Documentary Reflection

December 5, 2023 By: Rosie Chandi

Mainstream media:

The topic I would like to discuss is climate change and its relation to wildfires. It was the first thing that struck out to me when thinking of environmental movements.

This past summer here was 211 wildfires, leading to record breaking concerns with the risks of wildfires increasing drastically [1]. Wildfires amongst forests are increasing in intensity and endurance and are expected to double by 2050, further resulting in rising temperatures, extreme weather conditions, and heightened droughts [1]. Scientists correlate wildfires with climate change, which has been a topic of concern for many years, though with little to no movement towards change [1]. The assistance from firefighters from overseas had doubled this past summer and more people evacuated their homes than ever [1]. In the documentary, “How to Change the World: The Revolution Will Not Be Organized,” Bob Duncan mentions the following “[centuries of careless neglect of the environment manifest and the accumulated actions of the past become destructive, bringing mankind to a cross-roads]” [3], which suggests that humans have neglected the environment without ever considering its consequences and now we are experiencing and living through the consequences.

Alternative media:

Wildfires create many negative environmental factors and the size and severity of them are often overlooked, creating complex factors related to climate change [4]. Then there are conservative figures who downplay the effects of climate change on wildfires and criticize the notion that they are caused by arson conditions instead of climate conditions [4]. There is a tendency for these conservative figures to distract people from the real causes even though there is evidence from government national reports confirming connections between climate change and wildfires [4]. The denial and misinformation are concerning and highlights the reason why there may be minimal action put towards climate change and putting ends to wildfires [4]. In relation to this, Stanford’s research team confirmed the worst wildfire days in the U.S and Canada to date [4]. To further prove this, the Canadian government’s national risk report suggests increasing intensity and frequency of wildfires [4]. The narratives of these conservative figures need to be challenged if we want to continue living on this planet. As stated in the documentary mentioned above, Bob Duncan states “men have the capability of sustaining life and promoting happiness”, so let’s first start by accepting that climate change is an issue and wildfires are the effect.

Civil disobedience

Use the documentaries in this course unit to reflect on the role that civil disobedience has played in the history of environmentalism, researching one other recent example to defend your answer to the question of whether it works to bring positive change.

Using the documentaries from class to reflect on the role of civil disobedience and how it has played in the history of the environment, I came across an article for anti-logging protests in Canada and how they have become the largest acts of civil disobedience [2]. 866 people were arrested since April who were protesting around Vancouver Islands forests [2]. These protests involved activists who attempted to resist logging by chaining themselves to trees and were involved in alleged violence, such as beating and pepper-spraying, from police officers [2]. These protests rise conflicts environmentally, but also politically as activists aim to protect diminishing forests while conflicts rise with the police forces [2]. The determination these activists have show is that their belief of civil disobedience is critical to raising awareness and bringing positive change to logging, climate change, and wildfires.

References:

[1] D’Angelo, C. (2023). “The Realities Conservatives are Ignoring About Wildfires”. HuffPost. Retrieved from: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/conservative-wildfire-reaction-climate-reality_n_64836b81e4b04ee51a94838e

[2] Osborne, J. (2021). “Anti-Logging Protest Becomes Canada’s Biggest Ever Act of Civil Disobedience”. The Guardian. Retrieved from: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/sep/08/canada-logging-protest-vancouver-island

[3] Rothwell, Jerry, director, writer. “How to Change the World: The Revolution Will Not Be Organized.” Originally produced by British Film Institute, 2015. YouTube Video, 1:26:59. Posted by George Hunsicker Mar. 28, 2017. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-7saEKyThc.

[4] Trinh, J., Ziafati, N. (2023). “Canada’s Unprecedented’ Fire Season Linked to Climate Change, Will Be the New Normal: Scientists”. CTV News. Retrieved from: https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/canada-s-unprecedented-fire-season-linked-to-climate-change-will-be-the-new-normal-scientists-1.6425110