In geological terms,
we're currently living in the Holocene stage of
the Earth's existence; a period of time when all
the elements have proven most beneficial to our
species.
But our unfettered
growth has left a massive footprint upon our
planet, and its ramifications may soon usher in
a new geological epoch.
Anthropocene, a
short documentary produced by the ABC-TV
Catalyst series, examines the characteristics
and the consequences of this oncoming age.
From singular events such as the first nuclear
weapons test of 1945 to the unprecedented
industrialization that's occurred in nearly
every region of the world, our Earth has
undergone more rampant change in recent times
than any other period in its history.
As revealed in the
film, the CO2 levels in our atmosphere have
risen 100 times faster than they did at the
conclusion of the last Ice Age.
The end result could
bring about a transformation of the very
structure of our planet, and one that may
present overwhelming obstacles in our quest to
survive and flourish.
Geologists call it The Anthropocene, and they
can recognize the signs of its imminent arrival
all around them.
In a far reaching
study coordinated between dozens of nations
around the world, scientists tracked various
aspects of human activity in comparison to the
functions of Earth's systems.
The research project
collected data as far back as 1750 and continued
right up to our present day.
What they discovered
was shocking.
The Earth's ability
to maintain balance was surprisingly unfazed
until the birth of the post-war industrial
revolution, at which point its instability began
to skyrocket.
"We are in the
beginnings of a transition to something
else," one scientist ominously proclaims
during the course of the film.
Earth scientists
didn't come to this conclusion lightly; in fact,
such a proclamation requires overwhelming and
irrefutable evidence of a change to the surface
of our planet.
Just in the past 60
years, unprecedented human consumption, along
with increased atmospheric levels of CO2,
methane, nitrous oxide, lead and other elements,
have conspired to alter the physical and
functional characteristics of the Earth.
In the midst of the climate change debate,
Anthropocene examines the crisis facing our
planet from a fresh perspective not often
considered by the mainstream.
It's a valuable
reminder that the human footprint could
ultimately prove more devastating to our planet
than Mother Nature herself.
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