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Sustainable Film Series

Buying Clothing- how can we reduce our impact?

November 15, 2019 by Jennifer Hammond

On Friday, November 15, Sustainable Fairfax hosted a film and speaker event featuring THE TRUE COST, a film that addresses the environmental and human impacts of fast fashion and the choices we make when buying clothes.

The film unveiled the struggles of the sweatshop workers in countries like Bangladesh, and the brutal working conditions, sometimes ending in injury and death. Most often, profits are the single-focus of the corporations, while the well-being of the workers and the health of the environment is simply not factored in. We live in a throw-away culture, where clothes are cheap and disposable, creating an unsustainable demand for the workers living on dollars per day.

Heather Podoll of Fibershed speaks at the Sustainable Fairfax screening of “The True Cost”

After the film, Heather Podoll of Fibershed spoke about the importance of being mindful when making purchasing decisions, and the benefits of supporting locally-made clothing with natural fibers that can be composted when worn out. Here a few of my takeaways from the evening:

  • Quality over Quantity. When buying new clothes, it is better to purchase high quality items made of natural fibers that will last longer. You may not end up spending more money if you manage with less items.
  • Buy locally made when possible. Buy clothing made from locally grown fibers and support the regional textile economy. Learn more at Fibershed. (Check out their free Symposium Marketplace this Saturday, November 16, at the Dance Palace in Point Reyes, 9am-5pm. You will find plant-based goods and raw materials for textile creation).
  • Buy organic. Support organic clothing producers. Pesticides are destroying soil and harming farm workers. And, non-organic cotton can expose your skin to pesticides, causing potential health concerns.
  • Shop at consignment stores. We have several wonderful stores in Fairfax!
  • Polyester and other synthetic materials should be avoided. They shed microplastics and are a significant source of plastic pollution in our oceans. Clothing from plastic bottles is not an eco-friendly option for this reason. If you already have synthetics in your wardrobe, try not to wash them often. There are products you can buy that remove some of these microfibers from the laundry water (see Cora Microfiber Laundry Ball).  Another consideration: synthetic clothing contain toxic chemicals which may be absorbed through the skin and cause health issues.
  • Host Clothing Swaps! Sustainable Fairfax is currently hosting a serve-yourself scarf & hat exchange at the outdoor tables next to Indie Alley at 69 Bolinas Road, Fairfax. Drop off your gently used scarves and hats, and take some home to refresh your accessories for fall and winter!

Filed Under: slider, Sustainable Film Series, Zero Waste Tagged With: Slide, slider, sustainable clothing, zero waste

Producer of "Time to Choose" to Speak at Film Night

September 9, 2017 by Jennifer Hammond

Join Sustainable Fairfax and Environmental Forum of Marin for the screening of “Time to Choose” on Friday, September 15- we are thrilled that the Executive Producer Jeff Horowitz will be joining us and will take questions after the screening.

The weather events over the last several weeks are serious reminders that climate change is happening now. This film night will provide the opportunity to have an important conversation, and create our own plans of action to reduce our impact on the planet.

  • Date:  Friday, September 15, 2017
  • Time:  6:30pm
  • Speaker:  Executive Producer, Jeff Horowitz, will be answering questions at the end of the Film.  And local groups will share actions you can take to move towards a healthier climate!
  • Admission:  $10.00  (Tickets going fast! Reserve your seat here)

Climate change is the biggest challenge humanity has ever faced – and it is also our greatest opportunity. We have the solutions we need, but we are in a race against the clock to implement them in time. Oscar-winning documentary director Charles Ferguson captures the urgency and innovation of this critical moment in his new film, Time to Choose. The film looks at the climate threats and explores the remarkable stories of people changing our world for the better. It looks squarely at this unique moment on earth, with an eye to helping change the course of human history.

Time to Choose features world-renowned entrepreneurs, innovators, and thought leaders, as well as regular people from around the world who talk about winning fights to save their communities from the effects of fossil fuels and industrial agriculture.

Local environmental organizations will be speaking and tabling at this event and will choose the most impactful actions you can take to help the cause.

This event is sponsored by Sustainable Fairfax and the Environmental Forum of Marin.

Filed Under: Sustainable Film Series Tagged With: climate change, film night, film series

Sustainable Film Series: Chasing Ice

May 17, 2013 by Jennifer Hammond

ChasingIce

Don’t miss our screening of the captivating film,Chasing Ice, winner of the best cinematography at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival. This film is part of the Sustainable Fairfax Environmental Film Series shown at the Fairfax Women’s Club, in partnership with the Town of Fairfax.

I saw this film last year, and was moved by the powerful images and videos captured by National Geographic photographer James Balog. His efforts to gather the visual evidence of our changing planet are simply awe-inspiring.

Dr. Peter Joseph of the Climate Reality Project and Citizens Climate Lobby will provide his insight after the film and lead a short discussion.

The doors will open at 6:30pm and the movie starts at 7:00pm. We suggest a donation of $5-$15 to support the important work of Sustainable Fairfax.

Filed Under: Sustainable Film Series Tagged With: climate change, film series, movies

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