FICMA 2015
1. BANKING NATURE (Francia - 54') Monday 9 November from 9 to 10 h Aula Magna
We investigate the commercialization of the natural world. Protecting our planet has become big business with companies promoting new environmental markets. This involves species banking, where investors buy up vast swathes of land, full of endangered species, to enable them to sell ‘nature credits'. Companies whose actions destroy the environment are now obliged to buy these credits and new financial centres have sprung up, specializing in this trade. Many respected economists believe that the best way to protect nature is to put a price on it. But others fear that this market in nature could lead to companies having a financial interest in a species' extinction. There are also concerns that - like the subprime mortgage crisis of 2008 - the market in nature credits is bound to crash. And there are wider issues at stake. What guarantees do we have that our natural inheritance will be protected? And should our ecological heritage be for sale?
from 12:30 to 13 h. Aula de Graus
Flor de la Mar follows archaeologist Jorge Armand as he travels to Cubagua, a faraway Venezuelan island and home of the ruins of Nueva Cádiz, the first European city built in South America. In 1515, Nueva Cádiz was a slaving centre based on pearl exploitation. 20 years later the pearl beds were depleted and the island was abandoned. Currently the only guardians of this heritage site are the fishermen, who are on the brink of extinction because of deplorable living conditions.
In 2007, hope was returned to this community when the Chavez administration promised to revitalize their historic island. "The Cubagua Project" called for the construction of a school, a desalination machine, and employment opportunities through the restoration of the ruins.
Jorge Armand was hired to excavate the ruins and the community was given a small advance to fix their homes. However, two years later the funds for the project mysteriously vanished... Armand was fired halfway through his excavation and the inhabitants were left without hope for the future. Flor de la Mar gives an unprecedented glimpse into this vanishing world through the touching testimonies of the people who've tried to protect this important historical site.
3. EL HOMBRE QUE SALVÓ EL PARAISO (España 60') Wensday 11 November from 13 to 14 h. Aula de Graus
Presentació del DR. Xavier Ferrer mebre de l'IRBio
"El hombre que salvó el paraíso", es un largometraje documental que narra la apasionante historia de la creación del Parque Nacional de Doñana y es, sobre todo, un homenaje a la figura de José Antonio Valverde y a todos aquellos que consiguieron proteger este espacio natural de Andalucía con su gran espíritu generoso, su entusiasmo, lucha y dedicación en pro de la investigación, de la defensa de la naturaleza y la protección de los animales.
4. LES NOSTRES ENERGIES (ESPAÑA - 45') Monday 9 November from 13 to 14 h. Aula Magna
'Les Nostres Energies' wants to make a report of the current energy system in Catalonia, both from the point of view of their poor sustainability as its ademocrática conception. It aims to show the set of environmental impacts that an extractive and concentrated system based on non-renewable sources
5. RAZING TO ZERO (USA - 56') Tuesday 10 November from 13 to 14 h Aula de Graus
Racing To Zero is a quick-moving, upbeat documentary presenting new solutions to the global problem of waste. By simply substituting the word RESOURCE for the word GARBAGE, a culture can be transformed, and a new wealth of industries can emerge.
Three years ago the mayor of San Francisco pledged to achieve zero waste by 2020. Racing to Zero tracks San Francisco's waste stream diversion tactics and presents innovative new solutions to waste. This film documents a surprising, engaging and inspiring race to zero.