Sea Change, A

Synopsis

Documents how the pH balance of the oceans has changed dramatically since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution: a 30% increase in acidification. With near unanimity, scientists now agree that the burning of fossil fuels is fundamentally reshaping ocean chemistry. Experts predict that over the next century, steady increases in carbon dioxide emissions and the continued rise in the acidity of the oceans will cause most of the world’s fisheries to experience a total bottom-up collapse - a state that could last for millions of years.

This film broadens the discussion about the dramatic changes we are seeing in the chemistry of the oceans, and conveys the urgent threat those changes pose to our survival, while surveying the steps we can take to reduce the severity of climate change. The film’s protagonist Sven Huseby asks how will he explain to his oldest grandchild, Elias, what is happening to the oceans and their ecosystems. It is both a personal journey and a scientifically rigorous, sometimes humorous, unflinchingly honest look at reality. It offers positive examples of new technologies and effective changes in human behaviour that we all must choose before the oceans are lost.

Language

English

Country

United States

Year of release

2010

Year of production

2009

Notes

A shorter, 60-minute version has been produced for classroom use. In it, most of the scenes in the original version have been slightly edited and two significant scenes have been dropped. They are a scene where Sven investigates the impact of the Exxon Valdez tragedy on the fisheries and the people of the town of Cordova, AK, to illustrate what the loss of fisheries means to a community. The second scene dropped is Maya Lin describing her project Where The Land Meets The Sea for the California Academy of Sciences which is designed to raise awareness of the oceans, that huge portion of the planet which we ignore at our peril.

Subjects

Environmental science; Geography

Keywords

acid rain; climate change; fossil fuels; oceanography; pollution

Credits

Director

Barbara Ettinger

Contributor

Sven Huseby

Distribution Formats

Type

DVD

Format

Region 0 NTSC

Price

$250.00

Availability

Sale

Duration/Size

83 minutes

Year

2010

Production Company

Name

Niijii Films

Distributor

Name

Bullfrog Films

Email

info@bullfrogfilms.com

Web

http://www.bullfrogfilms.com External site opens in new window

Phone

+1 610 779 8226

Fax

+1 610 370 1978

Address

PO Box 149
Oley, PA 19547
USA

Notes

Bullfrog Films is a major US publisher of DVDs and videos about the environment. ‘Environment’ is defined broadly and the collection includes programmes on ecology, energy, agriculture, indigenous peoples, women’s studies, genetics, marine biology, sustainable development, community regeneration, economics, ethics, and conflict resolution. In recent years they have released many films about developing countries, globalisation, changing gender roles and human rights. Styles range from animation to drama and from personal essay to investigative documentary. Bullfrog also distributes the performing arts films from Rhombus Media.