One of the films in this year’s festival is Green Fire, Aldo Leopold and a Land Ethic for our Time which will be playing on February 24th from 7:00 – 9:00 pm. I hope you will discover that Aldo Leopold spoke often about building a community; of the land, soils, plants, animals and people.
Drawing on his life-long study of ecology, land use, history, and ethics, Leopold concluded that the highest task of civilization was to figure out how ‘to live on a piece of land without spoiling it.’
Often, people come to the Colorado Environmental Film Festival looking for answers to how they can reduce their impact on the environment.
CEFF is, in part, the result of attempting to answer that question. At heart, the film festival and all the discussion and resources people will find this year, attempts to answer the essential question — “How can we ensure both people and the land will prosper in the long run?"
Through the six year evolution of the festival we’ve gone from just presenting environmentally themed films to now a call to action. We’ve got speakers and interviews, an Eco Expo and links to places where people can continue to learn. And these education destinations are growing communities of interest for people who want to know more – who want to get involved and make a difference.
Aldo Leopold defined conservation as a way of life in which land does well for its inhabitants, citizens do well by their land, and both end up better by reason of partnership. Leopold recognized that no matter how sophisticated we become, people will always depend on the land — “the land” being shorthand for the community that we all belong to from the highest strata of the atmosphere to the depths of the ocean.
We often take natural resources and ecosystems for granted, but ultimately, the planet’s natural communities and natural functions are what sustain our economy and enrich our lives.
“That land is a community,” Leopold wrote, “is the basic concept of ecology, but that land is to be loved and respected is an extension of ethics.”
So join that ‘thinking community’ and get involved. Come see some films. Volunteer. Sign up for our newsletter. Make a difference. Help us build an environmental community – one film at a time.
Visit the Program page for details on Green Fire and other films.
