A Name from the Past for the Future

Until I was nearly 14, my bedroom door had a Cousteau Society sticker on it. Only when I no longer lived in that room did the sticker leave my life.

I was never actually in The Cousteau Society, but because I was a budding environmentalist, the sticker was more than a random decoration for me. I recall watching Jacques Cousteau's television programs, particularly one about Antarctica. The shows' information about and calls to protect the environment resonated with me.

Partly because I remember what Jacques meant to my youth, I was excited to learn about the work of his granddaughter, Alexandra, whom I mentioned a few entries ago. Alexandra has taken her grandfather's connection with the water and put her own spin on it, shining light on the water issues the planet currently faces and those we are likely to face in the future.

Today, I had a conversation about the growing importance of water issues, and after some thinking, I realized that because of Alexandra's work, the Cousteau name, first etched into my brain through a green and white sticker, is also going to help represent one of the key concerns of the planet's future. I think Jacques would be proud.

For more information about water issues and Alexandra's work, go to her Blue Legacy Web site.

Films about the Environment and (Love?)

This year, the Environmental Film Festival in the Nation's Capital will mark its 20th year. The festival runs March 13-25.

Included in the great collection of films is A Fierce Green Fire, which I blogged about last month. Another entry of interest to me is Moomins and the Comet Chase, which comes from Finland. Moomin characters are huge there.

The last film I'll mention (be sure to check out the full list) is Expedition Blue Planet: North America, which caught my eye because the film's director, Alexandra Cousteau (pictured), caught my eye. She is the granddaughter of Jacques Cousteau, which automatically gives her coolness; but on top of that, I think I'm in love. She definitely has my vote as the face of environmentalism.

On a more serious note, if you're going to be around Washington, DC, during the middle of March, keep the film festival in mind. Even if you can't make the festival, think about seeing what films are on the schedule and maybe trying to view them somewhere else.