Alpenglow Sports Tailgate Talk #2: Patagonia’s “Blue Heart” and “Takayna”

October 25, 2018 • Tahoe City
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Alpenglow Sports will be hosting screenings of Patagonia’s environmental films Blue Heart and Takayna on October 25, 2018 at 7pm. Tickets can be reserved at alpenglowsports.com or bought at the door night of.

Takayna

Takayna / Tarkine in northwestern Tasmania is home to one of the last undisturbed tracts of Gondwanan rainforest in the world, and one of the highest concentrations of Aboriginal archaeology in the southern hemisphere. Despite remaining largely the same as when dinosaurs roamed the planet, this unique place is currently at the mercy of destructive extraction industries, including logging and mining. Presented by Patagonia Films, Takayna is told through the experiences of a trail running doctor and a relentless environmentalist. Weaving together the conflicting narratives of activists, locals and Aboriginal communities, this documentary unpacks the complexities of modern conservation and challenges us to consider the importance of our last truly wild places.

Blue Heart

Patagonia’s latest documentary film, Blue Heart, depicts the fight to protect Europe’s last wild rivers and brings international awareness to a potential environmental disaster in Europe. The Balkan Peninsula between Slovenia and Albania is home to the last wild rivers in Europe where more than 3,000 proposed hydropower projects threaten to destroy the culture and ecology of this forgotten region. If fierce local opposition fails, 20,000 kilometers of pristine sparkling creeks, raging tributaries and swift, braided currents of the last undammed watersheds on the continent will be forever damaged by thousands of dams and diversions—at a time when dams are being decommissioned throughout much of the developed world.

Local activists living along the shores of these rivers and European NGOs such as RiverWatch are fighting against government corruption and foreign investment. Blue Heart documents the battle to protect Albania’s Vjosa River, the largest undammed river in Europe; the effort to save the endangered Balkan Lynx in Macedonia, and the months-long fight by women of Kruščica, Bosnia and Herzegovina, who are protesting day and night to save their community’s only source of drinking water.

“With the deluge of proposed hydropower dams and diversions in the Balkan Peninsula we are looking at what could be irreversible environmental destruction, but there is very little awareness of this issue in Europe or globally,” stated Ryan Gellert, Patagonia General Manager, EMEA. “We hope that this film will bring international attention to the local communities fighting to protect the free-flowing rivers they rely on and educate people about why hydropower dams are an outdated, dirty technology.”

“I believe this wild place requires and deserves protection. To destroy it, especially for an outmoded and expensive technology, is a waste of money and a moral travesty,” says Yvon Chouinard, Patagonia, Inc. founder

Created by Patagonia, in partnership with NGOs from across the Balkan region and throughout Europe, and directed by Britton Caillouette, the film is a powerful moment in the larger ongoing effort to raise global awareness for the Save the Blue Heart of Europe campaign . In the film and throughout the campaign, Patagonia asks people to act now and sign an online petition to put pressure on foreign developers and banks, who are funding dam-building projects, including within protected areas.

Join us at Alpenglow Sports for the Tahoe premiere of Blue Heart and Takayna on Thursday October 25^th. Doors open at 6:30pm.  Tickets are $5.00 and can be purchased at the door or online. Alcohol proceeds to benefit Tahoe Food Hub!

About Patagonia

Founded by Yvon Chouinard in 1973, Patagonia is an outdoor company based in Ventura, California. A Certified B Corp, Patagonia’s mission is to build the best product, cause no unnecessary harm and use business to inspire and implement solutions to the environmental crisis. The company is recognized internationally for its commitment to authentic product quality and environmental activism, contributing $90 million to date in grants and in-kind donations. www.patagonia.com

About Britton Caillouette

Britton Caillouette has been making films in the outdoors for over a decade. A student of history with a keen eye for photography and a love for challenging production situations, he brings a unique style of visual storytelling and humanity to his stories. Britton directed his first documentary in war-torn West Africa while an undergraduate at Stanford University and has won awards for his work in both film and advertising including a Cannes Lion.

About the Tailgate Talks

The Tailgate Talks have evolved at Alpenglow Sports over the past 10 years, but the principle of the nights remains the same; to bring the greater North Lake Tahoe community together to learn about and celebrate the various aspects of the mountains that we all love, at little to no cost. Bringing in a series of speakers and athletes passionate about their respective sports, the environment, and the greater community, the Tailgate Talks are the ultimate way to come together and connect with our neighbors. We look forward to seeing you there!

About Alpenglow Sports

Alpenglow Sports is an original California Mountain Shop that for over 39 years has provided locals and visitors with inspiration, local knowledge, and the best equipment to enjoy the great outdoors. Based in Tahoe City, Alpenglow Sports takes pride in being community-minded and socially and environmentally responsible to ensure Lake Tahoe stays one of the best places to play, visit, and live in California.  For additional information, please contact Brendan Madigan at Alpenglow Sports, 530.583.6917, or brendan@alpenglowsports.com