Contact: Melanie Balinas, 979-458-9399,mbalinas@gmail.com
COLLEGE STATION – “Virunga,” the internationally acclaimed film uncovering the deadly confrontation of natural resource extraction and community interests in one of Africa’s world heritage sites, will be screened at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 11 at the Palace Theater in Bryan.
Coordinators said the event celebrates the designation by the Texas A&M Board of Regents of “Conflict and Development” as a center of the university as well as of the U.S. Agency for International Development and Howard G. Buffett Foundation, according to officials.
The Palace Theater is located at 105 S. Main St. in Bryan. The documentary screening is open to the public.
A catered reception follows at The Village Cafe in downtown Bryan,featuring art, wine and beer, and a special presentation on development projects in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The reception will include a showcase of Conflict and Development research and projects in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, specially commissioned art from local artist Scott McDermott, and a presentation from Kim Chaix, regional director from the Virunga Fund, Inc., according to organizers.
The film reveals the experience of four committed individuals endangering their own lives to preserve Virunga National Park’s territories and wildlife. The documented experience is now a call to action to save the park and advocate on its behalf.
“Virunga” exposes the struggle, conflict and terror for the people in this region and the greed associated with their rivals.
More details can be found at www.condevcenter.org/virunga or on their Facebook page, www.facebook.com/ConDevCenter.
To learn more about “Virunga”, please visit www.virungamovie.com or www.virungamovie.com/#trailer to watch the film trailer.
The Center on Conflict and Development at Texas A&M University seeks to improve the effectiveness of development programs and policies for conflict-affected and fragile countries through multidisciplinary applied research.
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