Two Sustainability Film Events, Tomorrow Evening (Monday 5/20/13)

Western Libraries' GEF sponsored sustainability film series may be over, but that doesn't mean there aren't still opportunities to enjoy more meaningful movie events. For example, there are two important film screenings this Monday night, one on campus, and one at the Pickford, although this does create the problem of trying to be in two places at once!

The first film event I want to share with you is called Transition 2.0. If you have not yet heard about the Transition movement, here is a great chance to learn a bit about the inspiring phenomenon sweeping the world. It is a movement based on creating community and resiliency, and this film includes examples of people doing just that, clearly demonstrating that there is much happening to offer us hope for both the present and the future. The WWU student club "Transition Western" will be hosting this film screening at the Fairhaven Auditorium at 7:00 pm, and it will be followed by a discussion with some local community members who are currently involved with Transition Whatcom. This event is free and open to the public.

The second film event is called Bitter Seeds, and it will be shown at the Pickford Film Center at 6:30 pm. Director Micha X Peled will be in attendance, and 10% of all ticket proceeds will go to the Bellingham Human Rights Film Festival. This film explores the relationship between food production and social justice by examining how we grow things, weighing in on the debate over changes created by companies like Monsanto, who claim that genetically modified seeds are improving productivity and efficiency. However, despite these claims, many small-scale farmers are losing their land and their livelihood, and in India, an epidemic of farmer suicides shows us how desperate the situation has become. This film begins at 6:30 pm, and tickets cost $11 (or $8 for PFC members).