When a documentary is done well it can be life changing for those who view it. My move to veganism was prompted by a number of documentaries, and I know I’m not the only one.
Other people in my network have gone cold turkey on soft drinks after watching That Sugar Film, dropped fish from their diet after Seaspiracy, changed how they holiday after Blackfish, altered their approach to fast fashion after The True Cost, or changed their way of living because of Minimalism.
They say that the first step in making change is to become an informed citizen and documentaries and other educational stories are clearly an important tool to inform, inspire and motivate us to act on those matters that are important to us. Enter WaterBear – the streaming site coined the ‘Netflix for the planet’ by FastCompany. WaterBear wants to turn us all into informed citizens and is the first streaming platform that is solely for documentaries, short films and series dedicated to the ‘future of our planet and its inhabitants'.
WaterBear is the brainchild of the executive producer of the outstanding documentary My Octopus Teacher and has garnered huge support from numerous global NGOs and activists, not to mention thousands of film makers. The result is a totally free platform providing films that focus on a range of impact themes including biodiversity, climate change, circularity, and community.
As an added bonus, the site also provides options for taking the next step. Other streaming services might have documentaries to help you stay informed, but WaterBear bridges the gap between simple viewing and action by providing steps you can take in your own life to make a difference and connect with the cause – whether it be signing a petition, volunteering, donating or sharing the film on socials.
Within the thousand-odd films available, there are options ranging from three minutes to two hours and options for all age groups. Films are categorised by topics, including conservation, wildlife, climate, environment, community, wellness, sustainability, sustainable food, biodiversity, refugees, life on land, and green energy and include a growing collection of WaterBear originals, content produced for organisations who set out to change the world.
With such a huge range of options, there is something positive and meaningful for everyone. A great, easy one to start with is the powerful, 5-minute #FORNATURE, a film by Greta Thunberg and Tom Mustill. It’s a film that does more to inform in five minutes than most hour long documentaries.
Another documentary initiative started right here in Australia is Documentary Australia's new Environmental Accelerator program. With a vision to to inspire audiences to connect with our environment and empower them to take action to support its protection as part of a collective movement, the program aims to act as a campaign for change.
Some of the upcoming documentaries include 'The Giants', a biopic on environmentalist Bob Brown's work to protect forests, and 'Greenhouse by Joost', which followers zero-waste campaigner Joost Bakker as he attempts to build a self-sustaining home, among others.
With this range of local and international environmental documentaries on offer, there is no excuse not to be informed on the important issues we face!
Planet Ark does not take responsibility for the accuracy of the original information and encourages readers to check the references before using this information for their own purposes.