Exercise 4
August 23, 2025 By: Sunisha Rakesh
Student Name: Sunisha Rakesh
Course: HIST_ 3991
Student ID: T00609237
Date:2025 Aug
Exercise #4: Documentary Reflection
This assignment prompted me to reflect more about one of the media articles I discussed in Exercise 3, specifically regarding the rapid loss of biodiversity. Swerdfager and Armitage argue that Canada’s conservation laws are old-fashioned and fragmented. Although most of these laws may have been effective decades ago, they are now incapable of addressing today’s realities, such as climate change. Sadly, I agree with these authors’ point of view. The system’s failure to keep pace with modern environmental challenges has led to the continued decline of our precious species. I believe a more effective solution would be a single modern law that ensures all stakeholders participate in decision-making and implementation of the policy.
Moreover, the documentaries we have watched so far have significantly transformed my perspective on environmental conservation issues. Marshall Curry’s “If a Tree Falls” shows the extent to which some activists pushed people to act. The commitment of the Earth Liberation Front (ELF) to protest deforestation was outstanding. However, I think their extreme tactics were unnecessary. From this documentary, I learned that the strategies used in civil disobedience determine the outcomes. Based on “If a Tree Falls,” the act can spark more discussions around the topic and inspire more people to advocate for justice. However, the associated violence weakens the message. Contrarily, peaceful demonstrations have a track record of building more support and encouraging policymakers to explore solutions.
A more positive example that came to mind is last month’s Vancouver Climate Strike, which attracted 100,000 people to demand climate justice. The demonstration was nonviolent but still effective. Importantly, the scale of the protest pressured politicians to treat climate change as a priority. I support such large-scale peaceful movements because they lead to long-term change.
https://www.sfu.ca/communication/news-and-community/studentnews/cimatestrike.html