Documentary Reflection
March 17, 2023 By: Yang Ni
Environmental movement groups started their advocacy functionalities ever since in the 19th century. In order to bring attention to the environmental issues at hand, most environmental movements have adopted the application of civil disobedience.1 Civil disobedience strategies applied range from non-violence demonstrations, riots and arson that have made several activists on the wrong side of the law. Over recent times, advocacy groups have been lobbying for environmental conservation in North America. 2 They believed there should be a balance between economic benefits and environmental conservation of natural resources since industrial and agricultural revolutions contribute to air, water and land pollution. The reflection will cover two documentaries that outline the challenges faced by environmental movements due to their ethical and strategic considerations for civil disobedience.
3 The first documentary, “If a Tree Falls,” directed by Marshall, featured Earth Liberation Front, a group that used radical measures aimed at environmental conservation. The main character was sentenced to life imprisonment after being found guilty of arson and conspiracy toward the industries and companies involved in deforestation, mining and fishing. I have noticed that the Earth Liberation Front needed to formulate a workable advocacy that would be used to address environmental challenges instead of making destroying properties.
4 The second documentary, “How to Change the World: The Revolution Will Not Be Organized,” outlines civil disobedience undertaken by a Greenpeace movement established in the 1970s. The groups were fighting to prevent nuclear testing and mining in Alaska so that whales could be protected. Civil disobedience has continued to take the stage even in the modern world, as reported in this article about Earth Liberation Front and Animal Liberation Front members in their fights against animal rights, nuclear testing and mining of fossil fuels. The environmental activists are facing terrorist charges as FBI agents have arrested them in connection with conspiring to burn down animal slaughtering factories and timber mills. 5 The recent FBI crackdown on animal rights and environmental activists highlights the ongoing tension between activism and government authorities.
In conclusion, environmental movements have been advocating for conservation since the 19th century, and civil disobedience has been a common strategy to bring attention to environmental issues. However, radical measures such as riots and arson have caused some activists to face legal repercussions. The documentaries “If a Tree Falls” and “How to Change the World: The Revolution Will Not Be Organized” shed light on the ethical and strategic considerations necessary for effective advocacy. While civil disobedience is needed to raise awareness, damaging properties or putting oneself in a compromising situation is not the way to go. Natural resources should be utilized in a way that balances economic gains and environmental conservation. As individuals, we can also contribute to the conservation of natural resources by adopting sustainable practices in our daily lives.
1 Buttel, F. H., & Gottlieb, R. (1995). Forcing the spring: The transformation of the American environmental movement. Contemporary Sociology, 24(1), 51. https://doi.org/10.2307/2075092
2 Montrie, C. (2008). Nature’s new deal: The Civilian Conservation Corps and the roots of the American environmental movement. By Neil M. Maher. (New York: Oxford University press, 2008. xii, 316 pp. $35.00, ISBN 978-0-19-530601-9.). Journal of American History, 95(1), 253-254. https://doi.org/10.2307/25095567
3 Curry, Marshall. Director, writer, producer, and Sam Cullman, Co-Director, Producer. “If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front.” 2011. Marshall curry Productions. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwQoi0DoOKM
4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-XQAN9L_MQ
5 https://theintercept.com/2019/03/23/ecoterrorism-fbi-animal-rights/