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The Winds of Change: Young Activists Pursue Climate Justice and Green Living

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The Winds of Change: Young Activists Pursue Climate Justice and Green Living

Born in the mid-to-late 1990s up to the early 2010s, Generation Z environmental activists agree that urgent action is needed to achieve climate justice, and they’re willing to do what it takes to get results. “Climate and environmental justice and environmental racism are very big concerns among youth, whether or not they are youth of color. It’s not just about energy, water or air—it’s also very much about people,” says Ana Garcia-Doyle, executive director of One Earth Collective. The Chicago nonprofit inspires action, facilitates learning and promotes environmental justice through annual programs like the One Earth Film Festival and One Earth Youth Voices, a summit designed to give voice to the next generation’s environmental concerns.

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Filmmaker Jennifer Boyd Investigates Traffic Violence and Street Safety in 'The Street Project'

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Filmmaker Jennifer Boyd Investigates Traffic Violence and Street Safety in 'The Street Project'

"The Street Project" documentary is the story of humanity's relationship to the streets and the global citizen-led fight to make communities safer. Digging deep into the root causes of traffic violence, the filmmakers engage diverse experts, including street historians, city planners, urban designers, activists, and everyday people working to make their communities safer.

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Plastic PVC Pipes are Not the Solution to Replacing Lead

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Plastic PVC Pipes are Not the Solution to Replacing Lead

Last month, the Plastic Pollution Coalition hosted an expert panel discussion, Safe Drinking Water for All: Protecting Communities from Plastic During U.S. Lead Pipe Replacement, for the UN 2023 Water Conference. It highlighted the need to keep plastic out of water systems because of its toxic impacts. Plastics are a health threat at every stage of existence and an environmental injustice issue disproportionately harming rural, low-income, and communities of color. 

Youth Get Loud in Opposition to the Willow Project

Youth Get Loud in Opposition to the Willow Project

"President Biden has the power to stop the approval of the Willow Project and choose to invest in renewable energy sources," said 17-year-old climate activist Natashia Bhatia at Chicago's Global Climate Strike on March 3. Bhatia shared a video of her speech with the One Earth Film Festival. "President Biden, fulfill the promises of your campaign to end new oil drilling. Youth across the nation want to see concerns for our future taken seriously. Take action against this looming threat and pave the way for a sustainable future." 

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We Follow Up on an Audience Question About Lead Water Pipes

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We Follow Up on an Audience Question About Lead Water Pipes

Audience discussions that follow One Earth screenings are meant to raise further awareness, but questions can arise that can’t always be answered on the spot. That’s exactly what happened on March 7. The five-minute film "Take Action Against Lead" by Young Filmmaker Contest winner Lion Birnecker touched a nerve in an audience full of activists wanting to know more about lead in water pipes and the dangers they pose.

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2023 Festival Kicks Off with Gusto

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2023 Festival Kicks Off with Gusto

Festive. And loud. That was the mood and volume at the 2023 One Earth Film Festival kick-off party Friday night as whistles, cheers, applause and cowbell noisemakers delivered on this year’s theme, “Let’s Get Loud!”

The 12th annual festival roared back to a fully in-person event, while filmmakers, whose works are featured selections this year, joined via Zoom and were projected on a large screen for everyone to see.