AMAZON GOLD. Screening and Q&A

AMAZON GOLD. A journey that bears witness to the apocalyptic destruction of the rain-forest in the pursuit of illegally mined gold. The result of the devastation will create consequences on a global scale. Ron Haviv and Donovan Webster, two journalists who normally cover war and human rights issues travel along Peru¿s Madre de Dios River to reveal the savage unraveling of pristine rainforest. The men are guided by Peruvian environmental activist and biologist, Enrique Ortiz, who is uniquely qualified to point out the heedless exploitation of the land for minor gain. Director Reuben Aaronson questions local miners who are eager to scrape together enough money to start a business or feed their family, not realizing the consequences to their health and homeland. Vulnerable trees, over one thousand years old, as well as countless species of plants, animals and insects, both known and unknown, fall victim to the annihilation. An animated Agouti springs to life to tell the story of his ecosystem, as the only species to crack open the Brazil nut to repopulate the apex forest tree. The valuable Amazon rainforest is not only being stripped of life, but also forever poisoned with mercury, a by-product of the illegal mining practices. Left in the wake of almost surreal images of once extraordinary beauty turned into hellish wasteland, Amazon Gold reaffirms the right of the rain-forest to exist as a repository of priceless life and biodiversity.