Some of you may know me already since Jennifer was kind enough to introduce me in a previous blog post. For those of you who don’t, I am EGU’s Media and Communications Officer, who joined the EGU Executive Office in Munich in early September.
One of the perks of this job is receiving e-mails advertising interesting and exciting geosciences-related initiatives. In my first post on the EGU blog, I’d like to tell you about one of these, which popped up in my inbox just a few days ago.
The e-mail was from Ethan Steinman, a filmmaker based in Seattle, US, who wrote to me about his latest project, “Glacial Balance”. This documentary film shows the effects of climate change on Andean glaciers. In Ethan’s words:
“Glacial Balance is a look at the effects of Andean glaciers on the lives of those depending on their existence. Getting to know the individuals and lives of those who will be first affected by the dwindling glacier reserve, the canaries in the mine. For our journey we will be accompanied by an international team of glaciologists and paleoclimatologists who will give us a perspective on what is really happening and what we can expect. Our end goal, to bring home the global warming debate and understand just how this will affect us, the viewer. Regardless of the city, country, racial or ethnic background… we will all be affected, unless action is taken.”
The film features stunning views of the Andean landscape, and takes the viewer in an exciting journey through the Andes, from Argentina to Colombia. It includes interviews with famous personalities and renowned geoscientists, such as Al Gore and Dr. Lonnie Thompson, a member of the team accompanying Ethan to South America.
Ethan’s goal is to have the film completed in early March next year. At the moment, he’s trying to raise money for post-production expenses.
I’d love to see this documentary ready in time for EGU’s General Assembly in April, not only because I think it is a worthwhile and interesting project, but also because Ethan accepted to show it in the 2012 edition of the GeoCinema. There’s a campaign on at IndieGoGo, and I have donated already. Maybe you’d like to help Ethan out too?
By Bárbara Ferreira, EGU’s Media and Communications Officer
Glacial Balance
