In the words of the artist: “Cinema started with natural materials – with smoke, fire, hand cranks, and then right away was taken over by the digital and the industrial age. But I wondered what would have happened if cinema had stayed with those original natural power sources. . . . What I like about these is that the wind or the water or the cranking decides when you get to watch a movie.” In much of his work, Scott Hessels looks to nature to shape and direct the artistic expression. He currently runs a unique new media program at the The School of Creative Media in City University of Hong Kong. In this program, students travel to extreme natural environments and transform the data they collect into new media artworks. Learn more about this program and his artistic practice in thisTED talk by Scott Hessels.

Sustainable energy infrastructure is being implemented across the world at a rate that has far exceeded expectations. The dramatic increase in solar power and wind power are cause for optimism and a critical component of the global effort to address climate change. Learn more about the impact of the renewable energy revolution on the world’s climate problem in thisreport from Environmental Defense Fund and thisTED talk by Al Gore.

Wind power harnesses the force of moving air to generate electricity. The amazing growth of this renewable energy source has been fueled by its low cost relative to alternative sources, including fossil fuels. Learn about the design and operation of wind turbines in thiseducational video. Are there other natural forces that can be harnessed efficiently to generate power? Seattle-based Oscilla Power has developed a magnetostrictive power generator for converting the energy of ocean waves into electricity. The technology eliminates moving parts and other elements that are not suitable for the turbulent and corrosive environment of the ocean. Learn more about this promising energy technology in this short video.

In the Sustainable Cinema series, Scott Hessels explores how we can use technology to live well and in harmony with nature. As we grapple with diminishing natural resources and a changing climate, our ingenuity and use of sustainable technologies will be the keys to safeguarding our future. This is already a reality faced by many people all over the world. In thisinspiring TED talk, William Kamkwamba, a farmer and inventor from Malawi, describes how he constructed a windmill to pump water and generate electricity for his family, allowing them to emerge from a devastating famine with renewed hope for the future.

In his kinetic sculptures, Scott Hessels combines sustainable power and vintage animation to explore the relationship between technology and the natural world. If you are inspired by his work, you can take action in your own life. Select one or more pledges listed below and spread the word. You can also learn more by visiting our Pledge Center. Let’s #EndOvershoot and save our #OneEarth.