Colin Edwards

[cedwards13unity]

Out Bid

"Bidder 70 centers on an extraordinary, ingenious and effective act of civil disobedience demanding government and industry accountability. In 2008, University of Utah economics student Tim DeChristopher committed an act which would redefine patriotism in our time, igniting a spirit of civil disobedience in the name of climate justice."

Watching this film was not only exciting, but also inspiring.  It is extremely rare to see anyone stand up to any sort of authoritative figure and Tim does exactly that. A famous quote by Albert Einstein is very fitting to this film, it goes "If people are good only because they fear punishment, and hope for reward, then we are a sorry lot indeed." Tim knew that what he was about to do was considered illegal. However at the same time he felt as if in the end it was the right thing to do. Watching this film really opens your eyes to how obedient people have become to a powerful figure then themselves. It reminds you that we have the ability to stand up for what we believe is right no matter how many say it is wrong.  

[cedwards13unity]

Farmers Club

Eating Alabama, by Andrew Beck Grace. "In search of a simpler life, a young couple returns home to Alabama where they set out to eat the way their grandparents did – locally and seasonally. But as they navigate the agro-industrial gastronomical complex, they soon realize that nearly everything about the food system has changed since farmers once populated their family histories. A thoughtful and often funny essay on community, the South and sustainability, “Eating Alabama” is a story about why food matters". 

The film focused mainly on just how different the food system is today compared to years ago, they presented the audience with the question "If there was no grocery stores, where would you get your food?" A simple question that I honestly had no answer to. I didn't know what I would do for food if grocery stores for some reason disappeared. All of this lead to the question, where does our food come from? They visited local farmers, local markets, even companies. I found it interesting that when they went to local farmer markets in search of fresh locally grown food, majority of the markets they went to - the food was labeled to show it was not grown locally.  The film definitely opens your eyes to the issue and gives you this urge to want to learn how to grow your own food or even just increase your knowledge of where it all comes from. 

[cedwards13unity]

The Big Thaw

Shored Up by Ben Kalina is a documentary that asks tough questions about our coastal communities and our relationship to the land. What will a rising sea do to our homes, our businesses, and the survival of our communities? Can we afford to pile enough sand on our shores to keep the ocean at bay? In Long Beach Island, New Jersey and the Outer Banks of North Carolina, surfers, politicians, scientists and residents are racing to answer these questions.

This film has a great message that most people seem to ignore. A large amount of the population simply do not believe in climate change and the affects it is having on our planet. The film connects with personal stories of people who have been affected by the sea level rises due to climate change such as surfers, home owners, even politicians. But what I love about this film the most is the fact that instead of focusing on why sea level rising is bad, it also explains that the measures we are taking to combat it is incorrect and simply making the problem worse. I highly recommend you give this film a look, it definitely opens your eyes to the subject. 

[cedwards13unity]

Nuclear Redemption

The film "Uranium Drive in" by Suzan Beraza is a haunting story of a hardscrabble community striving for one last chance at survival. The film follows a proposed uranium mill in southwestern Colorado-the first to be built in the U.S. in 30 years-and the emotional debate pitting a population desperate for jobs and financial stability against opposition from an environmental group based in a nearby resort town.

I found that the film director took a leap of faith using the approach they did. While watching the film not once did I feel it was leaning towards one opinion over the other. There was an equal amount of opinions from each side of the groups rather than a feeling of bias, and in a way it made it so you could make your own opinion rather then being persuaded by the film. I thought this was a great idea and paid off in the end. You do not see many films like this take that approach.