"Reel" Environmental Issues & Conversations

A Film Series for Civic Engagement

From January through April, the Library will screen an environmental documentary film each month followed by conversation and updates on public policy and legislation focused on current local, state, national and global needs. Conversation will be facilitated by Katie Baxter, Legislative Aide for Representative Kearney and invited guests.

Films have been selected for their representation of broad environmental challenges that are stirring discussion about social and economic impact, environmental justice, and coastal resiliency among other topics. Each conversation will cover issues raised in the film, historical context, various calls to action and related topics. Reflective prompts will be provided before each film and follow-up resources will be provided for those who want to continue delving into issues of democracy and the environment.

March 16 | 6:30 PM | Fast Fashion: The Real Price of Low-cost Fashion (2022, 2020) Director: Edouard Perrin, Giles Boven; Collective Eye Films
Fast Fashion explores a pressing issue of our time. The planet is being overwhelmed with clothes. Close to 56 million tons of clothes are sold every year. In Europe, the amount purchased has almost doubled since the year 2000. Thanks to fast, disposable fashion, you can constantly renew your wardrobe. But producing clothes at such a low price has a very high environmental cost. This film explores the bad practices of the textile industry, the most polluting industry in the world after oil.

Did you miss the event? Screen the documentary on Kanopy here. New to Kanopy? Set up a free account with an email and your library card!

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

The film website: Collective Eye

FABRIC Act: Introduced by American Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (NY) and Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney, the FABRIC Act aims to make sure that fashion companies abide by supply chain transparence, safe labor conditions, and fair wages, enabling stakeholders to hold fast fashion companies accountable for malpractices. 

Seven Must-See Fashion Documentaries, selected by Earth.org

United Nations Environment Programme:  Environmental facts on fast fashion. 

Massachusetts General Law concerning purchasing of clothing or apparel, and restrictions.

143 Exchange 143 exchange is an organization that collects gently loved clothing for re-use within the community (Cohasset, Scituate, etc.). "Our goal is to reduce our communities’ carbon footprint by reusing and normalizing secondhand clothing and footwear." 

In addition, read up on the impact of the World Trade Organization and the World Fair Trade Organization on laws and policies related to Fast Fashion. 

PARTICIPATION PROMPTS:

Reflection: Consider the spectrum of cost in this film: human cost, social cost, environmental cost. This film and others which cover the long-lasting impacts of fast fashion raise issues of globalization, the outsourcing of labor, workers' rights and the right to collective bargaining, a living wage, fair trade, and an equitable economy; consumerism, materialism, and their relation to psychology; GMO cotton, "disposable clothing" and pollution. Within the context of these broad issues, consider how and when we are introduced to the concept of fashion and the decision making involved in our choices about our personal styles. At what point as individuals do we start considering the impact of our fashion choices on the issues raised in the film.

Questions:

1) Some economists argue that conditions in garment factories are better opportunities for workers in "developing countries" than they would have otherwise. After watching this film, do you think this is a just argument? Even if the argument is true, does that mean conditions should not be improved? How are women's rights, children's rights, and healthcare rights particularly affected?
2) Are there any images in the film that are unforgettable? What makes them so?
3) Given that the labor and environmental laws are weaker in "developing" countries, are fast fashion companies' voluntary codes of conduct sufficient to improve working conditions in garment factories? If not, how can domestic and international law be changed to make this improvement?
4) Does anything in the film make you question its accuracy or its bias? Do the cons of fast fashion outweigh the pros in today's world?
5)Garment workers are often exposed to toxic chemicals as are those in surrounding communities. Worker and community health is damaged severely as is the environment in which they live. As standard practice, companies often externalize these costs. What responsibility should these companies have monetarily and otherwise to the health of the workers and communities, as well as to the environment?
6)What are memorable lines from this film?
7)Is there anything specific in the film that gets you thinking about laws, policies and dissemination of information about the garment industry? For example, materials used in the clothing are often a threat to the health of the material producers and the environment in which they live. GMO cotton is often the material produced and used in fast fashion garments. Massive amounts of pesticides, particularly glyphosate, are sprayed on the cotton. Empircal evidents points to detrimental health effects in communities where cotton is grown.
 

Observations:
Is the prevailing fast fashion model sustainable? What alternatives are there? Fair Trade? Democratic workplaces? Do you know of any networks or businesses that are modeling something different? How can you support them?

February 16 | 6:30 PM I The Story of Plastic (2019) Director: Deia Schlosberg Screenplay: Tony Hale, Brian Wilson
THE STORY OF PLASTIC  depicts one of the world’s most pressing environmental concerns, uncovering the issues behind plastic pollution and the false promises of recycling. The documentary presents a cohesive timeline of how we got to our current global plastic pollution crisis and how the oil and gas industry has managed the narrative around it. 

Did you miss the event? Screen the documentary on Kanopy here. New to Kanopy? Set up a free account with an email and your library card!

Additional resources:

Film web site: The Story of Stuff Project 

A Plastic Ocean: Education and Discussion Guide with Questions and Suggestions developed by Plastic Oceans International as a companion guide to the film A Plastic Ocean

Selection of bills filed this 193rd Session in the Massachusetts General Court: 52 bills come up when you do a general keyword search on “plastic”: https://malegislature.gov/Bills/Search?SearchTerms=plastic  For example:

• HD 3861 An Act to ensure plastic bottle recycling (Rep. Michelle Ciccolo)  This bill, in keeping with the film’s point about usable recyclables, specifies the definition of acceptable recycling. Rep. Ciccolo is the House Chair of the NetZero Waste Caucus.
• SD1475 An Act to ban single use plastic applicators (Sen. Patrick O’Connor by Request) A constituent worked on creating this bill and requested a legislator to file it. This is known as a citizen petition.
• HD2616 An Act related to environmental marketing claims (Rep. David M. Rogers)  This bill addresses the need for consistency and transparency on product labels. The film addressed discrepancies in labeling and packaging in Europe.

PARTICIPATION PROMPTS: Reflections, Questions, Observations Reflection Many global scenarios and perspectives are presented in The Story of Plastic. About 30 minutes into the film this statement appears on screen: “A healthy environment is a basic human right.” What does this mean? As a human community are we embracing this premise? Do we hold each other accountable to living, working and leaving a legacy that keeps our environment healthy for all?

Some Questions:
1) How does the film broaden the understanding of plastic pollution as a global issue and a national issue?
2) Are there any images in the film that are unforgettable? What makes them so?
3) Many individuals from all walks of life and kinds of jobs are in the film. Whose comments and questions provide a helpful perspective about and/or clarify why plastic pollution has heightened critical impact on the environment, economy and intergovernmental relations?
4) Does the film provide a balanced view of the benefits of plastics and the undesirables of plastics across a span of time?
5) Tiza Mafira, an Indonesian environmentalist, states there is a “personal stake in the outcome” of making, using and disposing of plastics? How does the film create a call to action for individuals and to corporations and governments?
6) What are memorable lines from this film?
7) Are there any specific policies or laws mentioned in the film that shed light on how the plastic industry and policy makers contributed to the critical stage of plastic pollution we experience today? 8) How does the film reveal the links between the plastics crisis, climate issues, health issues and environmental justice?

Observations:
Does anyone whom you “met” in this film inspire you to be motivated to learn more about the science and data related to the presence of plastic in our town and beyond? With whom in the film would you like to work alongside to be part of the collective creating awareness and building solutions?

January 12 | 6:30 PM I Last Man Fishing: When Big Money Owns the Ocean, Who’s Left to Fish (2019)
From imbd.com:
LAST MAN FISHING is a cinematic look at the vastly changing seafood system through the lens of small-scale fishermen across the United States. Narrated by best-selling author Mark Bittman, the film explores the dichotomy between the industrial model and sustainable fishing methods that focus on conservation and quality. Among the fishermen profiled is renegade New Englander Tim Rider, whose dream of supporting his family as a fisherman is met with numerous challenges. His story parallels that of Darius Kasperzak, a jig boat fisherman in Kodiak, Alaska, who seeks to build infrastructure for a struggling small boat fleet.

Did you miss the event? Screen the documentary on Kanopy here. New to Kanopy? Set up free account with an email and your library card!

Additional Resources
Film Web Site
MA Department of Fish and Game
Division of Marine Fisheries 
AK Department of Fish and Game
Kodiak Island WildSource
MA Bills and Laws, Committees, Streamed Hearings & Sessions, Legislators, etc

Reflections, Questions, Observations

This film offers depth and breadth of perspective on how small-boat fishers are experiencing changes in the fishing industry and challenges to sustainable seafood sources and quality. Notice how those featured in the film develop themes, highlight impact of policy changes over time, challenge the fairness and practicality of federal and state laws, and share the stories of individuals who step into civic engagement to advocate for their family traditions, cultures and livelihoods.

Some Questions:

1) What was your understanding of the role of fishermen in the seafood industry prior to viewing this film?

2) How did your understanding increase or change while watching the film?

3) Many laws, policies and regulations are mentioned in the film? Did any of these strike you in particular as eye-opening, beneficial, biased, or of concern?

4) Many factors have led to the consolidation and privatization of fishing as an industry. The film specifically refers to factors such as:
● the deep roots families and communities have had to fishing;
● fishing as a conservation issue, not just an allocation issue;
● the impact of wealthy owners of vessels and permits on fishing;
● the influence of political power in decision-making.
With these factors in mind, what strikes you as some of the back story that has shaped the current concerns of over-fishing, economic hardship facing small-boat fishers, concerns about the actual quality of seafood hitting the market, and productive steps big business can take to reach a compromise with small-boat fishers?

5) What are memorable lines from this film?

Observations: Putting yourself in the shoes of anyone you “met” in this film how would you get involved in the issues facing the fishers, the policy makers and the community depending on quality seafood and a sustainable fishing economy?