Read about reviews on some short movie and documentaries, written by students for the course 'Critical Approaches to Global Sustainability Challenges'. The following four reviews explore cases in Chile and the Philippines in documentaries as well as fictional narratives in the famous movie series Dune 1 and 2. These reviews are written in the personal style of their respective authors.

Spatial, social, and economic activities today have a global reach without any doubt. We rely on resources extracted far away, buy products manufactured elsewhere, and dump waste in – for us – remote areas. Yet, this does not happen without leaving scars and traces. There isn’t a day in the global consumer economy that goes by without having negative impacts on local communities, disrupting the well-being of these communities, and instigating environmental destruction on the different parts of the planet. Environmental, climate, and sustainability crises are well-studied in academia. However, they are also among the key themes for cultural production and audio-visual industry.

In education and research, it is crucial to look well beyond established academic products to foster debates and engagement. This is one of the aims of the course “Critical Approaches to Global Sustainability Challenges” at the Faculty of Spatial Sciences (University of Groningen). The faculty established the course (led by Dr. Ethemcan Turhan and Dr. Christian Lamker) in the spring of 2022 to complement the Master program Society, Sustainability and Planning (SSP) and other programs of the faculty and the university. In this course, students can develop a bonus assignment where they engage, for example, with a recent documentary or movie. The following four reviews explore cases in Chile and the Philippines in documentaries as well as fictional narratives in the famous movie series Dune 1 and 2. These reviews are written in the personal style of their respective authors.

We invite everyone to watch the documentaries and movies from a new perspective that is informed by critical approaches, political ecology, and degrowth. This blog allows for commenting below – after reading and watching, share your thoughts with us!

ARICA – A Toxic Waste Scandal

Documentary review by Enya van Drooge

Full documentary available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ihOPrtCFWI

The Arica documentary is a recent story about toxic sludge from Sweden being shipped to Arica, a small town in Northern Chile. It started in the mid-1980's, when the Swedish mining giant Boliden dumped 20,000 tonnes of hazardous waste. Subsequently, thousands were affected with cancers and other serious illnesses. In the documentary, a group of survivors are seeking justice. I was both intrigued about this global problem and angry about the injustice done. In my opinion, not enough attention is paid to the company Promel, which Boliden paid to ‘take care’ of the toxic waste, making it a main player. Only a fraction of the sludge was processed in Promel’s ovens. The rest was left in a pile, which became the so-called toxic playground. (Un)fortunately this company does not exist anymore.

Toxic Colonialism – How Swedish Waste Poisoned Chile

Boliden has been an important company in the region, providing employment. The documentary states that the entire community is built around it, offering prosperity and a source of security. This relates to other examples where the regions were proud to host such a large international company that offered many jobs. It includes cases around DuPont and PFAS (Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances, often called ‘Forever Chemicals’) in the United States of America and the Netherlands. The Arica situation also reminds me of another case: the Dutch company Shell spilling oil in Nigeria for years, where residents in the Niger Delta faced high poverty rates due to hundreds of pipeline spills.

As a common motive, a rich European country is neglecting a developing Global South country, where eventually the developing countries fight western corporations and the local communities try to get justice. It confirms that behind every environmental crisis story lies a narrative of political and social control, and that while environmental justice has academic dimensions, it is primarily a grassroots and people-driven movement.

Indigenous people are generally the biggest affected group. The exposure of people of colour and poor communities to environmental risks are caused by their lack of recognition and political power. These observed patterns of environmental inequality are associated with existing social inequalities and distribution conflicts. Thus, the Arica case relates to environmental justice and goes from local to global. It started in this small village, where residents did not even know what was in the disposal site, to a global issue with multiple countries from different continents involved. Here, environmental injustice is also driven by unsustainable social metabolism patterns, where ecological distribution conflicts provoke the emergence of an environmental justice movement. This movement reacts to socio-metabolic configurations that are unsustainable in their biophysical characteristics and governance and is crucial in politicising and transforming the occurring unsustainability.

The Center for International Environmental Law uses ‘‘the power of law to protect the environment, promote human rights, and ensure a just and sustainable society. It seeks a world where the law reflects the interconnection between humans and the environment and protects the dignity and equality of each person’’ (https://www.ciel.org/about-us/our-mission). I recommend pursuing this international environmental law through legal research and advocacy, with a focus on connecting global challenges to the experiences of local communities, to protect Indigenous people as they are the most affected group. Other possible solutions include stricter supervision and regulations of governments, national health agencies involvement, stricter discharge standards and waste permits provision, increased damage claims and liability consequences, and population health surveys.

Concluding, globalisation should bring the world together, making the other side of the world less far away, as one policy somewhere has implications elsewhere. Hopefully, this creates a moral responsibility and understanding between communities worldwide and prevents such cases in the future, acknowledging the elephant in the room. Accountability is hard to come by, and true sustainability must be truly global. So, I say we keep seeking justice and make everybody winners!

I-Witness: 'Ang Huling Gubat sa Maynila,'

Documentary Review by Jem Nario

Full documentary available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46EQo9AsyxE

In the city of Manila, known for its buildings and heat, lies a place that offers relief from the urban grind of residents: Arroceros Forest Park. Journalist Howie Severino explored this park in the documentary “Ang Huling Gubat sa Maynila” (translated: The Last Forest in Manila). The park is known as the “last lung of Manila”. It is a place of refuge for residents, but the park faces threats from development pressures as its valuable location attracts the attention of developers keen on transforming it into commercial or residential spaces.

Severino’s documentary raises a crucial question: “Are our disappearing parks a form of collective suicide?” This is not just a metaphorical question but a reflection on the city’s future. Arroceros Forest Park has over 3,000 trees providing essential habitats for various bird species, contributing to Manila’s biodiversity and offering a blueprint for a more liveable urban environment. Yet, the park’s existence is in jeopardy. Before, access to the park was limited, preventing Manila residents from experiencing its beauty and understanding its value. Because of this lack of engagement, it hinders efforts to form a shield against the forces of urbanisation.

The documentary compared Manila to New York, where residents can find a green refuge within a ten-minute walk, Manileños lack these accessible green spaces. Manila's scarcity of green spaces – only 5% for a population of 13 million (and growing) – falls short of the standard, emphasising the urgency of the situation. Urban planner Alcazaren highlights the failure to implement master plans for park creation, underscoring a disconnect between planning and execution. Despite efforts of volunteers and NGOs to protect Arroceros Forest Park, their endeavours alone are not enough without broader public support and key government action.

Surprisingly, Manila’s city hall did not preserve Arroceros Forest Park, obliterating over 200 trees to build infrastructure in the park, showing the city officials’ apathy toward its preservation. Manila is envisioning an urban space, just like what degrowth is opting for – it is an imaginary for the future, but, with the apathy of the Manila government and them, not listening to urban planners who have stated the necessity of green spaces, we still have a lot to learn when it comes to preserving the green spaces that we have.

For Manileños who find city life taxing, places like Arroceros Forest Park are not just amenities but necessities for mental and physical well-being. Severino’s documentary is a call for the residents and officials of Manila to recognize the irreplaceable value of Arroceros Forest Park. It urges the community to take a stand, to be the park’s voice, and to advocate for the expansion and protection of green spaces in Manila.

In essence, “Ang Huling Gubat sa Maynila” is more than a documentary, it’s a cry for collective action to safeguard and cherish our urban green spaces. For a city teeming with life, it is starved of nature; the preservation of Arroceros Forest Park is a testament to our commitment to a sustainable and humane urban future.

Political Ecology of Dune

Movie Review by Rebecca Nieuwenkamp

Information on Dune 1: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dune_(2021_film)
Information on Dune 2: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dune:_Part_Two

Explore political ecology through the movies Dune (2021 & 2024) as they highlight themes of resource control, environmental adaptation, colonialism and ecological interdependence. Join us on a journey through Arrakis and unravel the connections between politics, ecology and storytelling. The story of Dune plays out amidst a complex power struggle over control of the desert planet's most valuable resource: spice melange. This struggle is representing a clash of interests in environmental governance. The main goal of the entities seeking power on Arrakis is the extraction and transportation of spice melange to the rest of the universe. The great power wielded by these factions often seems unbeatable to the Indigenous Fremen population, who possess crucial knowledge about the planet's ecology and its significance. Instead of adapting their strategies to local wisdom and environmental management practices, the external forces seek to dominate through violence and exploitation.

The conflict on Arrakis is a clash between two opposing visions of environmental governance, each supported by different sources of power. Through complicated political manoeuvring and strategic alliances, the fate of Arrakis is at stake, with serious consequences for its inhabitants and the broader universe. The parties are fighting about two very different forms of environmental governance on Arrakis, and they use very different means of power to achieve it.

Hatchet and the seed

On Arrakis, the dynamics of the hatchet and the seed can be seen, albeit in a context unique to the desert planet. The story unfolds in three distinct phases, each characterised by the evolving roles and actions of key players, including House Atreides, the Fremen, and outside forces. In the initial phase, House Atreides arrives on Arrakis with intentions that largely match their own interests. They initially contribute little to the Fremen people beyond what is necessary for their own survival and strategic goals.

As tensions escalate and the threat of conflict looms, there is a brief interim phase in which House Atreides and its investigators realise the imminent danger of external forces. During this phase, attempts are made to advocate for peace and understanding, highlighting the potential damage to both the Fremen and the planet's delicate ecosystem. The military leadership and economic interests of House Harkonnen may see the Fremen and their environment as obstacles to their goals, unwilling to consider alternative perspectives. Finally, when the conflict erupts in full force, House Atreides takes a decisive position alongside the Fremen. In this phase, they go beyond mere criticism and actively participate in the defence of Arrakis, embodying a role of alliance and help for a people facing existential threats.

Through this storyline, the dynamics of the hatchet and the seed on Arrakis underscore themes of exploitation, resistance, and the transformative power of solidarity in the face of ecological and cultural destruction. It’s enjoyable to watch this film where the central figures, the Atreides, step into this role of helpful allies for the Indigenous population who are threatened by ecocide.

Dune: Part 1

Movie review by Franka Etzel

Information on Dune 1: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dune_(2021_film)

I will look at the movie Dune: Part 1. I am sure many of you have seen it, or maybe even recently rewatched it, as the second part has just recently launched in the movies. My goal is to stimulate thought and to establish connections between mainstream movies and topics such as climate change, sustainability, feminism, colonialism, racism, to mention only a few. But let’s dive in!

For this movie, I want to focus on one specific aspect that stood out to me, and which I think everyone should be aware of. Most of the movie plays on Arrakis, a desert planet and the only source of the so-called “spice”, which is a valuable substance that gives heightened vitality and awareness and is also key to interstellar travel. The history of Arrakis and how it is treated nowadays reminded me of our colonial past. Who else saw this parallel? Ever since the people from the other planets realised the value of “spice”, the planet has been in control. The local communities of Arrakis are leading a hidden life, robbed of their freedom and the possibility of their planet becoming something more than dust.

All that matters to the inhabitants of the other planets is the “spice”, which provides them with power and wealth. Something similar happened (you probably all know about colonialism of the past), but most importantly is still happening in our world today! Global North countries, which are the wealthy countries, still extract resources from Global South countries in order to increase their own wealth, essentially all our wealth here in the Global North. I think the movie can help us to relate to this unjust process.

We must be aware that whenever we buy a new electronic device, there are materials in it, which at the same time exploit people and destroy the environment somewhere else. And it’s the same with almost every product we consume. Think of food containing palm oil, fast fashion, coffee, chocolate, ... Is it worth it? Next time when you consume a product, remember the inhabitants of Arrakis, remember the people in the Global South. Oftentimes it happens that we need a movie as a metaphor to see the things that are actually happening in the real world right in front of our eyes. This is what I want you to take away from the movie. Understand the history and current situation of Arrakis. Empathise. Come to the conclusion that action is needed and that it is not right. And then translate that to the world you actually live in.