By Stewart A. McFerran
Strategies to reverse climate change are already within our grasp, is the message of Australian filmmaker Damon Gameau in his inspiring 2019 documentary film “2040”. Area environmental organizations invite everyone to hear the film’s message of hope and resilience during a 7 p.m., April 25 free showing at the Vogue Theatre in Manistee.
The filmmaker interviews children as well as adults during his journey, one The Hollywood Reporter calls “uplifting and entertaining.”
Citizens’ Climate Lobby’s Manistee organizer Chris Riley said he “never knows what to expect,” but the last time the group hosted a film at the Vogue (for an October 2022 showing of “Kiss the Ground”), staff told him it was the largest audience they had ever seated for one of their Port City documentaries.
Organizations and local experts on hand
After the screening, audience members will hear from climate activists and local experts. All will have the opportunity to engage in discussion. Leading the conversation will be Gene Lagerquist of Spirit of the Woods Conservation Club and Jamie Vaughan of Trout Unlimited-Great Lakes.
A retired fisheries biologist himself, Chris Riley said that he and others in his field have looked at long-term data sets for weather and precipitation, and there has been an obvious increase in temperature in the last 100 years. The fact that the Great Lakes don’t ice over as much as they used to has led to all kinds of ecosystem cascades, he added.
Climate change is becoming increasingly real for U.S. residents, from condo owners whose buildings washed off the beach in Florida to cherry farmers in Western Michigan. The effects of climate change are so numerous, they can be difficult to wrap your mind around. Retired Bear Lake area farmer Bernie Ware may be able to help participants do just that during this event.
After the movie, Jamie Vaughan will highlight Trout Unlimited-Great Lakes’ efforts to protect the terrestrial and aquatic habitats where the famous fish swim in and under.
“Our cold-water resources are threatened because of the change in climate and rising temperatures,” Vaughan said. “There are things that any citizen can do to help their watershed be more climate resilient We will be talking about some of those strategies in our presentation.”
Nick Sanchez of the Old-Growth Forest Network will offer a new look at our nation’s oldest living trees, some found in Michigan. The Northern Institute of Applied Climate Science will be represented by Madeline “Maddy” Baroli who works to help cities and other units of government plan for climate change. She said attendees “can count on an optimistic, solutions-oriented film and conversation.”
Vaughan explained that Trout Unlimited has not worked with Citizens’ Climate Lobby previously, but the organization is excited for the partnership, and she is looking forward to meeting community members in Manistee.
“We are giving away a shagbark hickory tree to anyone who attends the show,” she added. “The shagbark hickory is expected to be a climate resilient tree.”
The event is sponsored by Citizens’ Climate Lobby and Spirit of the Woods Conservation Club in partnership with Trout Unlimited-Great Lakes, the Old-Growth Forest Network and the Northern Institute of Applied Climate Science.
The Vogue Theatre is located at 383 River Street. For more about the Vogue, visit: voguetheatremanistee.org. For more about the movie, go to: documentaryaustralia.com.au/project/2040/.
Stewart A. McFerran illuminates current environmental issues in a historic context. He hopes readers will gain an understanding of and insight into ways people interact with their environment.
