My Environmental Journal

Differences

Vicky Griva — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 04:27:58 +0000

As many of you know, I am not from Australia. My country is a small dot in the map, near Italy, in the Mediterranean and its name, Greece. Many of you might know Greece from its history or its latest economical disaster.

Australia is considered one of the most environmental countries, if not the most progressive one concerning environmental behavior, such as recycling, protection of the wildlife, water savings and many many more. So, it is kind of challenging for me to just compare my country’s environmental policy with Australia’s and just mention the little things that made me appreciate Australia more and get mad at my own country.

The first thing I noticed when I arrived in Sydney is the majority of recycling bins, almost everywhere. Back home to find a recycling bin, many times you have to walk at least 10 minutes. Here they are everywhere. Even if you don’t wish to recycle, you don’t have a choice. In Greece people think that recycling is a waste of time, so I faced a sort of “discrimination” because I want to recycle. Quite amazing.

The second and most wonderful thing I found totally different is how people respect bicycles here. As a bike rider myself, back home it is hard to ride your bike easily and with no worries. Here it is like a paradise. You can go everywhere with your bike, because the government really cares about them. By creating new special roads and parks really gives the impression that bikers are not being encountered as anyone else. And that is a great great difference.

The last thing I would like to add is the signs for saving water everywhere. In every shower I ever been until now there are signs that remind people not to waste too much water while they are having a shower. This might seem insignificant to many of you but to me it is one of the many small strategies that are followed, so that people will appreciate water even more. I wish this type of thinking would exist in Greece too.

Environmental vocabulary

Vicky Griva — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 06:56:03 +0000

The following glossary, provided by EPA contains definitions for technical words used in the STAPPA/ALAPCO web site.

Acid rain — Air pollution produced when acid chemicals are incorporated into rain, snow, fog or mist. The “acid” in acid rain comes from sulfur oxides and nitrogen oxides, products of burning coal and other fuels and from certain industrial processes. The sulfur oxides and nitrogen oxides are related to two strong acids: sulfuric acid and nitric acid. When sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are released from power plants and other sources, winds blow them far from their source. If the acid chemicals in the air are blown into areas where the weather is wet, the acids can fall to Earth in the rain, snow, fog or mist. In areas where the weather is dry, the acid chemicals may become incorporated into dusts or smokes. Acid rain can damage the environment. human health and property.
Alternative fuels — Fuels that can replace ordinary gasoline. Alternative fuels may have particularly desirable energy efficiency and pollution reduction features. Alternative fuels include compressed natural gas, alcohols, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), and electricity. The 1990 Clean Air Act encourages development and sale of alternative fuels.
Attainment area — A geographic area in which levels of a criteria air pollutant meet the health-based primary standard (national ambient air quality standard, or NAAQS) for the pollutant. An area may have on acceptable level for one criteria air pollutant, but may have unacceptable levels for others. Thus, an area could be both attainment and non-attainment at the same time. Attainment areas are defined using federal pollutant limits set by EPA.
Carbon monoxide (CO) — A colorless, odorless, poisonous gas,produced by incomplete burning of carbon-based fuels. including gasoline, oil and wood. Carbon monoxide is also produced from incomplete combustion of many natural and synthetic products. For instance, cigarette smoke contains carbon monoxide. When carbon monoxide gets into the body, the carbon monoxide combines with chemicals in the blood and prevents the blood from bringing oxygen to cells, tissues and organs. The body’s parts need oxygen for energy, so high-level exposures to carbon monoxide can cause serious health effects, with death possible from massive exposures. Symptoms of exposure to carbon monoxide can include vision problems, reduced alertness, and general reduction in mental and physical functions. Carbon monoxide exposures are especially harmful to people with heart, lung and circulatory system diseases.
CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons) — These chemicals and some related chemicals have been used in great quantities in industry, for refrigeration and air conditioning, and in consumer products. CFCs and their relatives, when released into the air, rise into the stratosphere, a layer of the atmosphere high above the Earth. In the stratosphere, CFCs and their relatives take part in chemical reactions which result in reduction of the stratospheric ozone layer, which protects the Earth’s surface from harmful effects of radiation from the sun. The 1990 Clean Air Act includes provisions for reducing releases (emissions) and eliminating production and use of these ozone-destroying chemicals.
Clean Air Act — The original Clean Air Act was passed in 1963, but our national air pollution control program is actually based on the 1970 version of the law. The 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments are the most far-reaching revisions of the 1970 law. In this summary, we refer to the 1990 amendments as the 1990 Clean Air Act.
Clean fuels — Low-pollution fuels that can replace ordinary gasoline. These are alternative fuels, including gasohol (gasoline-alcohol mixtures), natural gas and LPG (liquefied petroleum gas).
Combustion — burning. Many important pollutants, such as sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulates (PM-10) are combustion products, often products of the burning of fuels such as coal, oil, gas and wood.
Continuous emission monitoring systems (CEMS) — machines which measure, on a continuous basis, pollutants released by a source. The 1990 Clean Air Act requires continuous emission monitoring systems for certain large sources.
Control technology; control measures — equipment, processes or actions used to reduce air pollution. The extent of pollution reduction varies among technologies and measures. In general, control technologies and measures that do the best job of reducing pollution will be required in the areas with the worst pollution. For example, the best available control technology/best available control measures (BACT, BACM) will be required in serious non-attainment areas for particulates, a criteria air pollutant. A similar high level of pollution reduction will be achieved with maximum achievable control technology (MACT) which will be required for sources releasing hazardous air pollutants.
Criteria air pollutants — a group of very common air pollutants regulated by EPA on the basis of criteria (information on health and/or environmental effects of pollution). Criteria air pollutants are widely distributed all over the country.
Curtailment programs — restrictions on operation of fireplaces and woodstoves in areas where these home heat sources make major contributions to pollution.
Emission — release of pollutants into the air from a source. We say sources emit pollutants. Continuous emission monitoring systems (CEMS) are machines which some large sources are required to install, to make continuous measurements of pollutant release.
Enforcement — the legal methods used to make polluters obey the Clean Air Act. Enforcement methods include citations of polluters for violations of the law (citations are much like traffic tickets), fines and even jail terms. EPA and the state and local governments are responsible for enforcement of the Clean Air Act, but if they don’t enforce the law, members of the public can sue EPA or the states to get action. Citizens can also sue violating sources, apart from any action EPA or state or local governments have taken. Before the 1990 Clean Air Act, all enforcement actions had to be handled through the courts. The 1990 Clean Air Act gave EPA authority so that, in some cases, EPA can fine violators without going to court first. The purpose of this new authority is to speed up violating sources’ compliance with the law and reduce court time and cost.
Hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) — toxic chemicals that cause serious health and environmental effects. Health effects include cancer, birth defects, nervous system problems and death due to massive accidental releases such as occurred at the pesticide plant in Bhopal, India. Hazardous air pollutants are released by sources such as chemical plants, dry cleaners, printing plants, and motor vehicles (cars, trucks, buses, etc.)
Inspection and maintenance program (I/M program) — Auto inspection programs are required for some polluted areas. These periodic inspections, usually done once a year or once every two years, check whether a car is being maintained to keep pollution down and whether emission control systems are working properly. Vehicles which do not pass inspection must be repaired. As of 1992, 111 urban areas in 35 states already had I/M programs. Under the 1990 Clean Air Act, some especially polluted areas will have to have enhanced inspection and maintenance programs, using special machines that can check for such things as how much pollution a car produces during actual driving conditions.
International air pollution — Canada and Mexico, the United States’ neighbors, share the air at our borders. International air pollution moves across the national borders; this international pollution can be serious. The 1990 Clean Air Act includes provisions for cooperative efforts to reduce pollution that originates in one country and affects another.
Interstate air pollution — In many areas, two or more states share the same air. We say these states are in the same air basin defined by geography and wind patterns. Often, air pollution moves out of the state in which it is produced into another state. Some pollutants, such as the power plant combustion products that cause acid rain, may travel over several states before affecting health, the environment and property. The 1990 Clean Air Act includes many provisions, such as interstate compacts, to help states work together to protect the air they share. Reducing interstate air pollution is very important since many Americans live and work in areas where more than one state is part of a single metropolitan area.
Material safety data sheets (MSDS) — product safety information sheets prepared by manufacturers and marketers of products containing toxic chemicals. These sheets can be obtained by requesting them from the manufacturer or marketer. Some stores, such as hardware stores, may have material safety data sheets on hand for products they sell.
Mobile sources — motor vehicles and other moving objects that release pollution; mobile sources include cars, trucks, buses, planes, trains, motorcycles and gasoline-powered lawn mowers. Mobile sources are divided into two groups: road vehicles, which includes cars, trucks and buses, and non-road vehicles, which includes trains, planes and lawn mowers.
Monitoring (monitor) Measurement of air pollution is referred to as monitoring. EPA, state and local agencies measure the types and amounts of pollutants in community air. The 1990 Clean Air Act requires certain large polluters to perform enhanced monitoring to provide an accurate picture of their pollutant releases. Enhanced monitoring programs may include keeping records on materials used by the source, periodic inspections, and installation of continuous emission monitoring systems (CEMS). Continuous emission monitoring systems will measure, on a continuous basis, how much pollution is being released into the air. The 1990 Clean Air Act requires states to monitor community air in polluted areas to check on whether the areas are being cleaned up according to schedules set out in the law.
Nitrogen oxides (NOx) — a criteria air pollutant. Nitrogen oxides are produced from burning fuels, including gasoline and coal. Nitrogen oxides are smogformers, which react with volatile organic compounds to form smog. Nitrogen oxides are also major components of acid rain.
Non-attainment area — a geographic area in which the level of a criteria air pollutant is higher than the level allowed by the federal standards. A single geographic area may have acceptable levels of one criteria air pollutant but unacceptable levels of one or more other criteria air pollutants; thus, an area can be both attainment and non-attainment at the same time. It has been estimated that 60% of Americans live in non-attainment areas.
Offset — a method used in the 1990 Clean Air Act to give companies which own or operate large (major) sources in non-attainment areas flexibility in meeting overall pollution reduction requirements when changing production processes. If the owner or operator of the source wishes to increase release of a criteria air pollutant, an offset (reduction of a somewhat greater amount of the same pollutant) must be obtained either at the same plant or by purchasing offsets from another company.
Oxygenated fuel (oxyfuel) — special type of gasoline, which burns more completely than regular gasoline in cold start conditions; more complete burning results in reduced production of carbon monoxide, a criteria air pollutant. In some parts of the country, carbon monoxide release from cars starting up in cold weather makes a major contribution to pollution. In these areas, gasoline refiners must market oxygenated fuels, which contain a higher oxygen content than regular gasoline. Some gasoline companies started selling oxyfuels in cities with carbon monoxide problems before the 1990 Clean Air Act was passed.
Ozone — a gas which is a variety of oxygen. The oxygen gas found in the air consists of two oxygen atoms stuck together; this is molecular oxygen. Ozone consists of three oxygen atoms stuck together into an ozone molecule. Ozone occurs in nature; it produces the sharp smell you notice near a lightning strike. High concentrations of ozone gas are found in a layer of the atmosphere — the stratosphere — high above the Earth. Stratospheric ozone shields the Earth against harmful rays from the sun, particularly ultraviolet B. Smog‘s main component is ozone; this ground-level ozone is a product of reactions among chemicals produced by burning coal, gasoline and other fuels, and chemicals found in products including solvents, paints, hairsprays, etc.
Ozone hole — thin place in the ozone layer located in the stratosphere high above the Earth. Stratospheric ozone thinning has been linked to destruction of stratospheric ozone by CFCs and related chemicals. The 1990 Clean Air Act has provisions to reduce and eliminate ozone destroying chemicals’ production and use. Ozone holes have been found above Antarctica and above Canada and northern parts of the United States, as well as above northern Europe.
Particulates; particulate matter (PM-10) — a criteria air pollutant. Particulate matter includes dust, soot and other tiny bits of solid materials that are released into and move around in the air. Particulates are produced by many sources, including burning of diesel fuels by trucks and buses, incineration of garbage, mixing and application of fertilizers and pesticides, road construction, industrial processes such as steel making, mining operations, agricultural burning (field and slash burning), and operation of fireplaces and woodstoves. Particulate pollution can cause eye, nose and throat irritation and other health problems.
Permit — a document that resembles a license, required by the Clean Air Act for big (major) sources of air pollution, such as power plants, chemical factories and, in some cases, smaller polluters. Usually permits will be given out by states, but if EPA has disapproved part or all of a state permit program, EPA will give out the permits in that state. The 1990 Clean Air Act includes requirements for permit applications, including provisions for members of the public to participate in state and EPA reviews of permit applications. Permits will have, in one place, information on all the regulated pollutants at a source. Permits include information on which pollutants are being released, how much the source is allowed to release, and the program that will be used to meet pollutant release requirements. Permits are required both for the operation of plants (operating permits) and for the construction of new plants. The 1990 Clean Air Act introduced a nationwide permit system for air pollution control.
Permit fees — fees paid by businesses required to have a permit. Permit fees are like the fees drivers pay to register their cars. The money from permit fees will help pay for state air pollution control activities.
Pollutants (pollution) — unwanted chemicals or other materials found in the air. Pollutants can harm health, the environment and property. Many air pollutants occur as gases or vapors, but some are very tiny solid particles: dust, smoke or soot.
Primary standard — a pollution limit based on health effects. Primary standards are set for criteria air pollutants.
Reformulated gasoline — specially refined gasoline with low levels of smog-forming volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and low levels of hazardous air pollutants. The 1990 Clean Air Act requires sale of reformulated gasoline in the nine smoggiest areas. Reformulated gasolines were sold in several smoggy areas even before the 1990 Clean Air Act was passed.
Secondary standard — a pollution limit based on environmental effects such as damage to property, plants, visibility, etc. Secondary standards are set for criteria air pollutants.
Smog — a mixture of pollutants, principally ground-level ozone, produced by chemical reactions in the air involving smog-forming chemicals. A major portion of smog-formers come from burning of petroleum-based fuels such as gasoline. Other smog-formers, volatile organic compounds, are found in products such as paints and solvents. Smog can harm health, damage the environment and cause poor visibility. Major smog occurrences are often linked to heavy motor vehicle traffic, sunshine, high temperatures and calm winds or temperature inversion (weather condition in which warm air is trapped close to the ground instead of rising). Smog is often worse away from the source of the smog-forming chemicals, since the chemical reactions that result in smog occur in the sky while the reacting chemicals are being blown away from their sources by winds.
Source — any place or object from which pollutants are released. A source can be a power plant, factory, dry cleaning business, gas station or farm. Cars, trucks and other motor vehicles are sources, and consumer products and machines used ir industry can be sources too. Sources that stay in one place are referred to as stationary sources; sources that move around, such as cars or planes, are called mobile sources.
State implementation plan (SIP) — a detailed description of the programs a state will use to carry out its responsibilities under the Clean Air Act. State implementation plans are collections of the regulations used by a state to reduce air pollution. The Clean Air Act requires that EPA approve each state implementation plan. Members of the public are given opportunities to participate in review and approval of state implementation plans.
Stationary source — a place or object from which pollutants are released and which does not move around. Stationary sources include power plants, gas stations, incinerators, houses etc.
Stratosphere — part of the atmosphere, the gases that encircle the Earth. The stratosphere is a layer of the atmosphere 9-31 miles above the Earth. Ozone in the stratosphere filters out harmful sun rays, including a type of sunlight called ultraviolet B, which has been linked to health and environmental damage.
Sulfur dioxide — a criteria air pollutant. Sulfur dioxide is a gas produced by burning coal, most notably in power plants. Some industrial processes, such as production of paper and smelting of metals, produce sulfur dioxide. Sulfur dioxide is closely related to sulfuric acid, a strong acid. Sulfur dioxide plays an important role in the production of acid rain.
Temperature inversion — weather condition that as often associated with serious smog. In a temperature inversion, warm air doesn’t rise because it is trapped near the ground by a layer of heavy colder air above it. Pollutants in the warm air especially smog and smog-forming chemicals, including volatile organic compounds, are trapped close to the ground. As people continue driving, and sources other than motor vehicles continue to release smog-forming pollutants into the air, the smog level keeps getting worse.
Ultraviolet B (UVB) — a type of sunlight. The ozone in the stratosphere, high above the Earth, filters out ultraviolet B rays and keeps them from reaching the Earth. Ultraviolet B exposure has been associated with skin cancer, eye cataracts and damage to the environment. Thinning of the ozone layer in the stratosphere results in increased amounts of ultraviolet B reaching the Earth.
Vapor recovery nozzles — special gas pump nozzles that will reduce release of gasoline vapor into the air when people put gas in their cars. There are several types of vapor recovery nozzles, so nozzles may look different at different gas stations. The 1990 Clean Air Act requires installation of vapor recovery nozzles at gas stations in smoggy areas.
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) — Organic chemicals all contain the element carbon (C); organic chemicals are the basic chemicals found in living things and in products derived from living things, such as coal, petroleum and refined petroleum products. Many of the organic chemicals we use do not occur in Nature, but were synthesized by chemists in laboratories. Volatile chemicals produce vapors readily; at room temperature and normal atmospheric pressure, vapors escape easily from volatile liquid chemicals. Volatile organic chemicals include gasoline, industrial chemicals such as benzene, solvents such as toluene and xylene, and tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene, the principal dry cleaning solvent). Many volatile organic chemicals are also hazardous air pollutants; for example, benzene causes cancer.

Idea evolving

Vicky Griva — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 07:49:33 +0000

When I first wrote about the main idea of this project, I wasn’t really sure how this is going to be, but since days are passing by and I do more research, everything seems to be much more clear in my mind. Because now I know exactly what I want to do.

10 people, five women aged 20 – 50 and five men aged 20 – 50, coming from different parts of the world, having different background and education will participate in this survey, which main goal is to arouse people’s interest about ecological problems through artistic media, and specifically cinema. 22 environmental movies are on the list, movies that talk about different subjects each, and have totally divergent content and way of presenting their topic. For example some of them are drama and some others comedy, some are like a fairy tale and some like thriller movies. Each and every one of them is unique and fascinating and I am sure that people from the group, just because they are so different, they will find which movies suits their interests best.

To this team, there will be given a period of one week to watch on their own the movies they will have select. Because many of them asked me, I will give them the movies in flashdisks or through links by e – mail, they don’t have to do it on their own. After that I will gather all of them in one place, so that the interviews can start. Everyone must be present and of course the date will be discussed earlier, so that anyone can come. The interviews are going to be in video, and the main questions will depend on every movie’s theme. The basic questions will contain how they were influenced, how much, if not why, was it worth it, if they will start to be more active concerning the environment and many more about each movie, but also various questions that will come up through the conversation.

Then these interview will be edited and uploaded on the website, so that the audience can comment on them and say their opinion. Either about the movies that my group watched and how THEY were influenced or about the interviews. The whole project will be promoted by social media and especially facebook and twitter (even though in twitter there will be only one link at a time) and my personal blogs, so that as many people as possible will be able to watch it and have the opportunity to participate in their own way.

more evidence?

Vicky Griva — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 07:10:43 +0000

I am trying to find some history elements to make my project more valuable and worthy of attention, but it seems that it is kind of difficult to find references to environmental cinema. On the internet there is nothing that is valuable of mentioning and in the libraries… too difficult. I have to search more deeply, or I should better put some information about specific terms concerning the environment, so that readers will be more informed and ready – if anyone wishes to – to watch the movies included, or any other movie they want to. Except that, because I do not want to have too much, maybe “useless’ information, about the environment, I want to put researches that have been done about movies and how they affect people. This is too general, but if I find something more specific, about environmental movies, it would be the best. A more statistic view in the influences people get from cinema (evidence), would be really interesting and intriguing for the general audience.

The only problem I face about the above is the lack of time. Hopefully I will manage to find the information required until the end of this week.

my team

Vicky Griva — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 01:30:43 +0000

The team that will participate in my project “environmental cinema” consists of ten people, five women and five men. I have found the women and I am still on my research about the men. I have in mind which people to talk to, I just need their confirmation.

First I will put some personal details about them, where are they from, their age and occupation, a picture of them and perhaps some small sound interview with their personal details. I haven’t decide yet, because of lack of time, but I will know soon as soon as my male team is fully completed.

The second interviews are gong to be, except the basic personal information, name, nationality, occupation, field of studying etc, why they came to Sydney – if they are from abroad – their interests and habits and what is their relationship with cinema and environment. Do they have the desired environmental behavior, so that they will be deeply influenced by the movies? Or they just recycle once in a while or take the bus instead of their car once a month? How often do they go to the cinema, what type of movie do they prefer to watch when they go etc. Through the interviews these elements are going to be more clear to the rest of the audience, so that they have a better and clearer idea about these people that are participating. These interview perhaps are going to be sound like the basic ones, or just written.

The 12 documentaries that complete the research

Vicky Griva — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 04:26:57 +0000

These are the rest of the movies I have searched and I believe that arouse really important issues such as global warming and its solutions, labor rights, climate change, fishing and sea situation, nuclear energy, peak oil, oil and energy crisis, plastic pollution, suburban sprawl and the crisis on water industry. These twelve movies finalize my movie research which last about a week with constant check and in depth investigation about new and old documentaries that have important messages to spread to viewers. Some of them include really violent and brutal scenes that maybe shock the audience (like “earthlings” and “the end of the line”), but this is for the best, because these scenes are not fake, they represent the reality and are strongly recommended for the ones that can handle it.

The next step is my on depth research about the history of environmental cinema. It won’t be on line but I will provide you the feedback from my research in Sydney’s libraries.

The 11^th hour (2007) (documentary)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0492931/

Scarred Lands and Wounded Lives: The Environmental Footprint of War (2006) (Documentary)

http://www.scarredlandsfilm.org/page.asp?content_id=13691

The Take (2004) (labor rights)

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8149373547373833649#

http://www.thetake.org/

An Inconvenient Truth (2006) (climate change, global warming)

http://www.climatecrisis.net/an-inconvenient-truth.php

The End of the Line (2009) (fishing)

http://endoftheline.com/

http://www.bullfrogfilms.com/catalog/eol.html

Everything is Cool (2007) (comedy – global warming)

http://www.everythingscool.org/

Chernobyl Heart (2003) (nuclear energy)

http://0daynews.org/2010/02/chernobyl-heart-2003-documentary-film-by-maryann-deleo/

http://chernobyl.typepad.com/chernobyl_childrens_proje/chernobyl-heart.html

Blind Spot (2008) (peak oil, oil and energy crisis)

http://www.imdb.com/video/snag/vi3074949913/

http://vimeo.com/1820607

Crude Awakening, the oil crash (2007) (peak oil)

http://www.oilcrashmovie.com/

Addicted to Plastic (2008) (plastic pollution)

http://www.documentary-log.com/d402-addicted-to-plastic/

http://www.bullfrogfilms.com/catalog/atp.html

The end of Suburbia (2004) (suburban sprawl)

http://www.endofsuburbia.com/

The 11th hour (2007) (documentary)

Vicky Griva — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 04:06:38 +0000

The 11th Hour confronts viewers with evidence of the indelible footprint that humans have left on this planet and the catastrophic effects of environmental problems like pollution, deforestation, over-mining of resources. The film explores the reasons for the fix we’re in, fingering corporate greed, faulty public policy, bad leadership, and general ignorance of the issues. The 11th Hour finishes on a positive note, offering a discussion of solutions from a crack team of scientists, designers, and thinkers.

Scarred Lands and Wounded Lives: The Environmental Footprint of War (2006) (Documentary)

Vicky Griva — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 04:04:15 +0000

A compelling new documentary exploring the noticeably under-reported issue of the environmental impacts of war. Confronts the immensely broad ecological ramifications of everything from technological development and natural resource exhaustion to weapons testing and modern warfare itself. Falling water tables, shrinking forest cover, declining species diversity – all presage ecosystems in distress. These trends are now widely acknowledged as emanating from forces of humanitys own making: massive population increases, unsustainable demands on natural resources, species loss, and ruinous environmental practices. Ironically however, war, that most destructive of human behaviors, is commonly bypassed.

In all its stages, from the production of weapons through combat to cleanup and restoration, war is comprised of elements that pollute land, air, and water, destroy biodiversity and entire ecosystems, and drain our limited natural resources. Yet the environmental damage occasioned even by preparation for war, not to mention war itself, is routinely underestimated, underreported, and even ignored. This outstanding, timely, new film explores the crucial need for public scrutiny of the ecological impact of war and reminds us of the importance of accountability and sustainability not in spite of global conflict, but because of it.

The Take (2004) (labor rights)

Vicky Griva — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 04:00:03 +0000

In suburban Buenos Aires, thirty unemployed auto – parts workers walk into their idle factory,roll out sleeping mats and refuse to leave.

All they want is to re-start the silent machines. But this simple act - The Take – has the power to turn the globalization debate on its head.

In the wake of Argentina’s dramatic economic collapse in 2001, Latin America’s most prosperous middle class finds itself in a ghost town of abandoned factories and mass unemployment. The Forja auto plant lies dormant until its former employees take action. They’re part of a daring new movement of workers who are occupying bankrupt businesses and creating jobs in the ruins of the failed system.

But Freddy, the president of the new worker’s co-operative, and Lalo, the political powerhouse from the Movement of Recovered Companies, know that their success is far from secure. Like every workplace occupation, they have to run the gauntlet of courts, cops and politicians who can either give their project legal protection or violently evict them from the factory.

The story of the workers’ struggle is set against the dramatic backdrop of a crucial presidential election in Argentina, in which the architect of the economic collapse, Carlos Menem, is the front-runner. His cronies, the former owners, are circling: if he wins, they’ll take back the companies that the movement has worked so hard to revive.

Armed only with slingshots and an abiding faith in shop-floor democracy, the workers face off against the bosses, bankers and a whole system that sees their beloved factories as nothing more than scrap metal for sale.

With The Take, director Avi Lewis, one of Canada’s most outspoken journalists, and writer Naomi Klein, author of the international bestseller No Logo, champion a radical economic manifesto for the 21st century. But what shines through in the film is the simple drama of workers’ lives and their struggle: the demand for dignity and the searing injustice of dignity denied.

An Inconvenient Truth (2006) (climate change, global warming)

Vicky Griva — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 03:53:57 +0000

Whatever you thought of Al Gore as a politician, you’ll have to give him credit here for being a great teacher. He spends most of his time in An Inconvenient Truth guiding us through the data and science of climate change, demonstrating cause and effect and noting the impacts, both present and future—and doing so with wit, charm, and only an occasional (though deserved) political barb. Though this is largely a speaker-on-stage style documentary, it’s backed by great pictures, charts, and graphs, with cutaways to on-site footage and personal annecdotes, all woven together in a way that makes the whole thing very watchable. Gore’s three-decade-long study of climate change shows in his seemingly effortless presentation of the material. The result is 100% convincing, showing climate change to be not just an environmental issue, but a threat to our way of life—perhaps even to life itself. This is the last nail in the coffin of the climate skeptics.