The day after the storm, our three friends are joined by Slinky. The mood on the island has soured... Everyone is feeling the effects of the storm. Suddenly, cries echo throughout the pavilion, and the foursome run toward the sound to find... Greta Tunebird, in the grips of a rollercoaster emotional weather bomb! Each in turn, the participants express their feelings, and along the way they discover a new term: eco-emotions. Together (and with invaluable assistance from the robot voice), the small group explores eco-emotions, how to understand them, and most of all, how to soften them when the emotional weather wreaks havoc!
Transcript of episode 5 of The Amazing Earth
Narration
Stop everything, it's time for The Amazing Earth. Your super cool, mega refreshing, anti-global-warming reality TV! Where we protect, save and nurture our blue planet, Mother Nature.
Musical punch
Chapter 5: Feeling One's Feelings
In the last episode, a storm for the ages battered the island of Terracosti, cutting off all contact with Tunebird Productions. Left alone to confront the oncoming storm, the amazed earthlings met the challenge before them, they rode it out by drawing on their ingenious initiatives and, it bears mentioning, on the good fortune they had to find shelter from the elements within the dry and relatively safe confines of the pavilion. Others were not so fortunate…
Slinky
… I'm freezing…
Narration
Luckily, our companions welcomed Slinky, the disgraced YouTuber, into their cocoon, under certain conditions…
Akio
… You're gonna have to get involved in our little community.
Narration
Ever since the storm… Morale has been rather low on the island. As though their collective hopes and energy had slipped through the cracks in the floor… And given way to a jangle of rather dark emotions… The storm left lasting traces on the island, and in the hearts of its inhabitants. Let's have a closer look at where things stand.
Robot
Good afternoon, Slinky.
Slinky
Paola
How's it going?
Slinky
Meh.
Paola
After all that we've been through, you still can't open up to me?
Slinky
My bad, Paola. I'm just discouraged today. But don't worry, now I do get what The Amazing Earth is trying to do, and I really was listening when you explained why I was wrong to second-guess Greta Tunebird and her desire to fight climate change.
Paola
And I get how someone like you or anyone for that matter, could go astray and be castaway in the vast ocean of the Internet, to the point where you couldn't tell right from wrong anymore.
Violins begin playing
Slinky
Thank you for taking the time to walk me through this whole thing. Seriously, I don't think anyone has ever been this patient with me… As you have, Paola.
Violins suddenly stop playing
Paola
Are those tears that I see, Slinky?
Slinky
Violins begin playing
I don't know what's happening to me.
Paola
Whatever it is, it's happening to me too!
Sound of tears
Slinky
Sounds like someone sobbing… Very loudly…
Paola
Billie? Is that you?
Tears are echoed in a tragic music. Intense noise
Paola
Actually, I know that voice—that's Greta!
Slinky
Are you alright, Ms. Tunedir– sorry I mean…
Paola
It's Tunebird.
Slinky
Force of habit, I'm so sorry. Are you… there?
Ding-dong!
Robot
Attention! You are entering an eco-emotion zone!
Billie
I was in the garden when I heard someone wailing…
Paola
That was Greta, she's beside herself… But we don't know if she's actually here…
Greta
Mhaaaaa…
Ding-dong!
Akio
What's going on? There's a moaning sound all across the island!
Robot
Attention! You are entering an eco-emotion zone!
Akio
An eco-what now?
Akio
Oh, eco-emotion, as in eco… and… emotion, duh. Anyway, you'll be happy to know that the swallows are fine, they sensed the coming storm and quickly found shelter. But the shorelines took quite a hit…
Greta
SILENCE!
Intense musical punch
Greta
What is up you aaaaaaaaaall? How are you?
Akio, Paola and Billie
Uh… Good question… How are we… On a scale of 1 to 10… I'd say a solid five…
Greta
And what's your emotional weather forecast?
Akio
Grey?
Billie
… With sunny breaks…
Paola
A cloud with a silver lining in the middle…
Slinky
Mine would have hailstones spitting out of it.
Greta
What I'm trying to say is that… I, too, am feeling unstable today… I go from sunshine to stormy weather, from a gentle drizzle to hail, from a tornado to a soft summer breeze. I don't know what's happening to me…
Billie
Is that what you call eco-anxiety?
Greta
Yes … But no… You know, there are lots of eco-emotions, and anxiety is just one of them. The term “eco-emotion” encompasses all the emotions that we may feel in relation to environmental issues such as climate justice, climate change, the loss of animal and plant species, etcetera. It can vary widely from one person to the next and even over the course of a single day.
Akio
I'm gonna be real with you: ever since the storm, I've been in a weird funk…
Slinky, Paola and Billie
Me too…
Greta
The first step is to put your feelings into words.
Slinky
I, uh… My jaw is always tight… I feel angry when I think about climate change, and everything that I didn't know about the subject… Everything that I refused to look in the eye…
Akio
For me, it's more like a grey cloud is chasing me… And I can't seem to outrun it, no matter how long I jog on the beach… I'm afraid for our future…
Paola
In my case, it's as if I had a super heavy blanket all over my body… And I couldn't move properly… It's like a feeling of powerlessness that saps my energy and makes me want to abandon all hope…
Billie
Oh boy… Your emotions seem to have brought y'all to a very dark place… I can only speak for myself, but when I see a bird, a flower or a butterfly, it fills me with wonder, I am… amazed! But if I focus on the worst, I feel nothing but heartache, yet… I often find myself flooded with a feeling of immense gratitude when I see something beautiful. The sheer beauty of life on Earth inspires me to make music… It's as if my positive feelings live alongside even the darkest emotions.
Greta
That's right, Billie, our emotions are inter-related and not separated from one another by airtight walls. And look at y'all, amazed earthlings! Just like that, you've achieved the first of three steps to adapting to eco-emotions, which is: connecting with your emotions.
Sound effect
Robot
Step number one: connecting with your emotions.
Greta
Yes, robot! It doesn't look like it, but naming an emotion and identifying where it comes from is far from easy. The second step is taking action!
Robot
Step number two: taking action.
Greta
Now, don't pressure yourselves into performing one big sweeping action that will solve everything! We're talking baby steps… followed by a bunch more baby steps, and rinse and repeat! What small gestures would help you feel that you're doing your part in your everyday life?
Slinky
Um… staying properly informed…
Akio
Prioritizing cycling and walking… Or even running, rather than taking the car…
Billie
The garden! Planting species that attract pollinators, like we did!
Paola
Favouring reusable containers… And not throwing out chemical products…
Greta
That's an amazing start, friends. Yes, those are individual actions… And slowly but surely, you can start thinking bigger and moving up to more collective actions! One step at a time.
There are three questions you need to ask yourselves, when you're looking for something that you can do to work on your emotions.
1- What brings me joy?
2- What are my talents, resources and interests?
3- Where are there needs, and what needs to be done?
Akio
Billie, that was so beautiful.
Paola
Yes, thank you for that.
Slinky
I'm still moved!
Greta
You don't have to come up with all the answers today… But make sure whatever you end up doing means something to you… In fact, that's the third step to adapting to eco-emotions: Finding meaning.
Robot
Step number three: finding meaning.
Paola
I'm so proud of all that we've accomplished. We founded a small but supportive community here, even under difficult circumstances. Sure, we feel a little tired, perhaps. But that shouldn't prevent us from feeling a sense of satisfaction, however small… With everything that we've put in place here.
Greta
Thank you, Paola…
I suggest that you all continue to step back, gain some perspective… And give some thought to the following questions:
What lessons can we draw from what has happened?
How can you use your successes in facing challenges and the support that you've shown one another to fuel your motivation to stay active and involved??
And lastly: Can you find joy in what you've done?
Let these questions simmer on the backburner… And take your time. You're on the right track, and you will bounce back. Be good to yourselves.
Loud magical noise
Slinky
Wait a minute... I've just realized something… My entire life, I've tried to make myself useful, but I've never really succeeded. But now, since I joined you guys, I feel much… Better. Still, I miss my YouTube channel, and I miss making my videos. I enjoyed speaking to people… Do you think I'll be able to reconnect with my Slinkists and… Speak to them about the environment in a way that's realistic and constructive… And supports our cause?
Paola
Slinky! Hearing you say “our cause” is music to my ears…
Akio
Listen… I'm pretty sure that if you speak to them from your heart, most of them will accept that you've changed your perspective… Some might actually need this kind of reassurance from you! People all over the world feel a real need for positive messages right now!
Billie
You could be honest with them! Tell them about what happened to you during the storm, and about your experience here… That might even give them hope!
Slinky
Bring my camera, Akio, I'm feeling inspired. I want to film it right away, then I can post the video online later when I get home.
Akio
Rolling! And… action!
Slinky
Dear Slinkists,
A long time has passed since you last heard from me. In fact, the storm that struck all of Quebec a few days ago was especially violent on Terracosti. I was on a mission to bring down Tunebird Productions and knock the Amazing Earth challenge and its creator, Greta Tunebird, off their pedestal: But life put me back in my place, my friends. I wound up half-dead in the storm, and just when I was at my weakest, these people saved me. Akio… (what's up?!) … Billie (hello!!) and… Paola (Encantada!). They fed me and helped me get back on my feet, and… They accepted me warts and all, the good, the bad, the slinky. But more importantly, they taught me some valuable lessons and helped me realize that I'd led you all astray. I owe you all an apology: Before, I used to reshare content without checking the sources, I trafficked in misinformation. I am truly sorry if I misled you on certain subjects. Climate change, among other things, is real, and its consequences… Almost took my life from me. Anyway, I wanted to tell y'all that the next time around, this channel will be transformed. Instead of sowing mistrust, I plan to place my trust in the people who conduct research, and I'll be sure to share everything that I've learned, here, with you. To inspire you rather than get you riled up. My hope is that you will find your people, as I have. Because that's how we can really bring about change. I love you more than free wifi, my amazing friends! And last but not least, thank you, Greta Tunebird, for all that you do for us.
Akio
Annnnd cut!
Paola and Billie
So cool… Bravooo!
Slinky
Quick, we don't have a second to lose!
Billie
I'm super inspired all of a sudden!
Akio
Me too!
Paola
Me three!
Narration
And thus concludes another chapter… A little more packed than most, as emotions found room to be unpacked.
Was Greta really suffering from a rollercoaster of eco-emotions? Or was it just another ruse on her part to propel the team to greater heights?
Find out next week… During THE AMAZING EARTH'S GRAND FINALE!
Stay tuned for the exciting conclusion!
But don't feel blue: Life goes on… And this amazing Earth we live on will keep spinning with the stars!
Until next episode… Stay green, and stay amazed!
Credits
- Production: la Puce à l'oreille for Espace pour la vie, a service of the Ville de Montréal
- Text: Véronique Pascal
- Voices: Florence Blain Mbay, Francesca Barcenas and Vincent Kim
- Co-direction: La puce à l'oreille and Bakery Studios