Documentary Reflexion
October 12, 2026 By: Matthew L
Mainstream Media Source
Cody Godwin. “Right to Repair Movement Gains Power in US and Europe.” BBC News, July 7, 2021. https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-57744091.
Alternative Media Source
iFixit. “The Right to Repair.” Accessed October 11, 2026. https://www.ifixit.com/right-to-repair.
After watching The Lightbulb Conspiracy, I can truly say that I am appalled by the corporate greed shown by the companies featured. These companies design their products to be thrown out rather than fixed, thereby increasing waste and consumer spending in order to fatten their own wallets[1].
I believe that companies should allow clients to fix the products they buy, particularly more expensive items. This can save them significant amounts of money, in addition to the fact that I believe that, on principle, I should be allowed to repair something I myself paid for.
Civil disobedience can be a useful tool to accomplish such a goal. For example, the short documentary How to Change the World explains how a group of people who witnessed a horrific oil spill raised awareness, which directly led to the creation of a variety of laws meant to protect the environment[2].
More recently, activists employed similar tactics at Fairy Creek in British Columbia, by protesting the logging of old-growth trees but blockading the roads that gave woodcutters access to them. This put significant pressure on governments to protect these ancient forests[3].
It is therefore clear that civil disobedience can be a useful tool. When it comes to the topic at hand, something as simple as refusing to buy products designed to be replaced instead of repaired can be very powerful. Speaking with your wallet, when dealing with greedy companies, can be an exceptional way to speak one’s mind without saying a word. After all, if nobody buys the products in question, their manufacturers will have to make changes.
It has been argued that allowing customers to repair their own devices can be hazardous[4], in my opinion, a happy medium exists: The repairs can be done by a qualified professional. Particularly when dealing with larger companies who have their own stores, the employees there can be trained to diagnose technology problems and then fix them or have them sent to the manufacturer to repair at a reasonable cost.
Footnotes
[1] Cosima Dannoritzer, dir., The Lightbulb Conspiracy, produced by Joan Úbeda (Barcelona: The Video Project, 2010).
[2] Jerry Rothwell, dir., How to Change the World: The Revolution Will Not Be Organized (British Film Institute, 2015), YouTube video, 1:26:59, posted by George Hunsicker, March 28, 2017, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-7saEKyThc.
[3] Kieran Oudshoorn, “The Fallout of Fairy Creek,” CBC News, June 21, 2023, https://www.cbc.ca/radiointeractives/features/the-fallout-of-fairy-creek.
[4] Cody Godwin, “Right to Repair Movement Gains Power in US and Europe,” BBC News, July 7, 2021, https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-57744091; iFixit, “Réparer change la donne,” accessed October 11, 2026, https://fr.ifixit.com/Right-to-Repair.
Bibliography
Dannoritzer, Cosima, dir. The Lightbulb Conspiracy. Produced by Joan Úbeda. Barcelona: The Video Project, 2010.
iFixit. “Réparer change la donne.” Accessed October 11, 2026. https://fr.ifixit.com/Right-to-Repair.
Godwin, Cody. “Right to Repair Movement Gains Power in US and Europe.” BBC News, July 7, 2021. https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-57744091.
Oudshoorn, Kieran. “The Fallout of Fairy Creek.” CBC News, June 21, 2023. https://www.cbc.ca/radiointeractives/features/the-fallout-of-fairy-creek.
Rothwell, Jerry, dir. 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, March 28, 2017. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-7saEKyThc.
[1] Cosima Dannoritzer, dir., The Lightbulb Conspiracy, produced by Joan Úbeda (Barcelona: The Video Project, 2010).
[2] Jerry Rothwell, dir., How to Change the World: The Revolution Will Not Be Organized (British Film Institute, 2015), YouTube video, 1:26:59, posted by George Hunsicker, March 28, 2017, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-7saEKyThc.
[3] Kieran Oudshoorn, “The Fallout of Fairy Creek,” CBC News, June 21, 2023, https://www.cbc.ca/radiointeractives/features/the-fallout-of-fairy-creek.
[4] Cody Godwin, “Right to Repair Movement Gains Power in US and Europe,” BBC News, July 7, 2021, https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-57744091; iFixit, “Réparer change la donne,” accessed October 11, 2026, https://fr.ifixit.com/Right-to-Repair.