2/ The YouTube write-up is an accurate summary of the movie's argument.
The misanthropy inherent in the phrase "out-of-control human presence" is ... revealing. 🤦♂️
The misanthropy inherent in the phrase "out-of-control human presence" is ... revealing. 🤦♂️
3/ This movie will split the environmental movement between the (hardline, blue collar) "degrowth" and (moderate, white collar) "green growth" factions.
It's a proxy for class politics, Gaia-style!
It's a proxy for class politics, Gaia-style!
4/ Here's how the two sides look if you mapped them onto the familiar technology diffusion model.
There is indeed a chasm between the two groups.
Green growthers now far outnumber degrowthers; the movie wants the movement to return to its hardline roots.
There is indeed a chasm between the two groups.
Green growthers now far outnumber degrowthers; the movie wants the movement to return to its hardline roots.
5/ I suspect white-collar, wealthier green growthers will dismiss the movie for a lot of outdated information.
Blue-collar, hardscrabble degrowthers will champion its condemnation of photo-op incrementalism. And the corruption. Oh, the corruption!
Blue-collar, hardscrabble degrowthers will champion its condemnation of photo-op incrementalism. And the corruption. Oh, the corruption!
6/ On to the movie itself!
It has three unimpeachable subtexts:
1. no one likes hypocrites
2. no one likes grifters
3. everyone wants to believe in feel-good stories
(Boy that'll sound familiar to ...)
... but that'll have to come in a couple hours' time!
It has three unimpeachable subtexts:
1. no one likes hypocrites
2. no one likes grifters
3. everyone wants to believe in feel-good stories
(Boy that'll sound familiar to ...)
... but that'll have to come in a couple hours' time!
7/ Re: hypocrites, #PlanetoftheHumans calls out the idea that #solar and #wind are a perfect solution.
I don't know many non-grifters who say they are.
So it feels like a strawman argument.
I don't know many non-grifters who say they are.
So it feels like a strawman argument.
8/ Add energy storage (short term 🔋, long term H2 and existing! hydroelectric! dams!) and you largely solve intermittency.
That said, 💯 support for criticizing festivals and companies who say they're 100% solar or renewables-powered, when they aren't. Ahem.
That said, 💯 support for criticizing festivals and companies who say they're 100% solar or renewables-powered, when they aren't. Ahem.
9/ (no position) IS going all-renewables 24/7 instead of just producing as much electricity as they consume per year. Long-term (2050) they'll offset their cumulative historical emissions. 👏👏
The movie skips this, because capitalism is bad. 🤔
group.vattenfall.com/press-and-medi…
The movie skips this, because capitalism is bad. 🤔
group.vattenfall.com/press-and-medi…
10/ We learn the Koch Brothers 👹 embedded themselves in the solar panel value chain. They profit from solar subsidies!! 💸💸
11/ Al Gore gets called out for selling his TV channel startup to (LNG exporting titan) Qatar's Al Jazeera. I don't see the big deal myself. Why not? He could pour more one-time fossil money into renewables!
12/ A big deal is made about Saint Bill McKibben and 350.org getting money from the Rockefellers. He was clearly uncomfortable when challenged. Well jeez, if you aren't comfortable with the money, you should've refused it. 👎
13/ Me, I'd've pulled a Clay Davis Jr and said "I'll take any motherf*****'s money if he's just giving it away!!".
You may know Clay from this GIF 👇
You may know Clay from this GIF 👇
14/ Real-life example that somehow wasn't in the movie.
@SierraClub's Beyond Coal campaign was originally funded with $25MM, mostly from nat gas fracking king and famous-for-the-wrong-reasons Aubrey McLendon!
science.time.com/2012/02/02/exc…
@SierraClub's Beyond Coal campaign was originally funded with $25MM, mostly from nat gas fracking king and famous-for-the-wrong-reasons Aubrey McLendon!
science.time.com/2012/02/02/exc…
15/ Taking fossil money was *extremely* controversial in the club. Was it the right move? Yes. Would I have done it? Yes! Every time!! Coal is/was the bigger foe!
I'll circumvent Godwin's Law by referencing Churchill. 👇
I'll circumvent Godwin's Law by referencing Churchill. 👇
16/ The movie correctly calls out hypocrisy.
Everyone makes mistakes (e.g. Koch-enriching 🤣 biofuels). Honest people admit it.
Preachy people who know they're hypocrites prevaricate.
The movie showed who they are. 🎥
More soon. ⌚️
Everyone makes mistakes (e.g. Koch-enriching 🤣 biofuels). Honest people admit it.
Preachy people who know they're hypocrites prevaricate.
The movie showed who they are. 🎥
More soon. ⌚️
17/ Moving on to grifters.
I'll summarize by saying that when opportunity knocks, opportunists answer. The movie digs up legitimately odious examples, biofuels and (certain types of) biomass among them. 😡
I'll summarize by saying that when opportunity knocks, opportunists answer. The movie digs up legitimately odious examples, biofuels and (certain types of) biomass among them. 😡
18/ But bad examples don't overthrow broader legitimacy. It's like pointing to Donald Trump and saying democracy is bad. 👇
"Democracies end when they are too democratic"!? AYFKM?
nymag.com/intelligencer/…
"Democracies end when they are too democratic"!? AYFKM?
nymag.com/intelligencer/…
19/ New industries typically go through consolidation. Remember the galaxy of search engines in the early web? Now Search is an oligopoly, as with many industries.
kvlblogs.wordpress.com/tag/search-eng…
kvlblogs.wordpress.com/tag/search-eng…
20/ the analogy holds with climate solutions.
A hundred (often terrible) ideas bloomed. We're now coalescing into an oligopoly of solar / wind / batteries / H2.
(Nuclear and other techs are fantastic! They'll have smaller niches -- like special teams players in football.)
A hundred (often terrible) ideas bloomed. We're now coalescing into an oligopoly of solar / wind / batteries / H2.
(Nuclear and other techs are fantastic! They'll have smaller niches -- like special teams players in football.)
21/ On biomass & biofuels, I'm pretty sure both sides of the movement (degrowthers and green growthers alike) raised the first red flags. Vinod Khosla is ... not a highly-regarded figure.
