globalbriefs
News and resources to inspire concerned citizens to
work together in building a healthier, stronger society
that works for all.
Earth Ambassadors
Filmmakers Activate
Environmental Awareness
Disney’s Tinker Bell may be Earth’s most
appealing spokespixie, having been
named the United Nations Honorary
Ambassador of Green prior to the screen-
ing of Walt Disney Pictures’ animated
film, Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure, Multiple Faiths
late last year. She’ll likely be on hand for Many Americans Mix
this year’s Disney documentary debut of Oceans on Earth Day, April 22, and she’s
Western, Eastern, New Age
in good company.
Beliefs
The top 10 environmental documentaries of 2009 hail from around the world, The latest poll by the Pew Research
aimed to shock, entertain and inspire humanity to make a difference. They exam- Center’s Forum on Religion &
ine everything from the negative effects of America’s industrial agriculture system Public Life finds that one-third of
and the rising domination of the petrochemical industry to the threatened liveli- Americans attend religious services
hood of trash-recycling entrepreneurs and people’s right to safe drinking water. at more than one place, while a
quarter of us sometimes attend
For details on 2009’s best, visit mnn.com (Mother Nature Network) and search religious services of a faith differ-
“top films,” which also pulls up a look at what might be the top 10 environmental ent from our own. Sixty percent
activist films of all time. attend at churches or houses of
worship; other locations include
houses, schools, restaurants, hotels,
parks and campgrounds. Some 38
percent attend at least once a week
and 34 percent once or twice a
month or a few times a year; 27
percent say they seldom or never
attend religious services.
Although the United States
is an overwhelmingly Christian
country, between 23 and 26 per-
cent of the adults polled also say
they believe in a tenet of Eastern or
New Age spirituality: reincarnation;
yoga as a spiritual practice; spiritual
energy located in physical things;
or astrology. Nearly three in 10 say
they have felt in touch with some-
one who has died.
In 2009, half of Americans
polled said they have had “a reli-
gious or mystical experience, that
is a moment of religious or spiritual
awakening.” In 1962, only 22 per-
cent reported having had such an
experience.
Source: PewForum.org
March 2010 9
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