Everyone’s talking about James Cameron’s new movie Avatar. People may be flocking to the theater because of the film's computer generated effects and its science fiction theme, but everyone is leaving the theater with the unintended benefit of having become more environmentally aware.
Avatar is set on the exomoon Pandora, where a wealth of natural resources is discovered. The year is 2154 and humans are attempting to exploit these resources but are challenged by the indigenous populations of Na’vi humanoid aliens.
The Pandora natives prevent humans from depleting their environment through mining. It's a plot line that prompts viewers to think about the effects of construction, agriculture and, of course, mining upon the land. The link to developing countries, where the impact of environmental degradation can have a momentous effect on individuals who rely primarily upon natural resources, is clear.
Avatar might also give us a glimpse into the future. Earlier this year, researchers from NASA discovered water on the moon and there have already been discussions about the potential use of this resource — all of which are beneficial to humans on Earth with no regard to the ecology of the planet.
http://www.globalpost.com/notebook/global-green/091230/avatar-environmental-issues