Environmental Quest for Communication

Environmental Communication Course at Unity College

[nviveiros]

Justice is in the Eye of the Beholder

If A Tree Falls is a documentary about the Earth Liberation Front. The Earth Liberation Front was at one point considered the "number one domestic terrorism threat." in America. When they felt that protests, letters, and picket signs weren't being acknowledged they felt they needed to be more radical in order to receive attention. They became arsonist. Setting ablaze to buildings of corporations that were contributing to destroying the Earth. For the Earth Liberation Front they believed setting the fires were justified because these businesses were destroying something they cared about so they destroyed something the business cared about, their facilities. But, for these corporations; seeing some of the members of the Earth Liberation Front being incarcerated was justice. It depends on whose side you're on to determine whether or not you agree anything was justified. Which is why I titled this post Justice is in the Eye of the Beholder. 

[nviveiros]

Eat Your Heart Out

Eating Alabama is a documentary that takes us on a journey of a young couple who choose to eat only locally grown food which caused them to eat seasonally too. It was quite the struggle for them and their friends to do so. On one of their first grocery store trips it took them FOREVER to actually find locally grown food. On this journey of trying to eat locally they made many new friends on their journey and learned a lot about themselves, their community, and where their food comes from. Through this documentary we learn "why food matters".

[nviveiros]

Losing Sand in the Hourglass of a Coastal Community

Would you believe me if I told you that this was actually as a result of this?

I was extremely disappointed to find this out through the documentary Shored Up. The documentary Shored Up brings you on a journey to Long Beach Island, NJ. The sandy shore at Long Beach Island is being swept out to sea and was severely damaged by Hurricane Sandy. We learn about the process of reconstructing the shore because each day waves are destroying the shore line, dragging tons of sand out to sea and closing in on million dollar homes on the water.The documentary has an interesting way of introducing us to politicians, people of the community, and scientists. We meet townsfolk digging out their personal belongings out of the devastating affects of Hurricane Sandy, upset about the reconstruction of the shore, and scientist who let us know what's happening. At one point in the film it is edited in a creative way to make it look like two people were arguing. Shored Up was a good film, but in my opinion it was very repetitive.

Watch the trailer here and make your own opinions!

http://shoredupmovie.com/trailer/

[nviveiros]

Would Uranium Starts With You?

     Taking the view point of both opponents Suzan Beraza bring us on a journey to Naturita Colorado in her film Uranium Drive-In. It is here where we are confronted by the opposing ideas concerning the installation of  Piñon Ridge Uranium Mill in  Paradox Valley.       We are introduced to a group who is against the construction of the Uranium Mill. These people focused on the dangers that would be lurking around the corner for both citizens and the environment if the Uranium Mill was constructed.       While on the other side of the ring we have the people who want the Uranium Mill to be constructed. These people are stereotypically  the people who are struggling to make ends meet.         Beraza's choice to show both sides lets her audience make their own decisions, which I really appreciated. No one likes to feel as if someone else's opinions are being shoved in their face.        For me, a student in an Environmental Communications course, this film showed me the importance of being as unbiased as possible when creating a film on a controversial topic such as this one. I would want my viewers to be allowed to create their own thoughts and opinions on topics and not have my ideas bully them into believing otherwise. 

For more information on the film Uranium Drive-In visit: www.uraniumdrivein.com/                      or http://www.watchnewspapers.com/view/full_story/22677006/article-Uranium-Drive-In--Documentary--Surprised--Filmmaker-Beraza?instance=arts%20overflow