Environmental film series shifts to plastics
On Tuesday, Feb. 8, a free screening of, “Addicted to Plastic,” a film that deals with a range of environmental issues and solutions related to the use of plastics, will be the second in a four-film series sponsored by SUNY Fredonia’s Academic Community Engagement (FACE) Center and the Fredonia Sustainability Committee.
A free screening of “Gasland” (2010), a Sundance Special Jury Prize winning film on the topic of hydrofracking for Marcellus Shale natural gas, kicks off the series Thursday, Feb. 3 at 7 p.m.
"Addicted to Plastic" will be screened Feb. 8, at 7 p.m. at the SUNY Fredonia Technology Incubator in downtown Dunkirk. Sherri Mason, professor of chemistry and FACE Sustainability Coordinator, will lead a discussion about the impacts of plastics on the environment, both locally and globally, as well as SUNY Fredonia’s initiatives to reduce the use of plastic bags in our community. The event is free and open to the public.
The film explores the globe to investigate what we really know about plastic beyond its thousands of uses. It also highlights the ways in which our waterways and food chains are affected by plastic debris while offering solutions that will provide viewers with a new perspective about our future with plastic.
In particular, the film explores the North Pacific Gyre—a plastic filled stretch of ocean twice the size of Texas—and its impacts on marine life. From sea animal deaths due to entanglements, to the bioaccumulation of chemicals caused by fish ingesting tiny pieces of plastic, the film presents a sobering look at the ecological and health risks of ocean debris.
The film encompasses three years of filming across 12 countries on 5 continents, including two trips to the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Its point-of-view documentary style along with its wealth of expert interviews and cutting edge solutions to recycling, toxicity and biodegradability, made the film a winner of the Best International Documentary Award at the Barcelona International Environmental Film Festival.
The Technology Incubator is located at 214 Central Avenue in Dunkirk. To learn more, contact Professor Christina Jarvis at 716-673-3430 or jarvisc@fredonia.edu.
