Contributed by Sandra Buckles

For the second year running, Protect Geauga Parks had a display table at the Wild and Scenic Film Fest at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. We talked to well over 100 people who were interested in what was going on in Geauga Parks. Many, not from Geauga County, were very well versed after reading the Plain Dealer editorial about Judge Grendell. We were in good company at the EnviroFest prior to the films—GreenCityBlue Lake, Lake Erie Allegheny Partnership for Biodiversity (of which PGP is a member), Doan Brook Watershed, Sustainable Cleveland, Conservancy for the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Medina Raptor Center, CMNH Natural Areas Division, Nature Center at Shaker Lakes, Cleveland Botanical Gardens/Holden Arboretum, Slow Roll Cleveland (a bicycling group), and the Earthday Coalition (who specifically stopped by to ask us to have a table again this year.) 

If you have not been to this film festival, it is very inspiring. Here is how they describe themselves:

“As a festival by activists and for activists, Wild & Scenic is organized and produced by SYRCL (the South Yuba River Citizens League). For over a quarter century, we’ve been building a community to protect and restore the rivers of our home watershed, from source to sea. The Wild & Scenic Film Festival puts our local work – and yours too – into the broader environmental and social context, and serves to remind us that we’re participants in a global movement for a more wild and scenic world.

At our festival, you’ll witness how individuals and communities across the globe are taking action and becoming part of the solution on issues ranging from energy, food systems, biodiversity, climate change and the protection and restoration of wild lands and wild waters. You’ll experience the adrenaline of kayaking the wildest rivers, climbing the highest peaks and trekking across the globe with adventure films from around the world. You’ll explore the issues and movements with leading environmental activists and professionals, filmmakers and celebrities.”

IT ENCOURAGES GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS LIKE PROTECT GEAUGA PARKS  TO TAKE ACTION AND FIND SOLUTIONS TO ISSUES SUCH AS THOSE WE ARE FACING.