How One Person Can Change the World

The Man Who Planted Trees – a story of one person’s sacrifice to benefit future generations and the environment – will be featured at the next First Friday Films at American Memorial Park on March 4^th at 6:30 p.m.

The animated movie brings to life the classic story of an old man who collects acorns and other seedlings and revives a once deserted and barren wasteland and creates a beautiful environment for building homes and raising families. Guest speakers will highlight the importance of trees and how they breathe life into the world. Don’t miss out on this wonderful and educational event!

The Man Who Planted Trees is made possible by generous support from the Tan Sui Lin Foundation and the Mariana Islands Nature Alliance (MINA). First Friday Films is a monthly environmental film series from the National Park Service and the Division of Environmental Quality.

The Pacific Historic Parks (formerly the Arizona Memorial Museum Association) Bookstore, located inside the visitor’s center, will be open until 8:30 p.m. All proceeds go to community education programs.

For planning purposes, the movie runs about 85 minutes long. As always, First Friday Films is free and open to the public. Find more information about the film at www.firstfridayfilmssaipan.blogspot.com. Subscribe to the blog for regular updates on upcoming events.

For more information on the upcoming event feel free to contact Aric Bickel or Lisa Eller, Division of Environmental Quality 664-8510 or Nancy Kelchner, National Park Service, American Memorial Park, 483-7253.

Addicted to Plastic at the next First Fridays!

Our next First Friday Film - Addicted to Plastic - reveals the history and worldwide scope of plastics pollution, investigates its toxicity and explores solutions. The show starts at 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 4 at American Memorial Park. Come early to check out our informative lobby displays.

From styrofoam cups to artificial organs, plastics are perhaps the most ubiquitous and versatile material ever invented. No invention in the past 100 years has had more influence and presence than synthetics. But such progress has had a cost.

Addicted to Plastic shows the cycle of many different types of plastics we use everyday, the many threats they pose to our oceans and health, and the challenges with recycling plastic. It is “a wake up-call…a sort of eco-horror movie!” said Dr. M. Cervino of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute. It also presents unique and bizarre solutions to reducing, reusing, and recycling this useful yet toxic material.

For planning purposes, the movie runs about 85 minutes long. As always, First Friday Films is free and open to the public. Limited seating is available; please arrive early to ensure entry.

Rob Stewart to Speak Monday!

Rob Stewart, director of the film Sharkwater (previously shown by First Friday films in August) will be speaking at the American Memorial Park Visitor's Center this coming monday (Jan. 24th), at 6:30pm. As part of the event he will be showing shark footage he has taken in his travels around the world and talking about the making of Sharkwater and how the CNMI community can get more involved in shark conservation.

Stewart's presentation is part of his brief visit to the islands to follow the progress of a shark fin bill awaiting the Governor's signature and to film footage of sharks for his next film.

The event is free and open to the public; seating is limited, so please come early to  ensure admittance.  For planning purposes, the event is expected to last between 60 and 90 minutes.

Please come out and join us for this exciting event and help us spread the word!

Second Screening of Oceans this Friday!

Thanks for everyone who was able to make it out to our screening of Disneynature's "Oceans" last Friday night.

We apologize to those that were turned away due to our reaching of maximum capacity; unfortunately the American Memorial Park venue we use can only seat so many, and the movie ended up being so popular that we could not legally allow anyone else in the theater.

However, due to its popularity, we will be doing a second screening of the film this Friday night at 6:00pm at the American Memorial Park visitors center.  So, if you missed it the first time around or would like to share it with us again, please come out!

For your planning purposes, the film is 80minutes long and will start promptly at 6:00pm.

Sharkwater on KSPN Thursday!

In anticipation of the legislature's vote on a shark-fining ban in the CNMI (details here), KSPN will be screening the film Sharkwater at 6:30pm this Thursday (Jan. 6th).  Regular attendees of the First Friday Film program will remember that we screened this film in August of last year to an over-capacity crowd at AMP.

Last night, KSPN ran a piece as part of their evening news about the shark bill, that featured an interview with the director of the film, Rob Stewart (the entire program can be viewed here).  During the interview, Stewart reaffirmed his intentions to visit the CNMI later this month in response to efforts of Kathy Pagapular and her San Vicente 3rd grade class, who wrote to Stewart about their dedication to shark conservation following the viewing of his film (more details here).

Please help us in spreading the word about this television event.  You can view the trailer for the film by clicking on the banner below, and you can read our press release on the film here.

KSPN will be running stories on the evening news related to the screening of the film and progress of the fining bill all week, so stay tuned!

MMRN Members to Speak After Disney’s 'Oceans'

To kick off 2011, First Friday Films will be screening the Disneynature film “Oceans” at 6:30pm on January 7^th at the American Memorial Park visitor’s center.

At the event, members of the Marine Mammal Response Network (MMRN) will speak about the whales, dolphins, and other marine mammals that are found in CNMI waters and how our community can contribute to our knowledge of and support the conservation of these animals.

Come out early to visit our lobby exhibits and to visit the Pacific Historic Park bookstore (proceeds from which support the park's community programs)

OCEANS to play first Friday in January

Disney’s OCEANS will be featured at the next First Friday Films event – the first film for 2011. Bring the whole family to enjoy this beautifully shot movie on Friday, Jan. 7 at 6:30 p.m. at American Memorial Park.

Nearly three-quarters of the Earth’s surface is covered by water and OCEANS boldly chronicles the mysteries that lie beneath. Directors Jacques Perrin and Jacques Cluzaud dive deep into the very waters that sustain all of mankind—exploring the harsh reality and the amazing creatures that live within. Narrated by Pierce Brosnan and featuring spectacular never—before—seen imagery captured by the latest underwater technologies, OCEANS offers an unprecedented look beneath the sea in a powerful motion picture.

The Pacific Historic Parks (formerly the Arizona Memorial Museum Association) Bookstore, located inside the visitor’s center, will be open until 8:30 p.m. All proceeds go to community education programs.

First Friday Films is a monthly film series brought to you through a partnership with the National Park Service and the Division of Environmental Quality (DEQ), with generous support from community groups such as the Mariana Islands Nature Alliance (MINA).

For planning purposes, the movie runs about 80 minutes long. As always, “First Friday Films” is free and open to the public. Subscribe to this blog for regular updates on upcoming events.