Arctic awareness

The new film "Arctic Tale" helps ease into the topic of global warning's dangers

Rising tides could wipe out Waikiki. Prolonged drought could threaten local farms. Stronger hurricanes could strike. And temperature changes could lead to increased extinction of endangered plants and animals.

'Day of Discussion' "Hawaii's Role in Climate Change: How You Can Make a Difference": » Place: Kahala Mall Center Court » Keiki crafts: Inspired by the new movie "Arctic Tale," 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday » Presentation: By Sierra Club's Jeff Mikulina, 2:30 to 3 p.m.

These are just a few reasons behind Jeff Mikulina's dedication to raising awareness of global warming -- offering some simple solutions that can make an enormous difference.

Mikulina, director of the Sierra Club, Hawaii Chapter, regularly gives presentations based on Al Gore's "An Inconvenient Truth" and now is seizing on another film, "Arctic Tale," as a means to reach a broader audience.

"The film is motivational in an indirect way," he said. "It's not preachy at all. You want to help these critters. You can't help but fall in love with these characters."

The film, narrated by Queen Latifah in a fablelike fashion, opens on Aug. 17. Acting as a spokesman for Paramount Classics, Mikulina will be giving an abbreviated version of his global-warming presentation before the preview screening of the film on Saturday at Kahala Mall.

The film centers on Nalu, a young polar bear, and Seela, a walrus, and the harsh realities they face in the Arctic due to climate change. "In the film, the animals are experiencing things that their parents didn't deal with. ... It forces the new generation to do bold and courageous things," Mikulina said.

He is hoping that families receive this message and make bold moves on their own. "Impacts like this are happening all over the world."

Parents can involve their children by making subtle changes around the home, he said. "Turn off the TV and have the kids jump on a bike for a while or just get outside," Mikulina explained. "They could change light bulbs as a family project and track how much money they save ... make it a game."

10 Ways to Make a Mark Each Hawaii resident averages 18 tons of carbon dioxide greenhouse gas emissions annually. Here are ways to reduce that tonnage: 1. Replace seven 100-watt bulbs with 15-watt compact fluorescent bulbs. Save 1 ton and $217 to $369. 2. Bike to work three days per week, or telecommute. Save 1 ton and $328. 3. Convert to solar water heating. A three-person household saves nearly 1 ton and $600 to $1,020. 4. Trade in your SUV for a fuel-efficient hybrid. Save 2.5 tons and $803. 5. Use a clothesline instead of a dryer. A typical household would save 1 ton and $250 to $387. 6. Install a photovoltaic system and earn a $5,000 tax credit. Save 7.5 tons in average family usage. 7. Skip a trip to the West Coast. Save 1 ton. 8. Take TheBus one-third of the time. Save 1 ton. 9. Recycle 2,500 cans, 3,000 bottles or 500 pounds of paper. Save 1 ton. 10. Go on a Sierra Club work trip and plant 40 trees. Help sequester (absorb) 1 ton. Source: www.risingtidehawaii.com