Racing Extinction

Oscar-winning director Louie Psihoyos () assembles a team of artists and activists on an undercover operation to expose the hidden world of endangered species and the race to protect them against mass extinction. Endangered animals are filmed alive in the wild and dead at the illegal marketplaces where their poached carcasses are sold. Scenes showing slaughtering practices and the remains of animals on display are intercut with stunning shots of the living natural world. Academics show the extent of the slump in the diversity of ocean life, with a resulting decline in oxygen production. They predict that in 100 years, only 50 percent of animal species will still be alive. It’s a prospect that leaves little room for optimism, but reminds us all of the wonder of nature. The creatures portrayed here range in size from a giant blue whale to minuscule plankton, in every color of the rainbow. This film is an attempt to raise global awareness and integrate that awareness in our lives: by eating less meat, opposing the extraction of fossil fuels and pushing for legislation against poaching.