Friday, September 6, 2024

Join Planet Stewards September Book Club Meeting!

NOAA Planet Stewards Newsletter

Have plans this weekend? Make sure they include watching the The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind.

Then join us at 7:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday, September 10th to discuss it at our first Book Club Meeting of the 2024-2025 academic year!

All Are Welcome!

Image of the poster for the film The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind

Join NOAA Planet Stewards at 7:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday, September 10 for our first Book Club discussion of the 2024-2025 academic year! Login information is below.

At our meeting we'll talk about the film The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, a drama written, directed by, and starring Chiwetel Ejiofor. It is based on the memoir of the same name by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer

William Kamkwamba was born in Malawi, a country where magic ruled and modern science was a mystery. It was also a land withered by drought and hunger. But William had read about windmills, and he dreamed of building one that would bring to his small village a set of luxuries that only 2 percent of Malawians could enjoy: electricity and running water. 

His neighbors called him misala - crazy - but William refused to let go of his dreams. With a small pile of once-forgotten science textbooks; some scrap metal, tractor parts, and bicycle halves; and an armory of curiosity and determination, he embarked on a daring plan to forge an unlikely contraption and small miracle that would change the lives around him.

Scroll down to see event discussion questions.

Time: 7:00 PM Eastern Time
Video Conference Log In: meet.google.com/mxo-fkqc-owb
Phone Dial In #: (‪US‬) ‪+1 484-641-8305‬
Pin:732 637 522#‬

We look forward to you joining us !

Remember, you don't have to have watched the film to join in the discussion - though it does help ;>D

All are welcome! 

All the dates and selections for 2024-2025 academic year book club meetings are posted on the NOAA Planet Stewards Upcoming Events Page.

Previous book club selections and discussion questions are posted on our NOAA Planet Stewards Book Club Archive.

Sign up to receive reminder announcements on the NOAA Planet Stewards Mailing list!

Discussion Questions:

  1. The Impact of Setting: If you didn't know when this story took place, what year would you guess, and what evidence do you have for thinking that? How was the setting of the story, the community where the story took place, different from your community in early 2001? How does the luck of where you were born give you advantages or disadvantages?
  2. The Power of Education: How does the film portray the importance of education, especially in developing countries? What role does education play in empowering individuals and communities? What role does/should the government have in supporting education?
  3. The Role of Family: How do William's parents and siblings support him, and what obstacles do they face together? What role did their beliefs and traditions play in shaping his path?
  4. The Power of Community: What role does the community play in supporting William's endeavors? How does their involvement contribute to the success of the windmill project?
  5. Innovation and Adaptation: How did William adapt existing technologies to create a solution to his community's problems? What does this say about the importance of innovation and adaptability in addressing challenges?
  6. The Importance of Mentorship: What role did William's teachers play in his development? What does this say about the importance of fostering imagination in young people? How important is mentorship in fostering young people's potential?
  7. Climate Change and Sustainability: How does the film address the issue of climate change and the need for sustainable solutions? How does the film highlight the devastating effects of climate change on rural communities in Malawi? What are the consequences of drought and famine on the people? What message does it convey about the importance of environmental stewardship?
  8. The Challenges of Technology: What obstacles does William face in implementing the windmill technology? How does he overcome these challenges and adapt to the limitations of his resources?
  9. Social Justice and Equality: How does the film address issues of social justice and inequality? What can be done to create a more equitable world for all?
  10. The Impact of the Windmill: How does the windmill change the lives of the people in William's community? What are the long-term benefits of the project?
  11. Hope and Resilience: Despite facing numerous setbacks, William never gave up on his dream. How did he overcome these challenges, and what lessons can we learn from his resilience? How does the film inspire hope and perseverance in the face of adversity? How does the film offer a message of hope for the future, particularly in the face of global challenges like climate change and poverty?
  12. Comparing the Book and the Film: How did the film emphasize or downplay certain themes present in the book? Were there any themes that were more prominent in the film or novel? How did these thematic differences affect your interpretation of the story?
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