I too, am Stupid.
Everyone has been asking me what I thought of “The Age of Stupid” and I’m finally getting around to it because I guess I didn’t really know what to say… Don’t get me wrong, it’s an absolutely brilliant film and one that I recommend you watch at least twice (preferably with subtitles though, I feel I missed a chunk, my French is pretty basic and my Arabic non-existent.) But is that the point? To comment on how well made the documentary was or perhaps should we maybe focus on the message? Yes, of course it helps if its slickly made, pacey and sticks to the point (and takes a hilarious dig at Jeh Wadia and the airline industry in the process) but are we watching this for its creative contribution to new cinema or because time’s up and if we don’t start doing something soon we are going to wipe ourselves off the planet? How stupid would that be? I guess it’s one of those things that (as Bittu Sahgal, editor of Sanctuary Asia, India’s premier wildlife and ecology magazine aptly put it) will provoke conversations with ourselves, so here’s the one I’m having, feel free to listen in;
Random thoughts:
I had no idea flights cause so much damage to the environment. I wish I know how I felt about that. Will I stop flying? I don’t know; I don’t really fly that much anyway but I know so many people who do (and it usually means you have a better job!) Do you think if I tell them that they’ll stop or at least cut down?
Will anything I do (or stop doing), really make a difference?
What if I started sharing taxi’s with random strangers? Can I hide my carbon footprint by piggy backing on someone else? I guess that halves it for us both anyway…
I wonder what they told Jeh Wadia when they shot this with him? Surely something about how the rich and restless are really “shaking things up” in India!
I might still be around in 2055.
Was it the air-conditioning or the movie that was giving me chills?
Was it really ok to watch this movie while I sat on a plastic chair, stirring my drink with a plastic swizzle stick paid for with my plastic card?
I don’t want to be stupid anymore. I just hope I don’t go and do the stupid thing and forget all about this tomorrow.
What?! 7.9 times the average Indian? How can that be? I don’t cook, I don’t have a car and I never drink milk. Damn those flights to Goa must have done me in.
Taj Mahal, India 2055
The Age of Stupid: www.ageofstupid.net
Not Stupid?: www.notstupid.org
Carbon Footprint Calculator: www.no2co2.in
P.S. Kinda cool how they pulled this off all across the world, maybe I’m not the only one up tonight (not reading Twilight) and thinking about this?
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September 24th, 2009 at 1:05 am
” I just hope I don’t go and do the stupid thing and forget all this tomorrow ” – well said! that is the crux of the problem.
cheers.
September 24th, 2009 at 2:13 am
..and yet I sit here with my air-conditioning on and my fingers unable to hit the plastic keys to cancel my flight to Goa next weekend :( ugh.
September 24th, 2009 at 2:13 am
*unwilling more than unable.
September 24th, 2009 at 10:24 am
Malini you think well and your write well. The reason I did not go on and on and why I said “no discussions” after the film is that I truly feel that The Age of Stupid’s best impact is that it leads people to have a conversation with themselves. Remember you do not have to do “everything”. Just start doing something to lower your carbon footprint. I might choose not to use airconditioners, you may take one or two fewer flights, another might choose to go live in a cave. We are all different (and good?) people, but we have hopelessly disobedient lifestyles. We need to tame them a bit and this, trust me, does not involve wearing camel hair jackets. Living better lives (whatever better means to you) gives you a sense of self-worth and well-being. That is what rich and poor look for anyway. Take care. Bittu
September 24th, 2009 at 10:36 am
Hi Bittu, thanks for stopping by, that’s a huge compliment coming from you on my writing/thinking skills thank you! I am a great admirer of all those who take the time to contemplate themselves (quietly) I hope to be more like that one day! Yup, so have decided to lay of the air-conditioning for the rest of the year and will only use it May-July when its scorching!
October 5th, 2009 at 1:31 pm
[...] gotten away and have some super Monsoon – Goa pictures coming right at ya! But check it out, since I’ve been waxing eloquent about climate change for some time now, here’s an interesting discussion we may want to attend tomorrow courtesy the British [...]
October 11th, 2009 at 9:29 pm
I feel you on the travel subject. Personally, I think travel and all the eye-opening experiences that come with it is the best use of carbon ;) But I’ve been trying to offset it. One easy and fun way is to just go around the city planting trees! http://treesforfree.org/ I think these guys work in Bangalore but I’m sure similar stuff could be done in Bombay. This is where your social skills might come in handy :) Maybe its something you could organize! I know I’d be up for it the next time I’m in Bombay..