Climate and Environment: A look at the issues in these new videos from the Library's Media Collection...

An inconvenient truth
[DVD-1367]. 2006. 96 mins.


Former Vice President Al Gore explains the facts of global warming, presents arguments that the dangers of global warning have reached the level of crisis, and addresses the efforts of certain interests to discredit the anti-global warming cause. Between lecture segments, Gore discusses his personal commitment to the environment, sharing anecdotes from his experiences.


Dimming the sun
[DVD-1393]. 2006. 56 mins.

While global warming has been heating up the world, recently scientists were stunned to discover that the sun has actually been growing dimmer, with less and less sunlight reaching earth's surface. Nova unravels this baffling climate detective story.


Journey to Planet Earth

[DVD-1198, DVD-1199, DVD-1200, DVD-1201, DVD-1202, MV-6493, MV-6494, MV-6495, MV-7031]. 2005. 55 mins.


This environmental video series was funded by the National Science Foundation and helps instructors explain to students the science behind today's news headlines that tell of a world that faces increased hunger, water shortages, massive floods, and species extinction because of climate change and sea level rise. This is an on-going PBS television series; additional videos in the series will be acquired as available.

Genetics: The science and the controversies. Take a look at these new videos from the Library's Media Collection...

Making better babies : genetics and reproduction

[DVD-1398]. 2003. 57 mins.

How far should people be allowed to go in trying to have better babies? And whose definition of "better" should prevail? This Fred Friendly Seminar moderated by Dateline NBC correspondent John Hockenberry considers the ethical dilemmas facing individuals and society that grow out of prenatal testing and genetic options that may be available in the future -- such as cloning.

Who gets to know? : genetics and privacy

[DVD-1399]. 2003. 57 mins.

When it comes to genetic testing, how much should a patient be told? If the news is bad, who else should the patient inform? And should such privileged information be made available to employers, insurance companies, and others? This Fred Friendly Seminar moderated by Harvard Law School's Arthur Miller offers a compelling discourse on the far-reaching ethical, social, legal, and economic implications of genetic testing.

Genes on trial : genetics, behavior, and the law

[DVD-1400]. 2003. 57 mins.

Could genetic research stigmatize people who carry a "bad" gene? Could the behavior actually be determined by that gene? If so, then just how free is free will? Moderated by Harvard Law School's Charles Ogletree, this Fred Friendly Seminar scrutinizes social, ethical, and legal issues involving genetic research into undesirable traits such as addiction to alcohol by exploring the relationship between the genetic basis for addiction and the limits of personal responsibility.

Double helix

[DVD-1364]. 2004. 107 mins.

Dramatization ... of the diligent research, creative analysis, and perseverance of James Watson and Francis Crick that led to the discovery (structure of DNA). With the help of their colleague, Maurice Wilkins, they also earned the 1962 Nobel Prize.

Genetics (Series: 100 Greatest Discoveries)

[DVD-1333]. 2005. 46 mins.

Host Bill Nye examines thirteen contributions to the field of genetics in this Discovery Channel University video: Mendel's rules of heredity; Morgan's detection of chromosomal gene location; Beadle and Tatum's "one gene, one enzyme" concept; McClintock's discovery of transposons; acceptance of DNA as the basis of genetic information; Watson and Crick's double helix; Nirenberg's genetic code; discoveries of RNA; Jeffrey's DNA identification technique; and the Human Genome Project.

Genetic engineering

[DVD-1275]. 2002. 20 mins.

Provides an overview of genetics and cloning as they occur both in nature and in the laboratory while addressing the ethical and social implications of genetic engineering. Reviews the basics of genetics and looks at how the Human Genome Project is contributing to progress in medicine. Introduces recombinant DNA technology and shows how it is used to manufacture insulin from human genes. Discusses the principles involved in cloning whole organisms and looks at how Dolly the sheep was successfully produced. Uses a case study involving spinal muscular atrophy to discuss therapeutic cloning.

Interested in human rights issues? Take a look at these new videos from the Library's Media Collection...

Moving the Mountain
[DVD-1389] 2000. 83 min.

Captures the power and passion of the Chinese student demonstrations for democracy in Tiananmen Square, Beijing, China during May 1989.



Born into Brothels
[DVD-1414] 2004. 83 min.

While living in the red light district of Calcutta, documenting life in the brothels, New York-based photographer Zana Briski embarked on a project by which she gave cameras to the children of prostitutes and taught them photography, awakening within them hidden talent and creativity and giving them a means to transform their lives. Winner of over 30 major awards.



Lost Boys of Sudan
[DVD-1395] 2004. 87 min.

The journey of two teenage Sudanese boys, orphaned by their war torn country, who traveled to America looking for a safer environment and learning to cope with the unfamiliar complexities of contemporary American society.



Hotel Rwanda
[DVD-1391] 2004. 122 min.

Based on the true story of Paul Rusesabagina, a five-star-hotel manager who uses his wits and persuasion in striving to save more than 1,200 Tutsis and Hutus from being massacred by the Interahamwe militia during the 1994 Rwandan conflict.