February Meeting Report, Watershed Expo Coming to Hermosa 3/25
03/11/06
For those able
to conquer the “mother of all traffic jams” and still
attend the February meeting, your reward was an
inspiring motivational presentation by speaker Bill
Macdonald. Bill is the spouse of long-time LAUPS
member Susan MacDonald. His background has extensive
experience as a filmmaker for such known entities as
the Cousteau Society, Burrud Productions and the
Discovery Channel. Currently Bill is the owner and
operator of Macdonald Productions
(www.macdonaldproductions.com)
which was established in 1998 as a stock footage
archive and video production company. He has produced
many successful videos and provided stock footage for
numerous programs seen on the Discovery Channel
Network and PBS television.
Through his association with Captain Charles Moore, Founder of the Algalita Marine Research Foundation, Bill became aware of the escalating problems of marine pollution – especially plastic pollution. With a primary goal to help reduce the amount of plastic debris going into the world’s oceans, Bill is using his filmmaking experience to bring awareness to the problem through video productions such as “Our Synthetic Seas” that recently won a first place award in the Oceans, Water Quality & Watersheds category in the 2004 Earth Vision International Environmental Film Festival.
Those attending the February meeting were among the first to view a new production called “Watershed Wonders”, the creation of two imaginative minds - filmmaker Bill Macdonald and science educator Dr. Marcus Eriksen. The film will have its debut for the general public at the Watershed Expo 2006 to be held at the Hermosa Beach Community Center on Saturday, March 25th. Using vivid images, original uses of the camera both above and below the water, the film follows water from where it falls to the ground somewhere in the mountains, as it travels its gravitational path through natural and man-made habitats to the point where it finally enters the sea. On its journey it collects other substances, natural and un-natural, that really gets one’s attention through its final shocking scene to the problem of plastic debris that pollutes our societies, our watersheds and ultimately our oceans. The film demonstrates serious implications not only for the health of the ocean and the health of the creatures that rely on the ocean for survival, but for humanity itself.
This
film together with an 87-page curriculum guide
developed by Dr. Marcus Eriksen has been sent out
free to over 1,000 junior and senior high schools in
California, Nevada, and Oregon so far. Zale Parry,
one of the founding members of LAUPS and Ambassador
at Large/Academy of Underwater Arts and Sciences, was
so enthusiastic about the program that she took it to
the Tillamook Estuaries Partnership in Garibaldi,
Oregon where, recognizing the potential importance of
the program to Oregon’s watersheds, officials there
ordered 150 copies for distribution to state
educators. The idea is that if you want to make
changes in the way humans treat their natural
environment, a good way to start is by educating the
children.
Bill finished his presentation by encouraging LAUPS members to contact Bill Brush for helping with the Watershed Expo film festival and attend a special benefit concert held at the Hermosa Beach Community Center on Friday evening March 24 featuring legendary rock musicians Graham Nash and Jim Messina. On Saturday, March 25 from 10:00 am until 5:00 pm., the free all-day community education event called the Watershed Expo will occur at the Hermosa Beach Community Center. At the Expo there will be science exhibits by students, and exhibition on how to build an ocean-going raft out of recycled materials by Dr. Marcus Eriksen, the Ocean Revolution Film Festival featuring the new Bob Talbot film, speakers including Philippe Cousteau, Captain Charles Moore, Dr. Wallace J. Nichols and Dr. Sylvia Earle. Attendees can also tour Captain Moore’s unique hybrid research vessel, the ORV Alguita at King Harbor.
Through his association with Captain Charles Moore, Founder of the Algalita Marine Research Foundation, Bill became aware of the escalating problems of marine pollution – especially plastic pollution. With a primary goal to help reduce the amount of plastic debris going into the world’s oceans, Bill is using his filmmaking experience to bring awareness to the problem through video productions such as “Our Synthetic Seas” that recently won a first place award in the Oceans, Water Quality & Watersheds category in the 2004 Earth Vision International Environmental Film Festival.
Those attending the February meeting were among the first to view a new production called “Watershed Wonders”, the creation of two imaginative minds - filmmaker Bill Macdonald and science educator Dr. Marcus Eriksen. The film will have its debut for the general public at the Watershed Expo 2006 to be held at the Hermosa Beach Community Center on Saturday, March 25th. Using vivid images, original uses of the camera both above and below the water, the film follows water from where it falls to the ground somewhere in the mountains, as it travels its gravitational path through natural and man-made habitats to the point where it finally enters the sea. On its journey it collects other substances, natural and un-natural, that really gets one’s attention through its final shocking scene to the problem of plastic debris that pollutes our societies, our watersheds and ultimately our oceans. The film demonstrates serious implications not only for the health of the ocean and the health of the creatures that rely on the ocean for survival, but for humanity itself.
Bill finished his presentation by encouraging LAUPS members to contact Bill Brush for helping with the Watershed Expo film festival and attend a special benefit concert held at the Hermosa Beach Community Center on Friday evening March 24 featuring legendary rock musicians Graham Nash and Jim Messina. On Saturday, March 25 from 10:00 am until 5:00 pm., the free all-day community education event called the Watershed Expo will occur at the Hermosa Beach Community Center. At the Expo there will be science exhibits by students, and exhibition on how to build an ocean-going raft out of recycled materials by Dr. Marcus Eriksen, the Ocean Revolution Film Festival featuring the new Bob Talbot film, speakers including Philippe Cousteau, Captain Charles Moore, Dr. Wallace J. Nichols and Dr. Sylvia Earle. Attendees can also tour Captain Moore’s unique hybrid research vessel, the ORV Alguita at King Harbor.