Arctic Circle

Through history, the idea of intervening with nature to alter the earth’s climate isn’t brand new. From as early as 1836, scientists have proposed numerous ideas in doing so. There have been concepts to enhance precipitation by lighting enormous fires towards the sky that was believed to capture and store carbon dioxide, benefiting climate change. Another proposal suggested the set up of huge mirrors in space to reflect and block out sunlight from the earth in attempts to lower temperatures. Blasting skyrockets with sulfur into the stratosphere was also a plan to create a protective and cooling blanket-like form for the earth. The most recent project focuses on the capture and storage of carbon by suffusing large parts of the ocean with iron ore. This is assumed to increase the levels of plankton that capture carbon dioxide and takes this element into the depths of the ocean with their deaths. Other methods of capturing carbon dioxide are through power stations, gas flues, and synthetic trees.

It’s not a surprise hearing about how screwed we are when it comes to our environment. So many groups and organizations are trying hard to instill in our young minds that there’s something we can do to make a difference. Although the number of listed ideas is derived from brilliant engineers and scientists, my simple mind wants a simple task to handle in helping our environment.

A while ago, I discovered a music video filmed two hundred miles north of the Arctic Circle by a town, Illulisat, known for its icebergs. There were no green screens used and footage was 100% actual in the project. The beautiful video captured the exotic yet endangered wilderness that’s quickly vanishing because of our abuse of the planet. The project educated and reached out to viewers that it’s not our right to try to do what we can to help our earth but our responsibility to do so. Change is better late than never. In addition, viewers are informed that, “emissions from the energy consumed in connection with producing video were offset using Solar Energy Certificates purchased from the Bonneville Environmental Foundation. The certificates support enough solar energy to offset approximately 250,000 Kilowatt-hours, or 350,000 pounds of CO2 emissions – the approximate emissions reduction equivalent of planting 46 acres of trees or not driving 36 cars for one year.”

The band of the music video worked not only as musicians, but also as designers. The idea to film in an area where the melting of icebergs could be clearly heard underneath your feet was viewed ridiculous. Times over and over again, the members were told to trash the idea and use green screens to depict the same images. After much thought, the band ultimately decided that doing something was better than doing nothing and complaining about it. Hearing the facts was different from experiencing them. Through twists and turns, the band finally visited one of the many endangered parts of our world affected by global warming to go forth with their ‘impossible’ project. They concluded to producing an amazing art piece that proved no opportunity unachievable, while addressing a key issue that successfully reached the youth.

The video was inspiring, in that, the unfortunate truths about our present and future can be handled in ways other than slamming threatening facts in our faces. Much of what we usually hear is, “if you continue to do this, this will happen. Ugliness.” The video, on the other hand, shows the beautiful reality that we will forever lose if we don’t act differently soon. Design can push further than graphs and slideshows of poorly taken images to get the message across. Instead of blunt statistics, the video was designed to share our bare, future losses. It eliminated the bonus features and reported the simple truth.

Catherine