CLIP DOCUMENTARY KISS THE GROUND PRODUCTION: USA 2020 DIRECTORS: Joshua Tickell, Rebecca Harrell Tickell STARRING: Patricia Arquette, Tom Brady, Gisele Bündchen, Woody Harrelson, Ian Somerhalder SYNOPSIS All farmable soils are projected to be lost within 60 years. Unless we save our soils, we have 60 harvests left before global starvation. is a climate documentary focusing on the healing power of soil, which could be the key to reversing the effects of climate change thanks to its capacity to sequester carbon. A group of scientists, farmers, ranchers, and activists are joining forces in a global movement toward a sustainable agriculture to heal the world’s soils before it is too late. The documentary begins by examining how tilling and the use of pesticides have led to soil erosion, and damage to our ecology, health, and climate. Despite starting with a dire picture of the present situation, and doubts about the future, the film can be considered optimistic, as a possible solution may be found in regenerative farming, an ethical practice designed to restore degraded lands and facilitate carbon drawdown. The basic principles are minimal tilling/ploughing, using cover crops, involving livestock in managed grazing, organic practices avoiding chemicals, composting, crop diversity and using trees and perennials as soil protection. The film also highlights the interconnection between socio-economic and ecological issues by alerting us to the resultant problems of unsustainable agricultural practices, including migration, displacement, poverty, terrorism, and social disorder. The title comes from the quotation of a 13th century Persian poet: “Let the beauty we love be what we do. There are hundreds of ways to kneel and kiss the ground.” Kiss the Ground BEFORE WATCHING 8 Answer the questions. What could the title of the documentary evoke? Do you know the consequences of soil exploitation? What was the greatest man-made ecological disaster in the history of the United States? The documentary underlines the possibility of recovering soils if they are managed correctly. Go online and find out about a Chinese area which became a dusty wasteland after overfarming. 1. 2. 3. 4.