Preview of Planet in Peril: Battle Lines
[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/06/04/art.rwandadance.jpg caption="People sing and dance outside the Rwanda Women's Network Centre in Kigali in January 2007."]
Mary Anne Fox
Producer
Here We Go Again...
I feel like we just finished last year's Planet in Peril and already here I am with cameramen Phil and Neil in Northern Rwanda filming Planet in Peril: Battle Lines.
The three of us are what you can call the "advance team". When possible, we get to the locations early to begin filming, go over logistics and meet with possible characters to interview. I always enjoy this time to really soak in our surroundings – the people, the landscape, and the food.
We're here in Rwanda to tell the story on how the conservation of wildlife can actually help rebuild a country. The Mountain Gorillas have done just that for Rwanda, despite its tragic history which left the country in shambles in 1994. In 2007 alone, the Mountain Gorillas brought in more than 7 million U.S. dollars; making tourism the third largest generator of foreign capital for this small country.
Over the next week, we'll be spending time in the villages impacted by the ecotourism industry, talk to guides who put their life on the line during the genocide to protect the gorillas and perhaps one of the most incredible opportunities ever – time in the forest with one of the most magnificent and endangered animals on the face of the planet.
Editor's note: You can read about this and other Planet in Peril stories here.
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Filed under: Planet in Peril |
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MaryAnne,
Work hard so we can see you soon!! Sounds all very exciting and amazing to be a part of. Love ya and be safe!!
THank god for cashing in tourism. That is why the government of Rwanda should care extensively about the Gorilla.
Hello Mary Anne,
I have to admit, I have yet to see an episode of Planet In Peril. I've seen portions of it, but from what I have seen, only make me want to see more. I do look forward to watching tonight and catching up. You guys keep up the good work and be safe.
JPHowell, NY
Mary Anne.
The PIP documentary was breathe-taking last year! Anderson, Jeff, hSanjay & the crew, did an incredible job! I can't wait to see where we go next in PIP: 2 Looking forward to it!
Hope your having fun frolocking with the Gorillas!
Take Care,
Michelle
MaryAnne – keep up the good work
We miss you back at home Mary Anne! I hope you and your team are having a great experience.
I think Hillary is hoping Obama get assasinated so that is why she is nto dropping out, she rather suspends her candidacy so if anything goes wrong with Obama, she'd be the next one in line. She probably hoping for that to happen soshe can fulfill her dreams. imagine what people would dp to get in the White House or to achieve their drams fro themselves, but not for the country. "Ask not what your country can do for you, but ask what can you do for your country?"
I love the fact that you guys are back in Rwanda. I wrote my entire senior thesis on mountain gorillas. Can't wait for PIP2!!
I loved your first Planet In Peril program,and have watched it a few times now.
I cannot wait to see part 2,and look forward to seeing updates about it here on the blog.
Yay! I don't have anything different to say from everything above my comment, so I will have to settle with this. I LOVE watching PIP, I have the episodes saved on my computer and watch them all the time, even more than I watch Planet Earth...which is really saying something. Great work guys, I really look forward to this new work. 🙂
Mary Anne: It’s still hard to believe that just this past April was the 13th anniversary of the 1994 Genocide. It will be interesting to see how Rwanda has changed. The concept of preserving the Mountain Gorillas gets that much more interesting when you think about how increasing the gorilla population increases ecotourism which should benefit not only the gorillas but the struggling country.
The Genocide created so much poverty and I know that it has been a rough road for the women and children. The pic of the Rwanda Women’s Network reminded me of a program (Rwanda Knits) that I have been following. I am simply amazed that through the years, this program has helped women, who in some cases cannot read or write, learn to knit and to run business cooperatives that are all owned and ran by the women themselves. I hope this is a sign of the planet slowly getting out of peril. Looking forward to your report to find out.
Jolene, St. Joseph, MI
Love the Planet in Peril Series. Glad to see it continues. The Gorillas are always fun to hear about!
i loved the first planet in peril and i believe the second one will be great as well. but also the fact that you guys are doing something like this is beyond wonderful...keep up the wonderful job!!!!!
I'm so happy to hear that you guys are in Rwanda for PIP2 !
I'm planning on going to Rwanda myself at one point...plane tickets are thousands of dollars, so...
I follow the rangers of the Virunga National Park on the DRC border. The have an excellent website : wildlifedirect.org. The rangers blog about the progress and the problems they're facing there.
I can't wait to see PIP 2, and I wish I could be a part of it.
My Native American heritage makes me especially interested in wildlife. My drawings reflect that. My Dad taught me a lot about wildlife. I know a lot of bird calls, animal sounds, etc. He could actually make the sounds himself with his mouth but I was not that good at it. Of course he may have used that in the military also. Now I have noticed a lot of animals have migrated here to Alabama that I did not see before. I used to never see coyotes when I was young or armadillos among others. It would be interesting to have a PIP show about how some animals are migrating to other areas. My favorite show was the one about Yellowstone. I have always wanted to go there. I am very excited about the next Planet in Peril!
Glad to hear that there is going to be another Planet in Peril and that we get another chance to see those marvelous mountain gorillas. I still wonder about the gorillas in the Congo and if any of the rangers have been able to return there and see how those gorillas fared since the rebels took over Virunga in that country.
Annie Kate
Birmingham AL
Hey Mary Anne,
I am so thankful that 360 is continuing their series ,"Planet in Peril."
Peace to the people and the inhabitants of the earth~
As stewards of this magnificient planet we have not done a very effective job. In fact, we have failed miserably.
We have failed other people who are suffering and we have failed to care for this glorious and miraculous planet we call home. Just as our own body is a temple, so is the earth we live.
We must make it healthy again and the only way to do that is awareness and education.
Thanks so much for caring about the "diseases" of our sick planet.
We need a overdose of caring~
Oooooooh, I am so jealous of your impending adventure with the gorillas! I had an amazing connection to a nursing gorilla in the Bronx Zoo Congo experience while I was pregnant. She was almost snuggling with me through the glass...They are more human than a lot of people I've met.... Thank you for keeping us updated. The Rwanda story sounds inspiring- I'm eagarly awaiting PIP2!
I was so glad to see this post and the post by Philip on the 360 blog today! It heightens our anticipation of what is to come with the new Planet in Peril episodes.
It will be nice to see a positive story about how animals and humans can live together and help each other to survive. The story of the mountain gorillas and the people of Rwanda are truly evidence of that.
I have always been a supporter of the mountain gorillas so I cannot wait to see new footage of them! According to DFGFI five more baby gorillas have been born so far this year. The trouble is every time I see a story about them I want to visit them!
I look forward to the new Planet in Peril reports!
Jo Ann
North Royalton, Ohio
I'm happy to read that you're spending more time covering the mountain gorillas and the impact wildlife has on communities. World leaders throughout history have come and gone (and will continue to do so). However, nature is something that while constantly changing is our true equalizer in this world. We all have to survive together using the resources provided for now and the future no matter what our religious or political affiliations are. We also have to do our part to protect our planet in anyway possible (I have and plan to "adopt" mountain gorillas through the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International every Christmas to do mine over there-you can't just talk the talk as far as I'm concerned). I do wish time for Anderson to go back and gorilla watch as a late birthday gift to himself. After this primary season, you all deserve vacations.
When will Anderson be traveling for PIP2? We will certainly be expecting him to be airing live from that locale!
It will be a very welcomed program on ac360. The election is important, but the world and all the news in it, are still going on each and everyday. I look forward to seeing what Planet in Peril 2 has to show us viewers.
Lorie Ann, Buellton, Calif.
I was wondering when you all would start blogging about PIP2. I am glad that we are now getting a heads up on what and where Anderson, Sanjay and Lisa will be doing and where they will be going. Can't wait to see their adventures! I hope that they air live from location as they did last year. That was great!
Cindy...Ga.