By Shelby Best
Last year, One Earth went All In for its festival theme. All In invited audiences to express their commitment to taking action for the planet. And many festival attendees did just that. They went all in on recycling, composting, driving less and walking more, conserving energy--even voting for candidates who support environmentally sustainable initiatives.
Still, the environmental movement needs more of us to work together for the greater good.
This year, One Earth is looking to the power of collective action to make the change we need. Participation without cooperation will only get us so far, and far is where we need to go, fast! We are witnessing the necessity of collaboration, as seen in campaigns like “ban the straw” and global climate strikes.
The 2020 One Earth Festival theme, The Power of We, asks everyone to stand up to protect what we have in common — the Earth we live on.
This year’s festival selections reflect this call to connect. “The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind” celebrates the true story of a boy who helps save his village from famine, but only after everyone decides to work together. Another documentary, “2040: The Regeneration,” offers a compelling vision of the innovations we can achieve in the future, if we stand together now.
One Earth invites you, your family and friends to harness the Power of We for the planet. It can start with something as simple as having a conversation — face to face — with your neighbor. By connecting to each other, we can grow our compassion to help protect what we all need to sustain a healthy life: fresh air, clean water, and fertile soil.
The 2020 festival schedule includes 26 environmental films that explore and enlighten us on the topics of climate change, conservation, food waste, energy and more. The festival runs March 6-15 at more than 40 locations throughout Chicago and the surrounding counties. Join us as we work to make this the most collaborative festival yet—and make real the Power of We.