Butter the Popcorn for some Justice Flicks

I am what educators call a “visual learner.” Do you have tips for how to brew a Fair Trade cup of coffee? Then please let me look over your barista shoulder, but don’t hand me an instruction manual. Time to improve my Spanish? Then I invite my bilingual friends to a conversation marked by their patience and my poor conjugation of verbs.

Because I often learn best by seeing, I am a big fan of documentaries, and by extension I’m a fan of California Newsreel, a nonprofit that specializes in producing and distributing social justice films. These folks recently gave me a review copy of A Killer Bargain. Focused on textile production in India the movie demonstrates how “bargain” prices often don’t reflect the actual human and environmental costs associated with their production. From the use of pesticides banned by many western nations to daily exposure to toxic chemicals, the workers profiled in the movie helped me see how manufacturing that is focused on cost savings sometimes exacts a high price on people and the planet.

With economic times tough for U.S. consumers, many of us are having to tighten household budgets. As we stretch our consumer dollars as people of faith, we are called to calculate the costs of “cheap” products. When shopping we consider factors such as the color or size of a product, and let’s also judge whether or not a purchase reflects our faith.

Films from California Newsreel can help us learn and act on the realities of the global economy. Faith groups and educational institutions receive a discount price on ordering titles from California Newsroom. Some of the films, like my favorite Made in LA, offer a facilitator’s guide. So, if you are the kind of person who learns by talking, California Newsreel can help you with justice education for your community too!

This entry was posted on Friday, August 1st, 2008 and is filed under Beyond Fair Trade, Fair Trade, Resources . You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

2 Responses to “Butter the Popcorn for some Justice Flicks”

1. Terry Angelotti Says:
   August 13th, 2008 at 10:00 am

   Thanks for the source for good documentaries! I’ve had an idea for some time to start a group I’d call “Documentary Chicks” where once a month I’d invite a bunch of women I know from various places (church, neighborhood, kid’s activities) to come over to eat popcorn and watch and discuss a movie. Less work than a book club, more stimulating than Bunco. If this group were intentionally diverse in ethnicity, age, and political perspective, even better! So far I haven’t made it happen yet, but maybe your blog will nudge me in that direction.

2. Tracy L Pindell Says:
   September 30th, 2008 at 4:10 pm

   Hi Terry,

   What a great idea! I think that I will start one in my area. I will also serve Fair Trade chocolates and coffee too.

   Tracy

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