Two facets of environmental activism history depicted in KS Wild and Rogue Riverkeeper’s two-night Fall Film Series at SOU

By Allee Gustafson

Join KS Wild and Rogue Riverkeeper for our Fall Film Series, an event that aims to inspire activism through film. The series will showcase two films that explore the origins of environmental activism from a policy standpoint and from a frontline advocate standpoint. The two-night Fall Film Series will be held on Thursday, Nov. 2, and Thursday, Nov. 16, and is a prequel to the Wild & Scenic Film Festival, which will be held in April.

Nov. 2: “Stewart Udall: The Politics of Beauty”

The first film, “Stewart Udall: The Politics of Beauty,” will be shown on Nov. 2. The 78-minute film delves into the history of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, exploring its origins and the impact it has had on our environment as well as other significant events in the U.S. environmental conservation movement.

After the screening, there will be an in-person Q&A session with the film’s director, John de Graaf, who will answer questions and provide insight into the making of the film.

Tickets for this event are $10 and free for SOU students and faculty with ID. 

Bob Manning, professor emeritus in environment at the University of Vermont, called the film “A visually stunning journey through U.S. environmental history.”

Nov. 16: “Sisters in Arms”

The second film, “Sisters in Arms,” will be shown on Nov. 16. The 70-minute film showcases what it means to be a young environmental advocate today, highlighting the struggles and successes of those who are fighting to protect the planet.

The screening will be followed by a virtual Q&A session with Julia Butterfly Hill, an environmental activist featured in the film and best known for tree-sitting in a 200-foot-tall California redwood for 738 days. 

“It is an honor to be part of such a poignant and powerful film uplifting the stories of young women standing on the front lines around the world; knowing that they are standing for the very lives of people today and for future generations,” Hill said. “Ultimately, this is a call to action for all of us, to remember that this Earth is our one and only home.

“And it is sacred. And these young women are asking each and every one of us to see how we can step up to our own unique calling in service.”

Doors open at 6 p.m. both evenings, and films begin at 6:30 p.m. with guest speakers from 8 to 9 p.m. 

Both events are at Southern Oregon University Science Lecture Hall Room 151. Directions can be found here.

Tickets are sold separately for each event and will be available at the door if seats remain.

Before the show starts, attendees can purchase raffle tickets and learn about current KS Wild and Rogue Riverkeeper conservation campaigns. Raffle prizes include a day of rafting on the Rogue River for six people and a one-hour phone call or 45-minute Zoom video for an individual or family with Julia Butterfly Hill.

Tickets are free to SOU students and faculty.

By attending these two inspiring and thought-provoking films, you can learn more about the environment and the work being done to protect it. This knowledge can help you become a more informed and engaged citizen, ready to take action and make a difference.

Purchase film tickets at kswild.org/2023-fall-film-series or visit us at kswild.org/events.

This event is generously sponsored by: Full Circle Real Estate, Paula Fong Illustrations, Herb Pharm, Mark Flynn Century21, Sunday Afternoons, Anne Golden Consultation, AllCare, Mycorrhizal Applications and Ashland Food Co-op.

Allee Gustafson is KS Wild’s events & volunteer manager.