Library Guides: Filmographies Guide: Earth Day, April 2020

Introduction

April is many things. April is fun (National Humor Month), filling (National Soft Pretzel Month, National Soy Food Month), socially responsible (National Autism Awareness Month, National Child Abuse Awareness Month), cultural (National Jazz Appreciation Month, National Poetry Month), and many more things. Choosing which to mark in this space was difficult, but the decision was aided by one event in particular marking a significant anniversary this year - Earth Day.

April 22, 2020, marks the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. Linking pollution and environmental degradation with catastrophic public health consequences, biologist and environmental activist Barry Commoner called the world to attention with the observation "we are in a crisis of survival." His work, along with that of many environmental activists, led to the creation of Earth Week 50 years ago and the modern environmental movement.

The selection of films below explore our current relationship with our natural and built environments, celebrate the large advances we have made to protect our environment and our communities, and also also clearly demonstrate that the crisis is not yet over.

You can hear portions of Dr. Commoner's speech in CBS News with Walter Cronkite coverage of the first ever Earth Week.

The Human Factor

Erosion by Dir. by Carlos Underwood; Sergio Santiago
Independent documentary that addresses the different environmental problems in the north of Quintana Roo region, located in the Mexican Caribbean, caused by the rapid tourism development and uncontrolled population growth.
The Anthropocene by Dir. Steve Bradshaw
Publication Date: 2016
A Working Group of international scientists is deciding whether to declare a new geological epoch — the Anthropocene — a planet shaped more by mankind than nature. Its members tell the story of the Anthropocene and argue whether it's a tragedy, a comedy, or something more surreal. With archival footage, award-winning stills and interviews, ANTHROPOCENE proposes a common secular narrative for mankind but leaves viewers to decide how we should write the ending. The film has the blessing of Nobel laureate Paul Crutzen, who coined the term, and is the first feature film about the Anthropocene. It is now our turn to decide — in this decade — how the Anthropocene will end.
A Fierce Green Fire by Dir. Mark Kitchell
Publication Date: 2012
A Fierce Green Fire: The Battle For a Living Planet is the first big-picture exploration of the environmental movement - grassroots and global activism spanning fifty years from conservation to climate change. From halting dams in the Grand Canyon to battling 20,000 tons of toxic waste at Love Canal; from Greenpeace saving the whales to Chico Mendes and the rubbertappers saving the Amazon; from climate change to the promise of transforming our civilization... the film tells vivid stories about people fighting - and succeeding - against enormous odds.
Climate Refugees by Dir. Justin Hogan and Michael Nash
Publication Date: 2010
CLIMATE REFUGEES is the first feature film to explore in-depth the global human impact of climate change and its serious destabilizing effect on international politics. The film turns the distant concept of global warming into a concrete human problem with enormous worldwide consequences. Experts predict that by mid-century hundreds of millions of people will be uprooted as a result of sea level rise and an increase in extreme weather events, droughts and desertification. Little is being done to plan for the potential mass migration of millions of refugees who will be forced to cross national borders. According to the UN, there are already more environmental refugees in the world than political or religious refugees. The Pentagon now considers climate change a national security risk and the phrase "climate wars" is being talked about in war-rooms.