Sustainability Film Series Features "What's Organic About Organic?" Jan. 29

December 19, 2012

Sustainability Film Series Spring 2013

Northwest Campus

"What's Organic about Organic?"
Tuesday, Jan. 29 at 6 p.m. in WA104 – Introduction by Shelley Rogers

Through the stories of farmers who steward land from Harlem to the foothills of the Rockies, from upstate New York to Florida, the film reveals what's at stake in creating and maintaining meaningful standards for organic production to protect citizen interests, the environment, and the livelihoods of family farmers.

Runtime: 59 mins

"Waste Land"
Thursday, Feb. 21 at 6 p.m. in WA-104 - Introduction by Dr. Regiani Zacarias

This documentary follows artist Vik Muniz to the world's largest garbage dump, Jardim Gramacho, located on the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro. There he photographs a group of "catadores"- pickers of recyclable materials. Together Muniz and the catadores create art out of garbage as the catadores begin to re-imagine their lives.

Runtime: 99 mins

Awards: 2010 Sundance Film Festival Audience Award, 2010 Berlin International Film Festival and 2010 São Paulo International Film Festival Itamaraty Award

"Taking Root"
Wednesday, March 20 at 6 p.m. in WA-104 – Introduction by Dr. Sarah Cervone

Taking Root tells the dramatic story of Kenyan Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Wangari Maathai whose simple act of planting trees grew into a nationwide movement to safeguard the environment, protect human rights, and defend democracy-a movement for which this charismatic woman became an iconic inspiration.

Runtime: 81 mins

Awards: 2008 Amnesty International Durban International Film Festival, 2008 Green Cinema Award, Maui Film Festival and 2008 Prix du Public, RIDM Montreal

"Cane Toads"
Monday, April 22 at 6 p.m. in WA-104 – introduced by Eric Flagg

This documentary details the spread of an invasive species of Hawaiian sugar-cane toads through Australia in a botched effort to introduce them as counter pests to the grey back beetle that was wreaking havoc on the country's sugar cane fields. The true story is narrated with great humor and does a wonderful job of explaining the dangers of introducing alien flora and fauna into an ecosystem.

Runtime: 47 mins

Andrews Center

Wednesday, Jan. 30 – "Home" showing at 2 p.m.

Home is a 2009 documentary entirely composed of aerial shots of the Earth. It shows the diversity and interconnectedness of life on Earth and how humanity is threatening the ecological balance of the planet, particularly through its emission of carbon dioxide.

Runtime: 120 minutes

Monday, April 1 – "Dirt" showing at 2 p.m.

The documentary uses humor to analyze how humans have historically interacted with dirt. It highlights how dirt has provided humans with shelter, food, fuel and other valuable tools and shows the varied ways we are destroying this natural resource through our mining, agricultural activity and urbanization.

Runtime: 86 mins

Awards: 2009 Official Selection, Sundance Film Festival