David Carlos R.

Servado

2011-01499

Reaction on Age of Stupid

The present economic and social system that continues to dominate countries all over
the world plays a critical role in the fight against global warming. A system that favors wealth
accumulation with no regard for consequence and relentless consumerist behavior does not only
facilitate global warming, it also worsens its effects. The movie Age of Stupid provides us with
a clear illustration of what possible future we could end up with if we continue to exercise these
destructive behaviors. The films method of presenting real footages of natural disasters is very
functional. Grouping the disasters and arranging them in a way that each disasters relationship
with other events can be clearly seen helps the viewer understand the scale and severity of the
problem of global warming. The generated footage of future Earth shows the possible
catastrophes and conditions that could destroy major cities in the world. The scenarios shown
are not really far from the real conditions cities face today. Forest fires in Australia and
sandstorms in Las Vegas are real problems faced by these places. Though the severity of the
problems is exaggerated in the film, the existence of it is real.

The film presented different cases relating to the causes of global warming around the
world. One of the cases presented is the US-Iraq war. According to the film the only purpose of
this war is for the US to take control for oil reserves of Iraq. This case really demonstrated how
powerful the control of the elites on the government. The act of declaring war, which could result
to permanent and devastating damages on both countries, for the sake of sustaining the need
for oil to maintain the consumption behavior and financial dominance of a country is ridiculous
and impractical. Aside from the loss of life and property, the disruption of the residents daily
activities due to the war could result to permanent trauma and could instill violence in the minds
of the younger generation. As shown in the film, the Iraqi boy and his sister had already
developed a general hate for the Americans because of the death of their father and their forced
evacuation from their home. This hate could have also developed in the hearts of others affected
by the war, both in the Iraqi side and American side. Because of this, the conflict between these
two nations will become more heated and violent. More death and destruction will result from
and, at the same time, propagate this conflict.

The issue of global warming has now expanded from natural hazards to armed conflicts
between nations. It is the responsibility of everyone to put an end to a system which facilitates
greed and thrives on conflict. Global warming may have been the natures way of punishing our
actions against our fellow human beings. Let the film Age of Stupid remind us that our selfish
actions would later cause our own destruction.