“earth” 

The acclaimed first release of DisneyNature Productions

Earth Day, Wednesday, April 22, 7:30 p.m.

Paseo Nuevo Theater, Santa Barbara

SB CAN celebrated Earth Day by hosting the screening of Earth, Disneynature’s premiere film production in Santa Barbara. This is the latest film in our SB CANNES “Movies with a Message” series, featuring films with a social justice or environmental edge, followed by a panel discussion highlighting current local issues.

Earth tells the inspirational stories of three animal families and their journeys across the planet we all call home. Rare live action footage, unimaginable scale, and stunning photography captures the most intimate moments of our planet’s wildest and most elusive creatures. Following the film, a panel discussion led by Geoff Green of the Fund for Santa Barbara examined the implications of global warming and the need to preserve our planet and its magnificent wildlife.

“How can people be expected to care if they aren’t inspired?” explained producer Alastair Fothergill at an early screening of his film. “This is a movie designed to inspire.” And inspiring it is, or as one viewer put it, “mind-blowing, a stunning masterpiece that will leave even the most ardent coal lobbyist in awe of our planet and yearning to see more—and preserve it.” http://watthead.blogspot.com/2009/04/earth-movie-will-blow-your-mind.html

Panelist Rick Rosenthal, a Cinematographer for DisneyNature’s Earth, told how he left his work as a research biologist to film some of the spectacular images he was witnessing in the wild, convinced that this would be a more effective way to inspire people to preserve the wilderness areas that are fast disappearing.

“If watching something like this doesn’t inspire people to care about the planet, nothing will,” noted panelist Dave Davis, Executive Director of the Community Environmental Council.    

What some local viewers may not realize, however, is that Santa Barbara County is one of those rare corners of the earth where the mountains and sea and lay of the land come together to create one of the richest bio-diverse areas in the nation. Because of our unique landscape and wildlife, Santa Barbara County ranks fourth in the nation as an endangered species “hot spot.” 

“Remember that we too have equally impressive and amazing species in our front yard, the Santa Barbara Channel,” panelist Gail Osherenko, President of the Environmental Defense Center (EDC), reminds us.  “Our coastal waters host a number of endangered whale species including the largest mammal on earth - the Blue Whale.  The largest concentrations of Blue Whales are found right here in our ocean front yard. In addition, San Miguel Island is home to 5 species of pinnipeds (or seals) - a unique combination not seen elsewhere.”

Osherenko, who is also a Project Scientist at the Marine Science Institute at UCSB, adds: “Our piece of the planet is no less amazing and biologically rich than the areas depicted in Earth.  But we are also a highly populated area with extensive tanker and cargo ship traffic that poses significant threats to these species.”

She explained how the channel is a feeding and resting ground for a number of the great whales.   They arrive in spring to feed on the rich upwellings and can easily be seen from boats in the channel or from the islands. Last year five Blue Whales were struck by ships between here and Los Angeles. This year already two whales were killed by ship strikes.

“This is preventable if ship speeds were reduced to 10 knots,” Osherenko reports, adding that currently tankers travel up to 13-15 knots and cargo ships at 18-21 knots. Reduction in shipping speed would also reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, air pollution and water pollution. Shipping is one of the largest sources of air pollution in Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties.

EDC is working through the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council to improve management and work with shipping companies and government agencies to reduce ship speeds. It’s this boots-on-the-ground kind of advocacy work that several panelists agreed helps get them through the day when the urgency and immensity of their work in helping to “save the planet” threatens to overwhelm them. 

“The work I’m doing here with the Ocean Conservancy is what keeps me grounded and keeps me going,” said panelist Greg Helms, Ocean Conservancy.

Our ocean front yard isn’t the only habitat in our county that needs preserving. Other endangered species found in our “backyard” hills and canyons, while not as large or majestic as the Blue Whale or some of the mammals depicted in “earth,” when examined within their own scale of reference, are equally beautiful, valuable, and threatened. These creatures include the Tiger Salamander, Red Legged Frog, Steelhead Trout, Western Snowy Plover, and Santa Cruz Island Fox, to name a few—not to mention the fabled California Condo.

Our actions locally can have a direct effect on the survival of these creatures that call our county home. Their survival is dependent upon the preservation of their habitat—the surrounding open space, including agricultural lands, wetlands, coastlines, waterways, parks and forests.

When we support the preservation of open space, we are doing our bit to preserve this corner of the planet. Let’s ensure that our children and grandchildren will have the pleasure and privilege of living in harmony with the precious wildlife that calls our corner of this “mind-blowing” earth home.    

Many Thanks to “Earth” Film Sponsors

“Super Star” Sponsor – Island Seed & Feed

“Director” Sponsors - Susan Rose & Allan Ghitterman;

Adrianne & Andrew Davis; Harvey & Supervisor Janet Wolf; Mary Gill