Attenborough Ocean film 'greatest message he's ever told'

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Renowned broadcaster Sir David Attenborough, who is approaching his 99th birthday, is unveiling what he considers a pivotal film in his long and illustrious career. Titled Ocean, this cinema-length production aims to serve as a vital tool in the preservation of biodiversity and the fight against climate change. Sir David asserts that the ocean, not the land, holds the key to the planet’s well-being and is humanity’s strongest defense against environmental catastrophe.

The premiere of Ocean is set to take place at the Royal Festival Hall, where a slew of celebrities such as Chris Martin and Benedict Cumberbatch are expected to grace the event. Producer Toby Nowlan characterizes the film as a departure from Sir David’s traditional natural history documentaries, emphasizing that its message is of paramount importance. Ocean tracks the transformation of the world’s oceans over Sir David’s lifetime and highlights the crucial crossroads they currently face.

Sir David vividly recalls his inaugural scuba dive in the Great Barrier Reef in 1957 and the awe-inspiring spectacle that left him breathless. However, he laments the significant decline in marine life over the years due to damaging practices like bottom trawling. The film showcases the devastating impact of industrial fishing methods on ocean ecosystems and emphasizes the urgent need for change to curb further destruction.

Despite expressing concern over the state of the oceans, Sir David remains optimistic about the potential for recovery and restoration. He draws inspiration from the remarkable resurgence of whale populations following the implementation of a global ban on commercial whaling in 1986. Ocean aims to galvanize world leaders ahead of an upcoming UN conference to fulfill promises of safeguarding a third of the planet’s oceans, signaling a critical step towards mitigating climate change and securing a sustainable future

Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More

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