Power Control
National Geographic Channel Breakthrough, Season 2
Narrator: Chris Pine
National Geographic/Imagine/Asylum Production
Each episode is 50 minutes in length
6 Episodes in this series
Episode Six: Power To The People
The term, “Power to the People,” can have several connotations. In National Geographic’s “Breakthrough, Episode 6,” it means getting electric power to people who have never had it. There are still 1.3 billion people on earth who have never had access to electric power. Now, if you think driving along an Interstate or Autobahn is treacherous at certain times of day, then, take a trip with Mike Wilson, and the crew from “Smart Village” as they bring solar panels to an isolated monastery in the Himalayas. Smart Village is a group that brings power to remote places of the world, trying to connect everyone to everyone. This one is a monumental task and oh, those mountains.
We visit the monastery and see that, prior to this, the monks used kerosene lamps or diesel generators that were now damaging the centuries old walls and the fumes were none too pleasant, either (carbon monoxide danger, also) The road was steep, winding and drivers had to watch for landslides in bringing the panels to the monastery. This gives the word “hairpin curve” new meaning. As is explained, people here have not known what it is like to turn on a light switch and get light. The first time it happens, after completion of the project, is a revelation.
Meanwhile, in America, there are long-range plans to help prevent massive blackouts. Won't happen in the Himalayas, but in highly populated areas it lurks in the background. GE Power Steve Bolze and Richard Kauffman from New York’s Energy & Finance, work to prevent this from happening.
How easy it is to reach one’s hand out and touch a switch for light, whether it is a lamp on a wall, or turning on your computer. Power, for us, is everywhere, but elsewhere? It was a dream that came true.
Direction, cinematography and music are excellent.
Breakthrough: Season 2 is produced by National Geographic/ Imagine and Asylum. The series will run on television in 172 countries and in 43 languages. The six episodes are “Addiction: A Psychedelic Cure” narrated by Mike Colter and shown on May 2, 2017, “Cyber Terror” narrated by Barry Pepper and shown on May 9, 2017, “Curing Cancer” narrated by Sheila Vand and shown on May 16, 2017, “Game of Drones” narrated by JK Simmons and shown on May 23, 2017, “Predicting the Future” narrated by Aaron Eckhart and shown on May 30, 2017 and “Power to the People” narrated by Chris Pine and shown on June 6, 2017. For more information see www.nationalgeographic.com or on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google+, YouTube, Linkedin and Pinterest.
Copyright 2017 Marie Asner
