The Green Team of Gibsons United Church believes that one person can make a difference.
On Oct. 2 and 3 they will hold their second annual Environmental Film Festival showing films that focus on thinking globally and acting locally. The first film, Island on the Edge by director Nick Versteeg, was made on Vancouver Island and describes the renaissance of the eating local movement. It will be facilitated by Dave Ryan and Jon Bell who are involved with the Sunshine Coast Regional District's agricultural advisory committee. It screens on Friday, Oct. 2 at 7 p.m. at the church hall and admission is $10.
The next day, Saturday, the festival opens with Addicted to Plastic, at 10 a.m. facilitated by Buddy and Barb Boyd. Admission is by donation and viewers will probably want to stick around for the Eat Local Lunch at noon. It offers three courses by Shining Sage Catering for $12 and includes a presentation by local speaker Dawn Myers. Her Backyard Bounty project promotes the concept of community supported agriculture in which people can cooperate to own a share in land that will provide them with food.
The afternoon presentation is a short film series on environmental topics starting at 2 p.m. The film Home, about planet Earth, will be shown at 7.
"It's filled with fantastic images from around the world," said organizer and Green Team chair Gayle Neilson. "Although it's a documentary it's not a lot of talking heads."
Jay Richlin from the Suzuki Foundation will preface the film.
Local environmental groups will also be on hand to tell the audience a bit about themselves.
"You can come for the whole festival or pick and choose what you want to see," said Neilson.
Theteam has developed the last few years out of social justice groups and a concern from the church about the impact of humanity on the environment.
Except for the first film on Friday and the lunch, admission is by donation. Tickets are available at Monkeychips, Gaia's Fair Trade and Hallmark Cards. Gibsons United Church is at 724 Trueman Road. See more at www.gibsonsunitedchurch.ca/gogreen.htm.
