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Saturday, January 16, 2016

BILL NYE’S GLOBAL MELTDOWN


National Geographic Channel continues to lead with original content and is sure to win over more fans of exploration in science, nature and culture in its Explorer series on DStv Channel 181. Each episode has been inspired by a story that appears concurrently in that month’s issue of National Geographic Magazine.



The Sunday nights screening of Bill Nye’s Global Meltdown, The Cult of Mary and Call Of the Wild will all be in the 21h00 slot.



Well-known stage and screen actor Bill Nye's Global Meltdown airs on Sunday (January 17) and encourages viewers to get to understand climate change, in what is touted to be the most unorthodox hour ever devoted to the subject. Bill Nye, is a noted scientist, mechanical engineer, comedian, actor and “Science Guy” .He is downbeat. He’s on his therapist’s couch, wondering why he just doesn’t feel like himself lately. He’s been trying to push past it, but he feels as if a horrible weight is on his shoulders, and life seems so empty, so meaningless. The therapist listens sympathetically, and diagnoses the cause: Bill is suffering from grief: climate change grief. Bill goes through the five stages of climate change grief and, along the way, teaches us what’s gone wrong with our planet and how we can start to turn things around.



On January 31, Explorer delves into The Cult of Mary travelling to Jerusalem, Nazareth and Ephesus, Turkey, to analyze and investigate the historic story of Mary—from the mythology shrouded around the Blessed Mother, to the cultural phenomenon she has become. Viewers will be transported to biblical archaeological sites, such as Mary’s alleged place of birth and death, as well as the house where she raised Jesus. Explorer examines what’s given rise to the Virgin Mary’s popularity, to the point of infatuation. In countries like Mexico and Poland, her figure has become a national symbol. The episode also examines the phenomenon of Mary apparitions. Where have these sightings occurred and what happens in the brain during these supposed miracles?



On February 14, the programme goes back to nature with Call Of The Wild. While we are constantly bombarded with technological breakthroughs and advancements, there seems to be an underlying urgency to break free, to disconnect from technology and reconnect once again with the natural world. More people are spending time chained to the screen and their desks, while science is proving that people who spend time in nature are indeed healthier, happier and even smarter. People everywhere are looking for ways to cut the cord and reconnect with nature. But can it be done? In today's ever-more-complicated world, how do we heed the Call Of The Wild?