Environmentalists sometimes have a reputation for dwelling on bad news. There’s no shortage of alarming statistics or gut-wrenching stories about the harm we do to each other and to the web of life. It’s not a pretty picture.
In response to what sometimes seems like endless bad news, there’s a place for anger and grief, as well as strategic action. There’s also a need for joy, celebration and rest – and that’s what Reel Green is all about.
Billed as an evening of “films, food and fun”, Reel Green will bring people together on March 7 under the theme of “Inspiring People, Celebrating Nature”.
Every year, attendees can hardly wait to see what films the selection committee has chosen. They set out looking for films to make us smile, make us laugh (last year the naked skiers had the whole place grinning ear to ear) and to make us catch our breath at the beauty of the wild, and not-so-wild places on this planet we call home.
Last year’s emcee, Ace Burpee, was a real crowd-pleaser. This year, CBC’s Trevor Dineen will have the honours.
Films have been submitted by local and international sources – more than there is time to screen in one evening. That would be considered good news.
Another committee has been busy selecting recipients for the “Anne Lindsey Protecting Our Earth” lifetime achievement award. There are so many individuals admired for their dedication to helping us all live lightly and well on this earth.
Anne Lindsey presents Dennis Cunningham with the 2014 Protecting Our Earth Award for Assiniboine Credit Union.
Past group and individual recipients have included Dr. Eva Pip, the Anishinaabe Turtle Island Protectors, the Landless Farmers Collective, Alice Chambers, David Barnes, Vicki Burns, the Harvest Moon Society and the Idle Free Girls.
Some of their stories will be more familiar than others; the whole long list of them can make one feel happy to call this particular corner of the world home.
So, while the bad news isn’t going away, we’ll have the strength as a community to face it, by getting to know each other, by building each other up and by feeling connected to nature.
Among other things, the good news is that you can still get tickets for Reel Green and support the Manitoba Eco-Network.
If you plan to attend, get ready to meet some old friends and make some new ones, at an evening of films, food and fun, on March 7 at 7 pm in the Radisson Hotel (288 Portage Ave., Winnipeg). Ticket price is $50 which includes a $25 tax receipt. Tickets are available online at http://reelgreen.brownpapertickets.com/, by phone at 1-800-838-3006, or in person at the Eco-Network office, 303 Portage Ave.
It will be an evening of films, food and fun on March 7.
Manitoba Eco-Network is one of more than 170 charitable organizations that has an Agency Fund at The Winnipeg Foundation. An Agency Fund provides a sustainable source of income for a charity. Click here to learn more about organizations with agency funds.
