Today is Blog the Change for Animals Day. If you have been on the Petosphere at all, I am sure you have noticed. I have been super excited about this date for a long time, ever since I watched Mission Blue on Netflix. I could not wait to share it with you within five minutes of pressing play but I knew it was so important that it needed its own special day.
Have you seen Mission Blue yet? If you haven’t, I have come up with five very important reasons for you to check it out right now. I hope you have some free time this weekend otherwise I think your plans are about to be cancelled.
Reason 1
It is just an extremely well-crafted documentary. Directors Robert Nixon and the always likable Fisher Stevens paired revelatory interviews with the fascinating Dr. Sylvia Earle with stunning underwater footage. Dr. Earle’s brilliant mind does not make her at all unapproachable and the filmmakers did an excellent job of capturing her passion and sense of humour. Though she is a pioneer for marine biology and women in science, and should be a household name, she didn’t come across as the least bit intimidating. As she spoke on camera, I almost felt like she had invited me over for a cup of tea and was sharing her amazing experiences with me first hand. Not that Dr. Earle ever sits still long enough for personal conversations. At the age of 79 she remains a force of energy.
Reason 2
We are inherently responsible for the curation of the planet. I have always believed this but Mission Blue reminded me how important it is for us all to be aware of the current health status of our home. If we don’t know, we won’t change.
Dr. Earle says it even better:
“People ask: Why should I care about the ocean? Because the ocean is the cornerstone of earth’s life support system, it shapes climate and weather. It holds most of life on earth. 97% of earth’s water is there. It’s the blue heart of the planet — we should take care of our heart. It’s what makes life possible for us. We still have a really good chance to make things better than they are. They won’t get better unless we take the action and inspire others to do the same thing. No one is without power. Everybody has the capacity to do something.”
Reason 3
The film provides a unique perspective of ocean and animal life. When viewed through the eyes of someone who has witnessed the environmental catastrophes of the last eight decades, everything becomes personal. After watching how emotionally affected Dr. Earle is by modern fishing practices, I will never be casual about my seafood purchases again.
Reason 4
The scenes are beautiful. The chances of me getting to these gorgeous spaces and swimming with silky schools of tropical fish are very low. The next best thing is the vicarious route. I can never get enough of underwater footage and Mission Blue has it in spades.
Reason 5
Hope. There is a chance to be part of the solution. Not only does Mission Blue teach viewers the current challenges to ocean life, it also proposes a way to protect the vanishing species and prevent further destruction. Just as we have done on land through national parks and wildlife reserves, Dr. Earle has been working to designate areas of critical importance to immediately focus global conservation efforts. These “Hope Spots”, as she calls them, could help the regrowth of crucial plant and animal life. They could help reverse some of the damage we have caused.
I love the optimism in this message. There are so many films that end on a hopeless note but Mission Blue, and Dr. Earle, believe things can get better. If only we listen and act. To learn how you can help the efforts, I urge you to check out the Mission Blue website. If nothing else, your support for the project will be a terrific encouragement.
So why are you still reading this? Go, log-in to Netflix, watch this movie. If you don’t have an account, convince a friend who does to watch it with you. And then when you love it, as I know you will, share it with everyone you know. Let’s create a Blue movement.
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