Cameron's conversion to environmentalist

Tribes of Amazon Find an Ally Out of ‘Avatar’

By Alexei BarrionuevoIn the 15 years since he wrote the script for “Avatar,” his epic tale of greed versus nature, Mr. Cameron said, he had become an avid environmentalist. But he said that until his trip to the Brazilian Amazon last month, his advocacy was mostly limited to the environmentally responsible way he tried to live his life: solar and wind energy power his Santa Barbara home, he said, and he and his wife drive hybrid vehicles and do their own organic gardening.

“Avatar”—and its nearly $2.7 billion in global tickets sales—has changed all that, flooding Mr. Cameron with kudos for helping to “emotionalize” environmental issues and pleas to get more involved.

Now, Mr. Cameron said, he has been spurred to action, to speak out against the looming environmental destruction endangering indigenous groups around the world—a cause that is fueling his inner rage and inspiring his work on an “Avatar” sequel.

“Any direct experience that I have with indigenous peoples and their plights may feed into the nature of the story I choose to tell,” he said. “In fact, it almost certainly will.” Referring to his Amazon trip, he added, “It just makes me madder.”Comment:  For more on the subject, see Cameron Criticizes Hydroelectric Dam and Indigenous Themes in Avatar.

Below:  "The director James Cameron backs efforts to halt the building of a dam in Brazil." (André Vieira for The New York Times)