Contributor: Michele Manelis

April 22^nd is Earth Day, a momentous occasion to celebrate and raise awareness about environmental issues. So many great movies and documentaries can educate and inspire people to take action toward a more sustainable future. Following are a few recommendations.

The Day After Tomorrow is a 2004 sci-fi disaster film directed by Roland Emmerich and stars Jake Gyllenhaal and Dennis Quaid. It explores the catastrophic consequences of climate change, including extreme weather events and rising sea levels.

The movie portrays a future where the effects of apathy can be devastating, making it a compelling call to action for viewers. It also raises awareness about the impact of human activities on the environment, including burning fossil fuels and deforestation, and highlights the importance of reducing our carbon footprint and finding sustainable ways to live in harmony with the natural environment.

Academy Award and Golden Globe-winning animated film WALL-E was released in 2008. It tells the story of a waste-collecting robot named WALL-E, who is left on Earth after humans have abandoned it due to the planet’s environmental degradation. WALL-E falls in love with another robot named EVE, who is sent to Earth to search for signs of plant life. Together, they embark on an adventure that leads them to the Axiom, a giant spaceship where the remnants of humanity live a sedentary and overindulgent lifestyle. The movie addresses environmentalism, consumerism, and the importance of human connection.

FernGully: The Last Rain Forest, an animated movie from 1992, is a must-see for young kids. It follows the story of a fairy who lives in the magical rainforest of FernGully, and a young human named Zak, who accidentally stumbles into the forest and begins to learn about the importance of preserving nature. The movie teaches children the importance of protecting our environment and the consequences of human actions on nature. It also addresses how deforestation and pollution can harm the planet and portrays nature as a living and interconnected system, highlighting the importance of treating it with respect.

Erin Brockovich (2000) earned Julia Roberts the Best Actress trophy at both the Golden Globes and the Academy Awards in 2001. It’s a biographical movie based on a heroic and vibrant character, the real Erin Brockovich, who famously helped expose the environmental contamination of drinking water in the town of Hinkley, California. The movie highlights the dangers of environmental pollution and the importance of fighting for environmental justice. It also raises awareness about the potential health hazards of environmental pollution, particularly water contamination. The film helped viewers understand the impact of human activities on the environment and the need to protect our natural resources.

The above films remind us that everyone has the power to make a difference and that environmental justice is a critical issue that affects us all.