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Ford: TODAY I GET TO FLY ON A JET THAT WAS ORIGINALLY DESIGNED FOR WAR.
NOW NASA'S USING IT FOR A PEACEFUL MISSION,
BUT THE STAKES ARE JUST AS HIGH.
OUR TASK IS TO COLLECT AIR SAMPLES
THAT MEASURE GREENHOUSE GASES IN THE ATMOSPHERE,
THE MAIN CAUSE OF CLIMATE CHANGE.
FOR OVER 20 YEARS,
I'VE SERVED ON THE BOARD OF CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL.
SO THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME
I'VE WORRIED ABOUT THREATS TO OUR PLANET.
BUT THIS IS A CHANCE FOR ME TO SEE UP CLOSE
HOW SCIENTISTS STUDY CLIMATE CHANGE...
AND WHAT IT ALL MEANS.
YOU WERE MEASURING FOR US METHANE AND CO2.
WHEN YOU SEE THESE LEVELS GOING UP,
YOU'RE A CLIMATE SCIENTIST,
HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING?
PERSONALLY, IT'S PRETTY SCARY. YEAH.
THE WORLD IS GOING TO BE SUFFERING IN A LOT OF WAYS
FROM THIS PHYSICAL REALITY FOR A LONG TIME TO COME.
Cheadle: IT'S 10:00 A.M. ON MARCH 16, 2013.
THIS HAS BECOME A WEEKLY RITUAL.
EACH SATURDAY, THESE PEOPLE WALK THE FOUR MILES
AROUND THE CARGILL MEAT-PACKING PLANT ON THE EDGE OF TOWN.
THEY'RE PRAYING FOR RAIN AND FOR THE PLANT TO REOPEN.
SIX WEEKS AGO, IT CLOSED,
AND OVERNIGHT, 10% OF THE AREA'S ENTIRE WORK FORCE WAS LAID OFF.
IT SHUT DOWN BECAUSE OF A THREE-YEAR DROUGHT
THAT DEVASTATED THE CATTLE HERD HERE IN TEXAS.
AND WITHOUT COWS, YOU CAN'T RUN A MEAT-PACKING PLANT.
Man: FATHER, WE -- WE PRAY FOR THE SITUATION IN CARGILL, MY GOD,
'CAUSE AS YOU BRING THE MOISTURE, AS YOU BRING THE RAIN,
CONDITIONS WILL CHANGE, MY GOD.
BECAUSE IT'S YOUR RAIN, IT'S YOUR SPIRIT...
Cheadle: IN A LOT OF THE COUNTRY,
SOMETHING LIKE A DROUGHT IS SEEN AS AN ACT OF GOD,
OR PART OF A NATURAL CYCLE.
BUT WHERE I LIVE, IN LOS ANGELES,
IT SEEMS LIKE ANY KIND OF EXTREME WEATHER
GETS BLAMED ON CLIMATE CHANGE.
SOMETIMES IT FEELS LIKE WE LIVE IN TWO DIFFERENT COUNTRIES.
I WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE TRUTH IS ABOUT THIS DROUGHT
AND IF IT'S POSSIBLE FOR THESE TWO SIDES TO TALK TO EACH OTHER.
SO I'M HEADING TO TEXAS TO FIND OUT.
[ EXPLOSION ]
[ INDISTINCT SHOUTING, CAR ALARM BLARING ]
THIS IS AL HASAKAH PROVINCE. I'M FROM HASAKAH CITY.
Friedman: I'M LESS THAN AN HOUR'S DRIVE
FROM THE SYRIAN BORDER.
ON THE OTHER SIDE, A CIVIL WAR IS RAGING --
THE WORLD'S DEADLIEST CONFLICT.
I'LL INTRODUCE MYSELF.
I WORK AS A MEDIC AND SAFETY CONSULT.
I SERVED IN THE BALKANS, IN SARAJEVO, AFGHANISTAN.
THIS WILL BE MY 10th TRIP INTO SYRIA.
BUT I'M NOT HERE TO WRITE ABOUT THE LATEST BATTLE.
THERE'S A DIFFERENT DISASTER I'M INTERESTED IN,
ONE I HOPE WILL TELL ME SOMETHING ABOUT THE REAL ROOTS
OF THIS CONFLICT.
IT FEEDS INTO THE EUPHRATES.
IT ACTUALLY STOPPED? WOW.
HUH.
FOUR YEARS BEFORE THE CIVIL WAR STARTED,
SYRIA WAS HIT BY A DROUGHT
THAT LASTED UNTIL JUST BEFORE THE REVOLUTION,
A DROUGHT SO DEVASTATING
THAT IT ALTERED THE LIVES OF MILLIONS OF SYRIANS.
THERE'S A MAN ON THE OTHER SIDE
OF THAT BORDER WHO CAN TELL ME ABOUT IT.
I JUST HAVE TO GET THERE.
THE NEAREST SYRIAN ARMY TROOPS?
NOBODY REALLY KNOWS WE'RE COMING, IS THAT CORRECT?
YEAH.
Woman: THIS REPORT CONSTITUTES AN ALARM-CLOCK MOMENT
FOR THE WORLD,
BECAUSE THIS REPORT WILL TELL US, AGAIN,
THAT EVERYTHING WE THOUGHT WE KNEW ON CLIMATE CHANGE
HAS ACTUALLY BEEN UNDERESTIMATED,
THAT THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE WILL BE UPON US
FASTER AND IN A MORE INTENSE FASHION THAN WE HAD THOUGHT.
President H.W. Bush: WE ALL KNOW THAT HUMAN ACTIVITIES
ARE CHANGING THE ATMOSPHERE
IN UNEXPECTED AND IN UNPRECEDENTED WAYS.
Man: ...THAT THE GREENHOUSE EFFECT HAS BEEN DETECTED,
AND IT IS CHANGING OUR CLIMATE NOW.
Man #2: THE ATMOSPHERE AND OCEAN HAVE WARMED.
THE AMOUNT OF SNOW AND ICE HAVE DIMINISHED.
SEA LEVEL HAS RISEN,
AND THE CONCENTRATIONS OF GREENHOUSE GASES HAVE...
Schwarzenegger: THERE IS NO MORE FIRE SEASON.
WE HAVE WILDFIRES ALL YEAR 'ROUND.
Man #3: CLIMATE CHANGE, EXTREME WEATHER...
Man #4: A WAKE OF MASSIVE DESTRUCTION...
Man #3: ...AND OUR VULNERABILITY TO IT.
Man #4: ...UNTHINKABLE, AND THE DEVASTATION.
Man #5: ...WHERE 12 YEARS OF DROUGHT HAS LEFT THE LANDSCAPE BONE-DRY.
Man #6: WE GOT ANY PATRIOTS IN THE CROWD?!
Woman #2: A NEW SCIENTIFIC REPORT HAS DETERMINED
THE LAST DECADE WAS THE WARMEST ON RECORD.
Man #7: OUR WORLD IS CHANGING FASTER
AND MORE DRAMATICALLY THAN EVER BEFORE.
Man #4: WE MAY HAVE RATIFIED OUR OWN DOOM.
Ford: THE DATA WE COLLECTED WITH THAT JET, PLUS A LOT MORE,
ALL COMES HERE TO NASA'S ADVANCED SUPERCOMPUTING FACILITY
IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA.
THESE DAYS, THE MOST JAW-DROPPING IMAGES
COMING OUT OF NASA AREN'T OF MARS OR THE MOON,
BUT OF WHAT'S HAPPENING TO OUR OWN PLANET.
Nemani: SO, HERE IS A PICTURE OF THE PLANT GROWTH.
WE HAVE DROUGHTS GOING ON IN THE MIDWEST,
IN RUSSIA, IN BRAZIL, IN ARGENTINA.
Hansen: THREE BREAD BASKETS --
THE CORN BELT, UKRAINE, RUSSIA --
WHEAT BELT, AND DOWN HERE IN ARGENTINA --
THE SOY-CORN BELT --
IT'S ALL UNDERPERFORMING UNDER DROUGHT.
THIS IS ACTUAL DATA, NOT A PROJECTION?
YES.
CAN WE CONNECT THIS DROUGHT TO MAN-MADE CLIMATE CHANGE?
AND GREENHOUSE GASES COME FROM THE BURNING OF FOSSIL FUELS,
AND THEY COME FROM CARS AND PLANES...
FROM DEFORESTATION.
...AND COAL-FIRE PLANTS. EXACTLY, YES.
HOW DOES THAT PLAY OUT IN THE UNITED STATES
OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS?
HERE WE'RE LOOKING AT HISTORICAL CLIMATE -- JULY 1950.
THESE ARE HIGH TEMPERATURES.
AS YOU CAN SEE, ONLY A FEW AREAS,
LIKE IN ARIZONA, YOU HAVE 100-PLUS DEGREES IN JULY.
BUT AS WE GO INTO THE FUTURE,
THE MODELS PREDICT THOSE REALLY HOT AREAS TO BE GROWING.
JUST SO YOU CAN SEE HOW THE HIGH TEMPERATURES
ARE SPREADING ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
AND IMAGINE THE IMPACT OF THOSE TEMPERATURES
WHERE WE PRODUCE FOOD.
AH.
Moore: IMAGINE, HARRISON,
THAT FARGO, NORTH DAKOTA, IS LIKE PHOENIX.
THOSE AGRICULTURAL AREAS IN THE MIDWEST --
100 DEGREES.
THESE ARE CONSERVATIVE PROJECTIONS
BY THE WORLD'S LEADING SCIENTISTS.
AND ONE OF THE BIGGEST CAUSES
OF THIS IS SOMETHING ASTONISHING.
EACH YEAR. THAT'S A BIG NUMBER.
IT TURNS OUT THAT DEFORESTATION
ACCOUNTS FOR ABOUT THE SAME AMOUNT OF EMISSIONS
AS CARS, PLANES --
IN FACT, ALL THE TRANSPORTATION ON THE ENTIRE PLANET.
THAT'S BECAUSE LIVING TREES
BREATHE IN AND STORE CARBON AS THEY GROW.
BUT WHEN THEY DIE,
THEY RELEASE THAT CARBON BACK INTO THE ATMOSPHERE.
MORE CARBON IN THE AIR MEANS MORE GLOBAL WARMING.
AND EVERY COUPLE OF YEARS,
ENOUGH FOREST TO COVER ALL OF GERMANY IS LOST FOREVER.
THIS PICTURE IS OF FOREST LOSS COLORED BY YEAR.
THE BEST COUNTRY IN TERMS OF REDUCING DEFORESTATION
HAS BEEN BRAZIL.
AT THE OPPOSITE END OF THE SPECTRUM,
IN TERMS OF THE HIGHEST RATE OF INCREASE PER YEAR,
IS INDONESIA.
IT'S KIND OF A DOUBLE WHAMMY FOR CLIMATE CHANGE
'CAUSE FIRST THEY CUT THE TREES
THAT HAVE BEEN TAKING IN THE CARBON.
AND THEN THEY SLASH AND BURN THE LANDSCAPE,
AND THAT RELEASES SO-CALLED "BLACK CARBON."
SO MUCH FOREST IS BEING BURNED THERE
THAT YOU CAN SEE THE SMOKE FROM SPACE.
SO IS IT LEGAL TO SET THESE FIRES?
NO. UNDER INDONESIAN LAW, IT IS ILLEGAL.
AND WHAT ARE THEY BEING CLEARED FOR?
THEY'RE CLEARED FOR TWO PRODUCTS -- PALM OIL AND PAPER.
EVERYBODY KNOWS WE CUT DOWN TREES TO MAKE PAPER,
BUT PALM OIL?
[ CASH REGISTER BEEPING ]
SNACK FOODS, CEREALS, CAKES,
PROCESSED FOODS,
CANDY BARS, COOKIES,
CHEEZ-ITS, OREOS, SOAPS, SHAMPOOS.
IT'S PRETTY MUCH ON EVERY AISLE OF MOST SUPERMARKETS.
YOU'LL FIND PALM OIL IN THERE.
PALM OIL COMES FROM THE FRUIT OF OIL PALM TREES.
LAFCADIO CORTESI OF RAINFOREST ACTION NETWORK
TELLS ME THAT ALMOST ALL OF THOSE PALM TREES
ARE GROWN ON LAND THAT USED TO BE FOREST.
IT'S NOT THE OIL THAT'S BAD. IT'S HOW THE OIL IS PRODUCED.
COMPANIES NEED TO FIND OUT
WHERE THEIR PALM OIL'S COMING FROM,
AND THEY NEED TO MAKE A COMMITMENT --
"WE'RE NOT GONNA CONTRIBUTE TO CLIMATE CHANGE
AND DEFORESTATION,"
AND THEN LOOK AT THEIR SUPPLY CHAINS AND PROVE THAT.
LAFCADIO SAYS DEMAND FOR PALM OIL
IS GROWING FASTER THAN ANY OTHER AGRICULTURAL COMMODITY.
AND IN INDONESIA,
THAT MEANS EVEN MORE INCENTIVE TO DESTROY FORESTS.
I'M GOING THERE TO FIND OUT MORE.
Cheadle: ON MY WAY TO TEXAS,
THE SIGNS OF DROUGHT ARE CLEAR.
RANCHERS HERE WERE AMONG THE FIRST TO FEEL ITS EFFECTS.
GOOD TO SEE YOU. YEAH.
ONE OF THEM, MONTY BEST, HAS BEEN HERE HIS WHOLE LIFE.
SO THIS IS ONE OF YOUR SPOTS, RIGHT?
THIS IS ONE OF MY SPOTS RIGHT HERE.
HOW BIG OF AN EXPANSE?
17,000 ACRES HERE ON THIS RANCH.
WOW.
17,000.
YEAH, THIS IS WHERE I STARTED OUT RIGHT HERE.
Best: I THOUGHT IT NEEDED THE RAIN LAST YEAR.
IT'S GOT TO RAIN THIS TIME.
I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST ANOTHER DRY SPELL,
AND WE'D BE OUT OF IT, BUT IT'S MORE THAN A DRY SPELL.
Cheadle: MONTY TELLS ME HE'S HAD TO SELL 2/3 OF HIS STOCK
JUST TO STAY IN BUSINESS.
AND HE'S NOT ALONE.
ACROSS THE BORDER IN TEXAS, WHERE I'M HEADED,
THE CATTLE HERD IS AT ITS LOWEST LEVEL
IN MORE THAN HALF A CENTURY,
DOWN BY MORE THAN 2 MILLION COWS,
WHICH IS WHY THAT MEAT-PACKING PLANT IN PLAINVIEW HAD TO CLOSE.
WHEN I ARRIVE, IT'S CLEAR THIS ISN'T A BIG TOWN.
JUST 22,000 PEOPLE.
SO I FIGURE SOMETHING THAT KILLED
2,300 JOBS IN A SINGLE DAY
HAS GOT TO BE AFFECTING JUST ABOUT EVERYONE.
WHAT ROLE DID CLIMATE CHANGE PLAY
IN THE DROUGHT THAT LED TO ALL THIS?
WHAT DO THE PEOPLE HERE THINK?
I PAY A VISIT TO ONE OF THE LAID-OFF WORKERS, NELLIE MONTEZ.
HEY, DON. HI.
SO THIS IS WHERE I GREW UP. I'VE LIVED HERE ALL MY LIFE.
MY KIDS WERE BORN AND RAISED RIGHT HERE IN THIS HOUSE.
THIS IS MY MOM AND DAD'S HOUSE.
MOM AND DAD LIVE RIGHT NEXT DOOR?
OH, THAT'S NICE.
Montez: SEE, A LOT OF THE BUSINESSES
HAVE ALREADY CLOSED DOWN AND STUFF.
DID YOU EVER SEE IT COMING?
I MEAN, THE PLANT CLOSURE?
NO. CARGILL'S THE MAIN SOURCE OF INCOME.
LIKE, THAT CAN'T HAPPEN.
THAT DAY, WHEN THEY TOLD US,
THEY TOOK US INTO THE CAFETERIA.
YEAH, WHAT WAS THAT LIKE?
OH, MY GOD. THAT WAS JUST UNREAL.
IT WAS LIKE THEY ROUNDED UP A HERD OF CATTLE IN A PEN
AND JUST HIT US OVER THE HEAD WITH IT.
THIS IS IT.
THIS IS IT.
THIS IS HOME, SWEET, HOME.
WELL, HOME AWAY FROM HOME, RIGHT?
HOME AWAY FROM HOME.
Cheadle: NELLIE TOLD ME IT WAS A GOOD JOB.
SHE SAVED ENOUGH MONEY TO BUY A HOUSE,
AND FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HER LIFE,
WASN'T LIVING PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK.
BUT WHEN THEY TOLD ME, "IT'S OVER,"
I'M GOING LIKE, "WHAT CAN I DO?" YOU KNOW?
WHO'S GONNA HIRE A 46-YEAR-OLD WOMAN AS A FORKLIFT DRIVER?
WHAT DO YOU THINK THE REASON WAS FOR THE DROUGHT?
I MEAN, DO YOU ATTRIBUTE IT TO ANYTHING?
DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT?
UM, MY ONLY THOUGHT WAS, "I THINK IT'S BIBLICAL."
BIBLICAL?
I REALLY DO.
RELIGION PLAYS A BIG ROLE IN PLAINVIEW.
THERE ARE OVER 70 CHURCHES IN TOWN,
AND I DISCOVER THAT BELIEVING THE DROUGHT IS GOD'S WILL
OR PART OF A NATURAL CYCLE IS COMMON HERE.
AS I TALK TO MORE AND MORE OF THE LOCALS,
IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE ANYONE
THINKS HUMANS COULD BE AFFECTING THE CLIMATE.
I THINK IT'S A CYCLE.
EVERYTHING RUNS IN 20-YEAR CYCLES.
THERE'S ONLY ONE MAN THAT KNOWS HOW MUCH RAIN WE'RE GONNA GET,
AND THAT'S GOD AND HE'S NOT A SCIENTIST,
SO I'M NOT PUTTING MUCH FAITH IN WHAT THEY SAY.
[ CHUCKLES ]
GENESIS 9 SAYS
THAT THERE WILL ALWAYS BE SEED TIME AND HARVEST.
THIS BUSINESS OF THESE PEOPLE SAYING
THAT THERE'S GONNA BE A CALAMITY IN WEATHER IS NOT TRUE.
Cheadle: BUT WHAT IF IT IS TRUE?
WHAT IF GLOBAL WARMING IS THE REASON
ALL THESE PEOPLE HERE LOST THEIR JOBS?
Friedman: I'VE SPENT DECADES REPORTING ON THE MIDDLE EAST,
BUT I HAVE TO SAY THE EVENTS IN SYRIA THESE DAYS
ARE SOME OF THE MOST HEARTBREAKING I HAVE EVER SEEN.
I THOUGHT I KNEW HOW IT ALL STARTED
WITH PROTESTS OVER GOVERNMENT REPRESSION
AND WIDESPREAD POVERTY IN EARLY 2011.
HI. TOM FRIEDMAN.
FARAH NASIF. HI. THANKS FOR COMING.
BUT THEN I MET FARAH NASIF,
A YOUNG SYRIAN REFUGEE LIVING HERE IN WASHINGTON D.C.,
AND SHE MADE ME WONDER
IF THERE MIGHT BE A LOT MORE TO THIS STORY.
SHE TOLD ME THAT BEFORE THE CIVIL WAR,
SHE HAD LIVED THROUGH ANOTHER DISASTER.
SO, IS THIS YEAR AFTER YEAR, LESS RAIN?
AND THAT THE GOVERNMENT'S RESPONSE MADE PEOPLE SO ANGRY
THEY WERE EAGER TO TAKE TO THE STREETS.
SHE SAID I COULDN'T UNDERSTAND THE CIVIL WAR
IF I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENED IN THE DROUGHT.
THEY MOVED FROM THE COUNTRYSIDE TO THE CITY.
WOW.
REALLY?
LATER, I LEARN THAT THIS DROUGHT
WAS THE WORST IN SYRIA'S MODERN HISTORY
AND THAT IT HAPPENED IN THE FOUR YEARS
JUST BEFORE THE REVOLUTION.
OVER A MILLION PEOPLE WERE DISPLACED,
AND ACCORDING TO THE UNITED NATIONS,
MORE THAN 2 MILLION WERE FORCED INTO EXTREME POVERTY.
THAT'S REALLY SCARY.
AND THIS DROUGHT WAS PART OF A TREND.
ACCORDING TO A STUDY BY THE U.S. GOVERNMENT'S
NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION,
OVER THE LAST 40 YEARS,
CLIMATE CHANGE HAS CAUSED THE MEDITERRANEAN REGION TO DRY UP,
RESULTING IN LONGER, MORE SEVERE DROUGHTS.
THE PLACES IN RED ARE GETTING THE WORST OF IT,
AND SYRIA IS RIGHT AT THE EPICENTER.
I ALSO COME ACROSS
A CONFIDENTIAL U.S. DIPLOMATIC CABLE
WRITTEN TWO YEARS BEFORE THE REVOLUTION.
IT CONTAINS SOME DIRE PREDICTIONS.
A U.N. OFFICIAL STATIONED IN SYRIA
FEARED THE DROUGHT WOULD THROW THE ENTIRE COUNTRY INTO CHAOS.
BUT CAN THERE REALLY BE A CONNECTION
BETWEEN A DROUGHT AND A CIVIL WAR?
HEY, IT'S THOMAS FRIEDMAN FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES.
[ BUZZER ]
Rice: CLIMATE CHANGE IS NOW WELL UNDERSTOOD
TO BE A MAJOR NATIONAL-SECURITY ISSUE
AND A SOURCE OF STRESS
ON A NUMBER OF THE UNDERLYING CAUSES OF CONFLICT --
DROUGHT, FLOODS,
FOOD SHORTAGES, WATER SCARCITY.
ALL OF THESE DRIVE INCREASED HUMAN INSECURITY,
POVERTY,
AND CAN CONTRIBUTE TO CONFLICT.
HOW MUCH DO YOU FEEL THAT STRESS IN NORTHERN SYRIA,
WHERE YOU HAVE THIS REGION AFFLICTED BY DROUGHT
FROM 2006 TO 2010,
RIGHT ON THE EVE OF THE REVOLUTION THERE,
CONTRIBUTED TO IT?
IT'S VERY HARD TO QUANTIFY.
HOWEVER, WE ALL KNOW THAT,
YOU KNOW, WHERE THERE IS DROUGHT,
WHERE THERE IS INSECURITY,
WHEN THERE IS POVERTY, HUNGER, POOR GOVERNANCE,
REPRESSIVE POLICIES,
IT MAY MAKE THE TINDER IN THE BOX
MORE READILY IGNITABLE.
IN OTHER WORDS, IF A DROUGHT IS BAD ENOUGH,
IT CAN HELP PUSH AN ALREADY STRESSED SOCIETY
TO THE BREAKING POINT.
IS THAT WHAT HAPPENED IN SYRIA?
Ford: I ARRIVE IN INDONESIA
TO WHAT LOOKS LIKE THE WORST SMOG I'VE EVER SEEN.
BUT IT'S NOT SMOG.
IT'S SMOKE.
FIRE IS THE CHEAPEST WAY TO CLEAR A FOREST.
SO IT CAN BE REPLACED BY THIS --
PALM TREES FOR PALM OIL.
THESE PLANTATIONS MAY LOOK LUSH,
BUT THEY TAKE THE PLACE OF DENSE JUNGLES
THAT WERE STORING CARBON FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS.
THE PALM TREES WILL ONLY GROW FOR 25 YEARS
BEFORE BEING CUT DOWN AND BURNED AGAIN,
RELEASING ALL THEIR CARBON INTO THE ATMOSPHERE.
BUT EVEN THAT ISN'T THE WORST OF IT.
IN BORNEO, ONE OF INDONESIA'S MANY ISLANDS,
TWO PEOPLE ARE WAITING TO SHOW ME MORE.
[ CROWD CHEERING ]
I'M MET BY REZAL KUSUMAATMADJA.
GOOD FLIGHT?
GOOD FLIGHT.
REZAL AND HIS BUSINESS PARTNER, DHARSONO HARTONO,
ARE TAKING ME TO A REMOTE PIECE OF FOREST
THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO SAVE.
[ BIRD CALLING ]
ALSO ON THIS JOURNEY,
MY FRIEND RUSS MITTERMEIER,
A DISTINGUISHED PRIMATOLOGIST
AND PRESIDENT OF CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL,
WHICH HAS FOCUSED ON CLIMATE CHANGE
AND DEFORESTATION FOR MANY YEARS.
REZAL AND DHARSONO TELL ME
THAT THE MOST REMARKABLE AND PRECIOUS THING ABOUT THIS JUNGLE
IS RIGHT UNDER OUR FEET.
WHAT WE'RE WALKING ON ISN'T MUD.
IT'S A THICK LAYER OF COMPRESSED,
DECAYING VEGETATION CALLED PEAT.
MANY OF INDONESIA'S FORESTS SIT ON PEAT,
AND PEAT IS FULL OF CARBON.
Ford: SO, WHAT ARE THESE GUYS DOING HERE?
GETTING A CORE SAMPLE OF SOME KIND OF THE PEAT, RIGHT?
THAT'S CORRECT.
ARE YOU GONNA SEND IT TO A LABORATORY?
YES, WE HAVE TO TEST WHAT WE CALL THE BULK DENSITY...
RIGHT.
...AND THE ORGANIC CARBON CONTENT.
IN A TYPICAL PEAT SAMPLING,
IF YOU MEASURE ONE METER BY ONE METER AND ONE METER --
THAT'S ONE CUBIC METER --
IT CONSISTS BETWEEN 45 KILOGRAMS TO 90 KILOGRAMS...
OF CARBON DIOXIDE. ...OF CARBON. OF CARBON.
DOES PEAT CONTAIN THE SAME AMOUNT OF CARBON
AS A REGULAR FOREST?
PEAT CAN BE 10 TIMES AS MUCH.
AND IF THERE'S A FIRE IN THIS FOREST,
THE PEAT WILL BURN, TOO,
RELEASING ALL THAT STORED CARBON INTO THE AIR.
PEAT FIRES ARE ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO EXTINGUISH.
THEY CAN SMOLDER FOR YEARS.
WHAT'S THE TOTAL CONTAINED IN THIS AREA
THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO PROTECT?
WE HAVE ESTIMATED ALMOST A BILLION TONS OF CARBON DIOXIDE.
YOU LIVE IN LOS ANGELES, RIGHT?
SO, I THINK LOS ANGELES HAS 5 MILLION CARS.
TAKE 1/3 OUT -- THE CARS --
AND THAT'S THE KIND OF EMISSION THAT WE'RE PREVENTING.
WOW.
THAT'S A LOT OF CARS.
AND THAT'S JUST THIS AREA.
IN TOTAL, THE DESTRUCTION OF INDONESIA'S PEAT LANDS
ACCOUNTS FOR AN ASTONISHING 4%
OF THE WORLD'S GREENHOUSE-GAS EMISSIONS.
BUT AFTER FIVE YEARS OF TRYING TO PROTECT THIS ONE PEAT FOREST,
THEY STILL HAVEN'T SUCCEEDED.
WHAT'S THE PROBLEM? WHY AREN'T WE DOING IT?
ONE OF THE BIGGEST PROBLEMS
THAT WE'VE BEEN FACING IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS
IS TO GET THE RIGHTS TO THE LAND --
THE LEASE OF THE LAND -- FROM THE GOVERNMENT.
IT'S NOT EVEN BEING GRANTED. WHY?
THE MINISTER OF FORESTRY HAS TO SIGN THIS CONCESSION RIGHTS.
BUT THE PAPER THAT HE HAS TO SIGN
HAS BEEN SITTING THERE FOR OVER A YEAR, I THINK.
EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT CORRUPTION IS A PROBLEM IN INDONESIA.
ONE OF THE BIG SOURCES OF CORRUPTION
IS ACTUALLY THE FORESTRY SECTOR
JUST BECAUSE THEY HOLD A LOT OF LAND.
WE NEVER HEARD DIRECTLY FROM THE MINISTER HIMSELF
WHAT KINDS OF THINGS THAT HE WANTS FROM US,
BUT WE'VE HEARD FROM OTHER PEOPLE
THAT BECAUSE IT IS A BIG AREA, WE HAVE TO GIVE SOMETHING UP.
GIVE SOMETHING UP. GIVE SOMETHING UP.
IN OTHER WORDS,
THEY HEAR THAT OFFICIALS IN THE FOREST MINISTRY
MAY BE LOOKING FOR A BRIBE.
IT'S HAPPENED HERE IN THE PAST.
I WANT TO MEET THE MINISTER IN CHARGE,
BUT THERE'S A LOT MORE TO SEE FIRST.
Cheadle: THE DROUGHT THAT CAUSED THE PLANT IN PLAINVIEW TO CLOSE
WASN'T JUST LIMITED TO TEXAS.
AT ITS HEIGHT, IT COVERED 2/3 OF THE CONTINENTAL U.S.
I WAS LOOKING FOR SOMEONE
WHO COULD HELP ME UNDERSTAND WHAT CAUSED IT.
AND I FOUND HER ONE TOWN OVER
AT TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY IN LUBBOCK.
KATHARINE HAYHO IS ONE OF
THE TOP CLIMATE SCIENTISTS IN THE WORLD.
SHE'S WRITTEN MORE THAN 60 PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS,
AND ONE OF HER SPECIALTIES IS DROUGHT.
HERE IN WEST TEXAS, IT'S FEAST OR FAMINE.
WE HAVE YEARS WHEN IT'S DRY AS A BONE.
WE HAVE YEARS WHEN IT'S RECORD FLOODING,
AND THAT'S JUST THE WAY IT'S ALWAYS BEEN
AS FAR BACK AS WE GO.
SO JUST TO GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE, HERE IN LUBBOCK,
WE ONLY HAVE ABOUT 9 OR 10 DAYS A YEAR
OVER 100 DEGREES ON AVERAGE.
IN 2011, WE HAD ALMOST 50 DAYS OVER 100,
AND THAT IS GONNA BE THE TYPICAL SUMMER
BY THE MIDDLE OF THE CENTURY
IF WE CONTINUE ON OUR CURRENT PATHWAY.
SO WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU TAKE THAT EXACT NATURAL CYCLE
OF DROUGHT, WET, DROUGHT, WET, AND YOU MAKE IT HOTTER?
WELL, WHEN IT'S DRY,
ALL THAT EXTRA TEMPERATURE
IS GONNA CAUSE EVEN MORE WATER TO EVAPORATE.
IT'S GONNA DRY OUT THE SOIL EVEN MORE.
SO THE AVERAGE DROUGHT IS GONNA BECOME MORE SEVERE
AS IT GETS WARMER.
THE QUESTION, THEN, IS WHAT'S CAUSING IT TO CHANGE?
THERE'S WHAT I CALL FOUR USUAL SUSPECTS
THAT WE KNOW HAVE DONE IT BEFORE.
NATURAL CYCLES IS #1 -- SUSPECT #1.
THE SUN IS SUSPECT #2
'CAUSE THAT'S WHERE WE GET ALL OUR ENERGY FROM.
SO HOW DO WE KNOW IT'S NOT THE SUN?
IT'S BECAUSE WE CAN ACTUALLY LOOK AT THE SUN'S ENERGY.
WE'VE BEEN MEASURING IT.
SO WE HAVE THIS REGULAR CYCLE, RIGHT?
BUT WE ALSO HAVE THESE LONG-TERM CHANGES
WHERE IT WAS GIVING US MORE AND MORE ENERGY
UP UNTIL ABOUT THE 1970s, AND THEN IT STARTED TO GO DOWN.
AND THIS IS OUR TEMPERATURE.
OUR TEMPERATURE ACTUALLY KEPT ON GOING UP.
SO IT'S NOT THE SUN.
CAN'T BE THE SUN.
PULL THE SUN OUT. WE WOULD BE GOING DOWN.
WE WOULD BE GETTING COOLER IF IT WAS THE SUN. RIGHT.
WE KNOW IT'S NOT VOLCANOES
BECAUSE VOLCANOES JUST COOL THE EARTH WHEN THEY ERUPT.
WHAT ABOUT NATURAL CYCLES?
YOU SEE THESE REGULAR CYCLES EVERY 100,000 YEARS OR SO.
RIGHT.
AND YOU SEE THE CYCLES IN TEMPERATURE
AND IN CARBON DIOXIDE.
WE SEE THAT TEMPERATURE
AND CARBON DIOXIDE TRACK TOGETHER.
MM-HMM.
WE ALSO SEE THAT RIGHT NOW WE ARE WAY OUT OF THE BALL PARK.
CO2 IS OUT OF THE BALL PARK BECAUSE OF HUMAN ACTIVITY,
AND THE EARTH'S TEMPERATURE IS RISING RIGHT ALONG WITH IT.
SO THE BOTTOM LINE IS
THE NATURAL SUSPECTS ALL HAVE ALIBIS.
WE CAN'T BLAME IT ON NATURAL CYCLES,
THE SUN, THE ICE AGES, VOLCANOES.
NATURAL CAUSES WOULD BE CAUSING US TO COOL RIGHT NOW,
AND WE'RE GETTING WARMER FASTER AND FASTER.
WE'RE HEADING INTO AN UNKNOWN FUTURE
LIKE WE HAVE NEVER PUT OURSELVES IN BEFORE.
AS I LEAVE TOWN,
I WONDER HOW PEOPLE IN PLAINVIEW
WOULD REACT TO WHAT SHE JUST TOLD ME.
WOULD THEY SEE A CONFLICT
BETWEEN HER SCIENCE AND THEIR FAITH?
♪ AND I CAN SEE THE LIGHT THAT IS COMIN' ♪
♪ FOR THE HEART THAT HOLDS ON ♪
♪ THERE WILL BE AN END TO THESE TROUBLES ♪
♪ BUT UNTIL THAT DAY COMES ♪
COME ON, LET'S PRAY!
Cheadle: BUT KATHARINE DOESN'T SEE A CONFLICT.
FATHER, THANK YOU FOR THIS MORNING.
SHE'S A DEVOUT CHRISTIAN, HERSELF.
AMEN.
[ MAN CHANTING IN ARABIC ]
Friedman: ON MY WAY TO SYRIA,
I LEARN ABOUT A FAMILY THAT RECENTLY FLED THE WAR
AND IS NOW TAKING REFUGE HERE.
[ MAN SINGING IN ARABIC ]
HAVE YOU EVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THAT BEFORE?
TWO MONTHS?! THEY TOOK YOU AWAY FOR TWO MONTHS?
AND WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS NOW?
YOU WANT TO GO BACK AND REJOIN YOUR COMRADES
AND CONTINUE THE REVOLUTION?
Friedman: HOW MANY OTHER SYRIANS, I WONDER,
HAVE A SIMILAR STORY TO TELL?
THE ANSWER IS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT BORDER.
I'M TOLD THERE'S A REBEL COMMANDER
LEADING A GROUP OF FAILED FARMERS TURNED FIGHTERS.
THAT'S WHERE I'M HEADING.
Ford: IN ORDER TO TRULY UNDERSTAND DEFORESTATION HERE,
IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW THIS COUNTRY'S HISTORY.
THE DICTATORSHIP THAT WAS IN POWER FROM THE 1960s TO THE '90s
SEIZED HUGE SWATHS OF LAND FROM INDIGENOUS PEOPLES
BY LABELING THEM "STATE FOREST,"
THEN PARCELED THEM OUT TO BIG COMPANIES.
THE COMPANIES LEVELED THE FOREST.
BUT THEN A FEW YEARS AGO,
IT SEEMED LIKE THINGS WERE TAKING A TURN FOR THE BETTER.
THE COUNTRY'S PRESIDENT DECLARED A MORATORIUM
ON THE DESTRUCTION OF ALL NATURAL FORESTS.
BY SAVING, REGENERATING,
AND SUSTAINABLY MANAGING FORESTS,
WE ARE ALSO DOING OUR PART
IN REDUCING GLOBAL GREENHOUSE-GAS EMISSIONS.
Ford: BUT THE CUTTING AND BURNING CONTINUED.
IN FACT, IT ACCELERATED.
IT SEEMS AS IF THE PRESIDENT'S AUTHORITY WAS LIMITED.
PERHAPS THERE WAS TOO MUCH MONEY TO BE MADE.
[ ANIMALS CALLING ]
[ ELEPHANT CRIES ]
THESE PEOPLE FROM THE WORLD WILDLIFE FUND
ARE BRINGING ME TO A BEAUTIFUL PLACE CALLED TESSO NILO.
CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL AND WWF WORKED FOR YEARS
TO GET IT DECLARED A NATIONAL PARK.
THE GOVERNMENT, SPECIFICALLY THE FORESTRY MINISTER,
WOULD THEN BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PROTECTING IT.
BUT WHEN IT WAS NAMED A PARK 10 YEARS AGO,
THAT DIDN'T STOP THE PALM-OIL INVASION.
WE REALIZED THAT THERE WAS A HUGE ELEPHANT HERD
IN THIS PROVINCE THAT NOBODY WAS TAKING CARE OF.
THERE WERE CONFLICTS WITH THE OIL-PALM COMPANIES
AND THESE ELEPHANTS IN THE SURROUNDING AREA.
WHAT DO THEY DO ABOUT THE ELEPHANTS?
THEY POISON THEM.
WE FOUND GROUPS
OF UP TO 21 ELEPHANTS DEAD.
IT'S CLEAR THAT WHAT'S HAPPENING TO THESE ELEPHANTS
IN THIS FOREST IS DEEPLY CONNECTED TO OUR OWN FUTURE
BECAUSE OF CLIMATE CHANGE.
Man: EXTINCTION IS HAPPENING,
AND WE ARE WATCHING RIGHT HERE.
THERE'S NOTHING ELSE IN SUMATRA LEFT OF THIS ECOSYSTEM.
THIS IS THE LAST SPOT, AND IT'S GOING, GOING, GOING.
Ford: IT'S IMPORTANT TO EXPERIENCE THIS PARADISE FIRST
TO APPRECIATE WHAT COMES NEXT --
THE DESTRUCTION.
Hayho: MANY PEOPLE VIEW SCIENCE AND FAITH
AS BEING DEEPLY DIVIDED,
BUT FOR ME, GROWING UP WITH A DAD WHO WAS A SCIENTIST
WHO WAS ALSO A MISSIONARY
AND WHO WAS VERY ACTIVE IN THE CHURCH,
I GREW UP WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE WAS NO CONFLICT.
BY STUDYING SCIENCE,
WE'RE STUDYING WHAT GOD WAS THINKING
WHEN HE CREATED THE UNIVERSE.
Cheadle: I'VE NEVER HEARD OF ANYONE LIKE KATHARINE HAYHO --
AN EVANGELICAL CLIMATE SCIENTIST?
SHE'S MADE IT HER MISSION TO EXPLAIN THE SCIENCE
OF CLIMATE CHANGE TO PEOPLE OF FAITH.
Hayho: EVERY MAJOR FAITH AT ITS CORE
HAS THE IDEA THAT YOU SHOULD TAKE CARE OFF PEOPLE
WHO HAVE LESS THAN YOU DO.
IF YOU LOOK AROUND THE WORLD,
WE'RE SEEING THINGS HAPPENING
THAT ARE AFFECTING OUR GLOBAL NEIGHBORS.
THE ONLY SENSIBLE RESPONSE
IS REDUCING OUR OWN CONTRIBUTION,
TAKING CARE OF THOSE THAT WE CAN,
AND LOVING OUR NEIGHBORS AS OURSELVES.
WE'VE BEEN DIGGING THIS STUFF UP FROM WAY UNDER THE GROUND,
WHERE IT WOULD NORMALLY STAY FOR ABOUT A MILLION YEARS,
AND WE'VE BEEN PUTTING IT INTO THE ATMOSPHERE
REALLY, REALLY QUICKLY.
I'VE BEEN A CHRISTIAN SINCE, YOU KNOW, I WAS -- CAN REMEMBER.
Cheadle: EVEN STUDENTS ASK HER HOW TO SQUARE SCIENCE AND FAITH.
I FEEL LIKE OF COURSE GOD'S IN CONTROL,
BUT HE'S GIVEN US THE FREEDOM TO MAKE CHOICES,
AND WHAT WE'RE SEEING HERE
IS WE'RE SEEING THE CONSEQUENCES OF CHOICES WE MADE.
BUT IT'S OFTEN DIFFICULT TO SEW THESE SEEDS
IN THE HARD-BAKED POLITICAL TERRAIN OF TEXAS.
THOSE THAT WANT TO TAKE THE POSITION
THAT GLOBAL WARMING IS MAN'S FAULT
AND IT IS INCONTROVERTIBLE -- THAT'S NOT CORRECT.
WHY WOULD I PUT OUR CHILDREN'S FUTURE IN JEOPARDY
ON SCIENCE THAT FRANKLY IS NOT PROVEN,
AND JUST BECAUSE THERE IS A LARGE NUMBER OF SCIENTISTS
THAT STAND UP AND SAY, "OH, IT IS --
IT'S MAN'S FAULT AND THAT IS THAT"?
Hayho: WHAT FRUSTRATES ME
AND WHAT ACTUALLY MAKES ME ANGRY
IS NOT WHEN PEOPLE DISAGREE WITH ME.
WHAT MAKES ME ANGRY
IS WHEN I SEE PEOPLE WHO I KNOW KNOW BETTER
DELIBERATELY LYING TO PEOPLE ABOUT THIS ISSUE.
AND SO WHEN I SEE PEOPLE TELLING OTHER PEOPLE,
"CLIMATE HASN'T CHANGED. GLOBAL WARMING HAS STOPPED.
GOD WOULD NEVER LET THIS HAPPEN TO THE PLANET,"
WELL, OH, YEAH? LOOK AROUND.
THERE'S A LOT OF BAD THINGS
THAT HAPPEN TO THE PLANET EVERY SINGLE DAY.
DOES GOD LET THOSE HAPPEN? YEAH, HE DOES. WHY?
BECAUSE HE GAVE US THE BRAINS TO MAKE GOOD AND BAD CHOICES.
Montez: I BELIEVE THAT AS LONG AS YOU'VE GOT GOD,
HE'S GONNA GUIDE YOU TO THE NEXT STEP.
SO OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS, I STARTED PRAYING,
AND LIKE THAT -- INSTANTLY -- I JUST FELT PEACE.
SO TO ME, IT FELT LIKE IT WAS CONFIRMATION.
THAT'S GOOD.
SO YOU'RE GOING TO THE NEXT STEP WITH STRENGTH.
Cheadle: THAT NEXT STEP IS LEAVING PLAINVIEW.
THERE ARE JUST NO JOBS HERE.
THREE MONTHS AFTER THE PLANT CLOSED,
NELLIE MOVES IN WITH HER BROTHER AND HIS FAMILY IN SAN ANTONIO.
BUT THINGS STILL AREN'T LOOKING UP.
Montez: I'VE BEEN HURTING THE LAST TWO MONTHS.
MY FINANCES MAINLY.
Cheadle: SHE CAN'T FIND ANYONE TO BUY HER OLD HOUSE
BACK IN PLAINVIEW,
SO SHE'S FALLEN BEHIND ON THE MORTGAGE,
AND THE BANK'S THREATENING FORECLOSURE.
AND HER NEW JOB IN THE APPLIANCE WAREHOUSE DOESN'T PAY MUCH.
Montez: MY UNEMPLOYMENT RAN OUT,
SO ALL I HAD IN SAVINGS WAS A MONTH'S WORTH.
I'VE GOT TO TAKE THE BEST OFFER THAT THEY GIVE ME,
AND THE BEST ONE WAS WHERE I'M WORKING NOW.
AND THAT'S $12 AN HOUR.
THAT DOESN'T COMPARE TO WHAT I WAS MAKING
BACK HOME IN PLAINVIEW.
Farley: WE PRAY FOR RAIN, AND WE HOPE FOR RAIN
BECAUSE THE REALITY IS NOTHING GROWS WITHOUT RAIN.
GOD HAS SET IT UP
SO THAT A SPRINKLE OF RAIN FALLS ON THE SOIL,
AND FROM THAT SOIL COMES UP
FRUIT, PLANTS, VEGETABLES, LIFE.
Cheadle: KATHARINE WANTS TO INTRODUCE ME
TO HER FIRST CLIMATE-CHANGE CONVERT.
THIS WATER IS THE TRUTH OF THE GOSPEL,
AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE THIS MORNING.
SOAK IT IN.
Cheadle: IT'S THIS EVANGELICAL PREACHER DREW FARLEY,
WHO ALSO HAPPENS TO BE HER HUSBAND.
Hayho: IT WASN'T UNTIL AFTER DREW AND I GOT MARRIED
THAT I ACTUALLY REALIZED
THAT HE DIDN'T THINK CLIMATE CHANGE WAS REAL.
AND NOT ONLY THAT,
BUT THAT MANY OF THE PEOPLE THAT I WAS GETTING TO KNOW IN CHURCH
DIDN'T THINK IT WAS REAL.
Farley: A LOT OF MY POLITICAL OPINIONS ARE REPUBLICAN.
I'M A CHRISTIAN. I BELIEVE GOD CREATED THE WORLD.
YOU KNOW, I'M CONSERVATIVE IN MANY WAYS.
AND I ALSO BELIEVE THAT CLIMATE CHANGE IS REAL.
IT SEEMS LIKE THE SAME PEOPLE
THAT DON'T WANT TO BELIEVE IN THAT SCIENCE
BELIEVE IN SCIENCE WHEN THEY NEED TO TAKE A PILL
OR BELIEVE IN SCIENCE WHEN THEY,
YOU KNOW, WANT SOMETHING TO WORK RIGHT IN THEIR HOUSE
THAT'S ATTRIBUTABLE
TO OTHER SMART PEOPLE WHO PUT THAT TOGETHER,
BUT IN THIS ISSUE,
IT'S GOT TO BE A PART OF SOMETHING ELSE.
UNFORTUNATELY, IT'S GOTTEN SO --
THE POLITICS AND THEN THE QUESTIONS ABOUT GOD
AND THEN THE CLIMATE CHANGE --
IT'S ALL JUST BECOME THIS BALL OF SOUND BITES.
YEAH.
AND PEOPLE CAN'T PARSE IT OUT.
YEAH, AND I GUESS THAT'S REALLY WHAT IT IS,
IS THAT IF YOU ACCEPT CLIMATE CHANGE,
THEN, "I HAVE TO VOTE FOR OBAMA."
OR IF I SAY, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT REAL,
THEN I CAN STAY WITH MY POLITICAL AFFILIATION,
I CAN STAY WITH THE CHURCH, AND EVERYTHING'S ALL GOOD
BECAUSE, REALLY, WHAT MOST PEOPLE WANT TO DO,
I THINK, IS AVOID CONFLICT.
YOU KNOW, A THERMOMETER IS NOT REPUBLICAN.
A THERMOMETER IS NOT DEMOCRAT.
THE MORE TIME I SPEND HERE, THE MORE I WONDER,
IS THERE A WAY TO DISCUSS CLIMATE CHANGE
WITHOUT POLITICS OR RELIGION GETTING IN THE WAY?
COULD THIS KIND OF DISCUSSION HAPPEN IN PLAINVIEW?
[ INDISTINCT SHOUTING ]
Man: AT LEAST TWO EXPLOSIONS,
MOST LIKELY CAR BOMBS,
IN A TOWN ALONG TURKEY'S BORDER WITH SYRIA.
WHILE THE DETAILS OF THIS ATTACK ARE STILL COMING OUT,
TODAY'S ATTACK RAISES FEARS THAT SYRIA'S BRUTAL CIVIL WAR
MAY BE CROSSING INTO NEIGHBORING TURKEY NOW.
Friedman: AS WE PREPARE TO LEAVE,
THERE'S A MAJOR BOMBING ON OUR SIDE OF THE BORDER
JUST A FEW TOWNS OVER.
I THINK IT'S THE WORST SUCH A THING
HAPPEN IN TURKEY IN YEARS.
THE BORDER'S BOUND TO BE BRISTLING WITH TURKISH TROOPS,
AND ALL THE BORDER CROSSINGS I'VE DONE,
THERE'S BEEN COMPLICATIONS.
WHAT'S GOING ON ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT BORDER RIGHT NOW?
WHAT IS IT LIKE?
NOW IT'S SOMEHOW MORE RISKY...
WHERE ARE WE RIGHT NOW?
Man #2: THE SECONDARY AIM --
I CLASSIFY IT AS THE SECONDARY AIM -- IS YOUR JOB.
THE SECONDARY AIM? THAT'S THE SECONDARY AIM.
THE PRIMARY AIM IS THAT EVERYBODY GOES HOME
IN EXACTLY THE SAME CONDITION THAT WE'RE ALL SITTING HERE NOW.
IT'S THE MOST DANGEROUS PLACE FOR JOURNALISTS
IN THE WORLD AT THE MOMENT.
NOBODY REALLY KNOWS WE'RE COMING.
THAT CORRECT? YEAH.
[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]
Ford: LAST YEAR,
WHAT WAS HAPPENING AT TESSO NILO NATIONAL PARK
BECAME SUCH AN EMBARRASSMENT
THAT THE FORESTRY MINISTER WAS FORCED TO PAY A VISIT.
HE URGED THE PEOPLE THERE TO STOP THE DESTRUCTION.
HE HAS THE POWER AND THE RESPONSIBILITY
TO BACK UP THESE WORDS WITH ACTION.
BUT I'VE HEARD IT HASN'T EXACTLY HAPPENED.
THE TOTAL PARK SIZE RIGHT NOW ON PAPER IS 86,000 HECTARES.
Man #2: AND HOW MUCH IS LEFT NOW
OF THAT ORIGINAL AREA OF THE PARK?
RIGHT NOW WE ESTIMATE ABOUT 18,000 HECTARE
OF GOOD FOREST LEFT IN THE PARK.
EVERYTHING ELSE IS EITHER VERY DEGRADED FOREST
OR OPEN WASTE LANDS, OPEN BRUSH AREAS,
AND MOST OF IT IS PALM-OIL PLANTATION NOW.
ISN'T THE FORESTRY DEPARTMENT
RESPONSIBLE FOR POLICING THIS KIND OF ACTIVITY?
YES, THE MINISTRY OF FORESTRY
IS IN CHARGE OF DOING ALL THE LAW ENFORCEMENT.
WHAT HAPPENS?
MOST OF THE TIME, NOTHING HAPPENS.
IF YOU LOOK ALL AROUND US NOW,
WE SEE ALL THESE PATCHES OF BLACK SOIL
ALL OVER THE PLACE -- LEFT, RIGHT, FRONT, EVERYWHERE.
IT'S ALL BURN SCARS.
THEY BURN ALL THE LOGS ON THE GROUND HERE.
THIS IS HORRIFYING. LOOK AT THAT.
THEY JUST CUT THEM AT THE BASE,
DROPPED THE TREES, BURNED EVERYTHING.
RIGHT. WOW.
Ford: IF INDONESIA'S FORESTRY MINISTER
WON'T EVEN PROTECT A NATIONAL PARK,
WHAT HOPE IS THERE FOR THE REST OF THE COUNTRY'S FORESTS?
Man: THERE IS STILL SMOLDERING.
THE FIRE, THE SMOKE IS STILL COMING UP OVER THERE.
THE GUYS ARE ALREADY SETTING THE SEEDLINGS
INTO THE FRESH BLACK SOIL.
THIS MAKES A COMPLETE JOKE
OUT OF THE CONCEPT OF NATIONAL PARK.
IT'S REALLY SAD.
86,000 HECTARES, AND IT'S HARDLY ANYTHING LEFT.
THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE.
OH, I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THE MINISTER OF FORESTRY.
I CAN'T WAIT!
Cheadle: PLAINVIEW, TEXAS, IS STILL REELING
FROM THE CARGILL PLANT CLOSURE.
TO PAY THE BILLS, THE CITY RAISED PROPERTY TAXES,
AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT LOST OVER 200 STUDENTS
BECAUSE SO MANY FAMILIES HAD TO LEAVE.
NOW KATHARINE HAYHO IS COMING TO TOWN
TO TALK ABOUT THE DROUGHT THAT CAUSED IT ALL.
PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER ARE CURIOUS TO HEAR WHAT SHE HAS TO SAY.
Carter: YOU'D HAVE TO BE A LITTLE BIT CRAZY
NOT TO AT LEAST WANT TO KNOW A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT IT.
I MEAN, SHE CERTAINLY,
TO ME, IS MORE CREDIBLE THAN SOMEBODY LIKE AL GORE,
IF WE'RE GONNA PICK ON AL GORE.
BUT SHE HAS THE SAME BELIEFS AS I DO,
AS FAR AS FROM A CHRISTIAN, YOU KNOW, BASE DEAL.
Cheadle: NELLIE MONTEZ EVEN MADE THE SIX-HOUR DRIVE
FROM SAN ANTONIO.
Montez: I WANT TO KNOW WHAT IT IS
THAT REALLY CAUSED THIS DROUGHT.
SO WHEN TOMORROW OR THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW,
MY KIDS SAY, YOU KNOW, "WHAT IS THAT?
WHAT ARE THEY TALKING ABOUT?" I HAVE SOME KIND OF ANSWERS.
YOU KNOW, 'CAUSE RIGHT NOW NOBODY KNOWS.
EVEN MY DAD ASKED ME, "WHAT'S IT ABOUT?"
I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO TELL HIM.
Man: SO PLEASE JOIN ME
IN WELCOMING DR. KATHARINE HAYHO TO THE PODIUM.
[ APPLAUSE ]
Hayho: ONE OF THE MOST INCREDIBLE THINGS ABOUT OUR PLANET
IS SOMETHING THAT WE SEE EVERY DAY
AND WE PROBABLY DON'T EVER NOTICE. IT'S OUR ATMOSPHERE.
JUST LIKE A BLANKET ON A COLD NIGHT
KEEPS US WARM BY TRAPPING OUR BODY HEAT UNDER THE BLANKET,
IN THE SAME WAY,
OUR ATMOSPHERE KEEPS US 60 DEGREES WARMER
THAN WE WOULD BE WITH NO ATMOSPHERE.
IF WE DIDN'T HAVE THESE LITTLE THINGS OF CARBON DIOXIDE
IN OUR ATMOSPHERE, WE'D BE A FROZEN BALL OF ICE.
WHAT'S HAPPENING IS WE HAVE THIS NATURAL GREENHOUSE EFFECT HERE
WITH THIS NATURAL ATMOSPHERE,
AND WE ARE ADDING AN EXTRA LAYER TO IT
THAT WAS NEVER INTENDED TO BE THERE.
WHEN I LOOK AT THE INFORMATION THAT WE GET FROM THE PLANET,
I LOOK AT IT AS GOD'S CREATION SPEAKING TO US.
AND IN THIS CASE, THERE'S NO QUESTION
THAT GOD'S CREATION IS TELLING US THAT IT IS RUNNING A FEVER.
Cheadle: AS I LISTEN,
I FIND MYSELF WONDERING WHY FAITH AND SCIENCE
ALWAYS SEEM SO FAR APART.
CLIMATE'S CHANGING BECAUSE OF WHAT WE'RE DOING.
THERE'S NO WAY AROUND IT.
Cheadle: IF THERE WERE MORE PEOPLE LIKE KATHARINE,
MAYBE THEY WOULDN'T HAVE TO BE.
DID YOU GET TO MEET NELLIE?
NELLIE, THIS IS KATHARINE.
I SAW YOU NODDING. [ LAUGHTER ]
I'M NELLIE. I USED TO WORK AT THE CARGILL PLANT. OH, OKAY.
SHE WAS JUST TALKING ABOUT
THAT SHE HADN'T REALLY THOUGHT ABOUT --
WELL, TELL ME WHAT YOU WERE SAYING.
JUST LIKE THE THINGS THAT YOU WERE SAYING
THAT WE CAN DO AS FAR AS, YOU KNOW,
TAKING SOME OF THAT LAYER OF BLANKET OFF, YOU KNOW?
RIGHT THERE, I'M SITTING THERE GOING, "I DIDN'T KNOW THAT.
WOW! I DIDN'T KNOW THAT."
YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU HAVE SOMEBODY
THAT BELIEVES THE SAME WAY AS YOU
AND IS FROM THIS PART OF THE --
OR HAS LIVED HERE FOR QUITE A WHILE
AND IS TEACHING AT TEXAS TECH,
YOU KNOW, YOU SEE THAT CONSERVATIVE SIDE
OF THAT TELLING YOU THE MESSAGE,
IT SURE MAKES A LOT OF DIFFERENCE.
IT'S ABOUT HOW IT COMES SOMETIMES,
NOT NECESSARILY WHAT IT IS,
AND IT'S HARD TO DECOUPLE THOSE THINGS.
[ TRAIN WHISTLE BLOWING ]
Man: FATHER, YOUR WORD LETS US KNOW IN JEREMIAH 29:7
TO PRAY FOR THE PEACE AND THE PROSPERITY OF OUR CITY,
AND WE PRAY FOR THE PEACE AND THE PROSPERITY, MY GOD.
♪ LET GOD BE EXALTED ♪
♪ GOD BE EXALTED ♪
Montez: WE ALL BELIEVE THAT WE WERE GONNA COME TOGETHER,
PRAY ABOUT THIS,
AND SOMETHING'S GONNA CHANGE FOR PLAINVIEW.
I HAD NEVER HEARD OF CLIMATE CHANGE.
AFTER HEARING KATHARINE, I WAS JUST LIKE, "WOW."
WELL, IF WE START USING THE RIGHT THINGS
AND DOING THE RIGHT THINGS, WE CAN PROBABLY SAVE OUR PLANET.
♪ WE LIVE FOR YOUR GLORY ♪
♪ LIVE FOR YOUR GLORY ♪
Hayho: I NAIVELY THOUGHT
THAT I WOULD STUDY CLIMATE SCIENCE
UNTIL WE FIXED THE PROBLEM,
AND THEN I'D GO BACK TO ASTROPHYSICS.
[ LAUGHS ] THAT WAS A LONG TIME AGO.
IT WAS URGENT WHEN I STARTED STUDYING THIS PROBLEM,
AND IT'S WAY MORE URGENT TODAY.
AND SO UNTIL WE HAVE POLICIES IN PLACE
TO ACTUALLY START CURBING OUR CARBON EMISSIONS
AND REDUCING THE IMPACT
WE'RE HAVING ON OUR PLANET, I HAVE TO KEEP GOING.
Friedman: ONCE WE CROSS THE BORDER,
THE SIGNS OF WAR ARE EVERYWHERE.
HERE. THIS IS OUR CHECKPOINT HERE.
TOM. NICE TO MEET YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
Friedman: THE COMMANDER TELLS ME
HE USED TO BE A COTTON FARMER.
BUT WHEN THE DROUGHT HIT,
HE HAD TO TURN TO SMUGGLING TO FEED HIS FAMILY.
STARVING MAKES YOU DO ANYTHING.
WHEN THEY WRITE THE HISTORY OF THIS REVOLUTION,
HOW IMPORTANT WILL THE DROUGHT BE?
AFTER SHARING A MEAL WITH THE COMMANDER,
IT'S TIME TO TURN BACK.
IT'S DANGEROUS TO LINGER AROUND HERE,
EVEN THIS CLOSE TO THE BORDER.
LATER, I'LL FIND OUT THAT THIS TOWN WAS TAKEN OVER BY AL QAEDA
AND THAT 100 PEOPLE WERE EXECUTED.
AS WE LEAVE,
THE WORDS OF THE SYRIAN COMMANDER RING IN MY HEAD.
HE CALLED IT A REVOLUTION OF FREEDOM
AND A REVOLUTION OF THE HUNGRY.
DROUGHTS ARE NOTHING NEW.
NEITHER ARE BRUTAL DICTATORS, RELIGIOUS CONFLICTS,
OR PEOPLE'S DESIRE FOR FREEDOM.
BUT FOR THE SYRIANS WHO LIVED THROUGH IT,
THE DROUGHT WILL BE FOREVER SEARED INTO THEIR MEMORIES
AND FOREVER SHAPE THEIR FEELINGS
TOWARD THE REGIME THEY NOW SEEK TO OVERTHROW.
AND THE REST OF US SHOULD TAKE NOTICE.
THIS VOLATILE PART OF THE WORLD
IS ONLY GETTING HOTTER AND DRYER.
MORE DROUGHTS MAY MEAN MORE PEOPLE DISPLACED,
MORE LIVES UPROOTED, PERHAPS MORE WAR.
AND WE'D BE VERY FOOLISH TO THINK IT WON'T AFFECT US.