Monday, December 18, the “Reel& Meal at the New Deal” program will feature Taking Root.  The free show starts 7 pm at the New Deal Cafe, 113 Centerway in Greenbelt’s Roosevelt Center. A plant-based buffet at $14 will be offered from 6:30 pm.      Taking Root tells the story of Wangari Maathai, Kenyan Nobel Peace prize laureate, whose simple act of planting trees grew into a nationwide movement to safeguard the environment, protect human rights and defend democracy. “Why not plant trees?” she thought. Trees provide shade, prevent soil erosion, supply firewood, building materials, and produce nutritious fruit. In 1977, Maathai founded the Green Belt Movement in Kenya and began teaching women about the connection between environmental problems and their daily problems.      The program will include the short film Plant for the Planet from the “Young Voices for the Planet” series by Lynne Cherry. Her film is about a young German boy who was inspired by the Wangari Maathai story to do as she did in his native country. Lynne will participate in the discussion to follow the screenings.

This month’s program is planned by Utopia Film Festival. For more information contact Frank Gervasi – frankrgervasi@gmail.com or 301-474-7680. For more about the feature film Taking Root see its website. The other sponsors of the “Reel & Meal” series are Beaverdam Creek Watershed Watch Group, Green Vegan Networking and Prince George’s County Peace and Justice Coalition. The New Deal Café is accessible by Metro Buses G12& G14 from the Greenbelt Metro Station.