Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Cowspiracy: The Sustainability Secret (2014)


Inspired by Al Gore’s film “An Inconvenient Truth,” Kip Andersen changed his lifestyle to reflect a new consciousness of environmental concerns.  He later realized that despite these changes, there was another important environmental concern that needed to be addressed, although many environmentalists were not talking about it: animal agriculture, or factory farming.

In Cowspiracy: The Sustainability Secret (2014), he set out, along with fellow filmmaker Keegan Kuhn, to obtain information about animal agriculture and its relationship with climate change.  Along the way, he spoke with leaders in the environmental movement and uncovered what he began to view as “an intentional refusal to discuss the issue of animal agriculture, while industry whistleblowers and watchdogs warn[ed] him of the risks to his freedom and even his life if he dare[d] to persist.”

According to the Huffington Post, “[Andersen] pulls no punches and makes no apologies: ‘The future of our planet is being destroyed by this industry.’ Hard to argue with the data.”  The film includes interviews with Michael Pollan (The Omnivore’s Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals), Dr. Will Tuttle (The World Peace Diet), and Dr. Richard Oppenlander (Food Choice and Sustainability).

There will be a screening panel and discussion at UCLA with the filmmakers Andersen and Kuhn on February 26th at 5pm.  The event will be moderated by Associate Professor Janet O'Shea, from the Department of World Arts and Cultures/Dance.


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