It's the holiday season, and what better time is there to renew your commitment to protecting our sacred Earth.
To help inspire you, we've put together our own special list of fun books, short documentaries, and informative podcasts that range from an animated short that tells to story of oil's rise and impact on the Earth, to two-minute daily snippets on environmental topics.
Share them with your friends and family, listen to the podcasts in the car, and keep a few books handy for when the weather has you hunkered down inside.
Skip to books Skip to films Skip to podcasts
Books
The Archipelago of Hope by Gleb Raygorodetsky
Mr. Raygorodetsky takes the reader from Finland and Russia, to Myanmar and beyond, showing how climate change is a reality for people across the globe. Instead of seeing a picture of climate destruction, the reader is introduced to indigenous communities committed to taking care of the Earth. Through these communities' stories, Mr. Raygorodetsky shows the development of solutions that are relevant to us all, and paints an "archipelago of hope" for the future of the environment.
National Parks of America by Lonely Planet
Lonely Planet has many books about travel, but this pictorial hardcover takes the cake with its beautiful photos and detailed information. It may not be summer yet, but you can start planting the seeds of a perfect family getaway to one of America's 59 national parks with this great coffee table book.
No Impact Man by Colin Beavan
This book follows Mr. Beavan and his family through a one-year challenge to have no negative impact on the environment. Comical, insightful, and surprising, No Impact Man is sure to delight and challenge any reader to live an environment-friendly life. If you'd rather watch the story, No Impact Man was also made into a 2009 Sundance-selected film. Click here to learn more about the film.
Want to get these books as a gift for a loved one (or yourself)? If you use this link, Amazon with donate 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to Planet Aid.
Films
RIVERBLUE
This film hits close to home for Planet Aid as it focuses on one of the most pollutive industries: fashion. Planet Aid has been working for more than 20 years to protect the planet's resources through collecting and recycling used clothing.
Through RIVERBLUE, Mark Angelo, an international river conservationist, along with more than 20 other experts, explores the "destruction of our rivers, its effect on humanity, and the solutions that inspire hope for a sustainable future." The film is not yet available, but will be on iTunes following its theatrical release. Check the watch the film page for more information. (This is the only full-length film on our list, but it's definitely worth the watch.)
SLINGSHOT
Inventor Dean Kamen, best known for the Segway, is putting his inventive technology to the test in places around the globe, with the hopes of bringing clean water to everyone.
There's No Tomorrow
This 35-minute animated short is perfect for introducing children (or adults) to the timeline of the oil industry and its effects on the environment. It's jam-packed with information and fun characters, all based on thorough research. This short will be perfect between Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and A Charlie Brown Christmas.
Solar Frontiers
While we might not think much about the light coming from our bathroom bulb in the middle of the night, in Haiti electricity isn't taken for granted. This 13-minute film, put together by The Economist, shines light on some of the great advances in solar energy and how that's helping many across the globe - including those in Haiti.
Garden City
This five-minute short, created by ASU students, tells the story of sustainable community gardens in the Desert Southwest.
Podcasts
Podcasts are perfect for listening to in the car, while grocery shopping, or while doing the dishes. The following selections provide stories and ideas from across the world, keeping you up on current environmental challenges and what's being done to help.
All of these podcasts can be found on any podcast directory, including Apple Music, Google Play Music, Spotify, Soundcloud, and Stitcher. You can also listen to the episodes on the podcasts' websites.
Pulse of the Planet
This podcasts puts out two-minute episodes each weekday, giving snippets that work together to create a portrait of the planet. Some recent topics include: Volunteer Tourism, The Future of Oysters, Scorpion Venom, and The Polio Detector.
Environment : NPR
From the impact of new regulations on rosewood on the music industry, to reworking leftovers to reduce holiday waste, this podcasts gives the listener breaking news on everything environmental. Each episode is under five minutes, but full of interesting and new information.
Costing the Earth
This BBC podcast dives into the affects that man is having on the Earth. If you're looking for something a little more in-depth, this is a great choice. Each episode is right around half an hour long, giving more time to show a fuller picture.
Living Planet
This is a prize-winning, weekly half-hour podcast focused on telling environmental stories from around the globe and how we connect to other countries, peoples, and animals. The goal of the podcast is to keep everyone up-to-date and fully aware of the current environmental state.
