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Environmental and Life Lessons Found in Family Movie Night: Norm of the North

Jun 6

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Lessons of Corporate and Government Corruption Enabing the Decline of Our Environment and Sticking Up to the Bullies Causing You Harm


Edition 2 –Part 1– from the Collection: Environmental & Life Lessons Found

in Family Movie Night



Tonight, in part 1 of this edition, you'll read about about the first of 2 favorites with some great lessons to learn from. We begin with Norm of the North! You will learn some cold, harsh realities of corporate and government collusion & corruption plaguing the protection of the environment, and what sticking up to those causing unfair treatment could do for you.




Norm of the North:


urbanization, corporate and government collusion & corruption, greed, environmental advocacy, stepping up to the ones causing imbalance



norm of the north restored lands blog
Norm of the North (2016)

In honor of this past winter's cold weather in the Rockies, (when this blog post was written) it’s rather fitting to feature a movie about a polar bear living in the Arctic! It's also a good time to finally share as we can see the imminent controversial allowing of public and protected land seizure by the govenerment that will then allow corperations to develope on.




This is a story about a Bear who travels from the Arctic to the city to confront the very people seeking to destroy his home for their own. This story unveils truths about corporate and government collusion & corruption, sticking up for what is right and urbanization in the strangest of places. I coupled the corruption/greed point with the high prices and issues we face in the housing market that continue to drag on and worsen during this post covid era while corporate companies stay profiting.



At the beginning of the movie before the arctic animals learned of the humans evil plot to turn their ice island into treasure island, Norms brother said to him “if we keep the people happy, they won’t ruin this place”, saying that people “won’t ruin some thing they love." for contexts’ sake, this comment was made when people were visiting the island on a sort of arctic vacation expedition which was a regular occurrence. The animals would sing and dance for their visitors putting on the ultimate show and giving the folks great content for their next instagram post.


Norm of the north brother stan restored lands blog
Norm's brother Stan, played by 'Puffy' is the conductor for all the shows on the island

I want share what I believe can be taken away from that quote. It’s indicating the animals will live in peace with you so long as you’re well intentioned and they believe you won’t harm them. They adapt to the change of the human addition — just like in Over the Hedge. However, the disadvantage animals are at is they don’t really know if you’re about to turn your backs on them and take their home or trap them in a cage.

Just like nature always does, it adapts, no matter how many homes are built or people show up as long as they have a place to call their own.


I think the argument could be made it goes against the laws of nature to rip habitat and lower lifeforms from their existence for your own self serving purpose. Why? Well, because now you’re not even giving nature a chance to coexist with you, you’re just eliminating it and that I disagree with. We must learn to live peacefully with our world if we wish to have a sustainable future with her. Don’t take advantage of the plants, the animals, the land or even your fellow person as we are all one and in this amazing journey together. Once we can adapt to our natural environment more like wildlife, we’re one step closer to a unified world.


reckless urban expansion restored lands blog
There comes a point where we are reckless in our pursuit of expansion 

On the other hand, in a not so unified world like the one Norm and Greene live in, Greene Homes displays some pretty nasty tactics used in real-life, twisted corporate and government relationships. This is the stuff that helps illuminate the green light for these profit-only oriented projects to carry out their well disguised harm.


Vera is on the Arctic Council and is colluding with Mr. Greene in these efforts to build luxury condos in the Arctic. The things Vera did for Greene was sanction more vacation excursions to the island in hopes of inflating the approval numbers for this project which was needed by the public to proceed. In return Greene was going to give her a luxury villa, I believe at some other property he owned (portraying the idea these cooperate entities have a lot of influence, possibly globally).



corrupt corporations harming the environment restored lands blog
Mr. Greene played by Ken Jeong carries out his forbidden activities from his high rise in the city

One last point on this I want to make is actually a really important one. At the end of the movie as Greene is exposed and everyone turns on him, in his moment of capture, he blurts out these condos weren’t even for the “peasants” it was for the “1%”! The movie also never showed any condos, just luxury home models… this all leads you to ask the question, how much of this facaded development campaign was telling the truth about what they were openly disclosing? Where does the deception end? So if these clues point to anything it shows me Greene Homes not only didn’t say what they were doing was bad, they even lied about what they were doing.


Even if I’m wrong, this level of corruption does exists in our world today. Good job on Norm for bringing this company out of the shadows!



While the problem portrayed in the story pertains more to damaging the environment through construction or urbanization & corruption, it’s a good opportunity to speak on how this corporate overreach has created mass un-affordability in the housing market.


I think it’s fair to say corporations are doing no favors for the people in helping them with finding one of their most basic needs, shelter.

We need shelter and we need to be able to afford it, the reality is, when you finally find a place to live you learn quickly you can’t afford it. So I’m not sure if building more places, calling them affordable housing, then pricing everybody out is a sustainable solution to this crisis.


urban expansion in the wrong areas
we've all noticed the influx of shiny new apartment complexes, we've also noticed their shiny rent prices

Some could say the housing crisis is being perpetuated by similar reasons in the movie: corporate greed, control and profit. While I realize there are other factors like higher material cost, labor shortages, etc … that doesn’t mean the story doesn’t go further than that.


When you have institutional investors like the more indirect players such as BlackRock and Statestreet or more direct players like Blackstone and Pretium Partners buying up all our single family homes you see the effects in more than one place — not just geographically speaking.



You have affordability and availability issues for everyday folks just looking to live, and a widespread takeover of the vacation rental market as well, giving less opportunity for someone to either live there or create a rental income from it. Rentals sites, both short and long-term, are inundated with corporate property management listings, and while some may like that sense of security or in some cases illusion of security, there is an argument made among communities of the potential degrading effects this causes. These concerns range from lack of acceptable visual aesthetic, lack of community engagement due to a short-term population, local economic impacts, even loss of community identity. This all makes me think more on this topics’ issues, which runs deeper than ‘taking control for profit’, perhaps it's stripping our communities of thier individuality. These ideas certainly shine a light on the corporate overreach and housing monopoly caused because of it.


Coming from Eagle and Summit County CO, otherwise known as Ski Country USA, as well as suburbia on the Front Range, there’s a lot I have seen in the unrest of the housing market and there’s plenty that can be said.

Rent prices are way up and it begs the question: at what point does this just not work out for enough people, resulting some kind of necessary structural change? This is a problem that sweeps the cities, suburbs, even rural America and it only makes sense to me that this is going to get better in the future… As Norm suggests, displays and executes, stepping up to the one stepping on you may be your way out of someone else’s unruly grips.



norm of the north restored lands blog
Norm (Rob Schneider) shows us the power in stepping up & exposing the bad guys to the world. The concept of opening peoples awareness and bringing them factual information can be the difference maker in what timeline we travel on


I think if the nefarious entities with their own agendas, causing so much disruption to the people and nature by creating their own waves could find it in themselves to shift from the mindset of greed, profit, and control we would be moving towards a world where we are all working together for each others success.

The thing about waves is they eventually crash — do you think this corporate control of the housing market will change in the coming years? How so? Will the people in charge have a change of heart, perhaps be forced to pivot by outlying factors or do you see this issue persisting?

Let us know in the comments.




But without getting into all the nitty gritty, we’ll keep this tied into Norms story and what we can learn from his adventure!



This movie does depict the interaction between humans and wild animals in a not-so-supported way by showcasing the island visitors treating animas like zoo attractions. In their defense the animals were shaking like belly dancers for these people so it was warranted BUT the bigger, more real world take away is to give the animals some space! You don’t want to be taken for a high clearance ride through the forest in the cradle of moose's antlers! Really though, if this is news to you please take note that wild animals are wild and are to remain so. Getting close to them like in a petting zoo leads to uncertain results putting you in potential danger and possibly contributing to the animals demise. (learn what happens to bears when they get to used to people in my other blog). Be safe, be smart! Take our short safety & sustainability check up quiz here!




To round this one off I will give you one last quote said by Norms lost grandfather. This was briefly conversed about between Norm and Socrates, the therapist bird but I began to take meaning out of it. When asking, “why are we so nice to the humans”, Socrates says: grandpa used to say ”Panem et Circenses” which translates to bread and circuses.

He then said it meant that it’s easier to distract ourselves with food and entertainment than to think about the real problems.



The animals were too busy giving the people a good show, they neglected to think about what they were doing there in the first place. I think the quote goes to say it's important to stay aware and practice discernment & don’t let yourself become too consumed by distractions. This is a wonderful way to end as this is a beautiful message for 2025 and the future!



Thank you for reading & enjoy the show!




Check out these yummy & healthy snacks for movie night! From sweet to savory, you'll find something for you!




So far our Movie Night list includes: FernGully: The Last Rainforest, Over the Hedge, & Norm of the North.





Links:

Try a healthy movie night snack from Greatist!

Blackstone Goes Public with $10 Billion Bet on Foreclosed Homes

What Wallstreets' Purchase of Hundreds of Thousands of Single Family Homes Means for Rent Prices

What Does 'Bread and Circuses' Mean? by How Stuff Works

VIDEO: Bison attack in Yellowstone -- Summer 2022

5 Ways Corporate Power Is Wrecking Housing Markets -- check out Boondoggle, a newsletter that talks about how corporations and monopolies take advantage of the people & what you can do to help stop it!

Read Forbes take on how "greed" has nothing to do with the housing crisis -- personally I think this is a biased article babbeling on about rubbish, regurgitating a differnet article and pointing out his defenses. It's interesting this man appears to be defending the cororpate housing monopoly and making those who oppse it sound like they're unfactual and foolish. However, I like to include both sides of the argument.

Why do so many have a different view? How big a role do you think greed plays in this issue?


This blog is for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical or health advice. Always consult a qualified professional before making changes to your health, diet or lifestyle.

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