Taylor Community to screen national PBS- bound documentary ‘Saving Walden’s World’

LACONIA — As global ecosystems and economic stability face unprecedented pressures, the documentary "Saving Walden’s World" invites the Laconia community to explore a proven, operational blueprint for humanity’s future.

The film will screen at Taylor Community's Woodside Building, at 435 Union Ave., on Thursday, Aug. 27, at 2 p.m. This event is part of the film’s grassroots "100 Rooms. 1 Story." campaign, a movement bringing community-led solutions directly to local audiences nationwide ahead of the documentary's official PBS release.

Directed by Jim Merkel, a former military engineer turned sustainability advocate, "Saving Walden’s World" documents a search for solutions for his son, Walden. Merkel travels to Kerala (India), Cuba, and Slovenia to explore how societies that prioritize women's literacy, healthcare, and reproductive freedom have successfully bypassed the high-consumption "growth trap" of the West.

"The prevailing narrative is addicted to endless expansion, but real resilience starts in our own communities," said Jim Merkel. "This film presents a movement based on collective memory, love, and the empowerment of the next generation. It’s a father’s effort to show what is actually possible when we put human well-being ahead of corporate profit."

The Laconia screening offers a local look at eco-feminism, land justice, and community self-reliance before the film reaches millions of viewers on PBS. A Q&A with Merkel will follow the film, giving attendees a chance to discuss how these global models can be adapted locally.

For more information, visit savingwaldensworld.org.