LSSI News & Events

Initiative News

 

Green film festival starting at Tech

HOUGHTON - A film festival starting at Michigan Technological University this month will provide a forum for learning about and discussing environmental issues.
"Green Film Festival: Issues and Dialogue" starts Jan. 20 at Michigan Technological University, and will continue each third Thursday of the month through June. The cost will be free, with a $3 suggested donation.

The documentaries, all from Bullfrog Films, cover topics ranging from water usage to sustainable food.
This will be the first time for the film festival, said Shawn Oppliger of the Lake Superior Stewardship Initiative, which is co-sponsoring the festival along with the Michigan Tech Center for Water & Society, Keweenaw Unitarian Universalist Fellowship and Keweenaw Land Trust.
Joan Chadde of LSSI brought up the idea as a form of professional development for the 75 teachers involved with the LSSI.

"We looked at a couple of the films from the Bullfrog Films company and decided which would be the most appropriate for our area, and the environmental issues we deal with in the Great Lakes area," Oppliger said.

The screenings will take place from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month. All events will be held at the atrium and G002 Hesterberg Hall in the Michigan Tech Forestry Building.

The films range in length from 43 to 62 minutes. The rest of the time will be given over to coffee, tea, dessert and facilitated discussions about the movies by experts in the fields.
"It makes people think about what can they do, pertaining to the topic, in their own community," Oppliger said.
The schedule:
Jan. 20: "Tapped" (the business of bottled water). Discussion facilitator: Dr. Alex Mayer, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Michigan Tech.
Feb. 17: "Weather Report" (global warming). Discussion facilitator: Dr. Sarah Green, Department of Chemistry, Michigan Tech.
March 17: "Build Green" (environmentally sound construction). Discussion facilitator: Dave Bach, builder.
April 21: "Homeland: Four Portraits of Native Action" (Native American activism against pollution of their homelands). Discussion facilitator: Chuck Brumleve, Keweenaw Bay Indian Community Department of Natural Resources.
May 19: "Good Food: Sustainable Food and Farming" (family farming). Discussion facilitator: Karen Rumisek, Keweenaw Food Co-op.
June 16: "Thirst" (resistance to commodification of global water supplies). Discussion facilitator: Ellis Adams, Department of Social Sciences, Michigan Tech.
A positive response could make the festival a regular feature, Oppliger said.
"If we find this meets a need in the community and is successful, we will probably do it again," she said.
For more information, go to:
CLICK HERE

Click Here to View PDF