Source 23.6: “What’s Possible?”

In late September of 2014, some 100 heads of state or government and another 800 leaders from the worlds of business, finance, and civil society met at the United Nations Climate Summit in New York City. That gathering was intended to build political momentum for binding action on climate change at a scheduled UN meeting in Paris in 2015 and was accompanied by a huge mass demonstration of perhaps 400,000 people on the streets of the city. The meeting itself began with the showing of a short film called “What’s Possible,” commissioned by the United Nations and narrated by the American actor Morgan Freeman. One of the creators of the film, Louie Schwartzberg, stated its purpose: “We hope we can inspire [people to] take actions in their life that will allow life to be sustainable . . . and more importantly elect leaders who share the same values.” That film presented a particular vision of the future.

Questions to consider as you examine the source:

“What’s Possible?”

Click to see the film “What’s Possible” (running time 4:17 minutes).

Source: Louie Schwartzberg and Lyn Davis Lear, “What’s Possible,” YouTube, September 23, 2014, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4r5OsKyTUU#t=20.