11 documentaries that serve the Earth well

#1 “Years of Living Dangerously” - global climate change through the eyes of celebrities

The series, produced for National Geographic and Showtime by such stars as James Cameron and Arnold Schwarzenegger, is a must for anyone to whom the welfare of the planet is nothing strange. The series consists of seventeen, hour-long episodes, presented in two series. Here you will find topics such as global warming, rising sea levels, deforestation and ocean pollution. Among our guides around the globe are stars such as Harrison Ford, Jessica Alba, Matt Damon and Sigourney Weaver.

YOU CAN WATCH IT ON:

• iTunes
• Amazon
• Films for Action / (one episode)

Project website: You will find a lot of additional materials and content that broaden the theme of the show.

#2&3 “Before the flood” i “Ice on fire” - Leonardo DiCaprio in the battle for the planet

When it comes to stars and their commitment to protecting the planet, one name definitely stands out from the crowd of others. Leonardo DiCaprio's first film on ecological themes was produced back in 2007 - "The 11th Hour" (you can see it on Google Play), but it's other two titles that made his name synonymous with ecology.

Both in Martin Scorsese's 2016 "Before the Flood" and in 2019's "Ice on Fire" directed by Leila Conners (who is also the brains behind "The 11th Hour") DiCaprio travels around the world looking for the answer to the question: is it too late? Has humanity missed a moment when changes are irreversible? Fortunately, in addition to difficult questions, there are also specific answers that can help us change the world.

YOU CAN WATCH IT ON:

• “Before the flood”: Films for Action
• “Ice on fire”: HBO GO  

#4 “Cowspiracy” - which is what meat consumption and carbon dioxide production have in common 

Among industries that irreversibly change the ecosystem of our planet are very often plastic manufacturers, oil mining companies or the automotive sector. Meanwhile, although the fact is widely known, animal farming is rarely mentioned.  And this is the sector of the market that produces huge amounts of carbon dioxide and increases the human need for constantly new areas for cattle farming. It doesn’t mean that we immediately urge you to switch to vegetarianism, but this film opens our eyes to many aspects that are not usually widely discussed.

YOU CAN WATCH IT ON: Netflix 

#5 “Plastic Planet” - that is how plastic impacts every aspect of our lives

Here, of course, we cannot omit films related to plastic pollution. Among the many video publications on this subject, "Plastic Planet" is particularly noteworthy. Although the film was made 10 years ago, unfortunately - it is still up to date and will probably remain current for many years.

The title of the film directed by Werner Boote indicates how a material invented only a few decades ago dominates our lives, work and affects our health, purchasing decisions and nature. A sad but necessary lesson in ecology.

YOU CAN WATCH IT ON:  Amazon, Documentary Mania

#6 “A Plastic Ocean” - why are we drowning in plastic?

Nowadays It is difficult to find an ecosystem on Earth with no traces of plastic. The place that suffers most, however, due to the ubiquity of plastics, is certainly the ocean. In the film directed by an avid surfer and diver, Craig Leeson, we can see how plastic poisoning affects not only animals living in the seas and oceans, but also beach pollution or the human food chain.

YOU CAN WATCH IT ON: Netflix

#7 “No Impact Man” - can you live without negative impact on the planet?

Would a 21st century man be able to give up electricity, plastic, over-consumption and buy only food that has not been imported from the other part of the world, so as to minimize, as much as possible, its impact on the destruction of the planet? In his documentary experiment Colin Beavan puts this theory into practice by testing his family's patience and showing viewers how much our eco choices are determined not only by ourselves but also by the environment in which we happen to live.

 YOU CAN WATCH IT ON:  Amazon , Google Play 

#8 “Waste land” - can art help us protect the environment?

Have you ever heard of Jardim Gramacho? At one time, it was the world's largest landfill site located on the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro. Is there room for art and change in the lives of people who exist among waste in a place like this? Born in Sao Paolo and creating in New York, Vik Muniz shows us it's the right way to go! A touching story showing how art can change a human life, even when living on the garbage dump of civilization.

YOU CAN WATCH IT ON: Amazon

#9 “Saving my tomorrow” - children on ecology and respect for the planet

In recent years the voice of children and young people on ecology issues has become increasingly audible - for instance due to the global climate marches or Gretha Thunberg's attitude. It is largely up to the younger generation whether the big corporations and governments of states will sway under the social pressure and will eventually consciously address the problem of global warming and the destruction of our planet. HBO's documentary series focuses on the voice of the younger generation and shows how children approach the problems that may be their daily routine in the future.

YOU CAN WATCH IT ON: HBO GO 

#10 “Tomorrow” - specific solutions for our tomorrow

The fact that our environment is changing can be seen with the naked eye. Instead of scaring people with statistics and wringing their hands, a group of French activists embarked on a journey  around 10 countries scattered around the world. Effect? The presentation of extraordinary initiatives and projects that here and now change the reality for the brighter future of humanity. Inspiring and moving cinema that gives hope for a better tomorrow.

YOU CAN WATCH IT ON: Amazon, Google Play 

#11 “Minimalism” - your guide to what you really need

Our list of videos ends with the praise of minimalism. We have already written about Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus during the podcast list, but it was the video they created that rendered them the promoters of this movement. What do the minimalists teach us? That life is more than a shopping frenzy and being surrounded with plastic objects and gadgets. That consumerism is a threat not only to us, but also to our planet that becomes increasingly red and hot due to our greed of possession.

YOU CAN WATCH IT ON: Netflix