Waking the Green Tiger: A Green Movement Rises in China

Waking the Green Tiger: A Green Movement Rises in China is an enthralling documentary that tracks the blossoming of a transformative ecological movement within China. Directed by the renowned Canadian filmmaker, Gary Marcuse, this film not only provides a deep insight into the alarming environmental problems faced by the country but also artfully tells the story of China's journey from a muted civil society to one with an ever-growing environmental consciousness.

The film is aptly titled - the 'Green Tiger' symbolizes the latent environmental consciousness within the Chinese society that awakens as it grapples with the unparalleled destruction of nature caused by rapid economic development. The film, through a combination of riveting narratives and breath-taking visuals, manages to put the spotlight on ground-breaking stories of the fight against environmental degradation in modern China.

Waking the Green Tiger begins by retracing decades of environmental negligence starting from the Mao-era, where the countryside was viewed as an infinite resource to be harnessed for the country's breakneck industrialization. It provides a comprehensive explanation of China's vast environmental problems, from air pollution to soil erosion, from the loss of biodiversity to the creation of cancer villages and, in particular, the damming of China’s rivers.

The centerpiece of the documentary is the planned construction of a series of mega-dams at the Tiger Leaping Gorge on the upper reaches of the Yangtze River. This project, estimated to displace around 100,000 people, sparks a wave of protests and a subsequent ‘turning point’ in China's environmental movement. The film captures this dramatic sequence of events with the reverence, depth, and detail it deserves, and in the process, immortalizes an inspiring tale of collective grassroots resistance against ecological destruction.

This protest and its success offer a new understanding of the inhabitants of China. Locals no longer merely exist as silent spectators but are emerging as resilient activists. These environmental campaigns are a watershed moment within China's contemporary history wherein the Chinese civilian, armed with environmental awareness, stood up to the authoritative regime and thus represented a growing civil society.

Waking the Green Tiger delves into journalists' tireless efforts, environmental activists, and locals. It charts their journey as they unearthed copies of a long-suppressed film, screened it to local villages, who in turn were inspired to resist the government, thereby turning against what was being referred to as ‘predatory development.’

The film succinctly captures the passion and dedication of these activists, whose relentless efforts led to a broader recognition of China’s environmental laws and provided an impetus to the development of the environmental Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in the country.

Waking the Green Tiger is not just another environmental documentary - it tells a story of hope. It illustrates that collective action can draw attention to environmental crises and affect significant changes, however formidable the odds. It inspires its viewers with the strength and resilience of the communities it showcases, substantiating that empowered citizenry can indeed drive environmental governance.

Moreover, by chronicling China’s environmental movement, Waking the Green Tiger demonstrates the global repercussions of environmental neglect and the importance of international solidarity in safeguarding our shared Earth. It allows viewers to understand the potential of the individual and the power of collective societal consciousness against climate-related issues.

In its heart, Waking the Green Tiger is a compelling portrayal of China’s gritty journey towards environmental awareness and a potent example of the emergence of civil society in an authoritarian state. It gives voice to the previously silenced, visualizes the unexpected, and transforms the way we perceive China's relationship with the environment.

The film is a call for global citizens: to wake their own green tigers, to challenge prevailing narratives, and to responsibly engage with the environment. Waking the Green Tiger subtly suggests that perhaps it is not just the Chinese green tiger that needs awakening.

Overall, Waking the Green Tiger: A Green Movement Rises in China is a gripping, enlightening, and profoundly inspiring must-watch, illuminating humanity's capacity to fight back to protect the environment it depends on so completely. Undoubtedly, it is a remarkable homage to the power of the people and their resolute struggle against the ill-effects of environmental depreciation.