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Americas Business Council’s Planet Initiative Offers Private Screening of “Amazon Gold”
March 30, 2012
MIAMI — March 29, 2012 — The University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science and the Abess Center for Ecosystem Science and Policy are collaborating with the Americas Business Council Foundation for a private screening of Amazon Gold. The documentary follows photojournalist Ron Haviv and journalist Donovan Webster as they uncover the recent devastation of rainforests in the wake of illegal gold mining in southeastern Peru. The film will be screened at the Bill Cosford Cinema (1111 Memorial Drive, Coral Gables, Fla.) on Thursday, April 5 at 7 p.m., following a cocktail reception. Seating is limited.
Amazon Gold, narrated by Academy Award®; winners Sissy Spacek and Herbie Hancock, was filmed in collaboration with the Amazon Aid foundation, and is the first film to successfully investigate the illegal mining towns of Huaypetue and Lamal. The filmmakers are led by biologist Enrique Ortiz, who has more than 30 years of experience in studying the Madre de Dios region of Peru. They provide a compelling look into the consequences of gold mining along the banks of Amazonian rivers, the immense human impacts, and the global influences these activities have on our planet’s climate.
“I have always thought that the Amazon needs to be protected; I understood the role of that vast ecosystem on our planet. But it was while I was there during the filming of Amazon Gold and saw the devastation with my own eyes, that the dimension of the destruction affected me to the core,” said Nicolas Ibarguen, director of the Americas Business Council’s Planet Initiative. “The Amazon, like many other forests around the world, is at a critical point in time and faces a dark future unless we take action and fight to adjust global policies.”
About ABC* Foundation
The Americas Business Council Foundation (ABC*) is a nonprofit
agency working to elevate the importance of philanthropic and
civic engagement among Latin Americans. Through its
international forums, ABC* brings together Latin American
voices from all walks of life alongside distinguished,
thought-provoking figures from around the world. These unique
events focus on important and topical issues; foster
provocative and meaningful dialogue; and harness the emerging
talents of Latin America's young leaders to find tangible,
compelling solutions to the region's most pressing challenges.
For more information, please http://www.americasbusinesscouncil.org/
About the University of Miami
The University of Miami is the largest private research
institution in the southeastern United States. The
University’s mission is to provide quality education,
attract and retain outstanding students, support the faculty
and their research, and build an endowment for University
initiatives. Founded in the 1940’s, the Rosenstiel School
of Marine & Atmospheric Science has grown into one of the
world’s premier marine and atmospheric research
institutions. The Leonard and Jayne Abess Center for Ecosystem
Science and Policy was established in 2006 to create
innovative, interdisciplinary initiatives that bridge the gap
between science and environmental policy. The Abess
Center’s goal is to educate the next generation of
environmental scientists, policy makers and managers with a
strong underpinning of understanding in natural sciences,
social science, and public policy. For more information,
please visit www.miami.edu.
