NATURAL HEROES RETURNS, SEEKING INDEPENDENT FILMMAKERS WHO TURN THEIR LENS ON THE PEOPLE WHO ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT

Award-winning series in production for third season on Public Television.

At a time when the popular press was making the declaration that "environmentalism is dead," individuals were quietly turning abandoned lots into organic gardens, preserving critical wildlife habitats, cutting their dependence on the energy grid, and finding non-polluting ways of getting around.

The uplifting stories may have been passed up by much of the mainstream media, but many were captured by film-makers and shared on Natural Heroes, a public television series that debuted in 2004. The first two seasons of Natural Heroes aired on PBS affiliates across the United States, into Canada and Puerto Rico, and gained two Telly Awards. Season III is scheduled for release in Fall 2007 — and that means the producers are accepting films for potential inclusion now.

Independent film-makers are invited to visit the series website for submission guidelines, as are organizations working on environmental, social justice, and sustainability issues. While past episodes have featured films on everything from wetland preservation to the benefits of ecotourism, environmental justice to the international animal trade, and urban redevelopment to the conversion of used French fry oil into automobile fuel, the producers encourage potential contributors to think beyond the traditional definition of "environment" and consider the subject of individual involvement, personal empowerment, and social change as the theme.

The series evolved out of a partnership between KRCB-TV, a Bay area public television station, and GreenTreks Network, a Philadelphia-based nonprofit communications group whose mission is "telling stories that change the world." Their shared vision of programming that inspires optimism and involvement led to the creation of Natural Heroes, which has not only provided a national platform for the message that one person really can make a difference, but has given exposure to films that audiences would not otherwise have the opportunity to see — and brought attention to issues that may have been ignored in the past.

General Hydroponics, the leading innovator in the field of hydroponic technology worldwide, has been a major underwriter of Natural Heroes since its debut, and has committed to supporting the series into the third season. "I am thrilled to align my company with an endeavor that I truly value, says Lawrence L. Brooke, President of General Hydroponics. "Natural Heroes is about ecology, love of the earth, and respect for God's gift to us ... the Garden of Eden. The shows are winners and reflect my feelings and values."

An exciting new development for Season III is the addition of the Sierra Club as a major sponsor. Carl Pope, Executive Director of Sierra Club, is proud to associate America's oldest, largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization with the series. "Sierra Club believes that collectively and as individuals, people have both the power and the responsibility to protect our planet," he noted in announcing the sponsorship. "Natural Heroes is a unique and inspiring program that celebrates individuals making a major impact on their communities around the world."

Film-makers are encouraged to visit the series' web site, www.naturalheroes.org, for submission guidelines or to contact Valerie Landes at 707-585-8522 or naturalheroes@krcb.org. The web site also offers season one and two lineups, streaming videos, airtimes, promotional materials, links to producers and featured organizations, and more.

Natural Heroes is a co-production of KRCB-TV and GreenTreks Network, Inc. and is the first nationally distributed series of its kind.

GreenTreks Network Inc.
GreenTreks Network Inc. (GreenTreks) is an Emmy Award-winning nonprofit based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. GreenTreks mission is to make the health of the environment an intrinsic part of everyday life and to inspire individuals to make informed decisions that effect positive environmental change.

KRCB-TV
KRCB serves the San Francisco Bay Area and provides both television and radio programming. KRCB was created in order to encourage full participation in society and community, and provides educational, informational and cultural telecommunication services in partnership with its community.