Marilyn Burrell
The friendly face that goes with the friendly voice at Maritime Conference AVEL

AVEL VIDEOS ON THEMES
OF ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
AND GLOBAL ACTIVISM

CANARY IN A COALMINE

The video is divided into two segments. Part one examines the effects on the small Pacific Islands of over-logging, over-fishing and climate change caused primarily by large industrialized countries. Part two looks at church involvement in climate change programs initiated by the World Council of Churches including the 1996 petition campaign. (32 minutes)

GLOBAL MARKETPLACE (THE)

From the series, The Global Generation, is about the benefits of globalization. It features companies around the world which incorporate both a business sense and a social conscience by use of such ingredients as ethical investment policies and corporate codes of conduct. Features information about the Citizens Bank of Canada. (25 minutes)

FAITHFUL EARTHKEEPING: CHURCH AS A CREATION AWARENESS CENTER (90 min) (by Marva J. Dawn (Author)

A 3-part video series designed to help congregations learn about the issues related to the care of God's creation. Part 1 provides a biblical and theological foundation. Part 2 describes seven provisions and seven degradations of creation. Part 3 challenges congregations to take action as earth keepers in their communities.

GLOBAL NEIGHBOURHOOD (THE)

From the series, The Global Generation, is about what can happen with globalization of activism. It examines what can happen when non-governmental organizations (NGOs) from around the world join forces on such issues as foreign debt, the environment and international trade. (25 minutes)

GLOBAL WARMING: HOT TIMES AHEAD

This environmental resource discusses the causes and potential effects of global warming. It offers practical short-term and long-term solutions for industry and individuals to help conserve energy and develop new sources of energy. The video presents what can often be dry information in an interesting and entertaining style.(23 minutes)

KEEPING THE EARTH

This video offers religious and scientific perspectives on the environment and calls us to be good stewards of the earth. (27 minutes)

THE LIVING LAND (27 minutes)

Over many years, our methods of growing food have become ever more mechanized and complex. At the same time, we've lost millions of acres of good soil to pollution, erosion, and an ever-growing population. But there is a new awareness of the need to change our perceptions about how we grow our food and how we treat the land. Four individuals on the frontier of this effort—John Jeavons, Wes Jackson, restaurateur Alice Waters, and organic farmer Mas Masumoto—share their insights in this moving video narrated by Peter Coyote.. Closed captioned.

ONE (10 minutes)

Music, images, and a few brief words blend harmoniously to inspire a profound sense of the interdependence and interconnectedness of all life. Useful for worship, or to spark discussion on environmental issues.

RISING WATERS

Global Warming and the Fate of the Pacific Islands: Puts a personal face on the already noticeable effects of rising water levels in the South Pacific island nations of Samoa, Kiribati and the Marshall Islands. The climate change caused by the effects of increased pollution has already resulted in rising temperatures and an increase in violent and damaging storms. In the video we see the disappointing results of efforts to have polluting nations reduce their contributions to this problem. We are shown how even the island of Manhattan in New York already is suffering damage. (60 minutes)

SACRED LAND, SCARRED LAND

Stories of tragedy and courage relating to the exploitation of traditional lands of Aboriginal peoples including the Lubicon in Alberta, the Embera Katio in Colombia, the Nuer in Sudan, and the people of Marinduque, Philippines. (28 minutes) (There is a shorter version of the video - 18 minutes - also available)

A SENSE OF PLACE (28 minutes)

What is the appropriate relationship between humans and the whole living system? That's the question explored by author and bioregionalist Kirkpatrick Sale, biologist John Todd, writer and editor Nancy Jack Todd, Grammy Award-winning musician Paul Winter, and community innovator Jeff Bercuvitz in this compelling videotape. A winner of the Worldfest Houston International Film Festival, this program is narrated by Susan Sarandon.

SOMETHING IN THE AIR

Prince Edward Island, a rural paradise and a safe haven from the city. But is this image really a mirage? Filmmaker Sylvie Dauphinais discovered that living in paradise comes at a heavy cost: the health of her son. He and many of the children on the Island can’t catch their breath. PEI has the highest rate of hospital admissions for asthma in Canada. The last twenty years has seen a 700% increase in the use of pesticides, leaving an invisible cloud of poisons in the air. This documentary is a wake-up call about an environmental crisis. (25 mins)

SPIRIT CONNECTION: May 9, 2001

This video of The United Church’s television program contains: - a report on the church’s involvement in the People’s Summit of the Americas held in Quebec City, in keeping with the United Church’s long standing commitment to working in solidarity with national and global partners to lift up causes of human rights and sustainable development. (9 minutes) - Story from SACRED LAND, SCARRED LAND (see separate video) of the Embera Katio indigenous nation of Colombia - a people who are struggling for their lives. For the "people of the water and the land", a way of life and true existence is swiftly being destroyed by exploitation, development and military forces. (8 minutes)

TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE

The NGOs This video portrays the wide opportunities available for those who join with a Non-Governmental Organization to help make a difference in issues that confront global society. (13 minutes)

TURNING DOWN THE HEAT

This video, narrated by David Suzuki, is subtitled, ‘The New Energy Revolution’. It looks at the crisis of global warming and offers ideas for renewable energy and energy conservation as economically viable solutions to climate change. Examples of these alternative sources of power are highlighted. (49 minutes) VC0938

THE UNFOLDING STORY (29 minutes)

Scientists, authors, religious leaders, native people, and other visionaries relate the story that is now unfolding of an interconnected, interdependent, living universe. Featured are Thomas Berry, Elisabet Sahtouris, David Suzuki, E. O. Wilson, Miriam MacGillis, Charlene Spretnak, John B. Cobb, Audrey Shenadoah, and others. Narrated by Mike Farell. WTO: In Whose Hands? What is the World Trade Organization? Case studies, explanations, and questions regarding World Trade Organization decisions, sanctions, and effects both positive and negative. This video helps us understand the language of the debate, and to engage in the issues. (28 minutes) VC0991

WATER FOR PEOPLE AND NATURE (11 mins)

(Forum held in Vancouver, BC July 5-8, 2001) Who’s after our water? Faced with the relentless push by the world’s largest water companies and organizations like the WB and the IMF, many activists from around the world began to see that they needed a forum where they could exchange information and strategies to fight the globalization of the earth’s water. Organized by the Council of Canadians’ Blue Planet Project, 1000 experts and activists from over 40 countries gathered in Vancouver, BC in 2001, and …committed to empowering communities to demand that the earth’s water be protected as part of our global commons.

WATER: SACRED AND PROFANED

Explore the sacred nature of this precious gift along with author Linda Hogan, Poet Laureate Robert Hass, authors Susan Zwinger and Colin Fletcher, scientist Jennifer Greene, and poet David Whyte. Peter Coyote narrates this beautiful program about the most abundant and fundamental part of nature. Music by David Foster. (27 minutes)