Exercise #4: Documentary Reflection

August 21, 2023 By: Riley Phillips

Exercise #4: Documentary Reflection

The article talked about worsening wildfires in B.C. (my home province) and what’s causing them. It’s clear that how we manage forests, burning, and especially climate change all has been contributing factors. The article said that overall climate change is a big part of why the wildfires are worsening. This is supported by forests/areas that usually didn’t suffer wildfires in the past are now having to manage large fires due it’s hotter and drier climate from the changing temperatures. I agree with the experts who say climate change is the largest contributing factor for worsen wildfires we are experiencing. The hotter weather, reduced rain, and extreme conditions match what they’re saying about how climate change has been making recent fires more intense.

Civil disobedience has played a large role in the history of addressing many different environmental issues as seen in the documentary “If a Tree Falls: A Story of the E.L.F.” (such as logging, animal conservation etc.). Just as some activists and communities have stood up against practices, they deemed wrong in the past, their efforts have can create change. In the case of wildfires, civil disobedience can influence policy and public perception. With worsening wildfires, using civil disobedience could possible help make people aware of the human-caused reasons behind these damaging events. Like the article noted, not managing forests well, not burning carefully, and climate change all play a part in making wildfires worse. When activists use civil disobedience, they can show how we need better forest management, safer burning practices, and urgent steps against climate change. We have seen in the documentaries that civil disobedience can also change how policies are made and how people think. When activists point out what’s causing wildfires that could be prevented, they can push for stricter rules, smarter ways to manage land, and more people getting involved in fixing the problem. Just like how passionate people have made a difference before, their actions can push governments, industries, and the public to take the wildfire issue more seriously.

Article:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/wildfire-factors-climate-change-1.6939911