In order to give audiences at home and abroad a
systematic introduction to environmental protection in the USA,
the CEEC organised a production team to go to the USA to shoot
the 22-volume full-length TV series ‘Window on the American Environment’.
The production team crossed the entire USA from east to west,
interviewing many US government officials, business as well as
public environmental figures, thus gathering detailed and comprehensive
materials. Through this window, national as well as international
audiences can obtain systematic understanding of relevant US environmental
protection policies and specific practices, from which a lot of
information and useful experiences can be gained.
The Birth of Earth Day (Vol. 1)
The background to the birth of Earth Day unfolds along the lines
of black blizzards that swept across the US in the 1930s, the
Los Angeles photochemical smog, the great fires at the Cleveland
Cuyahoga River in Ohio State plus the ‘Silent Spring’ of the 1940s
and 50s. An interview with the first Earth Day organiser, Denis
Hayes, serves as a thread for elaborating on Earth Day’s significance
for both the US and the world, and the changes it has initiated
in humankind’s understanding of environmental problems over the
past 30 years.
Environmental Protection Tools (Vol. 2)
This volume is mainly centred on environmental legislation and
law enforcement, introducing the course of environmental legislation
in the USA, and the responsibilities and jurisdiction of the federal
EPA as well as those of the single states, especially the question
how by making use of legal means the public can supervise the
conduct of government agencies and businesses.
Special Topic: National Parks (Vols. 3 – 7 = 5 vols.)
As a special topic, made up of 5 volumes, and comprising altogether
75 min., the special features of national parks in the USA are
elaborated on from different angles. Volume no. 3 ‘Americans’
Best Ideas’, mainly explores the evolution of a concept for national
parks in the USA, and the establishment of the first one, while
at the same time explaining the importance of a legal framework
for the planning process, establishment, management, etc. of national
parks. Volume 4 ‘A Nation Touched by Writings’ starts with travel
notes from the father of national parks, John Muir, then concentrates
on parks’ visitor centres, mainly stressing the status and effect
of public environmental education in national parks. The fifth
volume titled ‘The Road to National Park Operation’ details on
unique features of US national parks, like ‘Special Management
Authority’ as well as flexible and diversified ways of utilising
personnel, and as a main topic operation and management. Vol.
no. 6 ‘Understanding for Better Protection’ talks about how national
parks – a concept of more than a hundred years – by linking to
the Internet – a modern high-level science and technology facility
– strives to fully satisfy the public’s right and desire for knowledge,
and to gain greater public support for national park establishment
and development. The 7th volume ‘This Land Is Our Land’ starts
with the song ‘This Land Is Your Land’ sung by Woody Guthrie,
and deals with the most vital issue for national parks which is
presenting itself to the public: volunteers!
Arizona- Sonora Desert Museum (Vol. 8)
Somewhat different from the usual museums built within the city,
the Sorona Desert Museum is placed in the middle of Arizona’s
desert, blending in with the desert. This volume comprehensively
analyses the road to success of the Sorona Desert Museum as a
non-profit organisation from its birth and design to operation,
management, fund-raising, etc.
Struggle between Two Lines (Vol. 9)
Traffic congestion is a problem that puts pressure on cities all
over the world. For this reason, cities like Portland, Oregon
and the US capitol Washington, D.C. have made advances in their
city planning, road design, public traffic priorities, etc., thus
representing a model for construction and development to be imitated
elsewhere in the US and especially in Chinese cities.
Inspiration from Biosphere 2 (Vol. 10)
Failure of the Biosphere 2 experiment revealed the limits of mankind’s
capacities and the complexity of the global ecological system.
At the same time, with the initial analysis of Biosphere 2 under
the control of Columbia University, Biosphere 2 has become a very
special part of the university’s western campus, and a place for
gaining exceptional insight.
Special Topic: Environmental NGOs (Vols. 11 – 14 = 4 vols.)
This special topic is divided into four volumes, comprising altogether
60 min. Aspects like scope, activities, operations, management
and fund-raising efforts of NGOs are investigated from many angles,
selecting environmental organisations that can be considered representative
for the USA. Vol. 11 titled ‘Green Pressure Groups’ mainly analyses
the League of Conservation Voters, and also examines the Northern
Alaska Environmental Centre and the Natural Resources Defense
Council, highlighting the role that environmental organisations
play in supervising the government as well as businesses. Vol.
12 ‘Space for Green Groups’ takes the US World Wildlife Fund (WWF)
and the Alaska Bird Observatory as examples for explaining how
US environmental organisations find space for their activities
that will help their own organisation grow and develop further.
Vol. 13 ‘Exploring the Secrets of the World’ uses the whole length
of one volume for a careful analysis of the National Geographic
Society, attempting to reveal the secrets of continuous growth
of some environmental organisations. Vol. 14 is called ‘Friends
of Chicago River’, the name representing a grass-root organisation
formed at the banks of the Chicago River. This NGO was chosen
to illustrate how love for nature was transformed into practical
action for protecting the Chicago River’s beautiful scenery and
biodiversity.
Special Topic: Environmental Think Tanks (Vols. 15 – 17
= 3 vols.)
Environmental NPOs are a very dynamic force in the USA. This includes
both independent research institutions such as the World Resources
Institute (WRI) and the World Watch Institute, as well as Environmental
Media Services, a kind of organisation which specialises in providing
services to the media and environmental NGOs. In order to display
the special features of each in terms of work objectives, methodology,
main areas of activity, fund-raising, etc. the full length of
one volume (15 min.) is each used for analysis of the above-mentioned
3 organisations. That means vol. 15 ‘Green Thought Warehouse’
talks about WRI, vol. 16 ‘Environmental Footage’ covers the World
Watch Institute, and vol. 17 ‘Making the Media Greener’ the Environmental
Media Services.
Special Topic: Green Business (Vol. 18 – 20 = 3 vols.)
This part mainly concentrates on industrial and commercial businesses
that have drafted sustainable development business strategies,
and have thus caused society, business, and the environment to
mutually benefit from each other. Vol. 18 ‘Green Marketing’ covers
the cases of the Ford Motor Company and Exxon Mobil Corporation.
Vol. 19 Be friendly to Environment talks about the practices of
Kodak Company, Sithe China Holdings Ltd, and Alcoa Corporation.
In vol. 20 ‘Seizing the Future’ the story of the Xerox Corporation’s
background and successful extension of the ‘reproduction’ concept
is narrated.
Green City Beacon (Vol. 21)
From garbage separation and recycling to the continuous comprehensive
expansion of open space areas in the City of Boulder, this volume
reviews ways of how mankind can get along harmoniously with nature.
Green Passport to the Future (Vol. 22)
This is the last volume of the ‘Window on the American Environment’,
and it emphasises and illustrates the significance of environmental
education, with an exhibition of fish ladders for salmon at Seattle’s
Hiram M. Chittenden Locks, and the implementation of the GLOBE
project. At the same time, the close relationship between environmental
protection and the progress of mankind with the development of
industry and commerce is explored.
If you are interested in purchasing this set of CD ROMs (in Chinese),
please contact the CEEC bookstore.
Contact persons: Ms. LIU Qin and Ms. GAO Xiuqing (Chinese)
Tel.: +86.(0)10.8463 7722 ext. 5501 or Tel. and Fax: +86.(0)10.8463
0901
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