Zeenat Aman says climate has been ‘ignored’ in storytelling traditions

New Delhi, Nov 18 Yesteryear diva Zeenat Aman Zeenat Aman feels India’s storytelling traditions have largely overlooked the climate crisis, despite the escalating threats facing the planet.

Calling climate awareness “a very, very relevant subject,” Zeenat, who is narrating a compelling 10-part documentary series christened “Embers of Hope: The Fight for Our Future” for the Discovery channels, said that the crisis has been ignored for far too long.

Asked having lived through eras of transformation, how does she think the environment has featured or been ignored in India’s storytelling traditions over the years, Zeenat told exclusively to IANS: “I'm sorry to say that climate, the planet, the Earth… I think this whole subject has been ignored.”

“And that's why a documentary like this one is so relevant. It is so relevant because, like I had said earlier, it's not that people don't have compassion… it's that people are not informed. And once they're informed, they have compassion, especially our young people.”

Zeenat Aman strongly believes that the youth have the desire and the potential to lead environmental action, but often lack guidance.

“Our young people want to do something to preserve and protect the planet. They really can lead, you know, in the forefront. The thing is that they just have to know. They just have to be guided. There has to be some guidance.”

According to the veteran actress, documentaries like “Embers of Hope: The Fight for Our Future” play a crucial role by providing accessible and reliable information.

“That's why I think this documentary is just so relevant, because it gives them the information and they can act on this information. Because the planet now doesn't belong to somebody like me… it belongs to young people like you. And they have to preserve it and protect it for all of you. But it's a very, very relevant subject. And the idea is that… look at the larger picture. Because if you don't, you're looking at disaster… absolute disaster.”

Asked what hope means to her in the context of climate change and environmental crisis, Zeenat said: “We're on the brink of disaster, truly. But we can take steps to help the planet.

We can, if we collectively come together and work towards it. All the different spheres that I explained in this documentary …. whether it's our oceans, our forests, our soil, our air, the pollution, the overpopulation, all these things can be addressed. And that is the Ember of Hope.”

Filmed across over 60 locations, each episode explores a critical theme, from global warming, waste and pollution to population balance, water conservation, and biodiversity loss. The series is by Warner Bros. Discovery.

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