Our Home?: Student Environmental Justice Stories

About the Film Series

The two large issues of climate change and environmental injustice go hand in hand with many of the world’s problems. To raise awareness for the underrepresentation of such topics, graduate and undergraduate students at Seattle University share how they were personally impacted by climate change and environmental injustice. This four-part film series highlights various environmental issues, such as protesting to protect native lands, evacuating from natural disasters, or dealing with government oppression. Students' personal connections to their stories will be made explicit, providing viewers action plans to change the world around them. The intent of the film series is to educate its viewers on the depredating effects of inequality and climate change throughout the United States with the hope that, with attention and care actions can occur to reverse the damages humanity has caused to Mother Earth. 

Gabriella Robinson is a junior at Seattle University double majoring in Film and Environmental Studies. Robinson aspires to use her two contrasting majors to address the intersected problems of climate change, racism and environmental injustices by using film as a medium to educate society. As the director, Robinson wants to encourage conversations about climate injustices in film and will be premiering the series during Earth Talks 2022. Watch Gabriella's video: What is Home? 

Full Video Series

Line 3 Pipeline in Duluth, Minnesota 
featuring Gabriela Batinitch, Environmental Studies, '23

Line 3 Pipeline runs from Alberta Canada to Lake Superior. With the vast amounts of controversy, Enbridge Oil continues its 2014 project of expanding the pipeline. After fatalities during a 1991 oil spill in Grand Rapids, Minn., residents such as Gabriela and Indigenous members from the Ojibwe community are risking their lives to protect their health and environment. Watch here. 
 
Protecting Mauna Kea in Hawai'i 
Featuring Jaina Galves, Environmental Studies and Film, '22

In 2019, the sacred mountain of Mauna Kea is under threat of having a 30-meter telescope built for research purposes. Mauna Kea is home to several burial grounds, sacred lands, and waters. With the Hawaiian government’s lack of support, Indigenous Hawaiians are fearing for their rights, cultural history and visibility. Like many concerned youths, Jaina Galves shares her stories from being on the front lines of protecting such a sacred place to her community. 
 
Food Injustice in Hawai'i 
Featuring Taylor McKenzie, Environmental Studies and Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies, '22 

The state of Hawai’i is world-renowned for many of its fascinating ecological characteristics. With the majority of the state having the soil conditions to farm, there is hardly any farming, resulting in over 85% of food being imported to the state. Taylor McKenzie addresses the food scarcity dependent on imported goods that if resolved, could also solve climate change. 
 
Floods and Hurricane Matthew in Fayetteville, North Carolina
Featuring Trish Brownlee, Masters of Divinity Program

The damages of Hurricane Matthew were horrific, but many individuals in Fayetteville, such as Trish, had their homes flooded two weeks prior—setting families far from being prepared for the storm. With everything taken from her family, Trish took a positive approach to the damages by creating an art exhibit to share with the world on the devastating impacts when governments lack in preventative care. 
 
Video Series Credits 

• Director: Gabriella Robinson (Film Studies and Environmental Studies, '23)
• Best Boy, Script Advisor and Researcher: Isabella Marez (Social Work Studies, '22)
• Sound Designer and Camera Operator: Logan Ossentjuk (Marine Biology with Film Studies Minor, '21)
• Filmmakers/Editors: Ha'aheo Auwae-Dekker (Film Studies, '22), Aidan Rose (Environmental Studies with Film and Biology Minors, '23), Sophia Heyman (Film Studies, '22)