Controversial ‘Frozen Planet’ Documentary to Air in March

The series focuses on the polar region’s environment, animals, habitats, and scenery
Controversial ‘Frozen Planet’ Documentary to Air in March
An iceberg is seen in the Ilulissat fjord on Greenland's western coast, 155 miles north of the Arctic Circle, in this file photo. "Frozen Planet" is a documentary presented by the Discovery Channel/BBC, which examines the polar regions. (Slim AllaguiAFP/Getty Images)
12/11/2011
Updated:
12/11/2011
<a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/assets/uploads/2015/07/Iceberg_51361702.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-157313"><img class="size-large wp-image-157313" title="An isceberg is seen in the Ilulissat fjo" src="https://www.theepochtimes.com/assets/uploads/2015/07/Iceberg_51361702-624x450.jpg" alt="" width="590" height="425"/></a>

Under pressure from the public, the Discovery Channel last week agreed to air all seven episodes of the series, “Frozen Planet,” a popular nature documentary series presently being broadcast in the U.K. and slated for a U.S. premiere in March 2012. The network originally planned to withhold the controversial seventh and final episode, which focuses on climate change.

The pressure consisted of approximately 75,000-plus fans and petition enthusiasts who signed an online petition at change.org, calling for Discovery to air the episode, “On Thin Ice.” Less than two days later Discovery Channel agreed to demand, and has decided to air the episode.

“You made it, show it. We can take it!” commented Change.org petition signer Margaret Rigsby, while signer Brian Sherman requested the network “show all seven parts, or none at all.” 

On Dec. 6, the Discovery Network announced the upcoming premiere of the joint Discovery/BBC Frozen Planet project, saying the series “will provide the ultimate portrait of our earth’s polar regions,” including its “majestic power” and “fragility.”

The series focuses on the polar region’s environment, animals, habitats, and scenery. Discovery Channel’s website describes the show as revealing the beauty of these sites, including the birth of an iceberg, the greatest concentration of seabirds on the planet, baby polar bears, and more. 

“Frozen Planet” features prominent British broadcaster and conservationist David Attenborough. The show filmed in every nation inside the Arctic and Antarctic circles, with a total record of 2,356 days in the field, 1.5 years at sea, 6 months on sea ice, and 134 beneath the ice, according to the network. 

Discovery describes the seventh episode as one that “will investigate what rising temperatures will mean for the people and wildlife that live there—and for the rest of the planet.”

The online petition was started by avid change.org participant and member Claudia Abbott-Barish of Trinidad, Calif. According to the website, Barish has participated in many online petitions. But the Californian didn’t expect to garner the support of 75,000 participants so quickly, and potentially impact a major network’s decision. 

“I am so completely bowled over by the support, more so than the actual outcome, which now seems almost secondary to the experience of such speedy mass-mobilization. Thank you everyone! Well done!” said Claudia Abbott-Barish, in a change.org blog posting on the subject. 

Change.org is an international website that allows users to create and sign petitions on practically any issue. According to the website’s “About” statement, change.org “empowers anyone, anywhere to start, join, and win campaigns for social change.” The grass-roots site played a role in a recent public backlash over $5 Bank of America ATM fees; pressure which led to a recension of the fees in October.

Discovery Channel stated in November that it would not be airing the seventh episode due to scheduling conflicts. However, many in the public felt that the network was not about to air the episode due to its controversial portrayal of climate change. 

Controversial Topic

The subject of global climate change is a controversial political and environmental issue, with many environmentalists and skeptics polarized by opposing views on cause, and impact. Discovery Channel has not commented publicly on the validity of the accusations. 

One outspoken opponent to the portrayal of climate change in “Frozen Planet” is Lord Nigel Lawson, a climate change skeptic and chair of the skeptical Global Warming Policy Foundation think tank, and naturalist Attenborough’s conclusions. 

“Sir David Attenborough is one of our finest journalists and a great expert on animal life,” said Lawson in an interview posted on U.K. newspaper The Guardian’s website. “Unfortunately, however, when it comes to global warming he seems to prefer sensation to objectivity.”

“These are fascinating, low-temperature ecosystems with wonderful, amazing things to be discovered,” said Attenborough in a response. “So most of the series is about that, but if you’re going do it as thoroughly as we hoped to, you have to at some stage address the question of whether or not we are damaging it, or it’s disappearing or changing.”