David Attenborough’s ‘shocking’ Extinction: The Facts documentary leaves viewers in tears
‘We can’t ignore it, it’s time to act,’ tweeted Carrie Symonds
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.David Attenborough’s new documentary, Extinction: The Facts, has been hailed as “incredibly moving” and “shocking” by viewers.
The BBC One programme, which aired last night (13 September), saw the naturalist examine biodiversity loss, which threatens food and water security, undermines humans' ability to control the climate, and places us at greater risk of pandemics.
Broadcaster John Simpson was one of many viewers to praise the show on Twitter, writing: “David Attenborough’s brilliant, shocking Extinction: The Facts brought copious tears in my house. But, obsessed as we are with Covid & Brexit, will we actually stop consuming the products which are destroying natural habitats at this appalling rate? Or pressurise our leaders?”
“Incredibly moving to watch Sir David Attenborough at 94 years old and in the middle of a pandemic telling us that we have to act now to save our world from mass extinctions,” wrote another. “We have to listen to him. And act.”
Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s fiancée Carrie Symonds added: “Everyone should watch this. It’s massively difficult to watch - I cried - but it is vital. We can’t ignore it. It’s time to act.”
In a four-star review of the programme for The Independent, Sean O’Grady wrote: “As the impressive collection of environmental talking heads assembled for this latest message from Sir David Attenborough depressingly points out, even when the climate crisis and mass extinctions are a clear and present danger, and coronavirus is taking our loved ones, humanity is still incapable of changing its voracious ways.”
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments