In January, the Green Screen Film Series debuts at the Napa County Library. Free to all, these monthly screenings will alternate between the Napa branch and the American Canyon branch.
The series begins at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 28, at the Napa Library when it will show the documentary 2040, a hopeful vision of the future of our planet 16 short years from now.
Napa Climate NOW!’s Green Screen Team looked for films that highlight effective, sustainable ways to address toxic climate pollution.
All the team members—Ginger Gregory, Carol Glaser, Linda Dietiker-Yolo, and Susan Crosby —are retired educators and longtime Napa residents. The films they chose cover a range of solutions. Crosby explained, “We don’t want viewers to feel discouraged by extreme weather and carbon pollution, but instead to feel inspired and encouraged to take action in their homes and community.”
Team leader Ginger Gregory was motivated to educate herself and others about climate change through her love of gardening. “I just love digging in the dirt and watching things grow. I got active with Napa Climate NOW! when I retired because I wanted to reduce plastic pollution, but then I heard about the Regenerative Practices team led by Carol Glaser, a UC Master Gardener. I learned how vital healthy soil, plants and trees are in drawing down carbon.”
Carol Glaser has been a Master Gardener for more than 15 years. A visit with her grandchildren in 2019 inspired her to join Napa Climate NOW! to learn about ways to reduce carbon pollution.
“My grandchildren and I made a commitment to each other to do everything we could to protect and preserve our beautiful environment. I took the ‘Kiss the Ground’ course during Covid to learn about regenerative agriculture. It was a wonderful exploration that led to the Master Gardeners’ program on soil health and climate change, ‘Soil is the Solution.’” Gregory, Glaser, and Dietiker-Yolo had all been interested in a film series. Crosby joined them to work out what film to show, where. Dietiker-Yolo said, “I’m excited that we’re showing film to families with children, as well as adults, and in American Canyon, as well as in Napa. I think the film will help people see solutions and a positive way of working on climate pollution.”
The Napa Library films are aimed at older youth and adults. The films will present different areas of climate action such as plastic pollution, water conservation, ideas for sustainable living and energy use, along with regenerative agriculture and gardening practices.
When time allows, the programs may include a time to chat about the ideas in the film with a local expert and with each other. Gregory said 2040 is now her favorite climate solution film.
“It’s made by an Australian dad for his daughter who will be an adult in 2040. He traveled around the world, visiting sites where actions to address climate change are being put into practice. My favorite segment features a little village in Bangladesh where households set up their own clean electricity supply using solar panels they installed themselves. The film style is also very fun and youth-oriented.”
The American Canyon series is intended for families with younger children and includes shorter films followed by child-oriented activities. The first showing in American Canyon is on Saturday, Feb. 3, from 1 to 2 p.m. and will feature Waste is a Verb, a short film about the Napa the Master Gardeners’ program on soil health and climate change, ‘Soil is the Solution.’”
Gregory, Glaser, and Dietiker-Yolo had all been interested in a film series. Crosby joined them to work out what films to show, where. Dietiker-Yolo said, “I’m excited that we’re showing films to families with children, as well as adults, and in American Canyon, as well as in Napa. I think Recycling and Waste Services state-of-the-art recycling and composting facility, with a lively trash/recycling sorting challenge afterward.
Crosby said, “The films for the children have a light touch and will be followed up with fun, easy games to reinforce the learning. We really need to protect our kids at the same time as we are enlisting them to engage with the most unnerving problems of our day.
“Children are often the conscience of the family—they notice if you don’t put the recycling in the right spot. As soon as they know, they can be agents of change.”
The Napa and American Canyon libraries invite you to join them, in partnership with Napa Climate NOW!, for these documentaries on the perils of plastic use and climate change. And, most importantly, to find solutions together Chris Benz is a retired winemaker and co-founder of Napa Climate NOW!
Napa Climate NOW! is a local nonprofit citizens’ group advocating for smart climate solutions based on the latest climate science, part of 350 Bay Area. Info, napa.350bayarea.org
