This is some of the "Everything is related" stuff that was missing from Explore's "Cold Cuts." It is pointed out that most of the pollution in Baffin Island/Arctic Canada and Greenland is actually blown in from the U.S., thousands of miles away.
But other than the standard typed "green" household tips at the very end of the film, there is really no discussion of what can be DONE globally to slow down the more rapidly melting sea ice and thawing permafrost. There is a single mention of Chinese coal plants being built each week, and no discussion of Western industry except for the emission and animal absorption of mercury. The expectation of international competition for offshore drilling rights in the Arctic Ocean is mentioned, but there is no discussion of the past impact of offshore drilling on wildlife and environments and people elsewhere. I found this pretty disappointing, and I feel as though a huge opportunity to inform and activate large numbers of Hulu viewers and others has been blown.
The disappearance of Franklin's Northwest Passage expedition crew, left unexplained here early in the film, was recently explained partially by their lack of hunting and fishing implements, and probable lack of hunting and fishing skills, and their lack of understanding of the seasons, temperature and animal migrations so far North. It's hard to say whether the captain's and crew's apparent utter lack of understanding of their situation was due to arrogance, or simply naivete. There is also some evidence of fatal lead poisoning and scurvy from eating almost nothing but primitive lead-sealed canned food for months, with subsequent cannibalism as some members of the group died, followed by some desertion and freezing to death. Some frozen human bones, believed to be from that crew, show high lead levels and tool cut-marks. Some crew members probably wandered away to die out of revulsion.
Good music, riveting scenery, and mostly better camerawork in this "Explore" piece. Annenberg did a better job of shorter bits of hosting/narration, and did a much better job of directing in this, if he did direct; but he was still a little "look-at-me" Hollywoodish at first, initially detracting slightly from the intended focus on the environment and local residents and history. He fit in a bit better as the mini-film rolled on. Some honest local resident interviews.
I've never been above or even near the Arctic Circle, so I'd recommend this as a quick peek at the world up there. But if you want to lobby for more international climate responsibility and Arctic animal extinction prevention, learn and work through Care2.com and MoveOn.org.