The Ecology Center of the Siskiyous at Southern Oregon University is hosting a series of five film events over the next two months that are all on the topic of addressing our environmental crisis. Each film will have an expert panel and a discussion, as well as snacks that are provided by the Ashland Food Co-op.
“This film series was created in hopes of giving students as well as the community an opportunity to get a deeper understanding on important environmental issues,” said Winston Friedman, the co-director of ECOS.
The first film of the event, “Waste Land,” was shown on Jan. 16 and followed a famous artist by the name of Vik Muniz who is on a journey from Brooklyn to the world’s largest landfill located in Rio de Janeiro.
The multi-documentary “Bike Shorts” will be screening on Jan. 30, and explores topics
such as BMX extreme riding, the social-change aspects of cycling and women in cycling. Muuqi Maxwell, the head of the Bike Program at ECOS, will be leading the discussion after the film is shown.
“Climate Refugees” will be playing on Feb. 13, a well-received documentary that gathers stories from informed scientists, politicians and experts that address the climate changes that could cause mass migration within our lifetime.
The fourth film “Connected” will be shown on Feb. 27, and explores the connections between major issues during our time that relate to the environment, consumption, population growth, and more. Though they haven’t decided on the expert to speak at the event, they have a few candidates who are they are hoping will lead the panel afterwards.
“YERT,” or Your Environmental Roadtrip, is set to screen on March 15 and is about three friends who go on a road trip to search for innovators and people in general who are trying to better the human environmental crisis.
“All of these films are about an important and serious issues, but we picked these specifically because they are more fun and upbeat,” said Friedman.
All films are shown at 6 p.m. in the Meese Auditorium at SOU.
