Environmental Documentaries Series
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the documentary series will be once again in asynchronous remote format: you can watch any film any time during this semester. SHU students, staff and guests are welcome and will be able to watch the films online for a small fee or for free. Some films will be provided for free for the SHU community, but guests will have to pay-per-view (details in column “Sources and Costs”. If there are several sources for a film at the same rate, I provide the Vimeo source as Vimeo provides most of the money to the filmmakers. Please reach out to my email twassmer@sienaheights.edu if you have any questions or comments about a film and I will get back to you ASAP.
|
Film |
Running Time (min) |
Topics |
Sources and Costs |
|
81 |
Narrated by a young journalist from India, the movie follows 5 connected stories of young people who against all odds are transforming their lives and the lives of those around them. |
||
|
66 |
Paths towards a new model of human existence: one which is fair, environmentally sound and fulfilling, with soil and people supporting each other in a balanced and sustainable way. |
$4.99 on VHX |
|
|
66 |
In Honduras, the most dangerous place in the world to be a land defender, the Lenca and Garífuna people are not backing down fighting against state backed megaprojects and narco-traffickers. |
Free on Vimeo |
|
|
97 |
Follow actor Jeremy Irons as he investigates the global scale and impact of humanity's modern wasteful consumerism and pollution. A call for urgent action to resolve the issue and drastically reduce our consumption towards sustainable levels and zero waste |
Uploaded for the SHU community for free on Microsoft Stream |
|
|
44 |
The Third Harmony tells the story of nonviolence, humanity’s greatest (and most overlooked) resource |
$4.99 on Vimeo |
|
|
69 |
A personal and global look at human population growth, its impact on the Earth, and its connection to human rights. |
$2.99 on Google Play |
|
|
77 |
The Pacific Island nation Kiribati is one of the most remote places on the planet and one of the first countries that must confront annihilation from sea-level rise. |
Permitted by the filmmaker to show to the SHU community. For free: Restricted link on Microsoft Stream |
|
|
#Powerplant: Plants could save the planet and With My Own Eyes |
61+8=69 |
#Powerplant provides added insight into the link between climate change and meat consumption. Pigs and chickens were crammed by the thousands into the farms investigated by Animal Equality and Rooney Mara. |
Both free #Powerplant on Vimeo and With my own eyes on YouTube |
|
88 |
Dirt Rich takes the viewer on a journey through a multiplicity of carbon draw down strategies that focus on natural solutions that simultaneously address the revitalization of soil and stabilization of atmospheric carbon levels. |
$3.99 on Vimeo |
|
|
93 |
The passing of the monkey wrench from the pioneers of eco-activism to the new generation carrying Edward Abbey's legacy into the 21st century. |
$3.99 on many platforms |
|
|
62 |
Oceans are a sonic symphony. Sound is essential to the survival and prosperity of marine life. But man-made ocean noise is threatening this fragile world. |
$2.99 on Vimeo |
|
|
89 |
A visually thrilling ode to the beauty and importance of the imperiled songbird, and what it will mean to all of us on both a global and human level if we lose them. |
$3.99 on iTunes or GooglePlay |
|
|
72 |
Antibiotics ability to fight and kill bacteria revolutionized medicine. After less than 80 years, however, these miracle drugs are failing. Resistant infections kill hundreds of thousands of people around the world each year. |
$5 on VHX |
|
|
90 |
How and why native plants are critical to the survival and vitality of local ecosystems with a goal to inspire people to plant native plants, providing a call to action to change our garden choices to include native plants. |
Permitted by the filmmaker to show to the SHU community. For free: Restricted link on Microsoft Stream |
|
|
64 |
In places around the world, supplies of groundwater are rapidly vanishing. As aquifers decline and wells begin to go dry, people are being forced to confront a growing crisis. |
Free on YouTube |
12th Environmental Documentary Series at SHU in the Fall Semester of 2021
SHU Students can enroll for the 3-credit hour LAS441-AA course (Justice and Peace), coordinated by me, Tom Wassmer, twassmer@sienaheights.edu. Streaming fees for course attendees will be covered.
Guests are welcome and will be able to watch the films online for free or a small fee (details in column “Sources and Costs”. Please reach out to my email if you have any questions or comments about a film and I will forward it to my class for discussion and get back to you. If you start watching the films at the same time my class will (at about 6:45 PM on the specified days), you could meet us for the student-led discussion after the films. Just email and express interest and I will send you a Zoom invitation.
|
Date |
Film |
Running Time (min) |
Topics |
Sources and Costs |
|
8-Sep |
The Sacrifice Zone, After the Storm: Pollution in the Potomac and The PFAS Problem |
32+27+16=75 |
Pollution, environmental justice |
TSZ on Vimeo $4, others free (see links under “Film”) |
|
Unbreathable: The Fight for Healthy Air and Something in the Air – The Nature of Things |
29+45=74 |
Pollution, climate change |
Films currently not publicly available but will be available for the class |
|
|
22-Sep |
Stolen Fish, The Outlaw Ocean: Trouble In West Africa, and Fishing Wars and Overfishing |
30+10+26=76 |
Overfishing, globalization, environmental justice, |
SF not publicly available, others free (see links under “Film” |
|
29-Sep |
78 |
Population, climate change |
$5.99 on Amazon Prime $4.99 on iTunes |
|
|
6-Oct |
Climate Emergency: Feedback Loops and Eve: The 9-year-old climate activist |
13+14+11+9+11 |
Climate change, lifestyle changes |
Both free (see links under “Film”) |
|
13-Oct |
93 |
Wildfires, climate change |
$2.40 on Vimeo |
|
|
20-Oct |
53+30=83 |
Seal level rise, climate change |
66 Meters not publicly available but available for the class. NASA Science free (see links under “Film”) |
|
|
27-Oct |
40+43=83 |
Climate change, migration |
Both free (see links under “Film”) |
|
|
3-Nov |
UNDERSTORY - A Journey Into The Tongass, Guardians of the Amazon |
81 |
Habitat destruction, indigenous people, environmental justice |
|
|
9-Nov |
Issa Speaker Stan Cox: The Path to a Livable Future: Forging a New Politics to Fight Climate Change, Racism, and the Next Pandemic |
60 |
Solutions, Green New Deal |
Microsoft Teams Meeting Tuesday Nov-9, 12:45 PM: Click here to join the meeting |
|
10-Nov |
97 |
Habitat destruction, corruption, globalization, journalism, and activism |
Film currently not publicly available but will be available for the class |
|
|
17-Nov |
74 |
Food waste |
Free on Youtube |
|
|
24-Nov |
Thanksgiving |
|
||
|
1-Dec |
107 |
Climate change, activism, youth, legal |
Film currently not publicly available but will be available for the class |
|
|
8-Dec |
85 |
Activism, non-violent action |
Film currently not publicly available but will be available for the class |
11th Environmental Documentary Series at SHU in the Winter Semester of 2021
Due to the worsening COVID-19 pandemic, we will watch all films individually but (close to) synchronous online at the below days and times. We will connect live via Zoom (Meeting link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83391076365?pwd=djZQa3hvQklncDlTdTdjbnBPdDcxdz09) to allow questions and comments about the films via chat and run a post screening discussion. As Fair-Use exceptions only apply to face-to-face settings, you will need to rent or buy your own personal license (distributors with hyperlinks, and costs are provided in the far-right column of the below program). Some films are free – or provided to this film series by the filmmakers. Be ready to start watching by 6:30 PM. If you are running late, send a Zoom chat to everybody to find out where we are – you can return to the missed parts after our session concludes. This way we will all be done watching about the same time and can conclude the session with a post-screening discussion.
|
Date |
Film |
Time |
Topics |
Source and Cost |
|
13-Jan |
98:32 |
Indigenous people, deforestation, fossil fuels |
Vimeo $4.99 |
|
|
20-Jan |
75:07 |
Species extinction, oceans, policy |
Vimeo free access link
provided |
|
|
27-Jan |
83:49 |
Pollution, policy |
Amazon $2.99 also on Apple TV, Xfinity video-on-demand |
|
|
3-Feb |
94:30 |
Social media, consumer rights |
||
|
10-Feb |
76:16 |
Pollution, environmental justice, racism |
Amazon, iTunes, Google Play; $3.99 |
|
|
17-Feb |
100:14 |
Activism, endangered species, oceans |
||
|
24-Feb |
87:00 |
Pesticides, GMOs |
Links and free access codes provided during session |
|
|
3-Mar |
88:48 |
Activism, endangered species, deforestation, habitat loss |
Amazon, $1.99 |
|
|
10-Mar |
Program Change: |
60:00 |
Climate change, environmental justice |
Free signup required
Vimeo; $4.96, Free on Amazon Prime |
|
17-Mar |
80:05 |
Nature, sustainability, food |
Vimeo; $4.99 |
|
|
24-Mar |
98:01 |
Conservation, nature, habitat destruction |
Youtube; free |
|
|
31-Mar |
Easter Break |
|||
|
7-Apr |
Several Shorts on reef rescue, Herd Impact |
67:23 |
Conservation, climate change, habitat destruction, oceans; soils, agriculture, food |
RR shorts: Playlist on Youtube – all free; HI: free on YouTube |
|
14-Apr |
75:25 |
Conservation, habitat restoration; renewable energy, environmental justice |
Free or provided access on Vimeo: PwN, SfA In attendance Randall Tolpinrud (Pax Natura Foundation) for PwN and one of the filmmakers of SfA |
|
|
21-Apr |
Ever slow green, Shorts about the Green New Deal |
80:00 |
Conservation, reforestation; sustainable policies |
ESG provided access on Vimeo; Playlist of 3 shorts on Youtube, ESG filmmaker Christoph Pohl will be in attendance for the discussion |
|
28-Apr |
Starting at 7:00 PM |
45:00 |
Presentation on Sustainable Development |
Free on Zoom |
|
5-May |
84:56 |
Agriculture, soil, climate mitigation |
Vimeo, $1 |
10th Environmental Documentary Series at SHU in the Fall Semester of 2020
Due to the still ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, all films are online and you can watch them anytime you want – just rent the films or watch them for free – see below). I created a blog page and will make a post for each film so you can comment and share your thoughts, ask questions or share any related information: http://sustainability.sienaheights.edu/environmental-documentaries-blog
I just received the below notification that this great documentary that I waited for a long time was finally released. If you watch it before September 8, you will donate automatically to help indigenous communities in the Amazon region that were extremely hard hit by the Corona virus: You're invited to the online release of Yasuní Man, now available on iTunes, Amazon, Google Play, and Vimeo. If you watch it before September 8th, a portion of the proceeds from each download will go directly to the Amazon Emergency Fund, to provide COVID-19 rapid response grants across the Amazon. This “must-see” film about the Amazon is a powerful documentary that takes you into Ecuador's Yasuní National Park – the most biodiverse place on the planet. It is home to the Waorani Indigenous people and the nomadic Tagaeri-Taromenane, who are among the last remaining Indigenous peoples living in voluntary isolation in Ecuador.
|
Date |
Film |
Runtime |
|
Topic |
Source and Cost |
|
26-Aug |
78 |
|
Energy, Climate |
Amazon, Fire TV, Roku, Vizio, Apple TV $3 |
|
|
2-Sep |
93 |
|
Climate, Indigenous People |
URL $4.50 |
|
|
9-Sep |
94 |
|
Animal Rights |
URL $3 |
|
|
16-Sep |
56 |
|
Sealevel Rise, Climate adaptation |
URL free |
|
|
23-Sep |
56 |
|
Heatwaves, Adaptation |
URL free |
|
|
30-Sep |
60 |
|
Nukes, Journalism |
URL free |
|
|
7-Oct |
89 |
|
Pollution, Indigenous People, Activism |
URL free (donation) |
|
|
14-Oct |
93 |
|
Planetary Evolution, Pollution, Climate |
URL free |
|
|
21-Oct |
70 |
|
Energy, Eminent Domain, Activism |
Amazon $6 |
|
|
28-Oct |
80 |
|
Water Rights, Activism |
||
|
4-Nov |
82 |
|
Ecology and Evolution, Species Extinction, Activism |
URL $3 |
|
|
11-Nov |
50+36 |
|
Habitat Restoration, Holistic Development |
URL free URL $4 |
|
|
18-Nov |
The New Environmentalists (3 episodes) |
30+27+28 |
|
Activism, Indigenous People |
URL free URL free URL free |
|
25-Nov |
86 |
|
Agroecology |
URL $6 |
|
|
2-Dec |
75 |
|
Pollution, Industrial Agriculture |
URL $5 |
|
|
9-Dec |
54 |
|
Economy, Solutions |
URL $3 |
Winter Semester 2020. All films will start Wednesdays 7:00 PM in the Science Building, Room SCI 131 and are free and open for everybody. This faculty-led program and any related discussion is for educational benefit only. A campus map can be found at: sienaheights.edu/About/Campus-Map-Parking
DUE TO PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES TO REDUCE THE CHANCES OF CONTRACTING THE CORONA VIRUS, WE HAD TO CANCEL THE 9TH SERIES. PLEASE MAKE SURE TO CLICK ON THE LINKS ON THE NAMES OF THE FILMS, MANY ARE AVAILABLE FOR PAY-PER-VIEW AT MODERATE COSTS.
|
Week |
Date |
Film |
Runtime |
Topic |
|
2 |
15-Jan |
Waters
of the U.S., |
21+24+27 |
Water pollution, environmental law, activism |
|
3 |
22-Jan |
|||
|
4 |
29-Jan |
92 |
Water pollution, industrial agriculture |
|
|
5 |
5-Feb |
No Film |
||
|
6 |
12-Feb |
77 |
Pesticides |
|
|
7 |
19-Feb |
No Film |
||
|
8 |
26-Feb |
71 |
Toxic chemicals |
|
|
9 |
4-Mar |
Fall Break |
||
|
10 |
11-Mar |
76 |
Plastic pollution |
|
|
11 |
18-Mar |
No Film |
||
|
12 |
25-Mar |
Rueckert Auditorium, Dominican Hall |
Solutions |
|
|
13 |
1-Apr |
78 |
Climate crisis, solutions |
|
|
14 |
8-Apr |
Easter Break |
||
|
15 |
15-Apr |
61+8 |
Plant based food, animal rights |
|
|
16 |
22-Apr |
82 |
Agroecology, solutions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SHU Students can enroll for a 3-credit hour LAS 441 course (section AC), Instructor: Tom Wassmer, twassmer@sienaheights.edu).
All films will start Wednesdays 6:30 PM in the Science Building, Room SCI 131 and are free and open for everybody. This faculty-led program and any related discussion is for educational benefit only. A campus map can be found at: sienaheights.edu/About/Campus-Map-Parking
TENTATIVE SCHEDULE (W 6:30 – 8:30 pm in SCI 131)
|
Session |
Date |
Film |
Runtime |
Topic |
|
1 |
4-Sep |
Different Time: 7:15 pm! |
70 |
Water, climate crisis |
|
2 |
11-Sep |
98 |
Waste, pollution |
|
|
3 |
18-Sep |
79 |
Deforestation, indigenous people |
|
|
4 |
25-Sep |
92 |
Waste, environmental justice, green economy |
|
|
5 |
2-Oct |
90 |
Toxic chemicals, water, politics |
|
|
6 |
9-Oct |
92 |
Climate crisis, virtual reality |
|
|
7 |
16-Oct |
World population, Mother: Caring for 7 Billion and Love the Population Bomb |
82 |
Population |
|
8 |
23-Oct |
80 |
Climate crisis, conflict |
|
|
9 |
30-Oct |
Room and time change: Rueckert Auditorium, Dominican Hall, 7 pm Issa Speaker Gabby Ahmadia, WWF, Director, Marine Conservation Science, Oceans |
|
Marine Conservation, climate adaptation |
|
10 |
6-Nov |
94 |
Species extinction |
|
|
11 |
13-Nov |
85 |
Food, climate crisis, solutions |
|
|
12 |
20-Nov |
74 |
Electronics, pollution |
|
|
13 |
27-Nov |
Thanksgiving – No Class |
|
|
|
4 |
4-Dec |
88 |
Toxic chemicals, water |
All films will start W 7:00 PM in the Science Building, Room SCI 131 and are free and open for everybody. This faculty-led program and any related discussion is for educational benefit only. A campus map can be found at: sienaheights.edu/About/Campus-Map-Parking
|
Date |
Film |
Running
Time (min) |
Topics |
|
16-Jan |
84 |
Pollution, Toxic Chemicals, Water |
|
|
23-Jan |
100 |
Pollution, Oceans |
|
|
30-Jan Canceled |
CANCELED 85 |
Food, Climate Change, Solutions |
|
|
6-Feb |
95 |
Food, Animal Rights, Lifestyle |
|
|
13-Feb |
4+47+17+23+1.5=93 |
Habitat Destruction, Conservation |
|
|
20-Feb |
Regreening
the desert, Kokota- The Islet of Hope,
Selah: Water from Stone |
47+8+30=85 |
Climate Change, Solutions |
|
27-Feb |
77+15=92 |
Climate Change, Climate Justice |
|
|
13-Mar |
78 |
Climate Change, Solutions |
|
|
20-Mar |
88 |
Food, Climate Change, Solutions |
|
|
3-Apr |
77+11=88 |
Climate
Change, Climate Justice, Activism |
|
|
17-Apr |
120 |
Activism, Lifestyle |
6th Environmental Documentary Series scheduled for Winter 2018
All films will start W 7:00 PM in SCI 131 and are free and open for everybody.
The Climate Action live stream with Bernie Sanders and Bill McKibben on January 31st will start at 7:30 PM also in SCI 131.
Please note - schedule change: Happening is shown 25-Apr instead of 4-Apr replacing "What if we change?". On 4-Apr, please consider attending UNFRACTURED screened for free at the Michigan Theater in Ann Arbor! The filmmakers will be attending and there will be a discussion after! The event is hosted by the University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability. Reserve your Ticket here.
|
Date |
Film |
Running
Time |
Topics |
|
17-Jan |
60 |
Pollution,
Conservation |
|
|
24-Jan |
24+28 |
Conservation,
Biodiversity |
|
|
31-Jan |
Live:
Fossil Free Fast - The Climate Resistance with Bill McKibben and Bernie
Sanders |
||
|
7-Feb |
22+29 |
Climate
Change, Pollution, Resistance |
|
|
14-Feb |
78 |
Pollution,
Climate Change, Conservation, |
|
|
28-Feb |
87 |
Pollution,
Climate Change, Lifestyle |
|
|
14-Mar |
75 |
Food,
Animal Rights |
|
|
4-Apr |
90 |
Energy,
Fossil Fuels |
|
|
11-Apr |
60 |
Urban
Environments, Conservation |
|
|
25-Apr |
72 |
Energy, Renewables |
|
SHU Students can enroll for a 3-credit hour LAS 441 course (section AE), Instructor: Tom Wassmer, twassmer@sienaheights.edu). All events are open and free to anybody.
Documentaries shown the last 2.5 years (see below) are available through the SHU Library or Online as pay-per-view for a small fee.
There will be a short introduction before the showing of the documentaries. Following the showings, there will be discussions on the topic of the movie(s) and how well the issue was covered.
This faculty-led program and any related discussion is for educational benefit only.
All events besides on 9/13 will take place on Wednesday evenings between 6:30-9 pm in the Science Building Room 131.
|
Date |
Film |
Topic |
|
6-Sep |
Water
and Power (78) |
Water |
|
13-Sep |
Different
time: 7:00 pm |
Pollution,
Toxic Chemicals |
|
20-Sep |
Sea the Truth (60) and shorts |
Overfishing |
|
27-Sep |
Stink! (90) |
Toxic
Chemicals |
|
4-Oct |
Death By Design (74) |
Electronics,
Pollution |
|
11-Oct |
Before the Flood (95) |
Climate
Change, Activism |
|
18-Oct |
From the Ashes (81) |
Energy,
Pollution |
|
25-Oct |
At the Fork (89) - Cowspiracy Short (15) |
Food,
Ethics, Climate Change |
|
1-Nov |
Hometown Habitat
(90) or Chasing Coral (89) |
Conservation,
Habitat Destruction |
|
8-Nov |
Deforestation,
Conflict |
|
|
15-Nov |
Climate
Change, Conflict |
|
|
22-Nov |
Thanksgiving – No
Class |
|
|
29-Nov |
We're not broke (80) |
Globalization |
|
6-Dec |
Tomorrow - Demain (120) |
What can be done? |
SHU Students can enroll for a 1-credit hour course and earn credit for attendance, short quizzes and essays (Course number ENV200D, Instructor: Tom Wassmer, twassmer@sienaheights.edu). All events are open and free to anybody. This faculty-led program and any related discussion is for educational benefit only.
Documentaries shown the last 2 years are available through the SHU Library or Online as pay-per-view for a small fee.
There will be a short introduction before the showing of the documentaries. Following the showings, there will be an optional discussion on the topic of the movie and how well the issue was covered. This faculty-led program and any related discussion is for educational benefit only.
All events will take place on Thursday evenings between 7-9 pm in St. Joseph Hall / SJH 109 Lecture Hall.
|
Date |
Title(s) |
Topic |
|
Winter 2017 |
||
|
3/16/2016 |
1.
The Messenger (90) |
Conservation, Species extinction |
|
3/23/2017 |
1.
The Goose with the
Golden Eggs: Tourism on Costa Rica's Pacific Coast (34) 2.
How bad for the
environment are cruise ships? (2) 3.
Thule – Tuvalu (55) Total time: 91 |
Tourism and Climate Change |
|
3/30/2017 |
1.
The Breakthrough in
Renewable Energy (47) 2.
Won't Pipe Down
(23) Total time: 70 |
Energy |
|
4/6/2017 |
1.
World Population (5:46) 2.
Mother: Caring for 7 Billion (60) Total time: 67 – Location Change: Science Building Room 131 |
Population |
|
4/13/2017 |
Easter
Break |
|
|
4/20/2017 |
1.
Invisible Ocean: Plankton and Plastic (9) 2.
Racing to Zero, in Pursuit of Zero
Waste (57) Total time: 66 |
Trash, Pollution |
|
4/27/2017 |
1.
Pumped Dry:
the Global Crisis of Vanishing Groundwater (40) 2.
Who Owns Water (50) Total time: 90 |
Water |
|
5/4/2017 |
1.
Farming
for the Future: Shorts a.
Age of the Farmer (6) b.
Farming
for the Future (7) c.
Walt (6) d.
Food for Thought, Food for Life (22) 2.
Soil Carbon Cowboy (12) 3.
Growing
Roots (24) 4.
Seeding a Dream / Growing Local (15) Total time: 91 |
Food, Pesticides, Organics |
Jan. 12: "The World According to Monsanto" (pollution/toxins)
Brochures about what you can do to avoid GMOS: Shopping Guide 2013, Shopping Guide Summer 2014, Health Risks of GMOs
Jan. 26: "Speciesism" (agriculture, ethics)
Feb. 9: "Let's Make Money" (globalization)
March 1: "Racing Extinction" (species extinction)
March 22: "Inside the Garbage of the World" (pollution/waste)
April 5: "Green" (habitat destruction)
April 19: "The Man Who Stopped the Desert" (solutions)
FALL 2015:
Sept. 8: "Home" (general)
Sept. 22: "Trashed: No Place For Waste" (pollution/waste)
Oct. 6: "More Than Honey" (species extinction)
Oct. 20: "Our Rising Oceans" (climate change)
Nov. 3: "The Future of Energy: Lateral Power to the People" (energy, society)
Nov. 17: "Life Running Out of Control" (agriculture, GMOs)
Dec. 1: "In Organic We Trust" (food, agriculture)
Dec. 15: "Fall and Winter" (solutions)