Written by Dominique de Groot, Four Green Steps

At Four Green Steps, we aim to promote environmental education through our school program, but learning shouldn’t be just for the kids! I am a strong advocate for life-long learning, and I have recently developed an obsession with watching documentary films.

This type of educational media can open doors to new subjects and ideas and reveal information that can spark a whole spectrum of emotions. Generally I find myself draw to films with an environmental or ecological theme. I also love films that focus on sustainability, or technological solutions to complex environmental problems.

Here is a short list of my top 10 favorite environmental documentaries (from most recent to oldest), most of which are available on Netflix.

1. Gasland (2010) – Filmmaker Josh Fox’s search of the truth about natural gas extraction by hydraulic fracturing (aka fracking) and the health and safety impacts it has in America

2. Tapped (2010) – This film explores multinational corporations numerous attempts to privatize water, showing how they try to gain sole access to this common resource and sell it back to the general public in plastic bottles that cause countless health and environmental damages.

3. The End of the Line: The World without Fish (2010) –A documentary that looks at the global devastation resulting from overfishing in an attempt to advocate sustainable fishing practices and warn us of the consequences if our current habits persist.

4. The Cove (2009) –This Academy Award winning film presents the annual dolphin slaughter in Taiji, Japan and the clandestine market for dolphin meat in an attempt to illuminate the issues surrounding this gruesome practice.

5. Crude (2009) –A documentary exploring the largest environmental lawsuit in history, involving the Indigenous people of the Amazon Rainforest who accuse Chevron of crimes against nature.

6. No Impact Man (2008) –Collin Beavan and his young family’s attempt at sustainable living by going one year in New York City with no environmental impact.

7. Garbage Warriors (2008) –This film presents US architect Michael Reynolds’ rocky career as he tries to perpetuate the creation and development of self-sustaining homes (aka Earthships) made from recycled materials.

8. Planet Earth: The Complete BBC Series (2007) –Narrated by David Attenborough, this beautifully filmed series presents a survey of natural life and ecosystems across the globe.

9. Who Killed the Electric Car? (2006) –A documentary depicting General Motor’s attempt to shelf the EV1, the first electric-car on the market, and explore the reasons behind this seemingly senseless decision.

10. March of the Penguins (2005) –An illuminating close-up look at the lives and struggles of Emperor Penguins on the Antarctic continent.

I realize that this list is only the tip of the iceberg of amazing environmental documentaries, so leave us comments and let us know some of your favorites.

Image courtesy of Creative Commons.

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