Divest!: The Climate Movement on Tour

Gr 9 Up—This documentary follows the "Do the Math" tour. Author and environmental activist Bill McKibben traveled the country to encourage colleges, churches, civic institutions, and governments to refrain from investing in fossil fuel companies. McKibben is one of the founders of 350.org, an environmental organization that aims to create a safer climate for the world. The film breaks apart the "Do the Math" stage show; viewers see footage from the tour bus, backstage, and the videos used in the presentation. The film does a good job of covering the grueling life on a tour bus as well as the devotion the folks at 350.org feel toward their cause. The editing is snappy, and the pace is quick, but the movie is halfway over before viewers are given the main chunk of information in context. While the editing and camera work are energetic, some of the speakers and musicians may not grab high schoolers' attention. Several speakers are prominent figures in their own communities but are not as well known nationally, and many of the musicians are folk singers—not a genre currently with large teen appeal.