The Black Sea separates Europe from Asia, and is a great trading area. It has a rich history of human cultural exchange and a unique ecosystem, rich in biodiversity. For thousands of years people have lived off its bounty. But pollution from Europe's industries, carried by great rivers like the Danube, Don and Dniester, are killing the ocean. And on the human side, following the collapse of the Soviet empire, many of the surrounding countries are facing the future without a working economy or a functional system of beliefs.

The symposium was convened by the ecumenical patriarch, Bartholomew of Constantinople, of the Eastern Orthodox Church, in hopes of finding solutions to the problems of the Black Sea region. The participants included environmentalists, such as David Suzuki and David Bellamy; scientists, such as Sylvia Earl and Paul Ehrlich; writers, such as Neal Ascherson; and religious thinkers.



Grade Level: 10-12, College, Adult
US Release Date: 1999     Copyright Date: 1998
DVD ISBN: 1-94154-514-9     VHS ISBN: 1-56029-789-1

Reviews "An excellent wake-up call for scholars concerned with ecological pollution problems worldwide that need international problem solving by people from all walks of life. It is ideal for showing to any number of classes especially those concerning Marine Biology, Environmental Politics, and World Politics." Ceferina Gayo Hess, PhD, Assoc. Prof., Political Science, Lander University "A glimpse into one of the most fascinating areas of social, economic, and environmental change in the post-Cold War world." Joe Bandy, Dept. of Sociology and Anthropology, Bowdoin College "The content is extremely good, giving a full description of the situation and possible solutions to the problem. Recommended." Kathy Loomis, SUNY, MC Journal