In today’s episode, we meet with Danny O’Malley a producer on Chef’s Table, and Alex Rivest, an MIT-educated neuroscientist. Together they directed a riveting climate documentary disguised as an adventure epic that speaks to the heart versus the viewer’s mind. CANARY is the film featuring Lonnie Thompson’s climate odyssey atop the Quelccaya Ice Cap.
Join us as we delve into the remarkable work and life of Dr. Lonnie Thompson, a pioneering glaciologist whose research has been instrumental in shedding light on the impacts of climate change. Lonnie has spent decades studying glaciers and ice caps around the world, but his work on the Quelccaya Ice Cap is particularly significant. Located high in the Peruvian Andes, Quelccaya is one of the world’s largest tropical ice caps. It serves as a critical indicator of climate change due to its sensitivity to temperature variations. Lonnie’s research involves drilling ice cores to extract ancient air bubbles, allowing scientists to analyze the Earth’s past climate conditions with unparalleled precision.
The documentary, “CANARY” takes us on a breathtaking journey to the top of the Quelccaya Ice Cap, where Lonnie, his team, and an entire film crew conduct and film the research. At an elevation of 18,000 feet, this desolate, icy expanse provides a stark visual representation of the profound changes our planet is undergoing. Through stunning visuals and interviews with the scientists, the film documents the dramatic retreat of Quelccaya’s ice, which has accelerated in recent decades.
At the peak of Lonnie’s career, he received some devastating health news that threatened to halt his progress. The directors draw a parallel between Lonnie’s struggles to accept his health condition, and the broader challenge that many of us face in accepting the reality of climate change caused by a warming atmosphere.
Through their dedication and storytelling, Thompson, Rivest, and O’Malley inspire us all to take action to protect our world for future generations.
Links:
Find showings here: https://canary.oscilloscope.net/
Join us at Climate Week NYC here: https://www.climateweeknyc.org/events/canary-documentary-film-screening
