Between climate change and a burgeoning international wildlife trade, biodiversity is in big trouble. We’re in the midst of Earth’s sixth mass extinction, losing species at a rate up to 100 times higher than normal. But much of this massive disappearing act happens out of sight—and therefore, out of mind.
A new film by the Ocean Preservation Society and director Louie Psihoyos, the same team behind the 2009 Oscar-winning documentary The Cove, makes the loss of life impossible to ignore by putting it on the big screen.
↓ Racing Extinction: Introduction
Racing Extinction follows a team of activists and artists as they go undercover to expose how human activity is decimating species around the globe, documenting everywhere from a restaurant in Los Angeles illegally serving whale meat to an Indonesian fishing village slaughtering manta rays. The scenes are grim, but the takeaway is one of hope: Human beings got us into this mess, and we can get us back out…but the clock is ticking.
So bring your tissues (you’ll need them), but then dry your eyes and find out what you can do. The film starts showing in theaters in the United States tonight.
↓ Racing Extinction director on his motivations for creating the film.
Clara Chaisson’s post first appeared in OnEarth.