69th Venice film festival: green carpet for the greenest movie of the year

 
by Annalisa Tancredi

There’s nothing better than a long-shot by Sergio Leone to represent the endless beauty of wild nature, or a scene of Into the wild to describe the intimate and primitive connection between man and nature. The cinematographic language is perfect to tell so many elements about relationship between man and environment and that’s why during 69th Venice film festival will make its debut The Green Drop Award, born to foster greater environmental awareness among authors and spectators.

The Green Drop Award is organized by Green Cross Italy and Venice City and is a prize for the best movie that “realize ecology values and sustainable development, with attention to the Planet and its ecosystem safeguards for future generations, to lifestyle and cooperation between peoples”. An excellent jury, composed by the director Ermanno Olmi (president), the actress Claudia Cardinale (godmother), the director Ugo Gregoretti, the producer Franco Iseppi, the actress Anita Kravos and the environmental educator Caterina Dezuanni, will meet on Friday 7th September to nominate the winner among 18 movies in competition. The best movie will receive the prize, a green drop glass made with Venetian glass by master Simone Cedenese, in which is preserved an handful of soil symbolizing “rich soil in which future generations will reconcile development and ecology”. Each year the soil will come from a different country and for 2012 edition it has been chosen Brazil, where Rio+20 Onu Conference took place. 

"Cinema is entertainment, but like all fairy tales or the great literature, watching a movie or reading a novel is an identification of ourselves with the stories characters. Highlight the ecological values of a movie means, in the middle of the ecological crisis and climate change, to teach something to the audience without rhetoric instruments - said Marco Gisotti, director of the Green Drop Award and author of the documentary "Cinema & Environment" on RAI History (Science Dixit Cycle). And he said, about the influence of the cinema on the collective imagination: "Movies have a strong evocative power. I’m thinking about 70’s and the effect of a movie like "The China Syndrome" which exposed the risks of nuclear power. It was prophetic because a week after the release of the film happens the accident at the nuclear power plant in Three Mile Island. Another example is given by the movie "Into the wild" or by Ermanno Olmi’s films, or Werner Herzog and even by "Avatar", perhaps the most popular eco-cinema in recent years. Watching films like those ones not only means to have a good movie, but to learn something more about nature, ecology and cooperation between people". 

So this year there’s a long green carpet at the Venice Film Festival ready to welcome the greenest film. Finally, to use the words of Mikhail Gorbachev - Nobel Peace Prize and founder of Green Cross International - "The creation of this award will help directors, writers and actors to become ambassadors of a message of hope for the future of all humanity ".

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Green alternatives to the usual gym

by Anna de Polo

It cannot be said that Londoners don’t have imagination, when it comes to create new trends. Even when these involve keeping fit in an alternative way, combining physical activity and respect of the environment. So why not taking inspiration from them, if we have some weight to work off after Christmas, but the gym is not for us? Here are a couple of suggestions.Last summer along the Tames the new trend of pop-up cycle-in cinemas has spread over.

And what is it? Nothing that complex, in fact. The pop-up cinemas aren’t a novelty: if you have ever heard about them it’s because until yesterday they used to be called outdoor cinemas. Actually sometimes they are indoor, but in any case they are temporary, nomad if you like. Drive-in cinemas are a remembrance of the Fifties: maybe you have never been in one of them, but for sure you have seen them in some movie. So, imagine a drive-in, just with bikes instead of cars. But this is not all, because once arrived to the place by your bike you stay on it and, after having hooked it to the rack and connected to a mini-generator, you keep on cycling, turning into a kind of human dynamo. The energy produced in this way is used to project the film.

Adam Walker, of Magnificent Revolution, the organization that set up the first cycle-in cinemas, said: “We wanted to create Fifties-style drive-in cinema, but powered by bikes. We've done it on a smaller scale, but it was a lot of work. With 20 bikes everyone should be able to pedal gently”.

For whom interested in building up his own pedal-powered generator, so then he can produce energy while cycling at home, the no-profit organization Low Impact Living Initiative (LILI) offers two days courses at its base, a co-op housed in a Victorian mansion outside Winslow, Buckinghamshire.

Another alternative to the usual gym, which combines outdoor activities and love for nature, are the Green Gyms. They are work sessions lasting around half a day, during which you are guided in many different activities, ranging from horticulture to gardening. In a relaxed atmosphere, which encourages socializing (much more than in a normal gym), you have the opportunity to improve you practical skills, keep health and fit and contribute to the conservation of the local surroundings.

Probably it’s not by chance that what is “green” often intersects stimulating and funny activities that imply imagination, creativity and the ability to think outside of the box. If we make an effort to overcome physical and mental laziness, which often anchor us to the everyday grey routine, we can easily improve the quality of our life, as well as the one of the environment.

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Earth’s future in a cartoon’s own hands

by Annalisa Tancredi

Ecology? A child of five years could be better educated than an adult, but thanks an Italian cartoon rather than Public Instruction: “2 friends for Earth”, co-produced by Rai Fiction and Union contact. The author is Marco Gisotti, journalist and environment communication expert: «I wrote this cartoon with all my passion - said the writer, author of a recent successful book titled “Guide to green Jobs” – but by now the production is at a standstill, despite RAI has appreciated it very much».

“2 friends for Earth” is addressed to 4-8 years old children and it’s aimed at promoting educational and training topics in a friendly way, supporting a sustainable and respectful way of life.

Pietro and Raimondo are two inseparable friends. Pietro is a 10 years old curious and muddler dreamer, fascinated by nature. Raimondo is the ecology-skilful man from the future, came to earth from 3000 A.D. to examine the old XXI century, which was lush and prosperous but caused the most environmental troubles.

The future-coming man explains the children, without any catastrophism, methods and solutions to preserve the Earth: using solar energy, recycle “4 R” rules, biodiversity conservation and resource saving.

This funny cartoon tries to raise a brand new awareness among young and adult people, in order to force them to get aware of the economic-social needed changes.

In 2008 RAI TRE broadcast thirteen episodes, than the project got stuck. «We wanted to perform 26 episodes, it’s a pity the series have not been financed yet, despite their success» said Mario Cavazzuti, Union Contact’s TV and Cinema Department Director.

Who missed the series can find it (in Italian) on the internet: www.rai.tv.

Last year a special episode has been directed for the "Frutta nella scuola” (Fruits in schools)" ministerial campaign. Click here to watch a part of it.

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Environment has a lead role in Milano

by Eleonora Anello

Milano Film Festival, in its sixteenth edition, decided to concentrate on environment protection trying to lower its impact on the hosting urban surroundings. There will be ten days of screenings dedicated to raise awareness on environment issues.

Many movies and many themes will be covered. The first one is “water”, in collaboration with CAP Holding, a public company that is in charge of the water system in 230 municipalities in Lombardia.For the second year, they have built up a “water’s house” in Piazza del Cannone and two water nozzles nearby the refreshment stands in order to deliver sparkling and still tap water without any transportation impact. The aim of the campaign is to request people not to consume plastic bottles and glasses. On every eco-glass and flask you can find the campaign slogan: “I drink tap water”.

«Milano Film festival’s care on environment combines with water public companies efforts to promote a sustainable employment of water – Alessandro Ramazzotti, CEO of CAP Holding explains – Put water at people’s disposal, in a meeting place such as a cinema festival, is an attempt to enhance tap water’s quality and to invite citizens not to waste it».

On the waste side, thanks to Amsa, a separate refuse collection system including paper, plastic and cans has been activated. If someone is not sure about the correct delivering of garbage can ask the Legambiente volunteers for help.

Milano Film Festival is also official partner of CiAI, the National Consortium for aluminum waste Recovery and Recycle. Cristina Gabetti – TV journalist and newscaster – will officiate a panel that will award the CiAI Prize for Environment to the best movie on environmental issues and sustainable development.

Lastly, landscapes will be protagonist in the “FAI il tuo film” contest. Italian Environment Fund (FAI) wants to enhance the best Italian places using cinema, part of its well-established campaign called “I luoghi del cuore”.

What else? Enjoy a sustainable view!

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The drama and the fight against asbestos between cinema and the web

by Eleonora Anello

3000 deaths among former workers and ordinary citizens. 20 years in prison each requested by the prosecutor Raffaele Guariniello charged to the senior executives of the multinational Eternit, accused of "intentional disaster and lack of safety measures and precautions". This is the tragic story of one of the greatest environmental crimes at the hands of an industry that knew but kept quiet in the name of profit.

Those of us who take care of daily environmental communication have been very impressed by the fervour and the social cohesion arisen, after 30 years of silence, among the population of the affected areas.

In the intense wish of justice that meanders among the public opinion, art, in its various forms, plead the case, especially since there was the certainty that there are civilian casualties involved, meaning people that have never set foot in 63 Oggero Street, the base of Eternit in Casale. It has thus been seen an unprecedented explosion in information and communication, with the hope that the issue would have gained the proper visibility. And so it was.

One of the pieces most appreciated by audiences and critics is Polvere (dust), whose central theme is the asbestos,. The video-documentary by Niccolò Bruna and Andrea Prandstraller was awarded 2 prizes at the International Festival of Cinemambiente and, in recent days, one prize at the Euganea Film Festival.

The documentary film has drawn by “Asbestos in the dock”, a social networking project born in parallel and operated by Niccolò Bruna for the Association of Asbestos Victims (Afeva) of Casale Monferrato, aiming at highlighting all the heritage of information generated by research and enhancing and extending the message of the international civil battle. «The history of the process is a collective story - the author explains - a story where many people contribute to information and, through their narrative, complement the story. The pristine idea was to make a weekly report about the process and also to collect useful information for the documentary. In a short time, Asbestos in the dock was able to mobilize people who would not have been reached by the mainstream media, because their coverage is limited to the highlights of the process. Internet not only has been instrumental in helping to spread beyond the Italian borders the information needed to keep alive the international mobilization (on 2009 April 6th, the first day of the hearing, many foreign associations were present) but it has also encouraged the participation of the members. Thanks to the web there is indeed the possibility that a different kind of information will reach a better quality and a higher coverage than traditional media. The strength of the project is that it deals with a very specific and local issue; however, that attracts global interest. The media look at the spectacular side and not at the substantial one, but in Turin there is a process that can become a milestone for the issue of corporate social responsibility: it is a symbolic issue even more important than the process itself».

To repeat the eloquent words of the three prosecutors who are handling the case in Turin, it is a "huge disaster" that sees “as main allegorical accused asbestos", but whose devastating effects on workers and citizens are due to the conscious conduct of the two accused, which for years has been based on a single vile and despicable strategy: the non-communication of risks.
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An indigestible apple

by Irene Gozellino



What did you have for breakfast? Did you enjoy the orange juice? Did the cheap and tasty yogurt from the discount satisfy you?
Where all this food came from? If the oranges weren´t from Sicily and the yogurt wasn´t made in the nearest dairy farm, be aware that what happens at the end of the video “Der Apfel” (the Apple) could be your destiny.

Der Apfel is one of the videos made for the “Internationale Sommeruniversität” (the International Summer University), which is hold annually in Karnitz, in the German region of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.

The Summer University takes place simultaneously in Chile and in Germany, as part of a project that aims at the development of audiovisual and verbal competences as well as at the decrease of the “digital gap” among nations. The subjects of the audiovisual products are renewable energies and energy efficiency.

Joachim Borner is the scientific director of KMGNE, Kolleg für Management und Gestaltung nachhaltiger Entwicklung gGmbH (The College for the Management and Design of the Sustainable Development), the Berlin body from which the Sommer University was born.

Why a partnership with Chile?
«This partnership with Chile comes from a history of friendship (date back at the time of Pinochet). It is a friendship with also a political connotation: with Gregory Cohen (director), Carlos Flores (director), Juan Pablo Orrego (alternative Nobel prize), Antonio Elisalde (sociologist), Raul Sohr (journalist), Gabriel Sanhueza (journalist) etc. We sustain each other through mutual encouragement and advice. This is the first reason of our friendship. The second one is the function of Chile as a transfer within Latin America. Starting from Chile, many ideas of participation and sustainable development spread among neighbouring countries. The coherence between ideas and actions is much stronger than in Europe, especially in Germany».

Participants come from different countries and also have various backgrounds. However they were able to shoot, within a very short time, effective and high-quality audio-visual products. In your opinion, how can they find a common way of thinking?
«It doesn’t always happen that, in such a short period of time, diversity becomes reciprocal understanding, through the exchange of ideas, but this is the final goal and it must be pursued. The transformations caused by climate change are quick, so we do not have much time. We therefore have to develop competences that enable us to communicate in an intercultural environment. We would like to understand each other (1. criterion) and to do so by using specific questions, supervisions etc. Developing a common language means working together on the message that is to be communicated (2. criterion). All cultural differences are taken into account – if that does not work, there will be, at that stage, no message».

To find what kind of messages and which new language have been developed by the students of the last Sommer University, take a look at the dedicated canal.
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AICA PRIZE 2011 guest of Cinemambiente

by Silvia Musso

Sunday June 5th, during the Cinemambiente International Festival closing evening, the AICA Prize 2011 has been given, confirming the collaboration between AICA association and the Festival itself.

The prize is divided into three categories: “Communicating with citizens improves environment”, the Special Prize “Communicating the Kyoto Protocol” and the Career Prize “Beppe Comin”. The first category focuses every year on a different topic that this year is “Communicating the forests”.

The winners of the three categories awarded at the Massimo Cinema in Turin were:

INTERNATIONAL FOREST FILM FESTIVAL a festival organized by United Nations Forest Forum in occasion of the International Year of Forests 2011;

MINISTÈRE DE L’ÉCOLOGIE ET DU DÉVELOPPEMENT DURABLE for the campaign “Il n’ya pas de petits gestes quand on est 60 millions à les faire” (“There are no small acts if we are 60 milions to do them”) aimed at promoting among the citizenship the environmental policy of the French government;

PIERO ANGELA, science avisers and well known Italian television character.

On behalf of the United Nations Forum on Forests, the Director Ms. Jan L. McAlpine received the Prize. After explaining how the Festival idea developed claimed: «It is only thanks to the support of public that events like this can succeed. When we launched the idea of the International Forest Film Festival did not think it would the participation of over 160 films and that the public interest would be so wide. This is a sign that among the public there is a widespread environmental awareness that we must continue to grow».

For the French Ministry was present instead Jacques Faye, General Director of the prevention of major risks, which stated: «The Ministry of Ecology and Sustainable Development is a large container that deals with various issues. The main objective of this campaign as well as many others that we have fostered over the past few years, is to make environmental communication also public and institutional. That is why our campaigns are increasingly addressed to the whole citizenship and use the national media such as radio and TV».

Roberto Cavallo, President of AICA, taking the slogan of the French Ministry campaign - There are not small things if we have millions of people to do them - reminded, finally, the next important event in Italy on June 12th in which all citizens are asking to take part: the vote for the referendum on nuclear power and public water, two environmental issues that were two of the main themes of the 2011 International Festival of Cinemambiente.
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Cinemambiente between nuclear energy and water privatisation

by Silvia Musso

It took place on Friday, May 20 the press conference to launch the fourteenth edition of the International Festival of Cinemambiente, the most important festival in Italy dedicated to environmental issues, directed by Gaetano Capizzi and organized in collaboration with the Museo Nazionale del Cinema in Turin.

The press conference, hosted by the Museo Nazionale of Cinema, had as usual a large audience. The institutions present - Piedmont Region, Province and Municipality of Turin - have highlighted the importance of this event for the whole area.

Cinemambiente is not limited to a few days, but it is a real project that covers the entire year thanks to the many activities coordinated with local governments and schools.

Then Gaetano Capizzi presented the meaning of the graphic line of the poster for this edition. This is an origami crane, animal that in Japanese symbolism means "Best wishes for a speedy recovery". During the days of the festival, which takes place from May 31 to June 5, there will be colored sheets and instructions for creating these origami. Once collected, they will be sent to Japan with the most sincere hope that the Japanese people can recover as soon as possible from the nuclear tragedy that has recently affected them.

The opening film of the festival, which will be screened simultaneously in the three Cinema Massimo halls at 9.00 p.m., 31st May, will be "Waste Land ", 2011 Oscar nominee for Best Documentary. "Waste Land", directed by Lucy Walker, with the help of Harley and Karen João Jardim. describes the work of Vik Muniz, a contemporary artist, South American native, who creates his works using discarded materials and waste. Through a story of social redemption, the camera will closely monitor, without judgments, the world of "pickers", those who make a direct "recycling" of waste in the slums of large cities and bidonville in South America.

Among other films that will be presented, many of which have nuclear energy or the issue of water privatization as their main theme, there are also the Finnish "Into Eternity" about the storage and disposal of radioactive waste and "También la Lluvia "(Even the rain) - a complaint about the water war involving Bolivia in 2000.

At the competition there will be also many films from Italy and Piedmont, firstly "Dust" by Niccolò Bruna and Andrea Prandstraller dedicated to the problem of asbestos that has struck the Italian town of Casale Monferrato in north Italy.

«Over the years the festival has steadily grown its position as one of the largest environmental film events on the international scene - said Gaetano Capizzi - CinemAmbiente is also the first zero emissions festival: CO2 emissions produced during the Festival are in fact compensated, its products are made with recycled and FSC certified materials. The Festival has also joined the protocol of Agenda 21 on the purchase of environmentally sustainable materials».

Also this year has been the collaboration between AICA and its member Cinemambiente has been confirmed. On June 5th, in the final evening of the Festival, it will be also organized the annual AICA Prize now in its eighth edition.

The AICA Prize rewards those who, through communication campaigns, brings environmental problems to the attention of citizens, helping to create a consciousness and an environmental culture.

The Award is divided into three categories: “Communicating with citizens, improve environment”, Special Prize "Communicating the Kyoto Protocol" and the Career Prize "Beppe Comin”. Every year the first category focuses on a specific theme that this time will be "Communicating the forests”.
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Under construction

by Francesca Maio

"For a long time I just look at these buildings with sorrow, without explanations by the newspapers, let alone by television .. Was I the only one to have noticed it? Was it just my problem?"

This is Maurizio Bongioanni’s speech, author with Fabio Valle of the documentary Under Construction, but these could be the words of each of us, witnesses to a silent reality, hard to listen although it is daily; Under Construction is the mouthpiece of this chorus to fill the empty space of misinformation by the mainstream media in which news is increasingly difficult to find ourselves.

So the documentary is coming, streamed on http://vimeo.com/23197137, and it becomes conscious communication; main character of the investigation is the brick, the logic of cement, which speculates on the soil of Italy ever 'under construction'. Districts, cities, municipalities, are perceived as a construction sites, a bitter reality shared by every citizen, often not aware that the soil is a nonrenewable resource, limited, an endangered heritage.

'Under Construction' gives voice to the alternative to “ongoing city” making explicit the problem of speculative overbuilding in Italy, with interviews to Gino Scarsi and Alessandro Mortarino we review the birth of the environmental opinion movement of “Stop land consumption”. Leader group of the widespread feeling on the subject now it counts 22,891 members, including prominent names such as the Slow Food President Carlo Petrini and the meteorologist and climatologist Luca Mercalli.

It’s culture the engine that stops urban sprawl, the culture of administrators, of municipal engineers, of citizens who thinking collectively and evaluating costs and benefits they may actually find virtuous solutions to plan the future. Successful examples in support of this thesis come from the province of Milan: the municipality of Cassinetta Lugagnano which since 2002 has decided to adopt a zero-growth plan, focusing on the recovery of existing buildings than on the expansion and the town of Corbetta, whose plan expects a minimum grow, about 0.2%, in a province of the most built-up.

The docuvideo is part of an extraordinary event, the “White Night”: on Saturday, May 14th from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m., the historic center of Alba will be the framework for culture with open spaces that host book launches, workshops and debates. Protagonists are the libraries, the Library "G. Ferrero and the Museum "F. Eusebio " " in the hope- as the Head of Culture and Tourism Paola Farinetti says - of bringing people to books, literature and culture in a joyful, festive, different, new way to enliven the city. We hope that this edition will be the first in a long series".

To resume the voices, images and testimonies of Under Construction, we must react to continue to recognize our sites. More...

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Bag It: our life is too plastic

by Irene Gozellino

It´s a big fortune that the Pacific Ocean is the biggest Ocean on Earth. It´s a big fortune that it covers about 46% of the Earth's water surface and about one-third of its total surface area. Otherwise where can we put the Great Pacific Garbage Patch? Also described as the Pacific Trash Vortex, is a gyre of marine litter in the central North Pacific Ocean. Recent research suggests the affected area may be twice the size of Texas, and is characterized by exceptionally high concentrations of pelagic plastics.

This is one of the tragic realities that are drived Suzan Beraza, director, and Jeb Berrier, central figure, to shoot “Bag It – Is your life too plastic?”

Bag It is a documentary: its protagonist is Jeff and his daily relationship with plastic. The educational impact of the documentary, with its technical quality, is based on the fact that Jeff defines himself like a common man with a common sense of environment; a man that turns off the light if nobody is in the room, that uses the bicycle for short distance etc. We can all identify with Jeff.

Jeff tells, in the Bag It - blog, his schock and amazement knowing the enormous use of plastic bags in his country, the USA. During the filming, Jeff and his wife discovered to be expecting a baby, so the fear about the future makes the documentary more inspiring.

Bag It, after winnings of a dozen of prizes, became a permanent campaign: the Bag It site, really good made and captivating, offers tool kits with, step by step, all the instructions to become a Bag It town or a Bag It school, or to organize a public projection. For every problem connected to plastic, useful links are signalized.

The online shop offers dvd of the documentary, reusable bags and canteens (never again plastic bottles...only tap water).

Otherwise Bag It is really funny; it makes entertainement about one of ours many addictions: we bag everything. We bag a single apple, we bag a coat. We bag even the sea. More...

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The eco-film that comes from the web

by Eleonora Anello

Itali@mbiente is the new project of Avoicomunicare, Telecom Italy's blog dedicated to dialogue and exchange on issues crucial to the future of society. At the heart of discussions between users and experts: the environment and sustainable development, the balance between possible worlds and cultures, integration, peace-building. The active community, always at the center of attention of Telecom, is working to make the first documentary produced, written and directed entirely by the network.

That is Mario Tozzi’s idea, geologist and known science popularizer, who is the curator and the guarantor of the scientific activity as well as the person in charge, with the Avoicomunicare team, of the structuring and contributions from the network.Each user can in fact make his contribution on a topic, also selected by the community, which is the environmental discomfort in all its meanings. Specifically, so any reporter can be dedicated to the consumption of soil, or biodiversity, urban traffic, industrial plants or waste.

Anyone who wants to denounce some situations but not necessarily alarming risk to the environment, can avail themselves of the instruments and the reputation by a big telecommunications company and the cooperation of all those who wish to join the work group. What is expressed in the Manifesto of the project, the aim is to document in a scientific way, coming to build a rational map, the environmental problems in Italy. The intention is not merely a complaint. It will also give voice to positive examples of ecological conversion.

You can send any kind of contribution: video, photographs, drawings and written or spoken texts. Particular attention will be given to the documentation of the past.

Participants will be received a special box with the DVD documentary and a small space in the project web site in which to present them.

To participate in the implementation of eco-film, every environmental reporter can also be presented directly on the site where you can view the papers already submitted and which contribute to the selection.

The film will be launched on June 5th, 2011, World Environment Day. Initially it will be distributed on the Internet circuit, downloaded or streamed, only then will land in cinema and television.

We are curious to see Itali@biente, a collaboration network. We believe that the dissemination of information would be a preferred instrument to achieve positive goals in the environmental field too.
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The children and WWF to protect species at risk

by Paolo Ghiga

"Power to children!" was the motto of Scrappy-Doo, grandson of the famous Scooby-Doo, cartoon of the Hanna and Barbera company: United for the environment, the new project thought by WWF to engage primary school children in the fight for the preservation of nature, has been born, let’s say, under this motto.

With the release of the film Animals United, which sees protagonist all animals traveling to reach the table of the World Conference for the environment and to require the heads of State of the various Nations final action for the protection of the ecosystem hit by man.

The project, presented on 13 January in Rome and with the possibility to participate until February 28th, envisages that a screenplay as graphic or literal, based on environmental issues contained in a special information kit specially created for children by the organizers.

A jury of experts of world cinema will choose the winning screenplay that World TV will use to create a cartoon distributed on DVD. Note that the proceeds will be donated to WWF as the Fund for the implementation of measures of protection of animal and plant species risk extinction. In the meantime held two previews beneficial in Rome and Milan, on Sunday 16 January, whose proceeds was donated to the project of preservation of WWF 20 species for a living planet; United's godmother for the environment is the actress Gabriella Pession.

Interesting observations from Fulco Pratesi, Honorary President of WWF Italy: he explained that the initiative is particular and unique and frees the imagination of kids, feeds their sense of responsibility on a sensitive subject and makes them satisfied of bringing a real contribution to the cause of the species most at risk.

The President wants to underline that children and young people have always been an important resource and an excellent ally of WWF, the battle for the conquest of the oasis of Monte Arcosu Park, in Sardinia: at that time, to save the Sardinian deer from secure extinction was organized a sale of stamps by hundreds of enthusiastic teens.

Pratesi broadens the horizon of the project then, looking at all those people who live with endangered species and that is precisely why living in the same situations of exploitation of habitats and resources.

Now more than ever, in agreement with the Honorary President of WWF, to defend species represents an investment for the new generations: they are given, as in this case, the unique opportunity to have their say on, struggling also and especially for their future.
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Stories of people of Langa

by Paolo Ghiga

Maria Teresa encountered father's winery produces wines from renowned Barolo and Nebbiolo respecting rigorously the tradition, but, in his heart, after a degree in foreign languages and literatures believed he could live by another; Silvio, abandon his profession, a well-paid, Tiler to produce traditional cheeses in a little village in the Hill, where he moved his family and 50 sheep and finally Mauro, a former tram depot of the big distribution after dismissal decides to produce and sell handmade artisan pasta. There are three stories of life in precarious balance between "normal" and "extremism", independent of one another but United in telling a common territoriality, the Langhe, universally recognized beauty scenery.
The characters just described are the protagonists of a film initiative which, although not built on environmental bases or close militancy, manages to express concepts and invites the Viewer to reflect on the endemic problems of our society.

The author of this intriguing prospect is Paolo Casalis, an architect of Bra, director of the documentary Langhe Doc – stories of heretics in the Italy of sheds. As told us, Paolo doesn't mind, neither theoretically, or actively, environmentalism, not political or associations of any kind. In this documentary, which, remember, not everyone is a universe to 360 °, but a very personal story about his Langhe, the Director invites reflection by telling us the story of Maria Teresa, Silvio and Mauro, different in their life experiences but United by the desire, by necessity, even spiritual, to change their perspective to embark on a new path.

The goal of Casalis «not give an overview of the issues and values of a territory, but rather tell stories and raise doubts in the spectator, of applications. For this reason I chose to tell three stories in the film "extreme", stories of heretics, (heretics as he defined the journalist Federico Ferrero, ndr) of those who think and act differently. I don't care that their stories are fully carried out, or can give full answers to General questions».

The intertwining of choices and the difficulties of every rebirth is part of the environmental dimension, the light that comes from showing this splendid corner of the Earth under a different lens. This landscape, with the usual clarity and directness, the writer Giorgio Bocca, voice started to documentary, photographer: «In the short space of my long life the Italy has changed into a frightening manner. It is a fight against time, you should be able to become civilians before the disaster is complete. You should see if we still have time to save this landscape. I mostly have already destroyed ...». Own Langhe co-existence between man and nature has reached the highest summits: a land seemingly harsh, severe has granted to man to obtain wine delicacies; its vineyards are geometric perfections of an area that attract tourists throughout the year, and this is recent history, some portions of its territory are candidates to become "Unesco".

This nomination, says Casalis, «today, is a very "nebulous": it could be a great opportunity, or simply a quality label to apply to the territory». «Today - as Maria Teresa Mascarello says in the movie - are candidates for world heritage site but the cement does not stop, and even has stopped to plant vines» radical economic transformation processes and landscape, urbanization, the progressive abandonment of rural areas and certain traditional crafts, as well as the cementation, threaten to transform a large part of the Langa territories in what, in the documentary, Giorgio Bocca defines as "Italy premises”.

Built through an impeccable montage and a photograph, a motion picture research and attention are not common, "Langhe Doc" is a story to see, taste, slowly, like a glass of wine or a Maria Theresa Silvio cheese or even a handmade pasta by Mauro. The flavour of a land that goes through the work of its people. More...

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007: in the service of the environment

by Paolo Ghiga

Looking alluring and sly but decidedly so. Charming, confident, courted by women all over the world, in alternative international locations where he earns his living as a handsome actor who is committed to the environment and the social issues: of Pierce Brosnan, former James Bond, keeps very busy.

The famous Irish actor, born in County Meath and having moved to London at the age of 11 years, recently participated in the company of World Bank President Robert Zoellick, and the President of the National Geographic Global Media, Tim Kelly, in their presentation in preview of the film "Great Migrations".
More known to the general public for the four blockbusters where he portrayed as the intrepid and gloomy James Bond [GoldenEye in 1995, Tomorrow Never Dies (Agent 007 – tomorrow never dies) in 1999, The World Is Not Enough (Agent 007 – the world is not enough, 1999) and Die Another Day (Agent 007, die another day, 2002], plus many other successful films, Brosnan is also very active outside the set.

He presides over, in fact, such a foundations as for the fight against cancer, the evil that deprived him of his first wife, Cassandra, in addition to supporting key environmental causes, such as the defence of the beach in Malibu, Calif., and works with his wife Keely Shaye Smith, journalist, in Natural Resource.
Her efforts allowed him to receive the Golden Camera Award 2007 for his commitment to the environment, in addition to many other awards (including an honorary degree from the University of Cork and the honorary title of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) conferred by her Majesty the Queen).

On the occasion of the presentation of "Great Migrations", an ambitious National Geographic documentary of which required more than two years of shooting, Brosnan made a speech in the headquarters of the World Bank in Washington in front of many members of 187 delegations around the world present for the annual meetings of the institution and the International Monetary Fund.

The primary goal is to try to increase international awareness and raise awareness of the world leaders on threats to biodiversity and extinction risks. The video documents the migrations of many animal species and emphasises the swinging climate change that is changing the lives on our planet.

You can watch the projection of these images from 31 October, every Sunday evening for six episodes, plus a special on Nat Geo Wild, channel 405 of Sky, and on National Geographic Channel HD, channel 402. You will follow different migration, not broken down by species, but into themes, such as travel, food, reproduction, etc.

It is a colossal job. «It's the most ambitious project in history television group», said Steve Burns, Vice President of National Geographic.
Of course everything is not enough: it is necessary to assess and examine very carefully the countermeasures to be taken to protect the species most exposed to genocide determined by changing conditions of life.

Mission impossible? The title of this film could be: "007 and the environment: the world can't wait". Another challenge for the Irish 007, certainly the most arduous of his career. Good luck, Pierce!
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Cinemambiente: way to the thirteenth edition

by Annalisa Audino

It will be since 1st to 6th June, the first and most important Italian festival dedicated to environmental issues: Cinemambiente Festival, directed by Gaetano Capizzi and organized with the National Museum of the Cinema of Turin. Arrived at his thirteenth Edition, for the 2010 Edition, the festival moves from autumn to spring for linking in an important international event to raise awareness on issues of ecology and sustainability, The International Day for the Environment to be held on 5th June.

The review has as main objective the growth, through cinema, of the culture of the environment: screenings, debates, exhibitions, art initiatives, meetings, presentations of books and many other events intend to communicate the eclecticism of the environment and especially our role for its safeguarding. Two events, in particular, will demonstrate this year the international character of the festival: projections of No impact Man, the Italian film, preview, which tells the experiment of Colin Beavan and his family who have lived for a year to zero impact, and Mallaig, winner of best documentary Oscar 2010, on the serious danger of extinction of dolphins.

Interesting will be in any case all screenings of the Festival. The International Documentaries Competition consists of a dozen titles, including The end of the line of “Rupert Murray”, a searing document on risk of extinction of many species of fish, that became a case in England; the winner of Al Gore Reel Current Award Garbage Dreams by Ever Iskander, on "garbage people" that in Cairo collect approximately three tons of waste per day and live in a shantytown of waste; Big River man by John Maringouin, winner of the Sundance 2009, concerning the crossing of the Amazon swim of Martin Strel, said "man fish" by Indians, hero and show man in Slovenia.

The international character of the festival combines attention to Italy, with its negative cases of unauthorized alteration of the environment, but also of various experiences. The Italian documentary competition will tell some cases, such as Le White by Simona Risi, on asbestos of white houses of Rogoredo in Milan, and People of Alpes by Giovanna Poldi Allai, Sandro Nardi, Philip Lilloni, which tells instead a place where the relationship man/nature is still very strong, whose protagonist is the musician Lindo Ferretti.
The three competitions joins the section panorama: particular attention will be given to some of the cornerstone topics of festivals including the Focus on biodiversity, the Focus urban green (whose scope is presented the garden, which tells the community garden greatest of all the United States) and ambient/actions, which will host the projection of Logorama, Oscar 2010 as best short animation. Inevitable finally link with squares, that will be affected by a number of initiatives on the environment, including the 5th June Park(ing) Day, on June 6th the Bike Pride and the national gathering on guerrilla gardens, in addition to moments of literary debate.

Moreover, Envi editorial staff is glad to underline that this year into the context of Cinemambiemte Festival, the yearly AICA Prize will be also organized.
The AICA Prize, at its 7th edition, since 2004, aims to award who focus citizens’ attention on environmental issues, throughout communication campaigns, creating an environmental culture and awareness.
There are three yearly prizes: the AICA Prize “Communicating with Citizens improves the Environment”; the special prize “Communicating the Kyoto Protocol” and the Career Prize (entitled to Mr. Beppe Comin, one of the pioneers of environmental communication in Italy).
The first category focuses every year on a specific topic, that this year will be “Communicating the biodiversity”.
The award-giving ceremony is scheduled for June, 6th, 9 p.m. More...

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Our lifestyles will be "COOL" in 2030?

by Alessio Sciurpa

How to change our lifestyles in 2030? COOL - Change Of Our Life, the European Commission project operates in Germany, Italy, Greece and Latvia asking it. Five minutes film or six photographs to see how it could change daily life in relation to climate change. This is the theme of the Competition Multimedia International “Klima Clima".

The partners involved in the initiative are: Kolleg für Management und Gestaltung Nachhaltiger Entwicklung gGmbH (Germany), Foundation for Environmental Education (Latvia); Camera per la Cooperazione e Incentivo al Partenariato (Italy), Athens Network of Collaborating Experts (Greece).

“Klima clima” ask to the young participants (no more than thirty years) a photostory or an Internet movie with their vision of energy supply future, on consumption patterns of the coming decades and, more importantly, lifestyle desirable to implement an intelligent energy revolution.
The deadline for the multimedia contents is February 21, 2010.

A maximum of 150 characters will accompany the Photostory, whereas for the Internet movie is a limit of 5 minutes in any format and any device (short film, infotainment, commercials, documentary), in both cases, the products must have no more of two years.
The lack of specific technical requirements for video and the use a common language such as photography, allows to focus on environmental communication content the attention should extend to anyone participating in the contest.

Keep in mind that the works that were not in the native language of the countries that promote the project (German, Italian, Latvian and Greek) will be subtitled or translated in English, while those in the English language will have to declare which of the four countries, but only in one, intend to participate in the contest. Also this will allow participants to give their best, without having the English language limit.

The competition is divided in 2 levels, nationally and internationally, will have a first selection in each of the four countries. Subsequently, the winners of their respective national competitions will take part in international competition.

Each country will deliver a jury of filmmakers, scientists working on environmental issues and communication experts consulted in the website section Jury and Award.
From denote the site of the initiative thus becomes a vehicle for content related to climate change and institutions / organizations that, with scientific rigor, deal with it internationally. Those same organizations that often are cited in the midst of enumeration data and research, and too often confused and lumped together with reality and expressions which frankly have very little of scientific. Welcome, then better information on the work of these together, the topics relevant to the competition. In this regard, we invite you to read the original version of the article by John Tomlinson (The Michigan Mauler) Christopher Booker Prize 2009 winner, right on climate change. More...

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The hunting energy

by Alessio Sciurpa



Last month Google, the search engine accused of consuming huge amounts of electricity has recently created a subsidiary called Google Energy, in order to manage their intermediary activities, as reported by The New York Times. The Mountain View company has already sought approval from the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to buy and sell energy, and said did no have specific plans to become an energy trader and that its primary goal was to gain flexibility for buying more renewable energy for its power-hungry data centers.
Certainly the renewable energy market has undergone a substantial acceleration in the last year, which is likely to accelerate in 2010.
Hunting energy of the future is also the subject of the short film "Energy Hunter" by Albert Arizza, a little bit dated, but in recent days has been enjoying a rebound in the net.
In seven minutes, the young spanish filmmaker brings us into a future where human lives far from the planet Earth became a wasteland made up of hostile deserts and mountains covered with snow, where only the hardiest species survive.
Arizza's narration is fluid, easy and, above all, universal. The total absence of dialogue and the use of a soundtrack on which there is no need to spend words (Pink Floyd) facilitate the dissemination and understanding of the intrinsic message of the excellent Arizza's work: man, from ancient time, is continually looking for additional and more powerful sources of energy (from the steam engine, to nuclear) and therefore returns to planet Earth using its advanced technology to capture the energy of which they desperately need. Paradoxically, this energy is none other than natural origin.
The message is clear and Arizza delights us with references to quixotic and the "Spanish Golden Age”: as Don Quijote by Cervantes was a warning to the inadequacy of the intellectuals of the time to face the new times, and a metaphor for a relentless pursuit and return to a lost purity, so "Energy Hunter" wants to be a warning to us all. More...

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An animated film to explain the "sack" of the energy

by Eleonora Anello



Music and cartoons to raise awareness among children to environmental issues. “Il sacco dell’energia” ("The sack of energy") is the title of the new animated film produced by Paneberco & C, little laboratory of multimedia products in Ravenna, and sponsored by the Regione Emilia Romagna. An ecological fable that tells of renewable and energy saving with, on the background, a subtle critique of consumerism.

The tale takes place in the 80s from Daniel Panebarco’s pencil, with the scientific advice of Enzo Tiezzi, Professor of Physical Chemistry at the University of Siena. Unpublished for more than two decades, today the comic becomes a cartoon told in an ironic, yet poetic, using simple language and colourful graphics at times. The characters are distinguished by small and lively eyes. The plot, a fanciful version of “L’apprendista stregone” (The Sorcerer's Apprentice) tells the people of Wise Masters, with the hobby of creating the perfect universes and whose hat is halfway between that of David the Dwarf, on the form, and antenna of the Snorky, for the movements.

The video will be distributed on DVD made in two languages (Italian and English).
Will also develop a version in the shape of concert-show, which will be included as part of reviews theatre dedicated to children by the Orchestra Città di Ravenna Association. This event provides the narration by an actor in parallel to the projection of images and performance, by musicians instrumentalist, of the soundtrack, specially composed for the opera by Luciano Titi.
"The sack of energy", in the projects of its designers, will also become an animated film for television: it is studying the serial version of the board, consisting of 12 episodes of 20 minutes each.

Finally - as the cartoon, fun and powerful tool of communication, affects directly and has the ability to attract attention and capture the children, but is often superficial in terms of educational effectiveness- a website rich of contents is developing: from didactic cards to interactive games, useful both before and after watching the cartoon, designed to involve teachers and parents.

"The sack of energy" is currently a work-in-progress: to know how it will end is possible to connect to the site www.saccoenergia.it where from April 20th, 2010, will be available the full version. In the meantime we can "be content” with the trailer. More...

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Between theater, film and video interviews in Italy

by Alessio Sciurpa

A vast proportions campaign such EWWR found its strength in the variety of initiatives that comprise, so among the many " Molla la plastica! Azioni locali per diritti globali” (Spring the plastic! Local actions for global rights), campaign promoted by LVIA in collaboration with the Museum A come Ambiente, the theater company ITINERARIO and the Association ReAcademy Foundation. On the weekend of 28 and 29 November at the Museum A come Ambiente in Turin, will be present the campaign, which is part of a cooperation project sponsored by LVIA and other Italian partners and with the support of EU and African Union. Among the products that will be presented one spot on reducing use of plastic bags in Burkina Faso and a spot in the information campaign in Mauritania on sustainable use of plastic bags and the play "Q.B. QUANTO BASTA - stili di vita per un futuro equo” (QB - lifestyle for a future fair).

Also in Turin, at the Regional Museum of Natural Science “WasteSide Story ", an evening of fact,words and cinemaMonday 23 from 19 p.m. Start with the facts, an unusual happy hour. Then the words, a meeting between Nicola de Ruggiero, Regional Assessor for the Environment of the Piedmont Region, Luca Mercalli, meteorologist and climatologist and Roberto Cavallo, President of AICA (Steering Committee of the Italian EWWR). And finally the cinema with short animation HOW TO DESTROY THE WORLD and the Canadian documentary ADDICTED TO PLASTIC.

Wisdom on scene in Forlì (Emilia Romagna Region). Showing of video interviews made for the elderly, who tells how normal it was time to try to reuse and recover the products, in contrast to today's society where some best practices seem to have lost. Interesting idea, even as a glue for the community, the project called “C’era una volta…Testimonianze di buone pratiche” (Once upon a time...examples of good practice) by the Association Movimento consumatori – Forlì section.
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Who will pay the bill for climate change?

by Alessio Sciurpa

Interesting, entertaining and informative "The Bill", a shortfilm directed by Peter Wedel of Eco-film (Berlin), re-reads in an ironic way themes have long questioned. What is behind the development model of "developed" countries, the lightness with which we make our choices of consumption and who actually pays the consequences. Although it seems a bit rhetoric in the final part, the effect is definitely good.

Winner of last edition of Germanwatch Short Film Competition and financial support from the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, "The Bill" premiere was at the Development & Climate Day Conference and Film Festival in Bonn last June.

Scripted with simplicity and efficiency, the characters well characterized although, appears to be a good environmental communication product.

Always ironic, but certainly with more affordable aims, “Ninjiin-The Way Of The Vegetable Assassin” of the British Do the Green Thing. More...

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