National Geographic Society and Nat Geo WILD Name Big Cats Initiative Sister Schools for 2012-2013 School Year

U.S. Students to Partner with African Students to ‘Cause An Uproar’
And Raise Awareness about Declining Populations of Big Cats in the Wild

WASHINGTON (Sept. 6, 2012)—Four public schools in New York City, Philadelphia, St. Louis and Salt Lake City have been selected to participate in a unique cross-cultural initiative, National Geographic’s Big Cats Sister School Program. Beginning in fall 2012, the Big Cats Sister School Program will pair the U.S. schools with schools in Kenya, Tanzania and Botswana under the shared theme of big cat conservation.

Students in all four countries will learn why big cats are important to the ecosystem and how they each perceive big cats in their own countries, using photos, letters, essays, stories, virtual assemblies and other forms of digital media to connect. The student groups will also interact with National Geographic conservationists and Nat Geo WILD television channel talent to raise awareness about the severe decline of the big cat population in the wild. The U.S. students will create and conduct high-profile activities in their schools and communities to spread the word about the significance and scope of this crisis.

Big cats are victims of conflict with humans and habitat loss or degradation. National Geographic’s Big Cats Initiative is a long-term commitment to halt the decline of these iconic animals in the wild through on-the-ground conservation projects, education and a global public awareness campaign. The Big Cats Sister School Program, launched by the National Geographic Society and Nat Geo WILD, provides teachers and students an ongoing opportunity to “Cause An Uproar” to help save big cats throughout the school year as well as engage in a cultural exchange.

“This program will help connect children around the globe on the important topic of big cat conservation,” said Alexander Moen, National Geographic’s vice president, Explorer Programs. “We need future generations to recognize the importance of saving our planet’s predators so that 40 years from now they won’t look back on lions the way we now look back on dinosaurs.”

The four U.S. schools were selected through an application process in which they highlighted how they would raise awareness of big cats within their schools and communities. The schools are:

P.S. 205 The Fiorello H. LaGuardia School, Bronx, New York City Department of Education – District 10Hill-Freedman World Academy, School District of PhiladelphiaCompton Drew Investigative Learning Center, St. Louis Public School DistrictClayton Middle School, Salt Lake City School District

The four schools in Kenya, Tanzania and Botswana were identified by National Geographic field researchers. They are:

Lpus Leluai Primary School, Westgate Conservancy, KenyaLoibor Siret Primary School, Loibor Siret, TanzaniaMalinzaga Primary School, Ruaha, TanzaniaGudigwa Primary School, Gudigwa, Botswana

The Big Cats Sister School Program is a unique interactive, educational and cause-related community service learning project. It is geared toward enhancing school spirit among participating students by connecting children with other children in a faraway part of the world. The program provides much needed school supplies to schools and children in Africa and demonstrates support, charity and goodwill in these regions. Throughout the school year, the Big Cats Sister Schools will utilize free online multimedia activities and education resources provided by National Geographic Education and a variety of programming elements from Nat Geo WILD’s big cats-related films. Students will conduct awareness activities in their schools and communities to “Cause An Uproar” to help save big cats.

“This initiative is the perfect next step in our commitment to this important cause,” said Geoff Daniels, executive vice president and general manager of Nat Geo WILD. “Nat Geo WILD is dedicated to family-friendly programming, including our Big Cats programming. We fully expect the Big Cats Sister School Program will enhance student learning about a significant global issue and inspire students to use their collective voice to raise awareness about the dramatic decline of these magnificent creatures.”

The principals of the four newly selected U.S. Big Cats Sister Schools expressed strong commitment to the program. Anthony F. Majewski, principal of Hill-Freedman World Academy, said, “We are thrilled that our school was chosen for this unique and meaningful opportunity. I anticipate our students will be thoroughly engaged in all aspects of the Big Cats Sister School Program. The project is an ideal fit for Hill-Freedman’s core values to make connections with diverse groups of people and become more international minded. The project will provide us all important insights into the plight of students in Africa and will cast a much needed light on the critical issue of the decline of big cats in the wild.”

For more information, visit www.causeanuproar.org.

National Geographic Big Cats Initiative

The National Geographic Society is one of the world’s largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations. Founded in 1888 to “increase and diffuse geographic knowledge,” the Society’s mission is to inspire people to care about the planet. It reaches more than 400 million people worldwide each month through its official journal, National Geographic, and other magazines; National Geographic Channel; television documentaries; music; radio; films; books; DVDs; maps; exhibitions; live events; school publishing programs; interactive media; and merchandise. National Geographic has funded more than 10,000 scientific research, conservation and exploration projects and supports an education program promoting geographic literacy. The Big Cats Initiative is a long-term effort to halt the decline of big cats in the wild. BCI supports efforts to save big cats through assessment efforts, on-the-ground conservation projects, education, economic incentive programs and a global public-awareness campaign. Visit www.causeanuproar.org.

National Geographic Education Programs

National Geographic Education is the educational outreach arm of the National Geographic Society. National Geographic Education brings the rich resources of the Society to its audience of educators and learners as part of its mission to prepare young people to care for the planet. National Geographic Education creates educational materials for young people and the adults who teach them, conducts educational programs for educators and advocates for improved geographic education. Under the auspices of the National Geographic Education Foundation, it has awarded more than $80 million in grants to support efforts to improve geography education in the United States and Canada. For more information, visit NatGeoEd.org.

Nat Geo WILD

For more than 30 years, National Geographic has been the leader in wildlife programming. The networks Nat Geo WILD and Nat Geo WILD HD, launched in 2010, offer intimate encounters with nature’s ferocious fighters and gentle creatures of land, sea and air that draw upon the cutting-edge work of the many explorers, filmmakers and scientists of the National Geographic Society. Part of the National Geographic Channels US, based in Washington, D.C., the networks are a joint venture between National Geographic and Fox Cable Networks. In 2001, National Geographic Channel (NGC) debuted, and 10 years later, Spanish-language network Nat Geo Mundo was unveiled. The Channels have carriage with all of the nation’s major cable, telco and satellite television providers, with Nat Geo WILD currently available in 56 million U.S. homes. Globally, Nat Geo WILD is available in more than 100 million homes in 90 countries and 28 languages. For more information, visit www.natgeowild.com.

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IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF JESUS: A Chronicle of His Life and the Origins of Christianity

WASHINGTON (Sept. 4, 2012)—To more fully comprehend Jesus — the teacher, the leader, the man — one needs to reconstruct the historical, social and cultural conditions of his time so the Gospel stories can be viewed in their proper context. A new book from National Geographic, IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF JESUS: A Chronicle of His Life and the Origins of Christianity (National Geographic Books; ISBN 978-1-4262-0987-1; on sale Nov. 6, 2012; $40; hardcover), by Jean-Pierre Isbouts, offers a fresh examination of Jesus by exploring the people, places, politics and events of his world in which he lived.

This book, based on insights from new archaeological discoveries and geographic and economic studies of the occupied territories of the Roman Empire, especially first-century Palestine, takes readers on a visually engaging journey with Jesus throughout his life.

“To imagine the unique world of Jesus’ ministry, and the particular conditions in which the evangelists wrote their story, is perhaps the greatest challenge to our understanding of the Gospels,” Isbouts writes. “This is why this book aims to transport the reader back to first-century Palestine in order to reconstruct the path that Jesus took — not only in narrative form, but also with scores of maps, ancient artifacts, artwork, and location photography.”

IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF JESUS is divided into four principal segments. Part 1, “The World of Jesus,” provides an overview of the Roman Empire before Jesus’ birth; it then sketches the changes wrought by King Herod in Palestine and re-creates what everyday life would have been like in a small Galilean village such as Nazareth.

Part 2, “The Life of Jesus,” follows closely in Jesus’ footsteps as it traces the journeys of his ministry as recounted in the Gospels, beginning with his activities in Capernaum, his travels throughout Galilee, the journeys to Tyre and Sidon, then finally Jerusalem, where the narrative offers an hour-by-hour reconstruction of the Passion events based on the latest scholarly and archaeological findings.

Part 3, “The Legacy of Jesus,” chronicles the gradual rise of Christian communities in the decades after Jesus’ death. The epilogue, “Walking in the Footsteps of Jesus,” traces the pilgrimage routes to the Holy Land.

The detailed maps that track Jesus’ path through the Holy Land bring each key place to life. Photographs, illustrations and unique period artifacts complement the text and maps. Readers will not only gain a deeper knowledge about Jesus but also will learn about the characters and events that shaped life at that time. Scholars, history buffs, believers, newcomers to biblical history and those intellectually curious about the pivotal figure of Jesus will find the book an invaluable reference and a must-have addition to their libraries.

About the Author

Jean-Pierre Isbouts completed his doctoral program on archaeology and art at the University of Leyden and is currently professor of culture and media studies at Fielding Graduate University in Santa Barbara, Calif. He has written several other books, including National Geographic’s “The Biblical World: An Illustrated Atlas” and “From Moses to Muhammad.” Isbouts has also written four television programs that explore the legacy of the Bible, including the Hallmark television mini-series “The Quest for Peace,” which won the 2005 Gold Aurora Award and the 2005 DeRose-Hinkhouse Award.

About National Geographic Books

National Geographic Books is a global publisher of 125 new books annually in Adult and

Children’s combined, as well as a publisher of digital content and services with more than 50 partners who translate our books.

The National Geographic Society is one of the world’s largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations. Founded in 1888 to “increase and diffuse geographic knowledge,” the Society’s mission is to inspire people to care about the planet. It reaches more than 400 million people worldwide each month through its official journal, National Geographic, and other magazines; National Geographic Channel; television documentaries; music; radio; films; books; DVDs; maps; school publishing programs; live events; interactive media; merchandise; and travel programs. For more information on National Geographic Books, visit facebook.com/NatGeoBooks and nationalgeographic.com/books.

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National Geographic’s All Roads Film Festival to Present 4 Days Of Film, Photography, Music from Vibrant Cultures Worldwide

WASHINGTON (Sept. 5, 2012)—Romance, drama and incisive documentaries from across the globe will be spotlighted in the eighth All Roads Film Festival, the groundbreaking program that offers contemporary stories by or about indigenous and under-represented minority cultures. The 2012 All Roads Film Festival will take place Sept. 27-30 at the National Geographic Society in Washington, D.C. This year’s theme is “Vibrant Cultures from Around the World.”

The four-day event also will include a dance party with L.A.-based, Colombian band Palenke Soultribe; a live mariachi band performance; panel discussions with filmmakers; and a photo exhibit in the courtyard at National Geographic headquarters. The photo exhibit, a collaboration with National Geographic Photo Camp, features images by youth from Chad, Haiti and Burma who worked with National Geographic’s legendary photographers. Award-winning and rising filmmakers will participate in two panel discussions as well as discussions following their film screenings, where they will talk about their careers and the continuing innovation of indigenous filmmaking.

“It’s exciting to see that the artistry and craftsmanship in these films get stronger every year,” said Francene Blythe, director of the National Geographic All Roads Film Project. “This year’s submissions noticeably featured the brighter side of life: inspiring personalities and captivating stories, all presented by some of the most promising filmmakers in the world.”

Some of the festival’s stand-out films are:

Bridge the Gap to Pine Ridge – Filmmaker Chris Bashinelli tells amazing stories of hope and inspiration from South Dakota’s Pine Ridge Reservation. This film will also be part of Bashinelli’s successful Web series, which aims to provide new perspectives from the developing world and foster cross-cultural understanding.Busong (Palawan Fate) – This first feature film from the Palawan community of the Philippines is making its D.C. premiere. It screened at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival Director’s Fortnight, and won awards for Best Director, Best Sound Design and Best Original Music Score at the Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival last year.Lone Samaritan – Making its D.C. premiere, this Israeli film is about a family in crisis after a daughter leaves their reclusive Samaritan sect and becomes a well-known Israeli celebrity. The film has won multiple Best Documentary awards at festivals around the world.Los Descendientes del Jaguar – This documentary catalogues the courtroom triumph of the Sarayaku people over oil exploration that took place on their land without their consent.Mariachi High – “Mariachi High” follows a group of high school students preparing for high-stakes mariachi competitions. The featured students will open the All Roads Film Festival on Sept. 27 with a live mariachi performance in the National Geographic Society courtyard. “Mariachi High” is an All Roads Seed Grant recipient.The Tundra Book – This film documents the life of the Chukchi people, whom very few outsiders have encountered. It won the Russian equivalent of the Academy Award for Best Documentary, a first for indigenous filmmakers in Russia. “The Tundra Book” is an All Roads Seed Grant recipient.Tomorrow We Will See – This upbeat film from promising young director Soraya Umewaka showcases Lebanon’s flourishing arts culture as the country rebuilds after years of war.

Other festival events include:

2012 All Roads Photography Exhibit – A first collaboration with National Geographic Photo Camp, which gives National Geographic’s network of professional photographers the chance to pass on their skills, knowledge and passion to the next generation of aspiring photojournalists around the world.All Roads Dance Party – On Saturday, Sept. 28, All Roads will co-host a dance party with NatGeo Music, which has just added Palenke Soultribe to its label. Palenke Soultribe is a cadre of young Colombian artists rediscovering the roots of their country’s diverse music and refashioning it for dance floors worldwide. The event will be 21+, and libations will be available for purchase.Panel Discussions– “You Can Go Home Again,” on Thursday, Sept. 27, at 1:30 p.m., will feature award-winning directors discussing their decisions to locate their films in their homelands and heartlands. In “Triumph or Tragedy,” on Friday, Sept. 28, at 2:30 p.m., up-and-coming directors will talk about finding emotional balance in their films.

A full festival schedule and ticketing information are available at
http://events.nationalgeographic.com/events/event-series/all-roads-film-festival-washington-dc/.

For the official All Roads Film Festival trailer, go to
http://www.youtube.com/embed/DA0QcpBuGdY.

Tickets for each All Roads film are $10 for the general public and $8 for National Geographic members. Festival passes, which include the Saturday concert, are $100 for the general public and $80 for members. To purchase, order online via the website above, visit the National Geographic ticket office at 1600 M Street N.W., Washington, D.C., or call (202) 857-7700.

The All Roads Film Festival is part of the All Roads Film Project, a National Geographic program created to provide an international platform for indigenous and under-represented minority-culture artists to share cultures, stories and perspectives through the power of film and photography. In addition to providing a venue for their films, All Roads offers its filmmakers and photographers a series of networking opportunities and awards a minimum of 10 film grants a year to support the development and production of film and video projects by or about indigenous and under-represented minority-culture communities. Film grant recipients are considered for inclusion in the All Roads Film Festival and other National Geographic-affiliated broadcast outlets.

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