India Press Releases

World Environment Day on June 5
U.S. CONSULATE GENERAL & CENTRE FOR SOCIAL MARKETS
TO SCREEN AL GORE'S OSCAR WINNING FILM AT AMERICAN CENTER

May  31, 2007

Kolkata -- The U.S. Consulate General and the Centre for Social Markets (CSM) have joined hands in organizing a film show followed by a panel discussion at the American Center on June 5 to mark World Environment Day. "An Inconvenient Truth," an Academy Award-winning documentary, presented by former U.S. Vice President Al Gore on global warming and the environment, will be shown. Directed by David Guggenheim, the film is an account of Gore's journey of realization about the challenges of climate change. Kolkata is the only Indian city mentioned in this film. The June 5 show of the film marks the first of what will be nationwide screenings and discussions planned by CSM and its partners.

Noted panelists, such as Yvani Deraniyagala, Manager, Climate Change Research and Training, Munasinghe Institute for Development, Sri Lanka will share their views on issues raised by the film with special reference to India and West Bengal. According to the United Nation's recent report on climate change, the issue represents a grave threat to human beings and the environment. In India, it is predicted that 40 percent of the Himalayan glaciers will vanish, the Ganga delta will turn infertile, and 25 percent of wildlife will perish. Problems will be compounded by chronic food and water shortages and there will also be increases in the range of insect pests and diseases. UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has already sounded an alarm bell on global emissions of greenhouse gases.

The U.S. Consulate General demonstrates its concern about the state of the environment by supporting this program. CSM, the co-organizer of the event is an independent non-profit organization dedicated to making markets work for the triple bottom line -- people, planet and profit. This event is being held as part of CSM's Climate Challenge India campaign which seeks to educate and generate positive energy for climate action in India.