City Hosts Free Eco-Film Screening on Climate Change

From the City of El Cerrito:

The City of El Cerrito Environmental Quality Committee invites the public to attend a free special screening featuring excerpts from the documentary film “Rising Waters” on Saturday, March 23 starting at 10:30 a.m. at Rialto Cinemas Cerrito, 10070 San Pablo Ave.

There will be an audience discussion with filmmaker Andrea Torrice after the film, followed by a community dialogue at Nong Thon restaurant, 10086 San Pablo Ave.

There is a $10 suggested donation to cover the cost of refreshments at the restaurant.

This free screening is presented by the City of El Cerrito Environmental Quality Committee (EQC) as part of their Eco-Film series. The Eco-Film series was developed to educate, inspire and encourage community participation in a wide range of environmental quality and sustainability issues.

Tracing the impacts of climate change from tropical islands in the Pacific to New York City, RISING WATERS: GLOBAL WARMING AND THE FATE OF THE PACIFIC ISLANDS examines international policies and the lives of those most urgently affected by the global warming debate. This special screening will include excerpts from the film, along with new footage of Hurricane Sandy.

“This film shows the importance of climate change as one of the prime environmental issues in our time,” said Paloma Pavel, Environmental Quality Committee member and event coordinator for this film screening. 

The City of El Cerrito is committed to reducing the pollution that causes global warming, also known as greenhouse gas emissions. The City is currently in the process of adopting a comprehensive “Climate Action Plan” to help guide the City and community towards reducing emissions levels to 15 percent below the 2005 emission levels by the year 2020 and 30 percent below the 2005 emission levels by 2035. 

For more information on the proposed Climate Action Plan, go online to http://www.el-cerrito.org/climateactionplan or call the City of El Cerrito Environmental Services Division at (510) 559-7685.

The event is wheelchair accessible. The event is co-sponsored by the League of Women Voters of West Contra Costa County and also supported by Earth House and Torrice Productions. For information about the event, call the City of El Cerrito Environmental Services Division at (510) 525-7601.

Event information is available on the City of El Cerrito’s website at www.el-cerrito.org/eqc/films.

About the Film:

The seven million inhabitants of the Pacific Islands have already experienced the first effects of global warming. Elevated water temperatures, violent storms and rising sea levels are beginning to destroy delicate ecosystems, forcing islanders to consider leaving their homes and communities. The problems facing the islanders serve as an urgent warning to the rest of the world.

The film includes stunning photography of the tropical Pacific Islands and an unusual tour of portions of lower Manhattan—an area that is potentially threatened by sea level rise, as demonstrated by the devastating impacts of a Nor'Easter in 1991. This special screening includes excerpts from the film along with new footage of Hurricane Sandy.

This award-winning film was directed and produced by Torrice Productions and first aired in 2000. View the film’s webpage: http://www.bullfrogfilms.com/catalog/rw.html.