I just came back from Avatar with Kimay and I feel a thousand ways. On one hand the movie was a visual feast full of amazing special effects and magnificent color. It tells a beautiful and touching multi- layered emotional story that comments on race relations, military relations and war It also takes a huge ecological punch at the human destruction of the environment. I adored this movie and the important message it was sending. On the other hand WHO CARES? Certainly not the kid next to me who laughed as the bulldozers tore through the forest of the Na'vi destroying part of their sacred land . Certainly not the manufacturer of the plastic 3 D glasses we all wore while watching Avatar. I mean at this point we all know how bad plastics are. (The manufacturing of plastics cause the release of toxic pollutants, greenhouse gases, and have both a biodegradable and non-biodegradable landfill impact as a result of the production and disposal of plastics. When in use, plastic bottles and containers, such as water bottles and tupper ware, leach into our food and water causing our bodies to become toxic, carcinogenic, causing birth defects and are endocrine disruptions. When we throw out or "recycle" plastic it pollutes our beautiful oceans, poisoning our marine life and land animals.. ...the destructive arm of plastic is far reaching.) Certainly not James Cameron, who allegedly will have spent nearly 500 MILLION DOLLARS on this film and spent FIFTEEN years of his life on the film. Why not dedicate that time and money to ACTUALLY helping the environment instead of commenting on (and adding to the destruction of it?). Sometimes I feel suffocated and overwhelmed by the effects of everything I do on the environment that it makes me feel horribly guilty and anxious. Even though I am far, far, far from perfect I care so much about the things that I do that it freaks me out that some people never even think twice about it. I always try to be a better person and not judge others for their choices in life but in situations like this it is impossible not to. This is just so wrong! and ass backwards. Why do we need a movie filled with fantasy images and actors pretending to convincingly portray human emotion and situations to send a message about our reality? Why can't James Cameron have the balls to come out and say 'STOP DESTROYING THE WORLD" and "AMERICA YOU ARE A MONEY HUNGRY CULTURE KILLING BULLY"and "OBAMA YOU ARE NO BETTER THAN BUSH, I THOUGH YOU SAID YOU WOULD BRING OUR TROOPS BACK", then start a charity called Eco-Direct and raise half a billion dollars to solve the problem of plastics in and on humans and our environment? Now THAT would be Award worthy. Instead though we are living in a time when it is "cool" to be "eco", a time where green is the new black, organic is the new culinary trend, sustainable is the new tag phrase...it makes me wonder if people really care or if it's all big business. I know there are many great and amazing things going on right now and it absolutely excites me to be a part of this information age. I just hate that there is a price to pay and I think this time around we will be paying for it sooner than later. I do understand that this is a form of art and art comments on and reflects life blah blah blah but what about responsibility? What about actually doing something? What about (wait for it...) being the change we want to see? Why are we waiting for someone else to do it? Who are we all waiting for anyway?At the end of the movie just as I was wondering what to do with the fashionable hipster 3d glasses, I came across a "Recycle" bin in which to return the glasses. A way in which to make money multiple times over on one item? Or another chance to give the viewers yet another false sense of "greenness"? I tossed them in the box with a heavy yet hopeful heart.
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