World Environment Day: Watch a Movie, Save the Earth?

Normally, for an event like World Environment Day, we'd advise actually heading into the environment over staring at a screen. But photographer and activist Yann Arthus-Bertrand's documentary Home debuts  today. Created with the goal of inspiring action, it makes for a good starting point. Catch it at 9 p.m. tonight on the National Geographic Channel.

Arthus-Bertrand, famous for his aerial-photograph book, Earth From Above, uses aerial video to tell the story of our planet from its birth to present day. To illustrate the force of mankind's impact, imgages of sprawling urban housing, massive parking lots, and farmers spraying crops juxtapose with hypnotic images of the earth's ancient, natural processes. The concepts are not new -- but the change of perspective is striking, and perhaps enough to enhance understanding and appreciation of our current situation.

“In 200,000 years on earth, humanity has upset the balance of the planet,” says the film’s website. “The price to pay is high, but it’s too late to be a pessimist.”

The film has a simple message: This is our home, here’s what we’ve done to it, and now is the time to act. To that end, Home’s producers, who describe it not as a movie but as “a major event,” are releasing the film on the UN’s World Environment Day. In addition to being on TV, Home will screen in open-air venues and cinemas worldwide today -- click here to find the location nearest to you, or watch it on Youtube. And, thanks to the PPR Group's financial support, the film screens for little or no cost to the viewer. 

--Jamie Hansen