Green groups present film series

Transition Sonoma Valley, and the Earth Care Committee of First Congregational Church, are collaborating for a three-month film series beginning with the showing of “Open Sesame” on Thursday, September 18, at 7:30 p.m., at Burlingame Hall.

Each film begins at 7:30, followed by informal conversation to encourage community dialogue and engagement. Refreshments will be provided. A suggested donation of $10 will be collected at the door and no one will be turned away regardless of ability to contribute.

Net proceeds will cover fees connected with the films and support the work of the sponsors. All films will be shown at Burlingame Hall, located at 252 West Spain Street on the campus of First Congregational Church and Congregation Shir Shalom. Doors will open at 7 p.m.

“Open Sesame (the Story of Seeds),” opened on Earth Day this year and is being screened under special license in various communities across the country. “Open Sesame” reveals how one of the world’s most precious resources is at risk and most people don’t know that it is happening or what to do. This groundbreaking film will help others learn what is at stake and what can be done to protect the source of nearly all our food – seeds. Cittaslow Sonoma Valley will join as a sponsor of this film.

The second film, “Damnation,” to be shown on October 16, explores the sea change in national attitude, from pride in big dams as engineering wonders, to the growing awareness that our own future is bound to the life and health of our rivers. Dam removal has moved beyond the fictional Monkey Wrench Gang to go mainstream. Where obsolete dams come down, rivers bound back to life.

The final film, “Starfish Throwers,” which premiered at the 2014 Sonoma International Film Festival, will show on November 20. This hopeful documentary tells the tale of three remarkable individuals and the unexpected challenges they face in their efforts to feed the poor. Despite being constantly reminded that hunger is far too big for one person to solve, they persevere and see the impact ripple further than their individual actions.

The Earth Care Committee of First Congregational Church exists to increase awareness about our interaction with the natural world and its consequences, create venues for discussion about environmental issues, solutions and alternatives, focus collective and individual actions to transform our society’s unsustainable practices and inspire advocates and activists to protect and restore our local and global environment.

Transition Sonoma Valley is building a responsive network of local citizens, groups and businesses to create a resilient, self-reliant community in response to the challenges of climate change, peak oil and economic instability. For more information about the worldwide Transition Movement, and to learn out about TSV’s upcoming films and activities, visit transitionsonomavalley.org or find TSV on Facebook.

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