Photo Corners headlinesarchivemikepasini.com


A   S C R A P B O O K   O F   S O L U T I O N S   F O R   T H E   P H O T O G R A P H E R

Enhancing the enjoyment of taking pictures with news that matters, features that entertain and images that delight. Published frequently.

Matinee: 'Coal for Christmas' Share This on LinkedIn   Tweet This   Forward This

21 December 2019

Saturday matinees long ago let us escape from the ordinary world to the island of the Swiss Family Robinson or the mutinous decks of the Bounty. Why not, we thought, escape the usual fare here with Saturday matinees of our favorite photography films?

So we're pleased to present the 323rd in our series of Saturday matinees today: Coal for Christmas.

"Kids around the world have an unusual request for Santa this year," the producers of this irresistible 1:41 clip warn. And these 16 kids are not shy about making it.

"Dear Santa," they begin. They insist they don't want the usual presents Santa expects them to ask for each year. Nope, no ball, no bike, none of that stuff.

Some things never change. On the other hand, some things do.

Instead, they want a lump of coal. Please. A bigger one than my brother gets, one chimes in.

Some things never change.

On the other hand, some things do. Like the climate. And these kids are understand the problem. They want coal this year so nobody else can get it.

Because, they say, it's really bad for the environment. The poles are melting. "That's where you live, Santa!" one cries in empathetic alarm.

It's hard to argue with them. After all, they're right.

They hope by getting Santa to give them all the coal in the world that utility companies will have to find some other way to provide energy. Like wind and solar with battery storage. That way coal companies can get off the Naughty List.

"I don't want a present," one child explains. "I want a future."

The video was made by Anomaly, Unreasonable Studios and their kids "with zero net carbon." Unreasonable Studios was founded by a photographer for Anomaly in 2011 to provide creative services in London.

Were we Santa we'd find nothing unreasonable about their request. But we'd make room in the sleigh for a nice surprise, too. They certainly deserve it.


BackBack to Photo Corners