Closed Captioned
Grades 7 - 12, College, Adults
Directed by Hadlee Obodiac
Produced by Hadlee Obodiac, Tina Verma
DVD Purchase $250, Rent $85
US Release Date: 2013
Copyright Date: 2012
DVD ISBN: 1-93777-278-0
Subjects
Anthropology
Art/Architecture
Canadian Studies
Climate Change/Global Warming
Design
Environment
Environmental Ethics
Geography
Government
Green Building
Local Economies
Political Science
Recycling
Renewable Energy
Science
Technology
Society
Sociology
Sustainability
Sustainable Agriculture
Transportation
Urban Studies
Urban and Regional Planning
Awards and Festivals
Science Books & Films Best Videos of 2014
David and Sarika Suzuki explore urban innovations leading toward sustainability.
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"A must see for faculty, students, and others interested in learning more about how our urban environments can be transformed." Dr. Hilary Nixon, Urban & Regional Planning, San Jose State |
Eighty percent of us now live in an urban setting. How we tackle food, land use, energy, housing, and waste issues will determine whether our cities evolve, or decline.
Father and daughter environmentalists, David and Sarika, embark on a cross-country journey of exploration, housed within a compact, "off-the-grid" Airstream trailer. It's a small space with little room for excess or waste, making it a perfect metaphor for an efficient way of living.
In Montreal, they discover both large and small operations trying to revolutionize the production and distribution of food in urban settings. In Toronto, they find the "natural world" is included as the city grows. The Edmonton Waste Management Centre is a world leader in recycling and composting - they'll soon be turning waste into biofuel. And Vancouver has found new ways of thinking about energy, transit and housing.
Reviews
"A great film that I thoroughly enjoyed watching. From innovative urban agriculture in Montreal, waterfront redevelopment in Toronto, waste management in Edmonton, to transportation and green buildings in Vancouver, the father-daughter duo showcase how cities are moving towards a more sustainable future. A must see for faculty, students, and others interested in learning more about how our urban environments can be transformed to meet the challenges of the future."
Dr. Hilary Nixon, Associate Professor of Urban and Regional Planning, San Jose State University
"The 21st century will be defined by the world's cities: their rapid growth, their affordability, equity and quality of life, how green and sustainable they become. With Canada as a case study, David and Sarika Suzuki do an impressive job scouting our urban future, uncovering a route at once challenging and bold. The question is, will we follow their lead?"
William Shutkin, President and CEO, Fellow in Sustainability Practice, Presidio Graduate School, Author, The Land That Could Be: Environmentalism and Democracy in the Twenty First Century
"The quest for urban sustainability is one of the most important and enduring questions of the twenty-first century. This journey through urban Canada offers a timely and unique examination of how Canadian cities are adapting to the pressures of urbanization. Future Cities offers excellent and informative case studies that demonstrate how cities can overcome the limits of urbanization and use density to their advantage. Highly recommended."
Dr. Thomas J. Vicino, Associate Professor of Political Science, Director, Master of Public Administration Program, Northeastern University, co-Author, Cities and Suburbs: New Metropolitan Realities in the US
"This is an ideal DVD for grades 7-12, college, adults, city planners, and those who doubt the possibility of what vision can bring. Bullfrog Films...has another winner in its large chest of visually appealing and stimulating works."
John D. Chilgren, Education Business Group, U.S. Treasury, Science Books and Films
"This is a hopeful documentary, full of concrete, positive and much-needed steps towards a sustainable future. Ideal for high school audiences."
Green Teacher
"Their conversations with engineers, designers, agriculturalists and home-owners are always informative and often intriguing...Classroom use would be entirely appropriate for this film. Students who are learning about urban recycling, agriculture, public transit, green design, or revitalization programs will find many useful interviews and case studies."
Carrie M. Macfarlane, Middlebury College, Educational Media Reviews Online
"An eye-opening glimpse into dedicated efforts to rise to the challenges of the twenty-first century. Highly recommended."
The Midwest Book Review
"The pioneering ventures highlighted here are impressive, offering a welcome look at what's possible - and what might, at some point, be necessary if cities are to survive. Recommended."
M. Puffer-Rothenberg, Video Librarian