Watch The Island President

In "The Island President," we follow the story of Mohamed Nasheed, the former President of the Maldives, and his fight for climate change awareness and action. The documentary was released in 2011 and directed by Jon Shenk. The Maldives, a small island nation in the Indian Ocean, is one of the most vulnerable countries in the world when it comes to the effects of climate change. Rising sea levels, ocean acidification, coral bleaching, and extreme weather conditions threaten the very existence of the country and its people. Mohamed Nasheed, known as the "Mandela of the Maldives," realizes the urgency of the situation and takes matters into his own hands.

The documentary chronicles Nasheed's journey from political activist to President of the Maldives. We see his early days as a dissident, fighting for democracy and human rights under an authoritarian government. We witness his historic victory in the 2008 presidential election, where he becomes the first democratically elected President of the Maldives. And we follow his mission to make the Maldives carbon neutral by 2020, a bold plan that inspires many around the world.

The heart of the film is Nasheed's journey to the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen in 2009. In the lead-up to the conference, Nasheed travels the world, meeting with other world leaders, activists, and scientists to raise awareness about the threat of climate change. He speaks at universities and rallies, appears on TV shows, and spreads his message to anyone who will listen.

When he arrives in Copenhagen, Nasheed faces a daunting challenge. The conference is marked by political infighting, bureaucratic delays, and entrenched interests. The industrialized nations are unwilling to make meaningful commitments to reduce their emissions, and the developing nations are skeptical that they will receive the financial and technological assistance they need to adapt to climate change. Nasheed becomes the voice of the small island nations, whose fate rests in the hands of the larger countries.

The documentary is not just about global politics, however. It also shows us the human side of Nasheed and the Maldives. We see the beauty of the country's coral reefs and beaches, and we meet the people who call it home. We see Nasheed's own family, his wife and two daughters, who worry about the future of their island nation. We see the nascent democracy of the Maldives, with its flip-flopping alliances and power struggles.

Throughout the film, we are struck by Nasheed's charisma, intelligence, and courage. He is a natural leader, able to inspire others with his optimism and determination. He is also a realist, however, and recognizes the severity of the threat facing his country. He is not afraid to call out the larger nations, and to demand that they take responsibility for their actions.

"The Island President" is a well-crafted and engaging documentary that sheds light on one of the most important issues of our time. It is a story of hope and determination in the face of overwhelming odds. It reminds us that climate change is not just an abstract concept or a distant threat, but a real and present danger to people's lives and livelihoods. And it shows us that there are leaders like Mohamed Nasheed who are willing to fight for a better future for us all.

The Island President is a 2011 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 41 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.2 and a MetaScore of 72.