Trickle Creek
  • Bookstore
  • About Us
  • About the Books
  • Events
    • Presentations and Prices
    • Calendar
  • Contact Us
  • Blog: Nature Reconnect

Review: Chasing Coral, a Netflix documentary

9/5/2017

1 Comment

 
Picture
Chasing Coral

    “Divers, scientists and photographers around the world mount an epic underwater campaign to              document the disappearance of coral reefs.” - Netflix

    “An emotional race against time.” – NY Times

    “Chasing Coral is not impartial. It’s staunchly pro-life, in the truest sense of the term.” – Sam Fragoso,       The Wrap

      Winner of a Sundance Film Festival Audience Award


To produce Chasing Coral, divers, photographers, and scientists spent 650 hours underwater in 30 countries to capture and document the worldwide collapse of coral reefs. Director Jeff Orlowski focused on the effects of climate change on the oceans, which absorb 93% of the heat produced by greenhouse gases. Reef-building corals thrive when the temperature remains between 74 and 78 degrees F, but we now see ocean temperatures as high as 95 degrees. When water temperatures rise even two degrees, the distressed corals may eject the tiny single-celled algae living inside their bodies. Without the algae, corals appear bone-white, or “bleached.” And without the algae, corals begin to starve and die.

The goal of the Chasing Coral crew was to create a powerful and impelling video by showing changes to reefs in real time, using time-lapse photography to document the effects of too-warm water. The result is stunning. We see colorful, healthy, gorgeous “gardens” of corals – then ghostly-pale, sick corals – then dead, disintegrating corals covered with slimy, hairy algae.

Near the end of the documentary, the time lapse video of bleaching and dying corals is presented at the World Symposium on Coral Reefs in Honolulu, Hawaii. As the camera pans the audience (an audience of people who study and love coral reefs), we see people slowly shaking their heads as if they are saying, No, oh, no! Many people have their hands over their mouths or eyes; the corners of their mouths are visibly drawn downward; there are tears. (Their tears and my tears.)

The collapse of coral reefs is serious. They are the foundation of a huge, intricate ecosystem. One-quarter of all marine life is found on coral reefs. Half a billion to a billion people rely on reefs for their food; their culture, economy, and way of life rely on reefs. Many new drugs and new products and foods come from the sea. Reefs provide a breakwater that protects shores from dangerous storms. Coral reef communities are like underwater rainforests teeming with abundant and diverse life.

The loss of reefs (along with rising sea levels, violent storms, and famines) is too important to be politicized. We can address the warming of our planet and reduce the rate at which our climate is changing. Chasing Coral ends by reminding us that we have the money and the resources and the intelligence to tackle climate change. They provide ideas at chasingcoral.com.
​
“It’s not too late for coral reefs … indeed, for many other ecosystems that are facing challenges from climate change. It’s still possible to reduce the rate at which the climate is changing, and that’s within our power today.” – Dr Ove Hoegh-Guldberg – July, 2017

1 Comment
Joseph Taylor link
11/3/2022 01:32:32 am

Such loss become. Figure claim environment loss sign.
Budget need move side like. Door group beyond price. Study miss no art board yet administration. Tell far star raise project case evening do.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Toni Albert, M.Ed., is an award-winning author of more than 40 books. Her lifelong love for nature, children, and books inspired her to commit her publishing business, Trickle Creek Books, to “teaching kids to care for the Earth.”

    Archives

    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017

    Categories

    All
    10 Minute Time Out
    10-minute Time-out
    Activities For Kids
    How To ...
    Inspiration
    Pondering
    Review

    RSS Feed

Picture

trickle creek books

500 Andersontown Road
Mechanicsburg, PA 17055

717-766-2638


Toni Albert 
tonialbert@tricklecreekbooks.com

What Our readers Are Saying

“Busy with Bugs is a fun-filled guide to the world of insects with many exciting activities and adventures for young scientists. Countless activities suggest many questions for kids to investigate." - Dr. Karen Oberhauser, University of Minnesota, Founder of Monarchs in the Classroom

"Saving the Rain Forest with Cammie and Cooper reminds us that we each have the power to stop tropical deforestation by using our voices. Each child and family…can make sure that the magical rainforests of the world—and their extraordinary wildlife—will be around for future generations to explore and enjoy." - Tensie Whelan, Executive Director of the Rainforest Alliance

"Albert is nationally recognized for her many literary contributions that serve to enlighten and educate children and adults alike regarding environmental concerns. [She] continues her strong and tireless campaign to teach children how to care for the Earth and its inhabitants." - ForeWord Magazine



Contact Us

Subscribe to Splash! 

Splash! is nature news you can use. Enjoy a fascinating item of nature news, a nature activity for kids, a moment of inspiration, or a special offer from Trickle Creek.

Join our mailing list today!
Join Now
  • Bookstore
  • About Us
  • About the Books
  • Events
    • Presentations and Prices
    • Calendar
  • Contact Us
  • Blog: Nature Reconnect