Environmental
films
| In a classroom, if a
child is given a choice between watching a film or
listening to a lecture, his/her response will not be
difficult to guess. Undoubtedly, as a
medium of communication, films have an edge. And now, more professionals are experimenting with films as a
tool for education. |
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The result has definitely been ‘worth a watch’…
Let's take a sneak peek at some films that attempt
to capture the imagination of students and people—at all
levels |
Ozzy ozone
This is an animation film, which entertains and also gently nudges the
audience to think. It is the story of an ozone molecule, which ventures
out to know why many of his friends are dying. Alberta the Albatross
helps him in his venture. The critical issue of ozone depletion due to
human activity is dealt with skillfully and sensitively in this movie.
Produced by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Ozzy
ozone can be
a useful teaching aid.
Animation is, in fact, a very appealing medium for both children and
adults. The power of animation has been widely exploited around the
world to highlight not only environmental issues, but a wide variety of
socially-relevant messages as well.
Ecotoons
Produced by WWF, Ecotoons presents an array of short clippings culled
from animation films. The film showcases the various approaches that
different film makers have adopted to bring key environmental issues to the centrestage. It offers the example of a child’s idea used to create
a film. In a competition organised by the BBC, school students were
asked to send six frames of a cartoon character, to be turned into an
animation film later. The renowned animation artist, Peter Lord of the
Aardman Films, made the animation while giving a few tips to the winner.
Listen, the
nature is crying here
Children from a small government school in Modinand viilage, Sirmaur
district, Himachal Pradesh, have also tried their hand at film making.
They have portrayed the damage that is being done to the hill environment
by un-planned industrialisation.
Directed and edited by the children themselves, the film talks about the
destruction of forests and ‘unscientific mining’ of mountains. The film
unveils some chilling facts about the impact of overexploitation of
natural resources and the rising pollution levels. Sanjeev Attri, a
science teacher working at the school, motivated the students to take up this
project. Films are a priority here,
as the school organises a festival every year.
Navo Jamano Navi
Harifai
An animated film, this one
takes viewers back to the age-old Aesop’s fable about the tortoise and
the hare. But puts it in a different context. While the tortoise runs on
renewable energy using a wind cap, a solar photovoltaic shell, and a
biogas chamber under his shell, the hare relies on conventional fuels
like petrol powered shoes.
Who wins this long term race is the key to learning about the scarcity
of conventional fuels on earth.
Produced by the Gujarat State Energy Development Agency, this film talks
about the use of renewable energy sources in a manner that is bound to
hold the attention of the young audience.
Bridging the
gap.
Some schools are even using mainstream cinema to teach science. The Times of
India, Mumbai edition, reported that the local Ramniranjan Podar School screened
Swades for a lesson on hydroelectric power.
So, be it commercial or documentary, films are effective in making the
point. As the latest NCERT syllabus proposes discussions and debates as
a key teaching methodology, films can be a good starting point to trigger
the process.
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