By Matthew Charles-Jones, Yackandandah Sustainability
As you will probably recall, An Inconvenient Truth was a ground breaking documentary movie focused upon the contemporary scientific understanding of climate change. The 2006 production, featuring Al Gore (past USA presidential hopeful) has been widely credited (and criticised) for leading a massive global surge in understanding and concern for climate change.
Since that time and according to polls in many western nations, climate change concern has waned as the effects of the global financial crisis deepened, impacting economies around the world. (Heat waves in this U.S.A. summer however have reportedly reminded American folks what science has increasingly forecasted for at least 30 years.)
‘Participant Media’ was the driving force behind An Inconvenient Truth (and Food Inc.), and they have just released another movie; Last Call at the Oasis. This movie provides a confronting exploration of global water supplies and helps to locate recent Australian experiences in a global context; scarce rainfall through the 1990’s and the ongoing conflicts over the Murray -Darling.
Last Call at the Oasis and seven other movies are being screened on the 5th and 6th of October as a part of the Environmental Film Festival in Yackandandah. Audiences will be treated to a combination of humorous docu-dramas, alarming reports of encroaching coal seam gas operations and inspiring tales of advanced house design and a solar adventure.
Movies may well have an important role to play in our collective efforts to live more gently on this fragile earth. Unlike perspectives offered in brief radio, print or television reports, well made movies and documentaries invite a more considered exploration of the complex issues associated with environmental sustainability. Exploration of this type can more deeply reflect the dynamic balances of nature, uncomfortable conflicts of human ambition as well as hopefully seeding inspired and innovative responses.
Possibly one of humanities great challenges is in finding a path that averts our current path of environmental destruction and seeks greater balance in human relationships with the natural world. It is unlikely that this challenge will be overcome by exposing our thinking only to those we agree with and that which merely entertains us. Last Call at the Oasis picks up this challenge.
If you are after more information about the 2012 Environmental Film Festival in Yackandandah, please check the dates in the events calendar of www.eco.redsally.com.