Latest news with #Nowlan
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Ocean' goes deep to look at highs, lows of deep blue seas
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — The new National Geographic special 'Ocean with David Attenborough' offers a look at the deep blue seas through a style that almost mimics water movement. There are calm moments that discuss the beauty and wonder of the ocean world but that gives way to a tsunami of information as to the troubles facing the water world. Then it returns to another calming moment before another crash. Director Toby Nowlan explains that the structure of the production that is now available on the National Geographic Channel was to examine the overarching theme of hope and then show the juxtaposition with the damage being done to the seas. 'The theme is we are living in the age of the greatest ocean discovery, and it is David's story of ocean discovery in the last 100 years, his lifetime,' Nowlan says. 'Through that lens you are seeing this ocean of wonder where every year we are discovering things that are transforming our idea of how vital the ocean is. 'Then there is the importance of the discovery of what we are doing to the seas and how we are demolishing the seabed. Just the act of showing some of that footage for the first time, the images speak for themselves.' Pilot Peter Weber lands on NBC's 'Destination X' Nowlan points out the last big wave of the documentary looks at there is real reason to hope to protect the oceans. What the team found was that areas of the ocean that have been devastated will recover far quicker than the way dry land rebounds. The director comes to 'Ocean' having worked on a variety of projects dealing with nature. His credits include 'Our Planet,' 'Deadly Pole to Pole' and 'Wild Arabia.' In the feature-length special Attenborough draws on his lifetime of exploration and knowledge of the sea to take audiences on a journey through the planet's most spectacular undersea habitats. Attenborough investigates diverse marine ecosystems, from bustling giant kelp jungles and coral reefs to towering seamount outposts within the open ocean. These are all revealed to be intricately connected, vital to avoiding climate catastrophe, and in peril due to destructive forms of fishing. While Attenborough exposes the greatest threats to our oceans' health, he points to inspirational stories from around the world to reveal the most remarkable finding of all: If we take action now, the opportunity for marine life to recover on an unprecedented scale is well within our reach. Attenborough's more than 70 years filming the natural world has made him the world's preeminent natural historian. The English broadcaster, writer, and naturalist is best known for his award-winning BBC documentaries, including 'Life on Earth,' 'Frozen Planet,' and the 'Blue Planet' series. His work has brought the natural world into homes and classrooms, inspiring millions and motivating action towards preservation. Brandi Passante keeps looking for 'Storage Wars' treasures Nowlan stresses that the purpose of the film is to show that when it comes to the ocean, efforts to correct problems will be beneficial to every living creature or if ignored would spell total catastrophic disasters. The documentary is filled with undersea footage that is so stunning it rivals any CGI work done in feature films. Director Keith Scholey is quick to point out that there were no computer-generated images used in the film. He says the reason the movie has such a stunning look comes from the initial plans to open the documentary in theaters. 'We made a lot of feature films before and we know that is kind of a high bar,' Scholey says. 'The starting point is the cinematographer. Underwater we have the best in the world in Doug Anderson who is not only a superb diver and superb underwater naturalist, but he has an incredible sense of natural composition. 'I think one of the reasons the images look different is Doug and his eye.' Scholey knows the importance of cinematographers having worked on 'Guardians of the Galapagos,' 'Life on Our Planet' and 'Polar Bear.' 'Ballerina' dances its way to a bloody good time Both men agree that the most vital part of the production was Attenborough. Despite being one year shy of reaching 100 years old, Attenborough continues to bring energy to every project. Scholey – who has worked with Attenborough for 44 years – says, 'I met him when he was in his mid-50s, and he had it then, a huge energy and power. He has remained this person in his mid-50s because of his constant thirst for information, a constant interest in the world. 'I think it is that that keeps him modern all the time. The only way you can tell he has aged is that his accent has changed over time. Because that has happened because he has been modernizing himself.' 'Ocean with David Attenborough' debuted on the National Geographic Channel and is now available on the streaming services of Disney+ and Hulu. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Citizen
08-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
Attenborough's message about the oceans
'If we focus on protection, we buy time. And in that time, nature begins to heal.' It is not on land, but under the sea, where Sir David Attenborough said, lies the most important place on Earth. After producing and narrating wildlife and natural heritage documentaries for most of his life on the planet, the master storyteller has been deeply affected by the careless destruction of our oceans. In a new documentary, Oceans, Attenborough lends his voice to a visual and scientific account of what we stand to lose should the world continue to neglect the seas, but also what we could still save, if we acted quickly. Directed by Toby Nowlan, Oceans is more than a film. He said that it is a visual confrontation to audiences, captured over two years and filmed across the globe. From the wild Pacific to the Mediterranean, from the kelp forests of California to the bleached remains of coral reefs, the documentary offers a view into worlds that many will never see or never really comprehend. Nowlan said the reason is simple. 'The ocean is out of sight, so it becomes out of mind,' he said. 'We cannot breathe underwater, and we do not spend time down there the way we do on land, so we have no idea what is happening below the surface.' Devastation of marine ecosystems The documentary features footage of bottom trawling, a fishing method that has devastated marine ecosystems yet remains legal in many parts of the world. Heavy nets are dragged along the ocean floor, destroying habitats and scooping up everything in their path, including unwanted species and animals. This occurs, even within supposedly protected marine zones. 'We released a ninety-second clip of it on social media to premiere some of the challenges captured in the film,' Nowlan said. 'Within a week, tens of millions had seen it. That was more than any of the scientists or even the people working on those boats had ever witnessed. That is the power of bringing these images to the screen.' And the potential muscle it must change mindsets. ALSO READ: TV's 'The Four Seasons' makes you think For marine biologist and National Geographic explorer Enric Sala, the experience of working on Oceans was very personal. 'We are destroying our life support system,' he said. 'But I have seen what happens when we protect even small parts of the ocean. Life comes back. Coral reefs recover. Fish populations return. It works. It is the one thing that works.' Absolute dedication to conservation Sala left academia nearly two decades ago to dedicate his life to conservation. During his sortie, he has helped create some of the world's largest marine reserves through his Pristine Seas initiative. Yet, he said that the challenges facing the oceans have grown more severe. 'People feel overwhelmed when they hear that we need to fix everything at once,' he said. 'But if we focus on protection, we buy time. And in that time, nature begins to heal.' A key moment in Oceans is a narrative showing the most extensive coral bleaching event ever caught on film. Coral bleaching occurs when ocean temperatures rise, causing corals to expel the algae they rely on for food and colour, leaving them weak, pale and at risk of dying. A compass jellyfish off the coast of Pembrokeshire, United Kingdom. (Credit: Olly Scholey) A pod of Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins swimming across the coral reefs of the Red Sea, Egypt. (Credit: Olly Scholey) The coral reefs of Raja Ampat, Indonesia. (Credit: Olly Scholey) 'It happened while we were filming,' said Nowlan. 'We activated crews across the globe, in the Maldives, Florida, Australia, and Mexico, to capture it. 'We had a very short window to show it in its full, white devastation. But we also followed what happened afterwards, and the reefs that were protected began to recover. Not all of them, but enough to prove that it can be done.' We can still save our seas Sala said we can still save our seas. 'Marine protected areas make ecosystems more resilient. If we manage to reduce carbon emissions and give the ocean space, it will meet us halfway. But we must act now.' Nowlan said not everything in Oceans is doomsday. 'There is a lot of bad news out there,' said Nowlan. 'People switch off when they feel like everything is doom. This film had to offer something else. Not false comfort, but proof. Tangible hope, too.' The good news is told via successes. The largest school of yellowfin tuna ever filmed appears in the documentary, a species once thought too elusive to benefit from marine reserves. Yet, off the coast of the Phoenix Islands, populations surged by more than fifty percent in surrounding waters after protection measures were introduced. Working with Attenborough on Oceans was incredible for Nowlan. 'I have worked on several of his documentaries before, but this one is different,' he said. 'This is Sir David's most personal project. He said so himself. And when he speaks about the ocean, you can feel that it is not just about the science or the visuals. It is about the future. He believes this is the last great frontier where we can still make a difference.' Oceans airs on National Geographic on 13 June and is available on Disney+ from 8 June. Now Read: Local star shines in new global Pepsi campaign
CBC
16-02-2025
- Health
- CBC
City festivals, shelters trim beef and add veggies for the climate
Creamy kale Caesar salad and Ghanaian red red stew are among the new dishes clients were invited to try at a Toronto shelter this fall. It's a step toward meeting the city's Coolfood Pledge to cut greenhouse gas emissions from its food purchases by 25 per cent by 2030 relative to 2019 levels. The United Nations estimates about a third of human-caused greenhouse gases is linked to food. (The rest is mostly from burning fossil fuels.) So as part of their plans to fight climate change, cities around the world and across Canada are committing to provide less carbon-intensive meats and more plant-based foods through services such as shelters, day cares and community centres, as well as at events such as festivals. Canadian cities and towns that have made a commitment to promote plant-based foods include Montreal, Rainbow Lake, Alta., and several Ontario communities, such as Kingston, Brampton and Toronto. Why cities are looking at greener food policies James Nowlan, executive director of Environment, Climate and Forestry for the City of Toronto, said food emissions are the largest source of "indirect" emissions in Toronto — those not produced directly by burning fossil fuels for things like heat and transportation. The local government serves about 3,200 tonnes of food a year through its shelters, child care centres and its senior and long-term care homes. "It touches a lot of residents," Nowlan said. "But it also enables us to show leadership to demonstrate how others can reduce their emissions." WATCH | Is eating vegan really better for the environment? Is eating vegan really better for the environment? 1 year ago Duration 2:27 The city council for nearby Brampton, Ont., passed a motion this past November that commits to developing a plant-based food strategy. It includes featuring plant-based food and drink options at city council meetings and civic events; requiring plant-based catering options at events in city spaces such as parks; looking into plant-based food options and plant-based default food options in city facilities and during regional events; and raising awareness about sustainable food practices. Coun. Navjit Kaur Brar, who brought the motion forward, said many people in her community are vegetarian or vegan, including herself. "I think making sure that we are providing and catering to that community is also important," she said. There was already a growing local interest in plant-based and healthier food options, especially among young people and the aging population, she said. "This is for us to kind of bring it up a notch and just make [people] more aware that there are plant-based options and how it can impact our environment and health." How Toronto is serving more plant-based food In addition to setting a food emissions target, Toronto — alongside London, Tokyo and around a dozen other major cities — signed the C40 Good Food Cities Declaration. It commits to specific policies, including aligning food procurement to the Planetary Health Diet, a plant-heavy, low-meat diet endorsed by a committee of scientists as healthy and sustainable. Toronto started by analyzing greenhouse gas emissions from the food it served. It found that beef made up just three per cent of the food it purchased by weight, but 48 per cent of the city's food emissions. Nowlan said the city decided to reduce beef consumption. It's testing strategies such as replacing it with chicken, fish or plant-based proteins, or by simply blending plant-based proteins into the beef — "so ... you still get the same kind of taste that people are used to, but it's actually lower in emissions." It's also been working with dietitians and its staff on how to do this while still meeting the nutritional needs of clients. This past September, Toronto Shelter and Support Services had a workshop and demonstration for staff on how to cook with plant-based proteins, with Human Society International's Food Forward program. At the event at Toronto's Junction Place shelter, staff showed off dishes such as moimoi, a Nigerian bean pudding, and misir wat, an Ethiopian dish of spiced lentils. Food Forward chef Amy Symington demonstrated how to make others, such as potato and tahini soup and Caesar salad with tempeh bacon. Shelter clients got to try it all. WATCH | Chefs Amy Symington and Andrew DuHasky offer plant-based culinary training at Western University: Plant-based chef training at Western University 2 years ago Duration 1:10 Chefs Amy Symington and Andrew DuHasky were on hand at a plant-based culinary training event at Western University. Toronto shelters, day cares and seniors' facilities have already started introducing more plant-based entrees to their menus. Nowlan said city staff have "really seen positive feedback" about the changes. He added that these steps give city staff an opportunity to talk to the clients it serves about those changes. "People have a deep attachment to food," he said. "And so you need to have that conversation to build support, to build buy-in and to build trust as you start to move to other types of food, to look at alternatives." Plant Based Treaty targets cities Anita Krajnc is the global campaign co-ordinator for the Plant Based Treaty, which aims to "put food systems at the heart of combatting the climate crisis." It offers 40 suggestions for doing that, from calculating greenhouse gas emissions from food to creating plant-based meal plans for schools, hospitals and nursing homes. One of the groups it targets to support the treaty is cities. Krajnc said cities deal with food policy in many ways, from promoting healthy eating to providing amenities such as community gardens. "So, you know, cities can play a huge role." Since 2021, the treaty has been endorsed by 39 cities, including Edinburgh, Amsterdam, Los Angeles and three Canadian cities — Rainbow Lake, Alta., Brampton, Ont., and, as of this week, Caledon, Ont. WATCH | University dining halls shift to plant-based food: University dining halls shift to plant-based food 1 year ago Duration 2:00 In some cases, it has been controversial. When Kingston, Ont., Coun. Conny Glenn originally tried to get her city to endorse the plant-based treaty, the proposal was voted down. Mayor Brian Paterson told the Kingston Whig-Standard that endorsing the treaty sent "the wrong message to our rural residents and our rural economy." Rainbow Lake, Alta., declined to talk to CBC News about this topic, citing, in part, negative feedback from the community after a previous media interview. In an article last April, Plant Based Treaty volunteer Juan Enrique Hinojosa told the Toronto Star that when he reached out to Canadian municipalities about the treaty, he received some positive responses, but also hostile responses, including one that called him an "urban green Nazi." Montreal, Brampton, Kingston take action Still, momentum continues to build. Caledon, Ont., endorsed the Plant Based Treaty just this Tuesday. Brampton did so as part of Brar's motion in November. Montreal City Council passed a motion in 2022 to adhere to the C40 Good Food Cities declaration, like Toronto. It said it would offer a minimum of 75 per cent vegetarian foods at city-organized events and favour vendors who use local products, reduce food waste and promote vegetarian cuisine. Coun. Glenn in Kingston tried a different approach this fall, and council passed her motion in October, committing the city to "always ensuring that plant-based options are included and prioritized whenever food is purchased or funded" and promoting such options by positioning them at the front of a buffet table, for example. The motion asks staff to develop a draft strategy for doing that by the end of 2025. Glenn envisions interesting plant-based options, alongside the usual beef burgers, at events such as the mayor's fundraising barbecue, where vegetarian choices haven't always been available.
