Media & Policy Center: Edens Lost & Found
Edens Lost & Found travels to four American cities in search of natural urban ecosystems. This project tells the story of inspired individuals in cities across the country who are improving the quality of life and public health through the restoration of their urban environment. It highlights the importance of community involvement in finding creative and lasting solution to restore our great cities.
Focusing on Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia and Seattle — four cities that face a range of demographic, economic and environmental challenges — this special documentary series shows how integrated resource planning combined with local community support have come together with bold strategies offering hope to our great American cities. Many of the problems these cities are confronting pose similar challenges to other metropolitan areas — of all sizes — across America. And there is much to be learned from the solutions they are finding.
Showcasing strategies that contribute to a sustainable urban ecosystem — including open space and public parks, urban forestry, watershed management, public art, waste disposal, recycling, green architecture and mass transit alternatives — Edens Lost & Found presents the integrated "best practices" that are making a significant difference in these four cities. It reminds us that America's cities are for their people. The human need for connection is a fundamental part of a healthy urban ecosystem, and the act of bringing people together to be part of the solution is a critical component in finding our lost Edens.
The original Edens Lost & Found project, broadcast nationally on PBS in 2006 and 2007, included four one-hour programs, a book published by Chelsea Green, two academic symposia, a 20-unit interdisciplinary academic courseware for high school and college supported by a series of twenty 20-minute videos, all introducing the myriad aspects of sustainability to their audiences. We are currently developing a second season of programs — Edens Lost & Found Overseas — that will present innovative "best practices" from around the world that can be adopted in cities throughout America.
Visit the Edens Lost & Found web site at http://www.edenslostandfound.org.
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Reviews of
Edens Lost & Found: "The ordinary Americans profiled in this PBS series, book, and Web site aren't just improving their own neighborhoods by building parks, cleaning up rivers, and installing public art. Inspiring examples from Chicago, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and Seattle show how people can rediscover the natural attributes that made their cities desirable to settle in the first place." — Jennifer Hattam, Sierra Magazine "The inspiring story of ordinary citizens in four great American cities — Chicago, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, and Seattle — who have stepped forward to improve the quality of life in their communities. Filmmakers and authors Harry Wiland and Dave Bell highlight practical solutions and models for urban transformation that go beyond pollution prevention to tackle the challenge of improving the quality of life in cities for ourselves and future generations." — Chelsea Green Publishing "Ordinary people cooperating to re-green city streets, oversee eco-friendly watershed management, create rooftop and urban gardens, and restore parks. There's hope yet!" — Nathalie Jordi, Plenty Magazine "They might be small acts of do-goods but together America's citizens are making a difference. Reading the enthusiastic and refreshing stories may inspire you to knock on your neighbours' doors and get them to join you to grow a vegetable garden and cover your building with solar panels." — Treehugger |
