Exploring the environmental movement through film
<p>A man stands in a burning Amazon forest, one of the stories featured in the documentary film ÒA Fierce Green Fire: The Battle for a Living Planet,Ó which will be screened Feb. 13 at the Coeur dÕAlene Public Library.</p>
From conservation to climate change, the film "A Fierce Green Fire: The Battle for a Living Planet," tells the inspirational stories of people uniting to protect the land, water and animals of the world.
Hosted by the Idaho Conservation League, the film is the first big-picture documentary to chronicle the environmental movement, over the last 50 years. Through its use of archival film, insightful interviews and powerful narration by Robert Redford, Meryl Streep, Ashley Judd, Van Jones and Isabel Allende, the film relays the stories of the dedicated people and groups who fought for, and succeeded in, protecting the environment against all odds.
"Fierce Green Fire" will come to Coeur d'Alene for one night only, Thursday, Feb. 13. It will be screened at 5:30 p.m. in the Coeur d'Alene Public Library's Community Room, 702 Front Ave. Admission to the event is free; doors open at 5.
"Fierce Green Fire" was inspired by the book of the same name by Philip Shabecoff and has won acclaim at dozens of festivals around the world including the Sundance Film Festival.
The film, which is directed by Mark Kitchell, unfolds in five acts, each with a central story and character:
* David Brower and the Sierra Club's battle to halt dams in the Grand Canyon
* Lois Gibbs and the Love Canal residents' struggle against 20,000 tons of toxic chemicals
* Paul Watson and Greenpeace's campaigns to save whales and baby harp seals
* Chico Mendes and Brazilian rubbertappers' fight to save the Amazon rainforest
* Bill McKibben and the 25-year effort to address the impossible issue - climate change
The stories of these dedicated activists, who often fought at great personal cost, serve to inspire all who care about the future of the planet.
Many parallels can be drawn between the global environmental movement over the last 50 years, as depicted in "Fierce Green Fire," and the work the Idaho Conservation League has accomplished in the state.
As Lois Gibbs was demanding a safe place to raise her family in New York during the 1970s, Idaho Conservation League was fighting for clean air and water with the creation of the Idaho Clean Lakes Act and the Idaho Clean Air Bureau.
As Paul Watson and Greenpeace were figuring out how to fight to save the whales, Idaho Conservation League was demanding permanent protection for the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness.
And while Chico Mendez was mobilizing fellow farmers to save the Amazon in the '80s, the state conservation league was mobilizing what is now more than 25,000 supporters to protect places like the Owyhee Canyonlands and Long Canyon in the Selkirk Mountains. Today, Idaho Conservation League joins many organizations and individuals in the fights against climate change - the final act depicted in the movie.
A pictorial time-line of Idaho Conservation League's 40 years of conservation work will be displayed at the event and a short presentation will be given about ICL's past and future work. Additionally, information about how to get involved with current, local environmental issues will be available at the event.
• If you go
What: "A Fierce Green Fire: The Battle for a Living Planet," free film screening
When: 5:30 p.m., Feb. 13, doors open at 5
Where: Community Room, Coeur d'Alene Public Library, 702 Front Ave.
More info: www.idahoconservation.org or (208) 265-9565