Formidable star power fuels this nine-part Showtime-aired series on climate change and global warming. Harrison Ford visits Indonesia, where corrupt, greedy government officials consent to the slashing and burning of forests to allow for the harvesting of paper and palm oil. Former governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (one of the series producers) joins the firefighting "hot shots" who confront wildfires, which are now a year-round hazard. Don Cheadle looks at the effects of drought on small Western towns. New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman illustrates how water shortages contributed to the Syrian Civil War, unrest in Yemen, and the frustrations voiced in the "Arab Spring." But in spite of all this, many people—particularly conservative evangelicals—feel that humans have little or no role in global warming, while lobbyists even make claims that climate change is beneficial. Years of Living Dangerously also covers natural gas fracking (pros and cons), wind power, and the increasing number and severity of heat waves—a "silent killer" of old and young alike. Perhaps the most compelling segment here is hosted by Michael C. Hall (Dexter), who visits Bangladesh's Dhaka—the world's fastest growing city—where huge numbers flock as they are pushed off the country's low-lying land by rising sea levels. The series ominously notes that the fate of Bangladesh may eventually confront all of us. Despite the on-camera presence of Matt Damon, Jessica Alba, America Ferrera, and others, this is not a Hollywood elitist piece, but rather a hard-hitting, thought-provoking documentary series featuring interviews with President Obama, Secretary of State John Kerry, and several scientists calling for action who say that "we must use this time wisely." DVD extras include over three hours of bonus material. Highly recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (S. Rees)
Years of Living Dangerously
(2014) 5 discs. 540 min. DVD: $55.99. Showtime Networks (avail. from www.amazon.com). SDH captioned. Volume 30, Issue 1
Years of Living Dangerously
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