Natural Heroes, the series of independent films focused on people making a difference for the environment, was recognized for outstanding achievement in Public/Current Affairs Programming at the Northern California Emmy Awards held on May 12 at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco.

Natural Heroes was one of 80 entries to receive an Emmy statuette from among a record 930 submissions. The 13-part series was created by GreenTreks Network and KRCB-TV as a way for filmmakers to reach the public with inspiring stories that show the power of individuals in changing the world.

“The environment is riding a wave of popularity with the media at the moment,” said Maria Erades, Executive Director of GreenTreks Network, “and I think that’s great. This Emmy underscores the growing public interest and the quality of programming on the topic out there. Most importantly, it expresses an appreciation for the people who are working for our planet’s future, whether they’re cleaning up and greening abandoned urban lots, fighting to preserve oceans and wetlands, or going to extraordinary lengths to protect species that are critical to the balance of the natural world.”

GreenTreks has been celebrating the people who are making a difference for the environment since the first episode of its groundbreaking GreenWorks series began airing on Pennsylvania community cable stations in 1997. GreenWorks was sponsored by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.

This is GreenTreks’ second regional Emmy: the first was awarded by the mid-Atlantic Chapter for GreenWorks in the Outstanding Public Information Series category in 2000. GreenTreks other programs include Life on the Delaware (currently in national public television distribution by APT), Wired: A Day in the Life of Energy; Think Globally, Eat Locally; and Raycing the Sun.

“This recognition comes at a good time,” emphasized Ms. Erades, “because we’re in the process of finalizing the submissions for Season Three of Natural Heroes. This year, we have reviewed more films than ever before and have put together a really eclectic lineup of excellent episodes. We expect more stations to pick up the series for airing in the coming year and hope that an increase in viewership translates into even more people becoming ‘natural heroes’ themselves...”

The producers are delighted to welcome General Hydroponics back as a major underwriter—the innovator in the field of hydroponics technology worldwide has supported the series from the start—and are pleased that The Sierra Club, America's oldest, largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, has also signed on to support Season Three, which is scheduled for release this fall. Natural Heroes is available free of charge to public television stations across the country.

Season three films include:

· Powershift. Hosted and narrated by Cameron Diaz, this film circles the globe to document how energy intersects with our daily lives and some of the alternatives available today.

· South Central Farm. This Sheila Laffey production follows a diverse group of Los Angeles residents (including Daryl Hannah, Joan Baez, and a host of other Hollywood insiders) in their united effort to protect the destruction of a community farm.

· Wings Over the Wild. Travel the world with volunteer pilots who spend their spare team supporting international animal conservation efforts.

· Texas Gold. The award-winning story of a fourth-generation fisherwoman who took on industrial giants when she learned that her home, Calhoun County , Texas had been named one of the most toxic places in America.

· Birdsong and Coffee. An intimate look at the connections between the coffee we drink, biodiversity, and quality of life in other parts of the world.

More information can be found at the Natural Heroes website.

5/25/2007