(The following is a statement from Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection, 2/13/12)
The public is invited to a free screening of the film BAG IT on Saturday, February 18th - 10am at the Loft Cinema.
The Tucson region uses more than half a million plastic bags every day, disposable bags that we throw away without much thought. But where is "away?" Where do the bags and other plastics end up, and at what cost to the environment, marine life and human health?
This gripping, funny, and intelligent film follows "everyman" Jeb Berrier as he navigates our plastic world. Jeb is an average American who decides to take a closer look at our cultural love affair with plastics. Jeb's journey in this documentary film starts with simple questions: Are plastic bags really necessary? What are plastic bags made from? What happens to plastic bags after they are discarded? What he learns is quite shocking:
• The average American uses about 500 plastic bags a year, for an average of 12 minutes each before they are discarded.
• The average American contributes 800 pounds of packaging waste to landfills per year.
• The floating "island" of plastic and other debris in the North Pacific Ocean is more than twice the size of Texas.
• It is estimated that 100,000 marine mammals and sea birds die each year from entanglement in or ingesting plastic debris.
• Plastic bags are made of fossil fuels such as petroleum and natural gas, which are non-renewable resources.
• Ireland reduced its plastic bag use by 90% after instituting a fee on single-use disposable plastic bags.
BAG IT makes it clear that it is time for a paradigm shift, and with this award-winning film, Jeb has inspired many activists and local communities to take action. Join Jeb as he meets with people who fought the American Chemistry Council lobby that spent more than a million dollars fighting the Seattle bag fee; as he interviews a man sailing the Pacific in a boat made of plastic to raise awareness about our ocean's health; as he gets tested to determine the levels of chemicals in his own body; and as he welcomes his baby into the world, a world he hopes we can leave with a little less plastic and in a little better shape for the next generation.
This screening and the ensuing discussion are timely for citizens of Tucson. On Tuesday, February 28th the Tucson Mayor and Council will be holding a study session discussion on how to reduce single-use bag consumption within the city. This film event will feature a Call-to-Action for participants to encourage our community leaders to help reduce the consumption of disposable bags. That the City of Tucson is discussing the possibility of such a forward-thinking measure presents a great opportunity for this community to combat a major environmental problem.
"Think about it-why would you make something that you're going to use for a few minutes out of a material that's basically going to last forever, and you're just going to throw it away? What's up with that?" -- Jeb Berrier
EVENT DETAILS:
When: Saturday, February 18th - 10am
Where: The Loft Cinema, 3233 E Speedway Blvd, Tucson, Arizona
Admission: FREE, donations gratefully accepted
For more information email bagittucson@gmail.com or visit facebook.com/bagittucson.
The BAG IT movie trailer is available for viewing at: http://www.bagitmovie.com/trailer.html
Sponsored by the Sierra Club - Rincon Group and the Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection
The public is invited to a free screening of the film BAG IT on Saturday, February 18th - 10am at the Loft Cinema.
The Tucson region uses more than half a million plastic bags every day, disposable bags that we throw away without much thought. But where is "away?" Where do the bags and other plastics end up, and at what cost to the environment, marine life and human health?
This gripping, funny, and intelligent film follows "everyman" Jeb Berrier as he navigates our plastic world. Jeb is an average American who decides to take a closer look at our cultural love affair with plastics. Jeb's journey in this documentary film starts with simple questions: Are plastic bags really necessary? What are plastic bags made from? What happens to plastic bags after they are discarded? What he learns is quite shocking:
• The average American uses about 500 plastic bags a year, for an average of 12 minutes each before they are discarded.
• The average American contributes 800 pounds of packaging waste to landfills per year.
• The floating "island" of plastic and other debris in the North Pacific Ocean is more than twice the size of Texas.
• It is estimated that 100,000 marine mammals and sea birds die each year from entanglement in or ingesting plastic debris.
• Plastic bags are made of fossil fuels such as petroleum and natural gas, which are non-renewable resources.
• Ireland reduced its plastic bag use by 90% after instituting a fee on single-use disposable plastic bags.
BAG IT makes it clear that it is time for a paradigm shift, and with this award-winning film, Jeb has inspired many activists and local communities to take action. Join Jeb as he meets with people who fought the American Chemistry Council lobby that spent more than a million dollars fighting the Seattle bag fee; as he interviews a man sailing the Pacific in a boat made of plastic to raise awareness about our ocean's health; as he gets tested to determine the levels of chemicals in his own body; and as he welcomes his baby into the world, a world he hopes we can leave with a little less plastic and in a little better shape for the next generation.
This screening and the ensuing discussion are timely for citizens of Tucson. On Tuesday, February 28th the Tucson Mayor and Council will be holding a study session discussion on how to reduce single-use bag consumption within the city. This film event will feature a Call-to-Action for participants to encourage our community leaders to help reduce the consumption of disposable bags. That the City of Tucson is discussing the possibility of such a forward-thinking measure presents a great opportunity for this community to combat a major environmental problem.
"Think about it-why would you make something that you're going to use for a few minutes out of a material that's basically going to last forever, and you're just going to throw it away? What's up with that?" -- Jeb Berrier
EVENT DETAILS:
When: Saturday, February 18th - 10am
Where: The Loft Cinema, 3233 E Speedway Blvd, Tucson, Arizona
Admission: FREE, donations gratefully accepted
For more information email bagittucson@gmail.com or visit facebook.com/bagittucson.
The BAG IT movie trailer is available for viewing at: http://www.bagitmovie.com/trailer.html
Sponsored by the Sierra Club - Rincon Group and the Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection
