Sir David Attenborough was 28-years-old when he convinced his boss on the BBC to let him travel the world and document his research. Since then he has been constantly on the road.
For almost 70 years, Knight Britain and its team of filmmakers have traveled to some of the most remote places on Earth to explore the natural world.
“I wish [people] Attenborough said for 60 minutes that it was not a human story in particular, but a story of life on this earth, how it evolved.
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Now 94, Attenborough has watched the evolution of the natural world more closely than most.
Attenborough studied geology and zoology before embarking on a career in television and film. Since then, he has served as an animal advocate, conservationist and ambassador for the World Wildlife Fund.
For most of his career, Attenborough chose not to preach defense in his films. In 2002, the naturalist told 60-minute correspondent Ed Bradley in an interview that his role was to show a “purposeful representation of the natural world.”
Attenborough said in 60 Minutes in 2002, “The most important thing is to convince people that the natural world is complex and wonderful and that we have a very precious thing.” And if you’re going to do that, do it every time, you show the facts, you end up saying, ‘And it all disappears and it’s all your fault,’ people will stop watching. “
Until recently, Attenborough films avoided making clear announcements about the planet’s changing atmosphere.
That attitude has changed.
Attenborough’s latest project includes both a book and a film called “A Life Our Not Our Planet”. Documentary premieres on Netflix on October 4 called the latest project their “witness statement” and at 60 minutes the reporter told Anderson Cooper that “crime has been committed” against the planet.
Attenborough told Cooper, “We’re both on the air. If you’re going to say something because it’s true, you better make sure it’s true,” Attenborough told Cooper. “So as far as what I’m talking about is right I couldn’t say anything more about the world being in ecological danger.”
Ten Tenbro no longer takes the short cut of words or leaves his viewers wondering where he is on the issue of climate change. In the new film, he laments the collapse of the earth and insists, “Our planet has led to destruction.”
Despite his stern warning about the planet’s crisis, Attenborough told Cooper that it was not too late to save it if countries would work together and societies would change their behavior. Non-elderly people remain optimistic for the future.
“There is a huge movement around the world of people from all countries, young people who can see what is happening in the world and what their government wants to do,” Attenborough said. “And that’s my best hope.”
The video above was made by Keith Zubro and Sara Schaefer Prediger. It was edited by Sarah Schaefer Predigar.
Photos and video courtesy of Silverback Films, WWF and Getty Images.
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