Betsy was inspired by this year’s OEFF’s theme, The Power of We, to unite people across differences, to collaborate for the planet and future generations. “The theme line really offers a point of view for the direction of the film fest, and one that speaks to me personally,” she said. “I love the grassroots flavor and the way it challenges us. What’s better than empowering us as individuals to work together on important issues facing our planet?”
This year, One Earth is looking to the power of collective action to make the change we need. Participation without cooperation will only get us so far, and far is where we need to go, fast! We are witnessing the necessity of collaboration, as seen in campaigns like “ban the straw” and global climate strikes.
Educators across the country are turning to the One Earth Young Filmmakers Contest (YFC) as a teaching tool for their students. YFC can teach valuable lessons in science, art, communications and enhance the overall learning experience, they say.
“This contest was a great way for [my students] to translate their research into something interesting for a lay audience,” Nancy Landrum, who teaches sustainable business management at Chicago’s Loyola University, said.
Picture this. A former drug dealer and inmate living in crime-ridden southeast Washington, DC, becomes a trained falconer. Picture the heavy leather glove, the majestic bird perched on his wrist, his eyes fixed on its eyes. Imagine he uses the connection he feels with these animals to connect with neighborhood children.
This is the film “The Falconer,” one of 137 films evaluated by 130 judges to prepare for the One Earth Film Festival, taking place March 6 to 15, 2020, at venues throughout the Chicago region.
Imaginations soared at the 2019 Young Filmmakers Workshops (YFW) with results ranging from a documentary about endangered box turtles to a humorous fantasy involving the Loch Ness monster, no longer able to hide in a dried up lake due to global warming.
With all Young Filmmakers Workshops, teachers focus content on the environment, encouraging but not requiring students to enter the Young Filmmakers Contest.
On November 20 and 21, three of Climate Reality Project’s 1600 worldwide events were held in Oak Park. The Climate Reality Project, a global non-profit organization founded by Al Gore, is tasked with explaining the science of climate change and the already-existing solutions to the current crisis to people all over the world.
The first of three “24 Hours of Reality: Truth to Action” presentations in Oak Park was held at Oak Park River Forest High School. Sponsored by the school’s Environmental Club and young leaders of It’s Our Future, the after-school talk was given by Lisa Albrecht, an experienced climate change educator and owner of the local business All Bright Solar.
