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The Decade of Destruction

This brilliant documentary series, produced by Adrian Cowell, and broadcast on PBS' "Frontline," chronicles the destruction of the Amazon rainforest - perhaps the 20th century's worst environmental disaster.

Imagine, if you will, that one of the world's great filmmakers was there to document the opening up of the American West in its most critical decade, and you will have some idea of the epic scale of this remarkable series.

Amazonia is the last great frontier. Cowell began filming in 1980 when it was first opened up to settlers and developers. He has documented the systematic destruction of the rainforest there into late 1990 when for the first time there was an indication that the fires were being brought under control.

Each episode follows the real life stories of people caught up in the frontier's web of need and greed, stories of personal tragedy and great courage. The programs relate the individual's struggle to the wider developments going on around them. Together they illustrate the principal issues of Amazonia during the 1980s - its decade of greatest destruction.

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The Decade of Destruction includes the following titles:

Banking on Disaster - imageBanking on Disaster

The grave consequences of building a road through the heart of Amazonia.

Bullfrog Films | 1988 | 78 minutes | 9-12, College, Adult
In the Ashes of the Forest (Part 1) - imageIn the Ashes of the Forest (Part 1)

Saga of two colonists in the Amazon rainforest.

Bullfrog Films | 1990 | 55 minutes | 9-12, College, Adult
In the Ashes of the Forest (Part 2) - imageIn the Ashes of the Forest (Part 2)

Concludes the Amazon colonists' saga.

Bullfrog Films | 1990 | 57 minutes | 9-12, College, Adult
Killing for Land - imageKilling for Land

Squatters face off against gunmen hired by absentee landlords in the Amazon.

Bullfrog Films | 1990 | 51 minutes | 9-12, College, Adult
Mountains of Gold - imageMountains of Gold

Gold mining in the Amazon is a dangerous and dirty business.

Bullfrog Films | 1990 | 54 minutes | 9-12, College, Adult
The Killing of Chico Mendes - imageThe Killing of Chico Mendes

The story of rainforest defender, Chico Mendes, that ended with his 1988 assassination.

Bullfrog Films | 1990 | 55 minutes | 9-12, College, Adult

Visit the title page to preview any of the titles above.