CCLP holds screenings of The Great Warming

New film on global warming examines scientific evidence, shares interfaith efforts
What does global warming have to do with farming – and eating? Why should people of faith care about climate change? Is there anything one person, even one small group of people, can do to reverse these trends? How long do we have to act before it’s too late to stop climatic change?
Churches’ Center for Land and People is partnering with other non-profit organizations (including Wisconsin Interfaith Climate Change Network, Green-Rock Audubon, Interfaith Conference of Greater Milwaukee) to sponsor screenings of The Great Warming.
The Great Warming is a new 85-minute documentary. It examines evidence that human activities are provoking an unprecedented era of atmospheric warming and climatic events: more drought, wildfires and flooding, polar melting, more powerful storms and more variable weather.

Narrated by Alanis Morissette and Keanu Reeves, this movie also showcases initiatives to reverse trends toward permanent damage to our planet. Its scenes also document the emerging voice of America ’s faith community urging action on climate change.
“Canadian producer of this film Karen Coshof asked us to hold these screenings in the tri-state before national distribution to theaters,” said Tony Ends, director of Churches’ Center for Land and People based in Middleton , Wis. “Filmed around the world, The Great Warming accurately depicts challenges each of us faces in relation to this issue. Scientists, doctors, citizens around the world, even conservative clergy all give voice to these challenges with scientific findings, data and compelling observations in this film.
 
“We’re asking people from all faiths and walks of life to come watch The Great Warming with us. Help us inform local communities about the vital importance of acting together to address climate change. Much better than Al Gore’s fine film, this movie provides a greater sense of direction about how individuals and communities can become an effective part of the solution, rather than the problem. For every mile of transportation we cut out of the distance our food travels, for instance, we typically stop a pound of carbon from release into our atmosphere. Buying locally raised, direct-marketed food has a huge impact on global warming over the course of a year,” Ends said.
 
Farm and food production in the United States and the world run on fossil fuels. In the United States alone, 14 percent of all fossil fuel consumption is directly related to the food production system. Food now travels an average 2,000 miles in the United States . About 8 percent of global warming has been directly attributed to agriculture.
Every farmer, everywhere is feeling the effect of this dependence on fossil fuel – as well as the heating up of our atmosphere its impact on growing crops. Gasoline, diesel fuel, heating oil, propane gas, natural gas power ever larger, more concentrated, more specialized farm operations. All have doubled, tripled, quadrupled in price the past 5 years.
Farm production expenses are rising $7 to $8 billion a year nationally. Total annual farm income is about $71 billion, and production costs are easily more than three times that amount every year. More than 60 percent of annual increases in farm costs in the past 5 years have been due to rising fuel expenses and interest rates on farm indebtedness, which is also growing to alarming levels.
Every industrialized farm production expense – machinery and parts, fertilizer manufacture and transport largely from the Gulf Coast, petroleum-based chemicals, long supply and delivery chains for every aspect of food and farming, grain drying, and on and on – it all depends on fossil fuels.
“We view a continued crisis over farming and food in our heartland, nation and world and an ever-pressing moral need for we the people and the church – not the government – to address it,” Ends said. “There is a vacuum of leadership and an awful silence on these issues. The Great Warming breaks that silence. Come watch this film with us; break that silence together.”
Donations will be requested – but not required – during local screenings of this film. Literature about local and individual solutions will be distributed. Proceeds will help local non-profit groups promote local solutions to global warming. Fifty percent of contributions from film showings will also help promote theatrical viewing of The Great Warming nationwide this fall.
Chris Gordon of Landseer Communications in New York is coordinating U.S. promotion of The Great Warming. He said 40 U.S. Representatives have helped sponsor showings of this film in congressional districts across 30 states. An estimated 200 churches – from both mainline and evangelical denominations – have hosted screenings, too.
Both Northland Church in Orlando , Fla. , and the National Cathedral in Washington , D.C. , are hosting screenings of this film this month, Gordon said. The film is endorsed by the National Council of Churches, Evangelical Environmental Network & Coalition on Environment & Jewish Life.

Local Showing Dates for The Great Warming

Local Contact: Tony Ends, Director, Churches’ Center for Land and People, a 501 (c)(3) organization serving people of Catholic, Lutheran, Episcopal, United Methodist, United Church of Christ, Presbyterian, Quaker and Unitarian faiths since the 1980s farm crisis, and Vice President of Green Rock Audubon Society. The center advocates for justice, earth stewardship, community and spirituality for farming people in Wisconsin , Illinois and Iowa . It is based at 409 East Court St ,Janesville WI 53545 608-754-1877 / 897-4288