I have just returned after watching a beautiful movie called Planet Ocean. The movie was screened by the Emirates Environment Group of UAE. It is a brilliant 90 minute, 2012 documentary by Yann Arthus-Bertrand and Michael Pitiot in partnership with the prestigious watch company OMEGA who carry in their collection, a watch by the same name Planet Ocean. The movie literally transferred the audience into our planet's greatest mysteries exploring the breathtaking bond between humanity and the ocean.

The makers of Planet Ocean seemed inspired by words of Paul Claudel: It is not my thorns that protect me, says the rose. It is my fragrance.

Predictions of environmental doom may not save the world, but our capacity to feel the beauty of our planet and to be touched by the plight of the Earth, might change the course of our actions. The movie projects the ocean in all its magnificence and beauty with the hope that this may evoke an emotional reaction from the viewers and create the necessary momentum to protect the oceans. A thing of beauty is a joy forever and we can all appreciate beauty. The makers of the movie are trying to generate love for the Earth by making us fall in love with its beauty, something that we seem to have forgotten in our fast paced, materialistic and industrialized world.

This film highlights the greatest natural mysteries of our planet. It has the power to change the way people look at the ocean, the potential to make us believe that a better and sustainable world is not impossible to achieve.

Throughout the one and a half hour of the viewing, I sat glued to my seat and was left wanting more, when the movie ended. It was one of the most engrossing and captivating films I have ever watched. With its astonishing photography, the film takes us on a magnificent journey into the heart of our planet. It narrates the most marvelous and also the most terrifying human experiences of our time. The film is also a plea to mankind to respect the rules of nature and to live in harmony with our oceans and our environment as a whole.

As I understand the movie was presented at the Earth Summit 2012 in Rio de Janeiro (RIO+20), Brazil in June last year. So many of the members on this forum may have seen it already. They will very well understand what I am talking about. For others who may not have seen it, I would recommend it highly. As per their website, any NGO or school wishing to organize a free screening of the film Planet Ocean, can contact the GoodPlanet Foundation : anne.lelay@goodplanet.org

The link to a youtube trailer of the movie is as follows:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vYMUV2_das