Environmental anguish getting you down? Bill Nye and Arnold Schwarzenegger have some advice.
'Deniers, quit denying — and we can all get to work and change the world.'
Bill Nye is a very sad Science Guy.
Our climate is changing, and the planet is in danger. The science that lends Bill Nye his nickname — the thing he's dedicated his life to — is the only thing that can save us.
Unfortunately, there's a small but incredibly vocal minority who refuse to yield to facts — and whose stubborn resistance has already done massive damage to the planet we call home.
What's a bow-tied educational entertainer to do?
Sad Bill Nye is sad. All GIFs via " National Geographic."
Easy: enlist the aid of Dr. Arnold Schwarzenegger, world-renowned psychologist.
Wait what?!
That's the delightful setup for a recent episode of National Geographic's "Explorer."
If you don't have 45 minutes to watch the whole thing, below are the highlights of how Arnold guides the Science Guy through those famous "five stages of grieving" for our man-made planetary disaster. (But don't worry — there's a happy ending, just like the real fifth stage!)
1. Denial
Ignorance is bliss, so Nye travels to Florida on a quest to learn from the most masterful of those who reject mainstream climate science. How are they able to live such happy lives, blind to the painful, glaring reality of the disastrous future on the near horizon?
Nye speaks with Florida state Rep. Mike Hill, who basically sticks his fingers in his ears and says, "LA LA LA LA I CAN'T HEAR YOU" when Nye presents him with evidence of global warming. Also, did you know that government employees in the state of Florida aren't even allowed to say the words "climate change?"
2. Anger
In Alberta, Canada, big oil companies are physically forcing themselves onto protected land and drilling for tar sands — which are both environmentally hazardous and economically impractical.
Nye joins the frontlines of the fight alongside the activists and protesters who are screaming for a change. Because, hey, if someone came in and permanently ruined your home and then turned around and tried to charge you for it, you'd be pretty pissed, right?
Spoiler alert: Yup, they're pissed. But a few small grassroots efforts can't stand up to the combined might of Big Oil all by themselves.
3. Bargaining
There has to be a middle ground, right? A truce or a sacrifice we can make to appease the carbon-producing corporations and also save the planet at the same time ... right?
Not so much. As the Science Guy finds, every time we try to find a compromise, carbon emissions still come out on top. Unless we make a unilateral change across the board and bring an abrupt end to fossil fuels, we're only delaying the inevitable.
4. Depression
When we're depressed, we sometimes feel like we're drowning, waves of misery crashing all around us until the pressure is too much to fight and we just stop swimming.
For the people who are already dealing with the effects of the changing climate, that's not a metaphor.
In this section, the Science Guy visits South Pacific islands and American coastal towns to see how the rising water levels and chaotic patterns are ravaging the homes of real people. The truth is ... not so pretty.
5. Acceptance
After a heartbreaking conversation with ecologist Guy McPherson, the Science Guy becomes the Whiskey Guy. With so many barriers in the way of a solution, he has no choice but to turn to his old friend Jack Daniels for solace.
But wait! If we truly accept these three important facts, things will actually look up:
- Climate change is real.
- It's happening now, and it's getting exponentially worse.
- And there's a still chance to make it better.
And that science that Bill Nye has dedicated his life to? That's what's going to help us.
"There's enough energy in most places — wind, solar, tidal, and geothermal — to run the whole world. What we need is to DO IT. We need to get started," the Science Guy said.
That's great news! Let's start listening to it!
You can make a difference right now! Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to sign this petition to stop risky off-shore oil drilling in Australia — and help shield our planet from catastrophic climate change.
After you're done with that, you can watch the full episode of National Geographic's "Explorer" online — it's well worth* your 45 minutes!
*And not just for Arnold's corny puns.