June 2020
Dear friends,
These past weeks have been greatly disturbing as we witness injustice, protests, riots, and a pandemic that continues to take lives. From criminal justice to climate justice, we must take action to build communities based on respect and love, not hate and fear. In this newsletter, we share educational resources and activities on how to engage.
This June 18th, we launch our new film “Unbreathable - the Fight For Healthy Air” that spotlights the fact that nearly half of Americans today live in areas with unhealthy air. This is not a political issue; it is a human value. We will continue to use our platform to advocate for justice for all, for the health of our planet, and for creating the films and media that bring us together, not drive us apart. We ask you to share, listen, and grow in diversity and community. Make a commitment to be allies. Together, we can inspire and create solutions that provide a better world for everyone.
For more information, contact Maggie Burnette Stogner at stogner@american.edu.
Visit our website, www.environmentalfilm.org.
Your support makes a very real difference. Donate here.
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#BlackBirdersWeek, Action, and Activism
When a video of a white woman in NYC called the cops on an African American birder went viral in late May, a new initiative began with the goal of raising awareness and support of Black people in the outdoors. The first annual Black Birders Week began Sunday, May 31, amidst ongoing protests for the death of George Floyd.
Protests against police brutality and systemic racism within the United States have sparked worldwide support, and have elevated awareness of how to advocate for racial justice. Organizations including the Sierra Club, Earthjustice, and 350.org as well as companies including REI, Outdoor Research, and more, are calling for action and justice nationwide.
Follow these accounts and read these resources to engage, connect, and take action:
Websites
Diversify Outdoors
Diversify Outdoors is a coalition of social media influencers who share the goal of promoting diversity in outdoor spaces where people of color, LGBTQIA, and other diverse identities have historically been underrepresented. The site hosts articles, contacts, and resources to promote diversity in outdoor recreation and conservation.
Zero Hour
Zero Hour amplifies young voices for climate action. Beginning in the summer of 2017, the organization quickly grew to include activists from across the country, from diverse backgrounds, and now leads movements for environmental justice and activism around the nation.
Resources
Being Antiracist
The National Museum of African American History and Culture provides definitions, diagrams, and videos to educate and inform on commitment “to making unbiased choices and being antiracist in all aspects of our lives.”
Your Kids Aren’t Too Young to Talk About Race
This page compiles ways to incorporate inclusive and informative conversations with youth.
A Guide to How You Can Support Marginalized Communities
CNN’s Harmeet Kaur creates a list of resources and sorts the actions by category: Educate, Listen, and Stand Up.
Read a Book
 American University professor Ibram X. Kendi published “How to Be an Antiracist” in August 2019, a book that gives an approach to reorienting America when it comes to issues of race, justice, and equality within the nation. Kendi is the founding director of American University’s Antiracist Research and Policy Center and discussed racism in September at American University; the discussion was moderated by former white supremacist Derek Black.
Social Media
@Outdoorafro
“We celebrate & inspire Black leadership in nature - tag yourself #OutdoorAfro wherever you are found in nature!”
@wildginaa
“Nature is showin’ out. I’m capturing it.
Director ⋐ Photographer ⋐ Writer
Former ESPN Producer ⋐ Yale Speaker”
@faithevebee
“roots natty wa/onderings
running, documentary + representation
repping @brownfolksfishing + @thisland_doc!”
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"Unbreathable: The Fight for Healthy Air" Premiere June 18th
"A powerful and important film about on of modern America's most consequential laws."
- Beth Gardiner, author of "Choked"
CEF’s new film, "Unbreathable: The Fight for Healthy Air," premieres (virtually), on June 18th with the DC Environmental Film Festival and a live panel discussion at 5:00pm EST. Panelists include: Mustafa Santiago Ali,VP of Environmental Justice, National Wildlife Federation; Bill Reilly, former EPA Administrator; Shashawnda Campbell, co-founder of Free Your Voice in Baltimore; Beth Gardiner, author of “Choked”; Maggie Burnette Stogner, director of “Unbreathable" and, moderator Paul Billings, National Senior VP of Policy, American Lung Association. Join us by signing up for the panel and for a link to view the film, and view the trailer here.
For more information, visit the website at www.unbreathable.org.
"Unbreathable: The Fight for Healthy Air" is directed by award-winning filmmaker and CEF Director Maggie Stogner. An impressive team of talented American University film alumni worked on the film, including Elizabeth Joy Herzfeldt-Kamprath, Shannon Lawrence, Matt Cipollone, Stephen Tringali, Ari Sherafat, and Matt Twiford. The film spotlights the ongoing struggle for clean air in the United States. Over the past fifty years, there has been major progress in significantly reducing air pollution across the nation thanks to the Clean Air Act. However, nearly half of Americans across the country today are still impacted by unhealthy air.
This 30-minute film premiers at a critical time, and shares stories of communities that are fighting for healthier air. Asthma is the number one health issue for children, and recent research links air pollution to higher cases and deaths from COVID-19. Environmental regulations and enforcement of existing laws are being stripped away when the need for renewable energy is more urgent than ever. A recent New York Times analysis found more than 60 environmental policies officially rolled back under the current administration and another 34 rollbacks still in progress.
The film was made possible by the generous donations and resources of American University’s Center for Environmental Filmmaking in partnership with the American Lung Association and AU’s Center for Environmental Policy, and the Hanley Foundation.
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Sustainable Filmmaking
CEF professor Larry Engel, in conjunction with CEF and American University’s Center for Media and Social Impact (CMSI), created the Code of Best Practices for Sustainable Filmmaking, a toolkit for filmmakers seeking to implement environmentally-ethical practices in productions. The guidelines help filmmakers to understand the inevitable carbon footprint involved in filmmaking and offer resources on how a production can reduce waste.
Another resource filmmakers can use comes in the form of a toolbox from The Climate Story Lab, challenging productions to break traditions in telling climate stories, ensuring all voices are heard, and staying up to date on the latest data for accuracy.
Recent film “2040,” directed by Damon Gameau, grapples with emissions worldwide and the contributions made when traveling for a story. Sustainable filmmaking evolves as the planet continues to face climate challenges, and as we return to producing in the field, CEF encourages filmmakers to consider how productions can reduce carbon footprints.
As we continue to adapt during the age of Covid-19, safe practices are essential. Doc Society, in collaboration with Field of Vision and Sundance, recently released guidelines for independent filmmakers, titled “Filming in the Time of Corona.” As you venture out to film, be safe, stay healthy, and share with us what your best practices for sustainable filmmaking are! Email us at environmentalfilmmaking@gmail.com.
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Experiential Learning Announcements
Silver Telly Award Winners
The most recent Maryland Public Television course at American University produced a documentary focusing on pollution in the Potomac River. The film, “After the Storm: Pollution in the Potomac,” is the recipient of the Silver Telly Award for the 2020 General Television category. The listing of all the students involved can be found here.
Fellow at IRW-FRONTLINE
Robert Boyd recently graduated from American University with a master’s in film and has accepted a post-graduate fellowship with the Investigative Reporting Workshop (IRW-FRONTLINE). His expertise in wildlife filmmaking (particularly in the microorganism realm) has been a great asset to the CEF team and now he will work with the PBS FRONTLINE team to research and report the next one-hour program. The program is currently under development and is scheduled to air in spring 2021.
The most recent FRONTLINE production was co-produced with NPR and IRW and focused on the increase in plastics in the environment and revelation that most plastic is not recycled.
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AU SOC and CEF alum Robert Boyd will work as an IRW-FRONTLINE fellow now that he has completed his master's degree.
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Take special care of yourself and others,
Kind regards,
Maggie
Executive Director
Center for Environmental Filmmaking
stogner@american.edu
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