Earth Day, formerly called Arbor Day, is celebrated on April 22.
Spring manifests itself in a big way in April, so the entire month has come to
be known as Earth Month. During this month, you can learn more about geology
and earth science with these environmental films and movies about ecology.
Explore earth-safe and not-so-earth-safe practices. Discover how local habits
have global impacts.
"Crude: The Real Price of Oil" (2009): In
"Crude" filmmaker Joe Berlinger profiles the "Amazon
Chernobyl" case, in which 30,000 indigenous Ecuadorean Rain Forest
inhabitants took on oil mogul, Chevron. This film won several dozen awards
including Best Green Film and Best Documentary. This film resonates with oil
spill victims and those who oppose Big Oil.
"The Cove" Louie Psihoyos
goes behind-the-scenes with a camera team to uncover atrocities wrought by the
Japanese fishing industry. Psihoyos captures rare, secret footage of dolphin
slaughter and harmful mercury poisoning oceans, waterways and the ecosystem.
The Cove won an Oscar for Best Documentary and the Sundance Film Festival Audience
Award. Parents and teachers should view "The Cove" before showing the
film to children. Graphic scenes of dolphin slaughter may be too disturbing for
children under 12.
"Blackfish" This documentary exposed abuse of orca "killer whales" at SeaWorld and other animal amusement parts. It tells the story of Tilikum, a captive orca whale who killed his trainer.
"Soylent
Green" (1973): In the style of Aldous Huxley's "Brave New
World," Richard Fleischer's science fiction thriller explores a future
world in which the population explosion is depleting all the world's food
sources. Scientists discover a mysterious miracle food and call it
"soylent green." No one knows what it's made from, nor cares so long
as it fills hungry bellies. Then a reporter discovers the horrible truth.
"No Impact Man" (2009): This
chronicles a family that transitions from a fast-paced New York City consumer
lifestyle to become the perfect green family. Their goal is to leave zero
carbon footprint and no environmental impact for one year. Colin Beaven is the
"No Impact Man."
"Dirty Business: Clean Coal and the Battle for our Energy
Future" (2009): In this documentary film, the Center for Investigative
Reporting demonstrates the dangers inherent in a world addicted to coal power.
