Michael Nash and Justin Hogan's documentary shifts the climate change debate away from meteorological considerations and into a political and economic framework, arguing that what's at stake here ultimately is the security of all nations, especially islands and countries with large numbers of inhabitants living along coastlines. Inland dwellers are not safe either, however, due to flooding riverbanks in some areas coupled with droughts and desertification elsewhere. Violent shifts in weather can destroy economies and create new waves of refugees, sparking humanitarian crises that cannot be easily addressed due to the sheer numbers of the displaced. Delivering predictions that hundreds of millions of people will be forced to flee by mid-century, Climate Refugees serves up a dire warning, but—not surprisingly—offers little in the way of viable solutions. A number of scientists weigh in here—effectively providing context for the extensive footage of various populations already suffering—as do a somewhat bewildering collection of unlikely notables, including (for no clear reason) Sen. John Kerry, Rep. Nancy Pelosi, and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich. Still, Climate Refugees is a powerful documentary that should spark significant debate on the human consequences of our changing climate. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (P. Hall)
Climate Refugees
(2010) 86 min. DVD: $89: high schools & public libraries; $295: colleges & universities. Climate Refugees (dist. by The Video Project). PPR. Closed captioned. Volume 26, Issue 5
Climate Refugees
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