Down To Earth is a new documentary on Netflix which stars Zac Efron and Darin Olien. Olien is a superfood expert, who as Efron says “literally wrote the book on it”. Efron had heard his podcast and reached out to him to explore more about the changing conditions of our planet, and how we are massively affecting that change and in turn, being affected by it.
The show highlights the importance of sustainably using natural resources and how crucial it is for the planet
The eight episode show covers topics relating to a sustainable and conscious way of lifestyle being practised all over the world. Some of these include medicinal plants of Amazon rainforests, efficient water system of France, renewable energy efforts in Iceland, cryopreservation of potatoes for the unseen apocalyptic situation and, my personal favourite, the ex-pat ecovillage of Costa Rica. All of these episodes highlight the importance of sustainably using natural resources and how crucial it is for maintaining the natural balance of the planet, as well as its preservation for our future generations.
One of the most critical things Efron and Olien point toward in the show that it is essential for us, as people, to learn how to get out of our small communities and look at the rest of the world. With an abundance of innovative ideas concerning local climate, habitat and lifestyle preservation, the whole of the planet starts to change; much like the famous saying of small drops filling up an ocean. Two episodes, in particular, direct our attention towards how natural travesties are becoming everyday occurrences in various parts of the world, leading to a high rate of life and resource devastation. Puerto Rico’s Hurricane Maria and the forest fire in Malibu, showcase how life as we know it could get blown away in an instant, as well as how vital community effort becomes in building and preserving life.
It shows how with rapid progress and urbanized digital lifestyles, our natural connection with the world around us is rapidly fading away
With so much technology and resources available to us, the show aims to not only introduce alternative ways of living inspired by various places around the world but also, how to treasure and cherish a world that is readily available to us for consumption. It shows how with rapid progress and urbanized digital lifestyles, our natural connection with the world around us is rapidly fading away.
The loss of relationship allows us to believe that our current way of living is resulting in short term wins; which really provides illusory happiness in return and turns us into capitalist products of an unbalanced and disturbing system. However, in the long run, the ‘beingness’ of our human selves is getting lost. Like sheep with no sense of direction, we are preparing to run in the race of screen-glued lifestyle. It results in a personal and collective loss; physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. The show acts as a warning for us to be reminded of the options which are still available to us, ready to redeem not only our conscious human experience but also the health of our planet.