Show notes
Some environmentalists don’t want you to see Planet of the Humans, the new documentary executive produced by Michael Moore, which raises important questions about what we’re being told by renewable energy advocates. The film’s producer/director and narrator, at one point tells the audience:
“It was becoming clear that what we had been calling green, renewable energy, and industrial civilization are one and the same – desperate measures not to save the planet, but to save our way of life.”
Some have accused the filmmakers of racism simply because the film raises the issue of overpopulation. This interview sound bite from respected Post Carbon Institute fellow Richard Heinberg is typical of the film’s messaging about overshoot and overpopulation:
“There are too many human beings, using too much, too fast.”
There’s nothing racist about that statement, but many wanting to defend renewable energy have gone way over the top in their efforts to discredit the film. Planet of the Humans makes some very important points, which were in danger of getting lost in the controversy, so we put together a webinar to explore what value can be taken from the film.
You can view the entire webinar on the World Population Balance YouTube channel (see links below). Or, you can listen to it in this episode of The Overpopulation Podcast as you work, commute, exercise or cook dinner.
The panelists will be continuing the conversation begun at this webinar, which we’ll share as the next episode of The Overpopulation Podcast. Subscribe so you don’t miss it.
The Panel:
Kristine MattisAn interdisciplinary environmental scholar with a background in Biology and Earth System Science, Kristine has worked as a medical researcher, a science reporter for the congressional record in the U.S. House of Representatives, and a science teacher. She holds a PhD in Environment and Resources. Her writing encompasses issues of social and environmental justice, public health, risk, and science.
Brian CzechExecutive director of the Center for the Advancement of the Steady State Economy (CASSE). With a Ph.D. in renewable natural resources, his specialties intersect ecological economics, conservation biology, and public policy. The author of several books, Czech recently edited Best of The Daly News: Selected Essays from the Leading Blog in Steady State Economics.
Dave GardnerCo-host of the GrowthBusters podcast about sustainable living; co-host of The Overpopulation Podcast; director of the documentary GrowthBusters: Hooked on Growth; host of the syndicated radio series, Conversation Earth; and executive director of World Population Balance.
Erika AriasCo-host of the GrowthBusters podcast about sustainable living; co-host of The Overpopulation Podcast; Programs & Engagement Coordinator for World Population Balance, and a childfree researcher and advocate
LINKS:
Planet of the Humans film
Planet of the Humans: a Sequel webinar video replay on YouTube
World Population Balance
One Planet, One Child Billboard Campaign
GrowthBusters
GrowthBusters podcast about sustainable living
Center for the Advancement of the Steady State Economy
Fact Check at Planet of the Humans Website
Full and Sustainable Employment Act (post in Steady State Herald)
The Real Green New Deal Project
Green New Deal
Panelists’ reviews of Planet of the Humans:
The Inconvenient Truth of Planet of the Humans – by Dave Gardner
Climate Crisis: Our Ecological Dysfunction Has a Marketing Problem (and it’s not Michael Moore) – by Kristine Mattis
Planet of the Humans Puts Sacred Cows Out to Pasture – by Brian Czech
Other Insightful Reviews:
Sequence Matters – by Herman Daly
Review: Planet of the Humans – by Richard Heinberg
The Overpopulation Podcast is produced by World Population Balance, a non-profit organization committed to alerting and educating that overpopulation is the root cause of resource depletion, species extinction, poverty, and climate change. Our mission is to chart a path for human civilization that – rather than causing greater misery – enables good lives on a healthy planet. We advocate and support a smaller, truly sustainable human population – through dramatic and voluntary reduction in birth rates.
We envision a world where no one suffers in dire poverty and misery for lack of enough food, water, and other basic needs. We see a world where all species thrive and where lower consumption and population are in balance with Earth’s finite resources.
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