Latest news with #Oceans
The Citizen
2 days ago
- 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
The Independent
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
David Attenborough reveals experience in his 30s that nearly took his life
Sir David Attenborough says he nearly drowned while testing scuba diving gear in the Great Barrier Reef in 1957, when he would've been around 31. Attenborough shared the story with Prince William at the Royal Festival Hall in May during an event for his new documentary, Oceans. The incident occurred when water flooded the helmet, leaving Attenborough unable to breathe or call for help. The director of the documentary also tested the faulty equipment and experienced the same issue. Attenborough's new documentary, Oceans, explores the ocean's poor health and potential restoration methods, showcasing discoveries and efforts across various regions; it is available on National Geographic, Disney+, and Hulu.
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
William given stark warning from 'appalled' David Attenborough on pressing issue
Prince William joined Sir David Attenborough for a chat about the importance of protecting the world's oceans ahead of William giving a speech urging action in Monaco tomorrow Sir David Attenborough has warned Prince William of the "unspeakably awful" damage to the ocean floor in a newly released film. The pair joined together in conversation to discuss the importance of protecting oceans in a video released to mark World Ocean's Day tomorrow. During the chat, which was filmed at the Royal Festival Hall after the premiere of Sir David's new documentary, Oceans, William quizzes the 99-year-old naturalist about his experiences of exploring the ocean over his long life. And he issued a stark warning after the Prince of Wales asked him about the state of the oceans right now. Sir David tells William: "The awful thing is, it is hidden from you and from me and most people. The thing that I was appalled by when I first saw the shots for this film is what we have done to the deep ocean floor, it is just unspeakably awful. "I mean if you did anything remotely like it on land, everybody would be up in arms. If this film does anything, if it just shifts public awareness, it'll be very important and I can only hope that people who see it will recognise that something must be done before we destroy this great treasure." However, the pair agree there is still reason to be optimistic about reversing the damage to our oceans, with Sir David adding documentaries like Oceans, which is released on streaming platforms today, can spread the message of the work that needs to be done to reverse the damage. He told the prince: "What is heartening really is that we have the entree to people's front rooms. Whole families sitting at home in comfort, can actually suddenly see this coming up. Films like this can expose something new." And William added: "It's a really optimistic excitement sort of moment for the next generation to be able to be bigger explorers and find more data. The next 50 years will be incredible." Also in the chat, Sir David shows William an old aqua-lung diving helmet, putting it on his head, as William laughs: "Don't put it on, you'll never get it off, David." The documentary-maker also tells William about being one of the first people to be able to go diving after its invention saying: "That was the moment when suddenly you moved into a new world. You were flying among the fish, which was an extraordinary experience." The release of the footage of the conversation comes as William travels to Monaco tomorrow to attend the Blue Economy and Finance Forum, where he will give a speech calling for action to save the oceans before it's too late. He is expected to say: "Halfway through this decisive decade, I call on all of you to think big in your actions. Let us act together with urgency and optimism while we still have the chance." A Kensington Palace spokesman said: "There should be no doubt that this speech is the Prince of Wales calling for action to save our oceans now. The world is watching. This is him using his platform to call for more to be done sooner rather than later." William will be joined at the forum by French President Emmanuel Macron as well as Prince Albert of Monaco and Costa Rica's President Chaves Robles, who will also make speeches about saving the world's oceans. Protecting the oceans has been one of the key focus areas for William's Earthshot Prize Awards, which is handing out five £1million prizes over a decade for planet-saving solutions. Since the awards were established in 2021, finalists in the Revive Our Oceans category have collectively protected and restored over 20,000 square kilometres of ocean and saved, reduced, or recycled 2.5 million tonnes of water.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
William to address Monaco forum in bid to help world's oceans
The Prince of Wales will travel to the South of France this weekend to call for more to be done to protect the world's oceans. In what his team describes as a "landmark speech" in Monaco on Sunday - World Oceans Day - he will address environmentalists and, crucially, investors, to urge them to work together to protect our oceans Prince William will attend the Blue Economy and Finance Forum as founder of the Earthshot environmental prize which looks for solutions to the world's climate challenges. The forum is the curtain-raiser to the UN Oceans Conference in Nice next week. "The Prince of Wales feels passionately about action being taken to protect and restore our oceans," a Kensington Palace spokesperson told the BBC. "Tomorrow, he's going to be calling for swift, immediate global action. The time is now." Rising temperatures, pollution and overfishing are causing huge damage to the world's oceans and the communities that rely on them. Events this weekend will look at the role oceans play in global trade, food security and sustainable energy. The meeting will be held at the Grimaldi Forum, an eye-catching steel and glass venue, named after Monaco's own royal family. Prince Albert II of Monaco is a supporter of many oceans projects and is a key player at the forum. "This event will be more than a forum. It will provide an unique opportunity to bring together decision makers, finance professionals, philanthropists, NGOs and players from the private sector to turn ambition into action," he says. William announces Earthshot winners in Cape Town William returns to 'special place' Africa for prize awards 'Smaller R in royal' - Prince William wants to do things differently Last month, Sir David Attenborough's new film, Oceans, was released in cinemas. It gave his lifelong perspective on the value of oceans. "After living for nearly 100 years on this planet," he says "I now understand that the most important place on earth is not on land but at sea and today we are living in the greatest age of ocean discovery." The film places the oceans as being at a crossroads, needing more action to help them continue as the "planet's support system". Prince William shares that view. He has made his admiration for Sir David, who was an inspiration for the creation of the Earthshot Prize, clear. Sir David's storytelling around the environment is a powerful asset in getting public attention and buy in – something the prince is acutely aware of. The visit to France is an insight into how Prince William sees his role in the environmental space and part of his development as a global statesman. Also attending the forum in Monaco will be France's President Emmanuel Macron and President Rodrigo Roblez of Costa Rica. Why Monaco? Because, over the coming days, gathered in this wealthy, tax haven, amid the super yachts and holidaying multi-millionaires, is some serious cash and investors willing to spend it on protecting marine life and the oceans they live in. The prince's speech and meetings will largely be in public on Sunday. But he will also hold a closed, private session with experts and the investor community. It's a pragmatic approach to using his royal soft power to draw in people who have the resources to help generate change. Throughout his life, the King has used his platform to bring the conversation about the environment into the mainstream. His son is now building on that, in his own way, to try to show that environmental solutions are worth the investment. And the oceans can be a difficult sell. The sheer scale of the work that needs to be done can make it less attractive to investors. "I have a job that should not exist" is how Sam Teicher, the co-founder and chief reef officer of CoralVita often begins his pitches. His business was the first winner of the million-pound Earthshot prize in 2021 for solutions to repair and protect oceans. CoralVita grows corals to restore dying reefs. Of this year's Earthshot nominations, only 9% have entered the "Revive Our Oceans" category. "We are land creatures, it is out of sight and out of mind for a lot of people," says Sam Teicher. He will be in Monaco this weekend and describes his approach to raising money for his business as "trying to harness capitalism for good", stressing that "you need to be genuine and maintain integrity, you don't want to blue wash or green wash". And that strategy is working. The BBC has learnt that CoralVita has just won funding of about £6m ($8.1m) with investors led by Builders Vision – a philanthropic organisation created by Lukas Walton, whose grandparents founded the Walmart chain in the United States. It is one of the biggest funding offers for oceans work and will mean CoralVita can scale up and accelerate its restoration projects to help preserve the ocean's biodiversity. The investment power of Builders Vision will now also support the Earthshot Prize in a newly announced partnership. It again highlights the impact Prince William can have in linking up environmental solutions with investors. The Prince William factor has been a huge benefit to CoralVita as it works to scale up its business. "He helps getting in front of people who would normally not think it was investible or that it mattered," says Mr Teicher. "We need to expand out to bankers, government leaders, tech specialists. He gets more people around the table." And ultimately this is an event where money matters. For Mr Teicher the target is always the right type of investor. "We aren't looking for people wanting a traditional five to seven year return," he says. "This is a long-haul problem. We need people in it for the long haul." 'Smaller R in royal' - Prince William wants to do things differently William: Attenborough was 'inspiration' for new show Watch: William on 'positive impact' of Earthshot Prize
Daily Mirror
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Inside David Attenborough's idyllic home and 'favourite place on earth' where the 'end is near'
Sir David Attenborough has been to many beautiful parts of the world but he said his most favourite place is his suburban home nestled in Richmond, Surrey. We've taken a look inside... As David Attenborough turns 99, the broadcast legend expressed that he is "nearing the end of his life" in his latest compelling documentary. Sir David made the admission as he discussed his mortality as part of his brand new feature-length film Oceans as he said he is now "approaching the end of his life". While he starts to slow down, and spend more time at home, we've taken a look at his cosy abode nestled in his "favourite place on earth" - Richmond, Surrey. Despite the wildlife expert visiting nearly every corner of the earth, to him, his most beloved place is at home in his suburban setting. Sir David was born in Isleworth, Middlesex and grew up on the campus of the University of Leicester, where his father was principal. But these days, Sir David resides in Richmond. The affluent, residential area borders the River Thames and is home to Kew Gardens. Richmond Park is also a very popular green space where herds of deer can be seen. The affluent area is home to several posh cafes and restaurants as well as boutiques and plenty of coffee shops. While the area is scenic, the homes don't come cheap in Richmond, and the properties have an average price of £1,063,479 over the last year, according to Rightmove. The majority of sales in Richmond during the last year were flats, selling for an average price of £553,629. Despite being propelled into the limelight, the celebrity veteran enjoys a humble life in one of London's most idyllic suburbs, as he spends most of his time now, after sharing he's coming to "the end" of his life. Sir David has remained living in his family home in Richmond Upon Thames, London, since his beloved wife Jane died almost 20 years ago. According to The Express, his dedication to his craft became a therapeutic escape during his time of grief. Married for 47 years to Jane Elizabeth Ebsworth Oriel, the couple share two children, Robert and Susan. Jane's life was tragically cut short at 70 due to a brain haemorrhage. During this difficult period, Sir David was filming in New Zealand but managed to return to the UK in time to be by her side. Through his documentaries, Sir David has long highlighted the environmental challenges facing the world and contributed to the development of initiatives aimed at protecting endangered species. However, he held onto optimism stating that marine environments can recover robustly. He maintained: "If we save the sea, we save our world. After a lifetime of filming our planet, I'm sure nothing is more important.'
