Healing the Earth | John D. Liu

Filmmaker and ecologist John Liu explains - and shows with film fragments - why landscape restoration matters and why it needs urgent implementation. Healthy landscapes provide us with food, water, clean air, a stable climate, biodiversity, good health, security and happiness. However, a quarter of the world’s land mass is seriously degraded from centuries of deforestation, overgrazing, overexploitation, the building of infrastructure and pollution. Wars and migration are consequences of these problems.
John will tell the story of how a degraded area in China, the size of the Netherlands, was successfully restored in a short time. Millennia ago this region was very fertile and lush with vegetation. Over the centuries, the Chinese used up these resources unsustainably while unaware that it was their own actions that eroded a once green landscape into a ‘moon like’ landscape, causing loss of biodiversity, poverty and famine. John Liu shows how it has been possible to restore this large-scale damaged ecosystem in a very short time. The soil was rebuilt, biodiversity came back, while farmers were able to triple their income and hope and inspiration returned to the communities. The farmers, the Chinese government and the financer, the World Bank, were astounded by the success. John Liu documents large-scale ecosystem restoration projects in China, Africa, South America and the Middle East, highlighting the enormous benefits for people and planet of undertaking these efforts globally.
The Great Work of Our Time: Healing the Earth
At certain times in human history the generations alive at the time are called upon to perform heroic deeds. Imagine the transition from “Flat Earth” to “Round Earth” or the end of slavery. Today, we face just such a moment. Human progress and possibly human survival depend on our understanding and actions at this time.
Problems like land degradation, biodiversity loss, toxic pollution and climate change affecting everyone have been sublimated for the short-term profit of a few. Human population is growing by one billion people every twelve years. We are aware that the materialistic mainstream culture is corrupt and corrupting, it does not satisfy and is not sustainable. Everyone feels the tension as the violent fringe strikes at the heart of civilization.
Yet for all our problems, the conditions are ripe for humanity to move to a new level of consciousness. If we realize, that knowledge and generosity yield much better outcomes than ignorance and greed, we can work together for mutual benefit. Restoring large-scale degraded landscapes and ecological function is more valuable than everything that has ever been bought and sold. This knowledge is a responsibility. We now have the technology to make the sum of human knowledge available to every human being on the planet simultaneously and instantaneously. We are called to restore the Earth and the Human Spirit. This is the Great Work of our Time.
Documentary Green Gold
In the 2012 VPRO Tegenlicht documentary Green Gold, John Liu documents large-scale ecosystem restoration projects in China, Africa, South America and the Middle East, highlighting the enormous benefits to people and planet of undertaking these efforts globally. The film takes you to China, Jordan, Ethiopia, Rwanda and Bolivia, and features the PRI’s own Geoff Lawton, who adds impetus and technical know-how to John’s impressive toolbox.
It’s the story of healing landscapes at scale, and, with it, restoring life, livelihoods, security and a future. This documentary is not just a tale of hope, it’s evidence of hope - it’s proof that we do not need to give in to apathy and despair. Instead, we see we have the simple solutions right in front of us. Watch it online at tegenlicht.vpro.nl/afleveringe...
John Liu
John D. Liu is a Chinese-American filmmaker and ecologist. Following 15 years as a television news producer and cameraman for CBS News and other international television networks, he made a decision to devote the rest of his life to understanding and communicating about the Earth’s natural ecosystems. He produced many ecological films including: Hope in a Changing Climate, The Great work of Our Time and The Art of Healing the Earth. His films have been shown on BBC, National Geographic, Discovery, Central Chinese Television and many other networks around the world. John Liu is Director of the Environmental Education Media Project (EEMP), Ecosystem Ambassador for the Commonland Foundation and a visiting research fellow at the Netherlands Institute of Ecology of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (NIOO/KNAW). More information: commonland.com. John’s published works are mostly available at: knaw.academia.edu/JohnDLiu

[@alamhijaualvin3672]

This documentary should be teach in all school in the WORLD, should be air in all television on EARTH

[@mra6308]

This man's work needs to be seen by everyone ❤

[@TD-ik6bt]

There arent any words I have to properly convey my gratitude for this mans existence. I hope to be able to meet him one day. I will continue my path in Ecological restoration and thank you for restoring a bit of hope in one person Mr. Liu Nya:weh (thank you)

[@not2tees]

Your sentiments are mine-I feel Dr. Liu's words deep in my soul. The new age is coming, we have seen one of its prophets.

[@cracklypete]

I did this 8 years ago on my 1/3 acre “scraped” yard using permaculture as my guide. Boy does it work, on any scale.

[@patriciamcdonald6149]

It's so good to hear someone talking sense for a change. Really appreciate your understanding that consuming is causing so much of our earthly problems from the soil up. True wealth.

[@laserduchamp8071]

This guy is my hero, what a great guy, tell everyone about him : )

[@GlobalEarthRepair]

Thank you for existing, John! We are looking forward to hearing you talk in person soon.

[@octorose557]

This guys a frigging genius

[@pieterkruger7560]

For most people in the wold today it is all about money. People have forgot the real value of LIFE. Thank you John , life is about living and have respect for life and the earth and for everything that surround us. People need to re-evaluate their responsibility towards future generations and the value chain they create during their own lifetime. .

[@Cidanandas108]

We will take birth again on this planet-reincarnation- the future generation will include US...We never die! So become an environment activist by stopping meat eating- deforestation is to plant soya - and other grains for cattle/chicken...

[@robertsoto4389]

Mr. Liu is the champion of land and nature rehabilitation, him and Mr. Paul Gautschi ( back to eden) "plant a garden or die in the desert my friends"

[@koksoonlim2689]

Thanks for ur lifetime work that will benefit the future generations.

[@jonathansantos2271]

thank you so much John D. Liu

[@leklektan1358]

watch his documentary on loess plateau to see how we can re-forest a desert

[@Gordan109]

Yes this is the answer on all questions John💚Real wealth is our ecosystem period.

[@thecrazyrooster7295]

Reminds me of my father's teaching on the same principle of nurturing nature, in return nature will nurture us.

[@jansencristobal4275]

One of kind...tirelessly teach us to improve the live for the next generation to come ..

[@youarenaturewellness]

Watching this guy is like therapy

[@frasskanhaimusic2380]

We all need to do this! It's the right thing to do, planning for the future is the way we should go on a global scale that is Keep doing your good works: we salute you, it's such a blessing to have you showing us the light.

[@DanteBOnda]

It gives me a channel of hope to continue my program as a Environmental Science student❤️

[@kristoferpioquinto1413]

This guy and his team must give a honor in global stage for their efforts and determinations for restoring the earth lands for the next generations to come

[@hermanvandervoort4807]

John d,well done.

[@glennsampayan2322]

Very enlightening! Thank you!

[@solveigsokcanic5724]

top video! great man!

[@janesimmons8201]

I'm a great fan of all things permaculture and loving this series!

[@Cheesus4jesus]

What he's talking about is doable if we start teaching these things to very young children. We can't rely on public education to do this. It has to start in the home. It's also doable if we'd divert spending from military and Mars exploration.

[@deelove6899]

We as humans are still being subjected by this horrific situation of our own slavery. Unwittingly. If the GDP measures gross National Happiness our world would change in a heartbeat! 🌧🌧🌧🌎🌍🌏🌳🌳🌳🌲🌲🌲🌴🌴🌴💖💖💖

[@julzrouge369]

A wonderful human with an important message. I hope that more and more zombies are going to listen to him.

[@melaniamonicacraciun9900]

Please get smart and let web technologies work for you, such documentaries must be seen by so many people...at least those who l ever had the chance to get in touch in this cyberspace, every single school of every single village on this planet if possible, now that it's possible to connect KZbin channels to wide cinema screens and make it as a ... theater performance such a video to be shared and promoted further on, helping people open eyes, hearts, minds and...wallets, making smart investiments in green projects, building up vertical gardens and oxygen factories giving our planet a chance to breathe, you are doing a great job guys, l am the biggest supporter of yours. Let's remind, each home is using water, at least showers water could be recycled for home gardening, we know by now how to build up Nets similar to the grapes plantations for champagne, let them veggies grow up every backyard and giving people the sense of this .. heavenly connection to the Holy Creation, we need to establish this symbiotic relationship with our planet and this is a very good point for a start fans. My virtual friends are your friends as well...frankly, what l call friendship is business partnership, sharing the same projects goals dreams and hopes. ..we could never be apart anymore

[@angelicabrierleyspeer3812]

If anyone watching this wants to see and understand a whole lot more about how this all works, then Geoff Lawton (the Aussi in the film) has loads of online material and courses and he learnt a huge amount of what he now knows from his teacher Bill Mollison who has been doing this works for over forty years. Keep promoting this method - it will upset Bayer / Montsanto and the big US banks that back the Agro-chemical industry, but that's their problem - they've deliberately caused a lot of this for power and control of our food supply and we need to take that power and control back into our own hands.

[@paulsmith-gi5vm]

Needs close captioning to include and educate more minds to spread these ideas faster.

[@alamhijaualvin3672]

SAVE THE LAND, IT SAVE HUMAN AND ENVIRONMENT

[@MrGigi-dz9cv]

Well. In the end, if there are no trees in the surrounding area, there are no seeds for new trees to grow from. So, bassically planting few trees and taking care of them, will change the landscape. I would just transplant vegetation from one place to another.

[@cadvisors]

He is telling us that we have the technology, we need the will to do it.

[@johnhannonHanno]

We can save the world.

[@nationofibrahim1302]

BismillahirRahmanirRahim Can I have permission to upload on Facebook this video?

[@hhwippedcream]

Mr. Liu? Any Pointers for allies in a place to make institutional change?

[@hhwippedcream]

Ecosystem services outweigh value efficiency.... by far. Thank You!

[@hhwippedcream]

Fantastically radical and wonderful thought! Encourage immigration and disseminate (hopefully positive) thought that make the world safer and kinder for all.

[@hhwippedcream]

I believe we've become supersteampunk positivistic hands-offy sillies.That was kind of you to acknowledge abiotic systems. This is a false dichotomy when it comes to existence and life. When one extrapolates treatment of land to population health and crime. We are polluting our souls by continuing to deny that we are polluting our own wellspring.

[@hhwippedcream]

Mr. Liu you are my hero!

[@cadvisors]

Prisoner rehabilitation for working these areas could work.

[@omega4chimp]

People got to collect compost in the kitchen and put it in the desert.

[@bernicegoldham1509]

How the fuck does this not have more views?!

[@bbbanks6912]

This valley, the size of Belgium

[@marymande3968]

THE COMMON LAND ORGNATIZION

[@SharonThoboisluvtolive]

THIS IS THE MOST HOPE FOR OUR WORLD I HAD SINCE BIDEN/HARRIS ADMINISTRATION WON!

[@nicolasbertin8552]

Restoring degraded ecosystems and regreening the desert are the same thing : all hot deserts are man made, they are degraded ecosystems. Turkey, Syria, Irak, Jordan... All were completely green at one point. ANd although it's not yet proven, it's highly probable that the Sahara was the same as well, a long time ago. I mean we can see this desertification in Spain. Spain, during the Roman conquest, was entirely forests, lakes and mountains. Caesar explained it in his memoirs. Now, Spain looks like Arizona in a lot of places, even just outside Madrid... And to be fair, it's probably the same with South West America : many wonder why the native populations in that area abandoned the cliff dwellings and such, it could be because their agriculture and overgrazing desertified the landscape.

[@SheWhoRemembers]

To drain the swamp, plant a food forest around it!

[@AbaddayofRain12]

Its a pity those smart alecs at COP26 didnt watch this video to enhance their knowledge.

[@cjklz]

Don't believe untill you do some research. please!

[@ngana1638]

fy

[@dedutch101]

Am I watching a politcal science class or an ecology lecture?

[@crpth1]

De_Dutch101 - Bringing all the "ECO" into one movement will ALWAYS be a foundation for our societies. ECOlogy will never be dissociated from ECOnomy, at least in what Humans are concerned. ;-)

[@smilestrees1150]

What is the difference?

[@trophinel]

australieni degeaba

[@cjklz]

This man is sick.

[@luuyuri2401]

peter four this oxymoron nicknamed peter four is stupid,...putting this oxymoron in the mortar and pound it, its stupidity will not shed off.

[@elmoro4337]

I think what peter four meant was not a bad thing. He intended to give a good comment. In the uk when someone does something very good and out of this world we tend to say he is sick as in genius.sick different than normal people and someone who does something others cant do. It is a slang metaphore.

[@smilestrees1150]

Maybe you are sick

[@cjklz]

@@smilestrees1150 Not anymore, this comment was made ages ago. Internet is a funny medium indeed. DR John D. Liu also moved on. After seeing this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rKG3eZxthJtppqs&ab_channel=TED I could be talking to some algorithm here .Who knows? But thanks. My comment was only negative indeed.