Environmental Film Night at Tin Jug Studio, Birr. Co Offaly

offaly | environment | event notice Saturday August 11, 2007 16:31 by Tadhg O' Cruadhlaoich - IONAD- Ionad Buail Isteach na Gaeilge

The Environmental Film Night is part of the 39th Annual Birr Vintage Week & Arts Festival

3 short films on the environment shown by activist Tadgh O' Cruadhlaoich. (In conjunction with Ionad and The Local Planet) The Last Penguin, animation by children from Sacred Heart School, Portlaoise. Peak Oil Imposed by Nature, documentary by Norwegians, in English. The Carbon Connection, a film by Norman Phillip. Refreshments and Free popcorn! (Booking advised: 057 9121818)
Tin Jug Studio •9pm • (Voluntary entry fee of €5 goes to Art Aid for various charities.)

More info
www.birrvintageweek.com
www.ionad.org

The Last Penguin (Ireland/2007/5 min).

The Last Penguin is an animated film illustrating the effects of global warming on the Penguin colony in the Antarctic region. The Last Penguin remembers what life was like before the onset of global warming. This film depicts dreams of happier times in the penguin’s life, when eggs hatched and colonies of penguins swam and splashed in cool, Antarctic waters. The film shows the new born chicks and the fun and laughter of young penguins as they fish in freezing, bountiful waters. The Last Penguin tears drip and drop as ice melts and the face of the Antarctic changes as a result of the curse of global warming.

The Last Penguin was created by the children from Fifth Class in Sacred Heart School, Portlaoise. Whit the help of their teachers, they planned the animation, designed and created the models and set. They carried out the camera work and editing in their animation studio. They enhanced their animation with music, voice over and a variety of effects. www.sacredheartschool.ie

Peak Oil – Imposed by Nature (Norway/2005/52 mins). Director: Amund Prestegaard
Dr. Colm Campbell, based in Ballydehob, West Cork is a founder of ASPO (www.peakoil.ie). He is a world experienced oil geologist and warns us of imminent change to our lifestyles – due to terminal decline of fossil fuels. We have to act now to reduce our dependence on private transport, flights, etc.

The Carbon Connection (Scotland/2007/40 min) Director; Norman Philip
Two communities affected by one new global market – the trade in carbon dioxide. In Scotland a town has been polluted by oil and chemical companies since the 1940s. In Brazil local people's water and land is being swallowed up by destructive monoculture eucalyptus tree plantations. Both communities now share a new threat. As part of the deal to reduce greenhouse gases that cause dangerous climate change, major polluters can now buy carbon credits that allow them to pay someone else to reduce emissions instead of cutting their own pollution. What this means for those living next to the oil industry in Scotland is the continuation of pollution caused by their toxic neighbours. Meanwhile in Brazil the schemes that generate carbon credits gives an injection of cash for more planting of the damaging eucalyptus tree. The two communities are now connected by bearing the brunt of the new trade in carbon dioxide. The Carbon Connection follows the story of two groups of people from each community who learned to use video cameras and made their own films about living with the impacts of the trade in carbon. From mental health issues in Scotland to the loss of medicinal plants in Brazil, the communities discover the connections they have with each other and the film follows them on this journey. (www.sustainable.ie/powerdown)