298 01:05:16,461 --> 01:05:18,751 as we go from grains to meat. 1299 01:05:18,801 --> 01:05:22,091 - You have to feed about 30 calories to a cow to get 1300 01:05:22,141 --> 01:05:26,021 one calorie of edible meat out. 1301 01:05:26,071 --> 01:05:28,271 So it takes-- the cow uses a lot 1302 01:05:28,321 --> 01:05:30,571 of that energy just to live. 1303 01:05:30,621 --> 01:05:34,141 So eating meat is a very inefficient use, 1304 01:05:34,191 --> 01:05:37,821 in energetic terms, of calories. 1305 01:05:37,871 --> 01:05:40,691 - According to scientists from the University of Minnesota 1306 01:05:40,741 --> 01:05:42,571 Institute on the Environment, 1307 01:05:42,621 --> 01:05:45,751 of all the calories we invest in raising animals 1308 01:05:45,801 --> 01:05:48,571 for food, we only recover a fraction, 1309 01:05:48,621 --> 01:05:51,961 on average about 12% in the form of meat, 1310 01:05:52,011 --> 01:05:53,771 dairy, and other animal products. 1311 01:05:53,821 --> 01:05:56,601 - To state the obvious, it takes a lot of energy 1312 01:05:56,651 --> 01:05:59,601 and a lot of resources, to produce food. 1313 01:05:59,651 --> 01:06:03,191 There's seven and a half billion of us on this planet. 1314 01:06:03,241 --> 01:06:08,111 But what doesn't make sense is to produce all this food 1315 01:06:08,161 --> 01:06:10,691 and then feed it to animals. 1316 01:06:10,741 --> 01:06:13,223 You know, I mean, the only analogy I can think of 1317 01:06:13,273 --> 01:06:15,497 is like, imagine taking 1318 01:06:15,547 --> 01:06:19,158 1,000 pounds of corn 1319 01:06:19,208 --> 01:06:20,661 that you could eat yourself, 1320 01:06:20,711 --> 01:06:22,861 and instead turning it into tequila 1321 01:06:22,911 --> 01:06:25,611 and trying to feed yourself off of that. 1322 01:06:25,661 --> 01:06:27,211 Like we see how dumb that would be, 1323 01:06:27,261 --> 01:06:29,101 it's the exact same thing we're doing with grain 1324 01:06:29,151 --> 01:06:30,771 that we feed to animals. 1325 01:06:30,821 --> 01:06:34,101 - So it turns out we can dramatically increase the 1326 01:06:34,151 --> 01:06:36,541 availability of food in the world, 1327 01:06:36,591 --> 01:06:39,893 by feeding ourselves with the plants directly. 1328 01:06:39,943 --> 01:06:44,413 And this is an important humanitarian issue to consider. 1329 01:06:44,463 --> 01:06:47,451 (dramatic music) 1330 01:06:47,501 --> 01:06:49,843 - As I travel around the world, I see poor countries 1331 01:06:49,893 --> 01:06:53,091 who sell their grain to the West, 1332 01:06:53,141 --> 01:06:56,091 while their own children starve in their arms, 1333 01:06:56,141 --> 01:06:58,961 and the West feeds it to livestock 1334 01:06:59,011 --> 01:07:01,891 ...so we can eat a steak? 1335 01:07:01,941 --> 01:07:05,044 Am I the only one who sees this as a crime? 1336 01:07:06,991 --> 01:07:10,011 Believe me, every morsel of meat we eat 1337 01:07:10,061 --> 01:07:13,834 is slapping the tear-stained face of a hungry child. 1338 01:07:15,225 --> 01:07:17,811 - And of course, eating animal foods also affects 1339 01:07:17,861 --> 01:07:20,614 farm animals, too, in a very direct way. 1340 01:07:23,171 --> 01:07:25,721 A couple of years ago, a slaughterhouse gave me 1341 01:07:25,771 --> 01:07:28,471 permission to film inside their facility, 1342 01:07:28,521 --> 01:07:31,101 with some conditions, but I was essentially allowed to 1343 01:07:31,151 --> 01:07:33,531 go in and film whatever I wanted. 1344 01:07:33,581 --> 01:07:37,501 So I grabbed a very easy to use camera and I flew there. 1345 01:07:37,551 --> 01:07:40,071 The first day, I filmed around the holding areas 1346 01:07:40,121 --> 01:07:41,968 next to the slaughter facility. 1347 01:07:42,018 --> 01:07:45,351 And the second day I filmed inside the actual building 1348 01:07:45,401 --> 01:07:47,731 where the slaughtering occurred. 1349 01:07:47,781 --> 01:07:50,451 And one thing in particular that shocked me 1350 01:07:50,501 --> 01:07:52,971 although it probably shouldn't have shocked me 1351 01:07:53,021 --> 01:07:55,341 because this seems so obvious now, 1352 01:07:55,391 --> 01:07:58,151 was how all the animals fight for their lives 1353 01:07:58,201 --> 01:08:00,091 until the very end. 1354 01:08:00,141 --> 01:08:03,021 Somehow they all seem to know they are in danger, 1355 01:08:03,071 --> 01:08:04,851 even in the holding areas. 1356 01:08:04,901 --> 01:08:08,611 One particular cow I saw the first day in the holding areas 1357 01:08:08,661 --> 01:08:13,561 was a beautiful, huge completely white cow. 1358 01:08:13,611 --> 01:08:16,621 And somehow, I think she knew that something 1359 01:08:16,671 --> 01:08:18,941 really bad was going to happen to her. 1360 01:08:18,991 --> 01:08:20,721 Because she was really frightened. 1361 01:08:20,771 --> 01:08:23,061 I don't know if she was able to smell the blood 1362 01:08:23,111 --> 01:08:26,081 of the animals who went before her, or what. 1363 01:08:26,131 --> 01:08:30,571 But she was really anxious and upset and moving around, 1364 01:08:30,621 --> 01:08:33,011 so since I happened to be there, 1365 01:08:33,061 --> 01:08:37,151 my reaction was to try to console this poor cow, 1366 01:08:37,201 --> 01:08:39,441 so I started talking to her 1367 01:08:39,491 --> 01:08:41,381 trying to soothe her, 1368 01:08:41,431 --> 01:08:43,941 and I spent some time with her, 1369 01:08:43,991 --> 01:08:46,941 and after a few minutes, she was a lot calmer, 1370 01:08:46,991 --> 01:08:50,091 and even her eyes looked more relaxed and 1371 01:08:50,141 --> 01:08:51,474 she was in better shape. 1372 01:08:53,361 --> 01:08:55,801 But then the next morning, when I returned 1373 01:08:55,851 --> 01:08:58,471 to film the actual slaughter facility, 1374 01:08:58,521 --> 01:09:02,091 in addition to all the other cows they were slaughtering 1375 01:09:02,141 --> 01:09:06,031 it came the turn of that beautiful and sweet 1376 01:09:06,081 --> 01:09:08,764 and completely white cow to go through slaughter. 1377 01:09:10,351 --> 01:09:12,701 And unlike the other cows before her, 1378 01:09:12,751 --> 01:09:15,311 who were desperately trying to escape, 1379 01:09:15,361 --> 01:09:16,681 trying to crawl up the wall 1380 01:09:16,731 --> 01:09:19,874 and getting up on the hind legs to avoid getting killed, 1381 01:09:20,981 --> 01:09:24,251 this white cow didn't fight at all. 1382 01:09:24,301 --> 01:09:27,271 Most of the other cows had to be shoved in so they could 1383 01:09:27,321 --> 01:09:29,461 close the metal door behind them, 1384 01:09:29,511 --> 01:09:32,591 but this one, they didn't have to shove her in too much, 1385 01:09:32,641 --> 01:09:35,852 because she just came right in and she kept perfectly 1386 01:09:35,902 --> 01:09:39,951 still and did nothing but stare at me 1387 01:09:40,001 --> 01:09:41,891 because I was right there with my camera 1388 01:09:41,941 --> 01:09:45,361 no more than like a meter away from where her head was. 1389 01:09:45,411 --> 01:09:50,411 So this poor cow, I think recognized me from the day before, 1390 01:09:50,631 --> 01:09:52,224 that I had been nice to her, 1391 01:09:53,581 --> 01:09:56,384 and I think she thought I was going to be able to help her. 1392 01:09:57,301 --> 01:10:00,221 Because she was just keeping perfectly still, 1393 01:10:00,271 --> 01:10:02,821 and she just had her eyes wide open, 1394 01:10:02,871 --> 01:10:05,511 locked on my eyes, like she was imploring 1395 01:10:05,561 --> 01:10:06,694 for me to save her. 1396 01:10:09,681 --> 01:10:12,194 But there was absolutely nothing that I could do. 1397 01:10:17,371 --> 01:10:19,954 (door creaks) 1398 01:10:42,302 --> 01:10:45,431 I remember when I left the slaughterhouse that morning, 1399 01:10:45,481 --> 01:10:48,881 it was still pretty early, and as I stepped outside 1400 01:10:48,931 --> 01:10:52,371 there were lots of trees and the birds were singing, 1401 01:10:52,421 --> 01:10:55,271 and everything seemed so peaceful outside. 1402 01:10:55,321 --> 01:10:58,331 And I thought to myself, how unbelievable 1403 01:10:58,381 --> 01:11:00,171 that this world in which we live, 1404 01:11:00,221 --> 01:11:02,701 seems so peaceful and beautiful 1405 01:11:02,751 --> 01:11:06,741 and at the same time, this very world is also 1406 01:11:06,791 --> 01:11:08,411 an unrelenting hell on Earth 1407 01:11:08,461 --> 01:11:11,071 for the animals we use for food. 1408 01:11:11,121 --> 01:11:13,791 Every single piece of animal food we eat 1409 01:11:13,841 --> 01:11:16,471 comes from an animal who desperately wanted 1410 01:11:16,521 --> 01:11:17,682 to not be killed. 1411 01:11:17,732 --> 01:11:21,162 (dramatic music) 1412 01:11:21,212 --> 01:11:23,970 (chickens vocalizing) 1413 01:11:24,020 --> 01:11:26,281 (thrashing desparately) 1414 01:11:26,331 --> 01:11:29,351 Because no matter how local, humane, organic, 1415 01:11:29,401 --> 01:11:32,841 cage free, grass fed, it may be labeled, 1416 01:11:32,891 --> 01:11:37,891 for the animals, this world is a real life horror story, 1417 01:11:38,021 --> 01:11:41,801 one in which they fight for their lives with futility. 1418 01:11:41,851 --> 01:11:44,984 And then ultimately get killed against their will. 1419 01:11:47,101 --> 01:11:50,471 - So you're slaughtering these remarkable animals 1420 01:11:50,521 --> 01:11:52,321 and it's cruel and it's stupid. 1421 01:11:52,371 --> 01:11:55,271 I mean, maybe that's basically, like when humanity 1422 01:11:55,321 --> 01:11:58,071 disappears and we have to write the epitaph for humanity, 1423 01:11:58,121 --> 01:11:59,731 like we'll have a tombstone, it'll just say 1424 01:11:59,781 --> 01:12:02,831 here lies humanity, we had some good ideas, 1425 01:12:02,881 --> 01:12:06,341 but basically we're just so cruel and stupid. 1426 01:12:06,391 --> 01:12:07,944 - Why did we ignore it all? 1427 01:12:09,291 --> 01:12:11,761 Really, indulge me, no BS. 1428 01:12:11,811 --> 01:12:14,574 - Okay, think about it like this. 1429 01:12:15,491 --> 01:12:19,631 What do you get when you mix a lot of shortsightedness, 1430 01:12:19,681 --> 01:12:23,231 with a little selfishness, and just a dash of apathy, 1431 01:12:23,281 --> 01:12:26,961 and oh, no shortage of scientific illiteracy, 1432 01:12:27,011 --> 01:12:30,024 and don't forget a whole lot of power and technology too. 1433 01:12:30,861 --> 01:12:35,861 In my opinion, we're two hairs short of being chimpanzees, 1434 01:12:35,891 --> 01:12:38,911 we're extremely emotional, powerful, primitive, 1435 01:12:38,961 --> 01:12:41,261 shortsighted, survival drives. 1436 01:12:41,311 --> 01:12:44,401 - The reasons why I wrote those lines for Dr Jerry's 1437 01:12:44,451 --> 01:12:48,541 character is because that is my genuine opinion. 1438 01:12:48,591 --> 01:12:51,551 Dr Potts said he thoughts the name for humans 1439 01:12:51,601 --> 01:12:55,391 should be "Homo horribilus" instead of Homo sapiens, 1440 01:12:55,441 --> 01:12:58,941 because humans have been so violent throughout history. 1441 01:12:58,991 --> 01:13:02,291 Dr Ehrlich said he thought a more appropriate name 1442 01:13:02,341 --> 01:13:05,701 was "Homo moronicus" because we're destroying 1443 01:13:05,751 --> 01:13:08,431 the very ecosystems that support us. 1444 01:13:08,481 --> 01:13:12,461 But I think "Homo oblivious" is my preferred name. 1445 01:13:12,511 --> 01:13:15,371 Because we're all just happily going along 1446 01:13:15,421 --> 01:13:19,171 in our busy lives, day-by-day, year-by-year, 1447 01:13:19,221 --> 01:13:21,871 consuming more and more resources, 1448 01:13:21,921 --> 01:13:25,171 running towards a very real precipice, 1449 01:13:25,221 --> 01:13:27,501 but totally oblivious. 1450 01:13:27,551 --> 01:13:29,671 - If we look at the course of humanity, 1451 01:13:29,721 --> 01:13:32,821 I see that humanity, we do a lot of terrible things, 1452 01:13:32,871 --> 01:13:35,141 but we're capable of doing a lot of great things. 1453 01:13:35,191 --> 01:13:38,601 And we're also capable, over time, of identifying 1454 01:13:38,651 --> 01:13:41,351 the things that we should no longer be doing. 1455 01:13:41,401 --> 01:13:44,581 You know, we ended slavery largely. 1456 01:13:44,631 --> 01:13:47,071 You know, 100 years ago in the United States, 1457 01:13:47,121 --> 01:13:50,811 women couldn't vote and children still worked in factories. 1458 01:13:50,861 --> 01:13:53,041 We all know what the right thing to do, 1459 01:13:53,091 --> 01:13:55,001 or the right things to do are. 1460 01:13:55,051 --> 01:13:57,028 We know what to do and we know how to do it. 1461 01:13:57,078 --> 01:13:59,711 The problem is, we're not doing it. 1462 01:13:59,761 --> 01:14:02,021 And until we do, 1463 01:14:02,071 --> 01:14:03,911 we're just going to hasten our own destruction, 1464 01:14:03,961 --> 01:14:05,101 and the destruction of all the other 1465 01:14:05,151 --> 01:14:06,496 creatures on this planet. 1466 01:14:06,546 --> 01:14:09,296 (upbeat music) 1467 01:14:13,831 --> 01:14:16,661 - So what can you and I actually do as individuals 1468 01:14:16,711 --> 01:14:18,161 that would make a difference? 1469 01:14:18,211 --> 01:14:20,227 Probably more than you think. 1470 01:14:20,277 --> 01:14:23,561 In our personal lives, we can educate ourselves 1471 01:14:23,611 --> 01:14:26,041 and others on the science and the urgency 1472 01:14:26,091 --> 01:14:28,371 of these pressing issues. 1473 01:14:28,421 --> 01:14:33,421 We can procure and advocate for clean, renewable energy. 1474 01:14:33,431 --> 01:14:35,791 We can minimize our plastic use, 1475 01:14:35,841 --> 01:14:38,261 especially single use plastic, 1476 01:14:38,311 --> 01:14:40,011 recycle whatever we can, 1477 01:14:40,061 --> 01:14:42,941 and put pressure on companies and our governments, 1478 01:14:42,991 --> 01:14:46,151 to promote the use of biodegradable materials 1479 01:14:46,201 --> 01:14:47,791 instead of plastic. 1480 01:14:47,841 --> 01:14:52,241 They already exist and many look and feel just like plastic. 1481 01:14:52,291 --> 01:14:55,721 When it comes to helping stabilize our population growth, 1482 01:14:55,771 --> 01:14:58,821 we can all support, in whatever way we can, 1483 01:14:58,871 --> 01:15:01,381 gender equality across the world, 1484 01:15:01,431 --> 01:15:05,371 as well as access to education and family planning. 1485 01:15:05,421 --> 01:15:08,103 Also, consider the planetary benefits of having small 1486 01:15:08,153 --> 01:15:10,961 families instead of large ones, 1487 01:15:11,011 --> 01:15:13,901 and please consider adoption as well. 1488 01:15:13,951 --> 01:15:16,521 Last, but definitely not least, 1489 01:15:16,571 --> 01:15:18,881 when it comes to the impact of our diets, 1490 01:15:18,931 --> 01:15:22,701 we can eat plant foods instead of animal foods. 1491 01:15:22,751 --> 01:15:25,721 Changing our diets is absolutely one of the most 1492 01:15:25,771 --> 01:15:28,051 impactful actions we can take, 1493 01:15:28,101 --> 01:15:30,111 and unlike many other issues, 1494 01:15:30,161 --> 01:15:34,071 this one is completely within our control. 1495 01:15:34,121 --> 01:15:37,751 And we can start immediately with our very next meal. 1496 01:15:37,801 --> 01:15:39,731 - So, I've been vegan for 31 years, 1497 01:15:39,781 --> 01:15:41,451 and when I first went vegan, 1498 01:15:41,501 --> 01:15:43,601 I was making $2,000 a year, 1499 01:15:43,651 --> 01:15:45,851 and I was living in an abandoned factory 1500 01:15:45,901 --> 01:15:47,601 in a crack neighborhood. 1501 01:15:47,651 --> 01:15:49,811 And I ate really well. 1502 01:15:49,861 --> 01:15:54,861 Grains, you know, like rice, oats, beans, vegetables, 1503 01:15:55,501 --> 01:15:58,117 fruits, nuts, seeds. 1504 01:15:58,167 --> 01:16:00,201 - Do you really think they can figure out how to farm 1505 01:16:00,251 --> 01:16:01,894 so much food with so little water? 1506 01:16:01,944 --> 01:16:04,861 - Why are you so mad me, I didn't cause this? 1507 01:16:04,911 --> 01:16:06,641 - You just take what you want, when you want it, 1508 01:16:06,691 --> 01:16:08,312 and you don't care who you hurt. 1509 01:16:08,362 --> 01:16:11,112 (dramatic music) 1510 01:16:16,971 --> 01:16:19,811 - As a physician, I can tell you that a sensible 1511 01:16:19,861 --> 01:16:23,411 balanced vegan diet also happens to be very healthy. 1512 01:16:23,461 --> 01:16:27,021 We can easily get all the protein we need from plants. 1513 01:16:27,071 --> 01:16:30,251 And when we eat plant foods, we also get fiber, 1514 01:16:30,301 --> 01:16:34,771 antioxidants and phytonutrients, which promote health. 1515 01:16:34,821 --> 01:16:37,881 And this is just one of the reasons why so many health 1516 01:16:37,931 --> 01:16:40,081 authorities are promoting vegan diets. 1517 01:16:40,131 --> 01:16:43,031 For example, Harvard's Healthy Eating Pyramid 1518 01:16:43,081 --> 01:16:44,581 says, "go with plants" 1519 01:16:44,631 --> 01:16:47,231 "Eating a plant-based diet is healthiest." 1520 01:16:47,281 --> 01:16:50,491 Kaiser Permanente, one of the largest health organizations 1521 01:16:50,541 --> 01:16:53,484 in the country, is looking for ways to make plant-based 1522 01:16:53,534 --> 01:16:57,193 diets the "new normal" for their patients and employees. 1523 01:16:57,243 --> 01:17:00,151 The recent chair of Harvard's Department of Nutrition, 1524 01:17:00,201 --> 01:17:03,391 Dr Walter Willett, recommends you "Pick the best 1525 01:17:03,441 --> 01:17:07,318 "protein packages by emphasizing plant sources of protein" 1526 01:17:07,368 --> 01:17:09,671 rather than animal sources." 1527 01:17:09,721 --> 01:17:12,551 Dr Kim Williams, recent president of the American 1528 01:17:12,601 --> 01:17:15,238 College of Cardiology, vigorously recommends 1529 01:17:15,288 --> 01:17:18,781 a plant-based vegan diet to both his patients 1530 01:17:18,831 --> 01:17:21,531 and to physicians over all other diets 1531 01:17:21,581 --> 01:17:23,741 for optimum nutrition and health. 1532 01:17:23,791 --> 01:17:25,988 - There probably are some really good 1533 01:17:26,038 --> 01:17:27,331 things about the vegetables and fruits. 1534 01:17:27,381 --> 01:17:29,801 You know, it's antioxidants and 1535 01:17:29,851 --> 01:17:34,401 it's vitamins and it's nutrients and fiber. 1536 01:17:34,451 --> 01:17:35,771 That may be all well and good, 1537 01:17:35,821 --> 01:17:37,801 but it might just be that animals are so bad for you 1538 01:17:37,851 --> 01:17:40,571 that in eating anything else that could nutrify you 1539 01:17:40,621 --> 01:17:41,916 without eating an animal, 1540 01:17:41,966 --> 01:17:43,941 is probably going to show up better. 1541 01:17:43,991 --> 01:17:46,571 - Even the largest organization of food and nutrition 1542 01:17:46,621 --> 01:17:50,121 professionals in the US, the Academy of Nutrition and 1543 01:17:50,171 --> 01:17:53,401 Dietetics, has long held their official position 1544 01:17:53,451 --> 01:17:55,891 that balanced vegan diets are healthy, 1545 01:17:55,941 --> 01:17:59,161 nutritionally adequate and appropriate for individuals 1546 01:17:59,211 --> 01:18:02,261 during all stages of life, including pregnancy, 1547 01:18:02,311 --> 01:18:07,311 lactation, infancy, older adulthood, and for athletes. 1548 01:18:07,491 --> 01:18:10,621 - And only thing you know I always want to emphasize, 1549 01:18:10,671 --> 01:18:14,051 that people just don't survive on a plant-based diet, 1550 01:18:14,101 --> 01:18:15,371 they thrive. 1551 01:18:15,421 --> 01:18:18,891 Actually, the recent Olympics that happened in Rio 1552 01:18:18,941 --> 01:18:23,431 the only US male athlete who qualified for 1553 01:18:23,481 --> 01:18:27,311 weightlifting from the US was vegan. 1554 01:18:27,361 --> 01:18:30,911 Scott Jurek, the runner who broke the record for the 1555 01:18:30,961 --> 01:18:33,094 Appalachian Trail is vegan. 1556 01:18:35,361 --> 01:18:37,601 - My name is Josh LaJuanie. 1557 01:18:37,651 --> 01:18:41,671 I am from south Louisiana, a small town call Thibodaux, 1558 01:18:41,721 --> 01:18:45,161 which is about 50 miles southwest of New Orleans. 1559 01:18:45,211 --> 01:18:47,341 That's where I grew up, huntin' and fishin' 1560 01:18:47,391 --> 01:18:49,854 and doin' all the normal country folk stuff. 1561 01:18:51,241 --> 01:18:54,721 Found myself weighing 420ish pounds 1562 01:18:54,771 --> 01:18:57,131 by the time I was 32 year old. 1563 01:18:57,181 --> 01:19:00,935 Never though veganism would ever be a thing in my life 1564 01:19:00,985 --> 01:19:03,331 as hunter, as a fisherman, as a football player, 1565 01:19:03,381 --> 01:19:08,041 as a stereotypical macho country boy, 1566 01:19:08,091 --> 01:19:11,821 with a four wheel drive pickup truck and a shotgun. 1567 01:19:11,871 --> 01:19:14,353 I would have never imagined being vegan at all-- 1568 01:19:14,403 --> 01:19:16,163 - [Megyn] No meat, whatsoever, you don't eat anything-- 1569 01:19:16,213 --> 01:19:16,996 - No, no, no. - [Megyn] Do any of you guys 1570 01:19:17,046 --> 01:19:17,829 still eat meat? 1571 01:19:17,879 --> 01:19:19,821 - [Megyn] Nothing? - No, zero, or dairy. 1572 01:19:19,871 --> 01:19:22,111 - It has changed my life, 1573 01:19:22,161 --> 01:19:24,261 I've learned a lot in the process, 1574 01:19:24,311 --> 01:19:26,761 and ultimately what wound up happening is, 1575 01:19:26,811 --> 01:19:30,371 I lost 230 pounds and I have become an 1576 01:19:30,421 --> 01:19:32,841 ultra-marathoner myself. 1577 01:19:32,891 --> 01:19:35,901 - So Josh LaJaunie is a tremendous athlete. 1578 01:19:35,951 --> 01:19:39,501 I mean, he doesn't run marathons, which is 26.2 miles, 1579 01:19:39,551 --> 01:19:43,431 he runs races that are 50 miles, 100 miles. 1580 01:19:43,481 --> 01:19:45,716 And all powered by plants. 1581 01:19:45,766 --> 01:19:50,766 - When people ask me where I get my protein, 1582 01:19:53,541 --> 01:19:56,841 my very simple answer is food. 1583 01:19:56,891 --> 01:19:59,141 - We get all the protein we need from plants. 1584 01:19:59,191 --> 01:20:01,891 In fact, plants can actually provide us really 1585 01:20:01,941 --> 01:20:03,771 excessive amounts of protein, 1586 01:20:03,821 --> 01:20:05,781 and this is something a lot of people don't realize. 1587 01:20:05,831 --> 01:20:07,991 They think protein is only from animals. 1588 01:20:08,041 --> 01:20:10,581 Plant-foods is where all the health is. 1589 01:20:10,631 --> 01:20:12,781 - Plants have an abundant protein. 1590 01:20:12,831 --> 01:20:15,501 And not just that, getting protein from plants 1591 01:20:15,551 --> 01:20:17,151 is healthier for us. 1592 01:20:17,201 --> 01:20:18,845 It doesn't come with the saturated fat, 1593 01:20:18,895 --> 01:20:22,251 or cholesterol and oxidants 1594 01:20:22,301 --> 01:20:25,181 and things that give us more inflammation, 1595 01:20:25,231 --> 01:20:28,341 or are otherwise detrimental to the health. 1596 01:20:28,391 --> 01:20:30,871 - [Sofia] I think it's also worth mentioning that physicians 1597 01:20:30,921 --> 01:20:33,641 have also been able to reverse cardiovascular disease 1598 01:20:33,691 --> 01:20:35,231 with a plant-based diet. 1599 01:20:35,281 --> 01:20:38,581 The formation of cholesterol plaques inside our vessels 1600 01:20:38,631 --> 01:20:43,261 is ubiquitous on a western diet, and cardiovascular disease 1601 01:20:43,311 --> 01:20:45,860 is the leading cause of death. 1602 01:20:45,910 --> 01:20:47,934 So, it is the most common reason 1603 01:20:47,984 --> 01:20:50,433 for adult men and women to die. 1604 01:20:50,483 --> 01:20:52,741 And these cholesterol plaques start 1605 01:20:52,791 --> 01:20:55,651 forming very early in our lives, 1606 01:20:55,701 --> 01:20:58,501 even though the actual heart attacks and strokes usually 1607 01:20:58,551 --> 01:21:01,331 don't start happening until we hit middle age. 1608 01:21:01,381 --> 01:21:04,539 - We know, from autopsies 1609 01:21:04,589 --> 01:21:08,306 that kids as young as 10, 11 years old, 1610 01:21:08,356 --> 01:21:10,231 who die of other causes, 1611 01:21:10,281 --> 01:21:13,601 when autopsies are done, they already have plaque 1612 01:21:13,651 --> 01:21:15,851 buildup in their arteries. 1613 01:21:15,901 --> 01:21:17,621 - It's obscenely common. 1614 01:21:17,671 --> 01:21:21,311 There are pathology studies of 12 to 14 1615 01:21:21,361 --> 01:21:25,188 year old kids in the US who died for reasons 1616 01:21:25,238 --> 01:21:27,161 unrelated to heart disease, 1617 01:21:27,211 --> 01:21:31,781 but about 65% of those 12 to 14 1618 01:21:31,831 --> 01:21:34,761 year olds have early signs of cholesterol disease 1619 01:21:34,811 --> 01:21:38,171 in the blood vessels that feed their hearts with blood. 1620 01:21:38,221 --> 01:21:40,301 - [Sofia] This military study, for example, 1621 01:21:40,351 --> 01:21:42,851 looked at the autopsies of American soldiers 1622 01:21:42,901 --> 01:21:45,501 who died in combat in the Korean War 1623 01:21:45,551 --> 01:21:49,991 with an average age of 22, and it found that 77% 1624 01:21:50,041 --> 01:21:52,791 of the soldiers already had plaques 1625 01:21:52,841 --> 01:21:55,111 of cholesterol in their arteries. 1626 01:21:55,161 --> 01:21:58,941 So even if you look amazing and very fit on the outside, 1627 01:21:58,991 --> 01:22:00,941 if you're eating a western diet, 1628 01:22:00,991 --> 01:22:04,271 your vessels still probably have cholesterol plaques 1629 01:22:04,321 --> 01:22:07,241 that will keep accumulating and getting bigger 1630 01:22:07,291 --> 01:22:11,301 and could ultimately result in a heart attack or a stroke. 1631 01:22:11,351 --> 01:22:13,451 - If you're eating a western diet, 1632 01:22:13,501 --> 01:22:15,364 you're going to have heart disease. 1633 01:22:16,431 --> 01:22:19,560 - When you look at randomized controlled trials, 1634 01:22:19,610 --> 01:22:22,351 really the only pattern of eating that's been shown 1635 01:22:22,401 --> 01:22:24,131 to reverse heart disease, for example, 1636 01:22:24,181 --> 01:22:25,481 is a plant-based diet, 1637 01:22:25,531 --> 01:22:27,451 one that doesn't have animal products. 1638 01:22:27,501 --> 01:22:30,071 - [Sofia] That's right, this ubiquitous disease, 1639 01:22:30,121 --> 01:22:34,077 that is our number one killer, has actually been reversed 1640 01:22:34,127 --> 01:22:36,141 with a plant-based diet. 1641 01:22:36,191 --> 01:22:38,951 As an example, here's a published case study from the 1642 01:22:39,001 --> 01:22:41,561 Cleveland Clinic Foundation of a patient 1643 01:22:41,611 --> 01:22:45,205 who had a heart attack and was treated with nothing but 1644 01:22:45,255 --> 01:22:48,551 a plant-based vegan diet, with no stints 1645 01:22:48,601 --> 01:22:50,731 or cholesterol lowering medication, 1646 01:22:50,781 --> 01:22:55,641 and he was able to completely reverse the disease, 1647 01:22:55,691 --> 01:22:59,524 to open up the clogged arteries going to his heart. 1648 01:23:00,821 --> 01:23:04,111 There is also a lot of compelling data in the published 1649 01:23:04,161 --> 01:23:07,161 literature that points to plant-based diets being 1650 01:23:07,211 --> 01:23:09,701 helpful in the prevention of cancer. 1651 01:23:09,751 --> 01:23:13,091 For example, scientists with Memorial Sloan-Kettering 1652 01:23:13,141 --> 01:23:16,711 Cancer Center and others literally took petri dishes 1653 01:23:16,761 --> 01:23:19,931 filled with cancer cells and poured blood from people 1654 01:23:19,981 --> 01:23:23,151 following a plant-based diet into one petri dish 1655 01:23:23,201 --> 01:23:26,271 and blood from people following a regular western diet 1656 01:23:26,321 --> 01:23:29,731 into another petri dish to see who's blood could fight 1657 01:23:29,781 --> 01:23:32,251 off the cancer cells better. 1658 01:23:32,301 --> 01:23:36,111 They found that blood from those eating a plant-based diet 1659 01:23:36,161 --> 01:23:40,111 inhibited cancer cell growth by 70%. 1660 01:23:40,161 --> 01:23:43,561 But the blood of those eating a regular western diet 1661 01:23:43,611 --> 01:23:48,411 only inhibited cancer cell grown by a mere 9%. 1662 01:23:48,461 --> 01:23:51,611 So the blood of those following a plant-based diet 1663 01:23:51,661 --> 01:23:54,501 was almost eight times more powerful 1664 01:23:54,551 --> 01:23:56,777 at inhibiting the growth of cancer cells. 1665 01:23:56,827 --> 01:24:00,261 (knife taps on cutting board) 1666 01:24:00,311 --> 01:24:02,791 - The animal protein itself has been closely linked 1667 01:24:02,841 --> 01:24:06,171 to increased production of IGF-1, 1668 01:24:06,221 --> 01:24:08,111 insulin-like growth factor. 1669 01:24:08,161 --> 01:24:10,941 Which is very closely tied to cancer. 1670 01:24:10,991 --> 01:24:12,831 - [Sofia] Yes, among other things, 1671 01:24:12,881 --> 01:24:14,371 one of the mechanisms by which 1672 01:24:14,421 --> 01:24:17,371 animal protein is thought to increase cancer risk 1673 01:24:17,421 --> 01:24:20,391 is something called IGF-1, 1674 01:24:20,441 --> 01:24:24,314 - IGF-1 is insulin-like growth factor one. 1675 01:24:25,641 --> 01:24:28,741 It's a growth factor, it causes things to grow, 1676 01:24:28,791 --> 01:24:31,892 good and bad, including cancer cells. 1677 01:24:31,942 --> 01:24:35,801 It is something that we do not want too much of, 1678 01:24:35,851 --> 01:24:39,631 in our body. However, animal foods 1679 01:24:39,681 --> 01:24:43,501 increase our levels of IGF-1 by two mechanism. 1680 01:24:43,551 --> 01:24:47,331 One, animal foods have IGF-1 in them, 1681 01:24:47,381 --> 01:24:51,631 so when we ingest animal foods, we ingest IGF-1. 1682 01:24:51,681 --> 01:24:56,591 And two, animals foods cause us to produce 1683 01:24:56,641 --> 01:24:58,841 more IGF-1 though our own liver. 1684 01:24:58,891 --> 01:25:02,111 - Eating these animal foods or animal protein, 1685 01:25:02,161 --> 01:25:05,501 actually revs up the enzymes in our liver, 1686 01:25:05,551 --> 01:25:08,244 that your body produces additional IGF-1. 1687 01:25:09,263 --> 01:25:11,871 So if you have a cancer, and we all have cancers 1688 01:25:11,921 --> 01:25:13,701 floating in our blood stream, 1689 01:25:13,751 --> 01:25:16,891 our immune system is constantly recognizing these 1690 01:25:16,941 --> 01:25:19,771 cancer cells and taking them out. 1691 01:25:19,821 --> 01:25:24,821 What IGF-1 does, it makes these cancer cells grow faster. 1692 01:25:25,321 --> 01:25:27,331 It makes them proliferate. 1693 01:25:27,381 --> 01:25:30,161 It makes them easier to metastasize. 1694 01:25:30,211 --> 01:25:33,041 So it helps in the inception of cancer, 1695 01:25:33,091 --> 01:25:36,691 in the growth of cancer, and in the spread of cancer. 1696 01:25:36,741 --> 01:25:39,451 - [Sofia] There's also a direct relationship between some 1697 01:25:39,501 --> 01:25:42,701 cancers and the problematic hormonal content that is 1698 01:25:42,751 --> 01:25:45,201 found in meat and in dairy. 1699 01:25:45,251 --> 01:25:48,921 - Dairy naturally has hormones. So even if the 1700 01:25:48,971 --> 01:25:51,811 packages say no added hormones, 1701 01:25:51,861 --> 01:25:53,281 they can't say no hormones, 1702 01:25:53,331 --> 01:25:55,791 they can only say no added hormones. 1703 01:25:55,841 --> 01:25:59,474 Milk is produced when a cow has just given birth to a baby. 1704 01:26:00,521 --> 01:26:02,931 A cow is no different than any other mammal. 1705 01:26:02,981 --> 01:26:06,351 There are a lot of hormones when a cow has just given birth. 1706 01:26:06,401 --> 01:26:08,461 - [Sofia] Dairy contains large amounts of 1707 01:26:08,511 --> 01:26:12,291 female sex hormones, like estrogens and progesterone. 1708 01:26:12,341 --> 01:26:15,391 And that includes milk labeled as organic 1709 01:26:15,441 --> 01:26:17,471 or no hormones added. 1710 01:26:17,521 --> 01:26:21,751 Remember, those labels only mean no hormones were added, 1711 01:26:21,801 --> 01:26:24,051 which is kind of misleading because, 1712 01:26:24,101 --> 01:26:27,021 regardless of whether hormones were added or not, 1713 01:26:27,071 --> 01:26:31,391 milk still contains all the hormones that are naturally 1714 01:26:31,441 --> 01:26:33,021 produced by the cows. 1715 01:26:33,071 --> 01:26:36,281 Even pediatricians have expressed concerns 1716 01:26:36,331 --> 01:26:39,281 that "Sexual maturation of prepubertal children" 1717 01:26:39,331 --> 01:26:43,541 "could be affected by the ordinary intake of cow milk." 1718 01:26:43,591 --> 01:26:47,241 This study examined the rate of female hormone related 1719 01:26:47,291 --> 01:26:50,648 cancers in 40 countries and found that 1720 01:26:50,698 --> 01:26:53,631 "milk plus cheese make the greatest contribution to the" 1721 01:26:53,681 --> 01:26:56,481 "incidence of ovarian cancer" and that 1722 01:26:56,531 --> 01:26:59,801 "milk plus cheese make the most significant contribution" 1723 01:26:59,851 --> 01:27:02,641 to the incidence of uterine cancers. 1724 01:27:02,691 --> 01:27:05,731 They said among dietary risk factors, 1725 01:27:05,781 --> 01:27:09,491 "we are most concerned with milk and dairy products" 1726 01:27:09,541 --> 01:27:13,831 because their estrogen and progesterone levels are so high. 1727 01:27:13,881 --> 01:27:16,991 As noted in this review published by Johns Hopkins 1728 01:27:17,041 --> 01:27:19,790 School of Public Health, dairy is actually 1729 01:27:19,840 --> 01:27:24,331 "one of the most consistent dietary predictors" 1730 01:27:24,381 --> 01:27:26,164 "for prostate cancer" 1731 01:27:26,214 --> 01:27:29,663 that exists in the published literature. 1732 01:27:32,941 --> 01:27:36,871 - I do not recommend my patients to eat fish. 1733 01:27:36,921 --> 01:27:40,991 Fish is an animal food, just like eggs and dairy and meat, 1734 01:27:41,041 --> 01:27:43,461 and hence it's high in saturated fat, 1735 01:27:43,511 --> 01:27:45,181 it's high in cholesterol, 1736 01:27:45,231 --> 01:27:48,271 and it also raises our IGF-1 levels. 1737 01:27:48,321 --> 01:27:51,531 - When you're eating fish, you're getting mercury, 1738 01:27:51,581 --> 01:27:54,281 you're getting plastics, you're getting dioxins, 1739 01:27:54,331 --> 01:27:56,331 you're getting so many heavy metals. 1740 01:27:56,381 --> 01:27:58,351 - There are plenty plant-based sources of 1741 01:27:58,401 --> 01:27:59,861 Omega-3 fatty acids. 1742 01:27:59,911 --> 01:28:04,251 Without having to deal with the unhealthy aspects of fish. 1743 01:28:04,301 --> 01:28:07,694 - So there you get the Omega-3s, the healthy fats, 1744 01:28:07,744 --> 01:28:09,711 but you don't get the mercury, 1745 01:28:09,761 --> 01:28:11,201 you don't get the heavy metal, 1746 01:28:11,251 --> 01:28:13,291 you don't get the dioxins. 1747 01:28:13,341 --> 01:28:16,251 And this way, you know you're being healthy, 1748 01:28:16,301 --> 01:28:18,081 you're being kind to the environment, 1749 01:28:18,131 --> 01:28:20,631 kind to the oceans, kind to the fish. 1750 01:28:20,681 --> 01:28:23,291 And you're being also kind to your own body. 1751 01:28:23,341 --> 01:28:27,401 - The bottom line is, for those of us with access to food, 1752 01:28:27,451 --> 01:28:30,091 other than our adopted habits and convenience, 1753 01:28:30,141 --> 01:28:33,261 there's no good reason for consuming animal foods. 1754 01:28:33,311 --> 01:28:36,991 Collectively, we're not only imposing unnecessary suffering 1755 01:28:37,041 --> 01:28:39,301 and death on billions of animals, 1756 01:28:39,351 --> 01:28:41,681 we're also devastating the environment that 1757 01:28:41,731 --> 01:28:43,199 supports us all. 1758 01:28:43,249 --> 01:28:45,999 (dramatic music) 1759 01:28:48,461 --> 01:28:51,811 Our planet is special and it is quite literally 1760 01:28:51,861 --> 01:28:54,551 the only home we have. 1761 01:28:54,601 --> 01:28:57,081 This may sound obvious, but really, 1762 01:28:57,131 --> 01:28:58,694 shouldn't we take care of it? 1763 01:28:59,881 --> 01:29:03,291 Let's do whatever we can to preserve and protect 1764 01:29:03,341 --> 01:29:06,711 the only home and the only other companions 1765 01:29:06,761 --> 01:29:10,054 in the universe we have ever know. 1766 01:29:10,104 --> 01:29:12,854 (dramatic music) 1767 01:29:44,382 --> 01:29:49,382 ♪ Now that you're gone ♪ 1768 01:29:49,639 --> 01:29:54,264 ♪ The dawn comes ♪ 1769 01:29:54,314 --> 01:29:58,185 ♪ Now that you're gone ♪ 1770 01:29:58,235 --> 01:30:01,216 ♪ The sun ♪ 1771 01:30:01,266 --> 01:30:04,035 ♪ Will be ♪ 1772 01:30:04,085 --> 01:30:07,951 ♪ No more ♪ 1773 01:30:08,001 --> 01:30:11,258 ♪ The sun ♪ 1774 01:30:11,308 --> 01:30:14,111 ♪ Will be ♪ 1775 01:30:14,161 --> 01:30:19,161 ♪ No more ♪ 1776 01:30:21,559 --> 01:30:24,175 ♪ Will be ♪ 1777 01:30:24,225 --> 01:30:26,392 ♪ No more ♪ 1778 01:30:55,009 --> 01:31:00,009 ♪ Now that you're gone ♪ 1779 01:31:00,352 --> 01:31:05,092 ♪ The dawn comes ♪ 1780 01:31:05,142 --> 01:31:08,778 ♪ Now that you're gone ♪ 1781 01:31:08,828 --> 01:31:12,114 ♪ The sun ♪ 1782 01:31:12,164 --> 01:31:14,861 ♪ Will be ♪ 1783 01:31:14,911 --> 01:31:19,911 ♪ No more ♪ 1784 01:31:21,272 --> 01:31:24,020 ♪ The sun ♪ 1785 01:31:24,070 --> 01:31:26,829 ♪ Will be ♪ 1786 01:31:26,879 --> 01:31:30,714 ♪ No more ♪ 1787 01:31:30,764 --> 01:31:34,148 ♪ The sun ♪ 1788 01:31:34,198 --> 01:31:36,942 ♪ Will be ♪ 1789 01:31:36,992 --> 01:31:41,992 ♪ No more ♪ 1790 01:31:44,381 --> 01:31:46,701 ♪ Will be ♪ 1791 01:31:46,751 --> 01:31:51,751 ♪ No more ♪ 1792 01:31:54,487 --> 01:31:56,768 ♪ Will be ♪ 1793 01:31:56,818 --> 01:32:01,818 ♪ No more ♪ 1794 01:32:03,865 --> 01:32:08,538 ♪ No more ♪ 1795 01:32:08,588 --> 01:32:10,755 ♪ No more ♪ 1796 01:32:18,634 --> 01:32:23,634 ♪ The sun ♪ 1797 01:32:24,771 --> 01:32:28,381 ♪ Will be ♪ 1798 01:32:28,431 --> 01:32:33,431 ♪ No more ♪ 1799 01:32:33,790 --> 01:32:37,227 ♪ Will be ♪ 1800 01:32:37,277 --> 01:32:39,444 ♪ No more ♪