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Carolyn M. Scott came to documentary filmmaking from an accomplished career as an environmental educator and activist, and she says she will always be an environmental educator first. As a filmmaker, Carolyn works to create intimate and emotional documentaries that speak to audiences on a personal level, penetrating the wall of denial on environmental issues and moving audiences to act. Carolyn talked with VibrantNation.com about her work and about the power of every individual to effect environmental change.Our interview with Carolyn
- When and how did you begin to devote yourself more to giving back?
I am a native Californian and when I was a teenager in in the 1970s, the environmental movement was having a powerful impact across the country, but particularly in California. So, as far back as I can remember, I've always cared about the health of our planet and the serious environmental issues we face. When I began my career as an elementary school teacher in San Francisco, I immediately worked environmental and human rights themes into my curriculum. I blended environmental science with art, theatre, music and language arts. It was something I felt was critical for children and still feel is the core of my work today. I'm committed to eco-literacy and understanding the limitations of our earth.
I transitioned from teaching to filmmaking and community action when I realized that teaching in a classroom wasn't going to be enough. In the global ecological crisis we face, time is of the essence. Back in 1992, 1,700 of the world's leading scientists, including the majority of Nobel laureates, wrote a warning to humanity saying that all our ecosystems are in collapse. That warning never appeared in the mainstream media. Today, we're finally realizing that climate change may endanger all life on the planet, but the lack of awareness and the level of denial among many Americans is astonishing. We go about our daily lives and make plans as if this reality was not real.
Al Gore's book Earth in the Balance: Ecology and the Human Spirithas been a big inspiration to me in my work. I decided to make a documentary film after I read this book because I realized that film was a way to reach a large audience quickly. At first I had no intention of filmmaking myself; I was searching for a film that took an approach similar to Gore's book, that looked at the big picture and put the ecological crisis into global perspective. But I couldn't find it, so I decided to make my own. The result was Texas Gold, the first film that I directed and produced and part of a series about women around the world who are working to save our earth. I'm still an environmental educator, but now I use films and community outreach to mobilize as many people as possible as quickly as possible.
- What do you love most about the cause you support?
I am in love with nature. Like Rachel Carson, I feel a deep connection to everything around me. For me, nature is the foundation for our lives. It's our home, the basis for our life and survival. The beauty of the seasons, birds, trees, the air and warm vibrant earth provides us with our food, and life. The flowing waters and the oceans, all seems to me to be miraculous and amazing. For me, to protect her, to champion this magnificence, is a gift.
I am fortunate to be part of the Bioneer Community. Bioneers are inspirational, energetic, and passionate environmentalists dedicatated to restoring our earth. When I was looking for subjects for my documentary I was amazed at the Bioneer men, many of whom are inventors and entrepreneurs. For example, Paul Stamets, a visionary biologist, works with fungi/mushrooms that can clean up toxic waste. But the Bioneer women are amazing--they are taking a stand against formidable opponents, big polluters and corporations--and are doing it with humor, love, and passion.
They get little mainstream media coverage, but the fact is that women are leading environmental movements worldwide. I think part of this is because women have some fundamental sensitivity to the land. They're generally the first to recognize environmental impacts and take action to protect their children. If the well water is poisoned, women instinctively know this threatens their family's survival and will do whatever it takes to stop it. Men are often working for the industries that are actually creating the problems. Women's priorities are the health of their family and community. I think women have a very significant role in what I am calling the age of restoration, which is where we are headed. They just may be the force for changing our world and championing a new age of earth stewardship. - What do you find most difficult about your work, and how do you overcome it?
Our toughest challenge is denial. I have been working at environmental education for more than 25 years now and I'm still blown away by how people can turn away from the horror of what is happening to the planet. Denial is more addictive than heroin. In one sense, it's necessary for our survival, but it's also keeping us from making the critical changes we need to restore our planet. We need to face the issues head on so we can address them. Unfortunately, America's media has way underreported critical environmental problems and so many Americans are simply unaware of the severity of the challenges facing us.
I think people often feel powerless in the face of climate change, deforestation, air and water pollution, and that's why denial kicks in. My response to that is to try to make the restoration of our earth an adventure: not just a duty but something that brings us joy and fulfillment. That's why I believe humor is important to use in films, even with the most deadly serious subjects, because we need to bring out the light side and show the power of standing up to Goliaths.
The woman in Texas Gold, Diane Wilson, has the most audacious and amazing sense of humor and she makes the challenge of fighting the giants of the petrochemical industry seem like a real adventure. She loves what she does and puts her life on the line for the sake of her community, the gulf bay where she lives and the children that live there. - What can others do to support your cause?
The important thing is to take action now. We don't have time to just sit around--we all have to act! Here are some specific steps you can take:
- Educate yourself. There is lots of good information out there, but you have to discern between what's real and what's hype. Treehugger.com is the #1 site for environmental information--it's where everyone goes. They have everything from green cars, food, business, fashion, beauty, travel, nature--and it's well-organized and accessible.
- Spread the word. My new website, Reelcommunityaction.org focuses on getting key research, sustainability models, and great environmental films to activists around the country to inspire community projects. There are so many wonderful, entertaining, inspiring films already--we want to connect them to existing sustainability campaigns and programs so more people will be inspired and empowered to take action now. Come to our website and see our directory of fun, award-winning films, then gather your neighbors together and host a movie night. Use these events to raise awareness and funds for local environmental efforts.
- Support the green economy. Everything we consume has an impact on the earth, so what you buy is critical. Unfortunately, there's a lot of fake green stuff out there, and it takes work to sort through the misinformation. Ultimately I think it comes down to reducing consumption. We need to stop thinking in terms of what more we can consume and start thinking in terms of how we can restore what we have. Here are 5 critical consumer choices to reduce your carbon footprint.
- Stay local and buy local. The more we support our local businesses and invest in organic and non-toxic goods and materials the better off our planet will be.
- Get involved in community action. Find out what local environmental groups and grassroots organizations are doing in your community and get involved. There are so many groups that are working to protect rivers, fish, ocean, freshwater, forests, birds, you name it. Connect with with them and with leaders in your community so you don't have to reinvent the wheel.
- Have fun! One of my newest projects is a multiplayer online game about climate change. It's being developed by Cool Planet Institute, a non-profit I co-founded with leaders in the IT world to do research on massive player online games and social networking. Our goal is to reach millions
of people using an online platform and gaming technology that will challenge people to find solutions to the climate crisis.
It's exciting to think we may be able to reach so many people quickly and educate them about our number one problem, climate change, in a way that's fun. We're designing the game to be a treasure hunt, and if we succeed, the game will inspire people to move away from their computers out into their communities, to connect with others and to take real action. People can and should enjoy the process of learning about and engaging in this battle.
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