We applaud you for your interest in ending plastic pollution! A big welcome to the two parts of our free public event:

Part 1: Watch the Film! You have a full week to watch a remarkable 96-minute film, The Story of Plastic.

Part 2: Talk Back! On the last day of film watching, June 8 at 7pm, you are invited to see (via a zoom link) our hard-working moderator and panel members respond to the plastic pollution crisis and field your submitted questions.

Your co-hosts are:

• Earth Day Every Day of Harrisonburg VA (EDED), and
• Climate Action Alliance of the Valley (CAAV)

We are excited about EDED celebrating its first birthday on June 8! This event is a way to thank all who had a hand in this successful first year, and to have all of you "join the party"! Please honor the birthday, and our earth, by joining us for this special virtual event. It is completely free and open to the public.

About the Film (Watch a Trailer Here)

Produced by the Story of Stuff Project, The Story of Plastic takes a sweeping look at the man-made crisis of plastic pollution and the worldwide effect it has on the health of our planet and the people who inhabit it. Spanning three continents, the film illustrates the ongoing catastrophe: fields full of garbage, veritable mountains of trash, rivers and seas clogged with waste, and skies choked with the poisonous emissions from plastic production and processing. The Story of Plastic features interviews with experts and activists on the front lines of the fight, revealing the disastrous consequences of the flood of plastic smothering ecosystems and poisoning communities around the world, and the global movement that is rising up in response. With engaging original animation, archival industry footage beginning in the 1930's, and first-person accounts of the unfolding emergency, the film distills a complex problem that is increasingly affecting the planet's and its residents' well-being.

Part 1: Watch the Film - June 1-8

Register for free by clicking the Details button above on the right and receive a link to watch a remarkable 96-minute film, The Story of Plastic. We think you'll love this film!

The film link can be used during this period:

Monday, June 1 at 7pm through Monday, June 8 at 7pm

A day or two before the screening period starts, we will send you a link to stream the film. You will receive it at the email address you use to register. To honor the film copyright--do not post this link or share it with anyone. Also, to stay within our license number of views, please try to watch the film only once.

W A N T E D ! We really want your questions for the Talk Back. Little or big ones! Please email your questions by 4pm, Sunday, June 7 to contactcaav@gmail.com.

Part 2: Join the Talk Back - June 8

We will reconvene for Part 2, a 45-minute Talk Back--online with Zoom--on June 8 at 7pm . There is a separate link for the live Zoom meeting alongside the streaming link in your registration email. You can wear pajama you like--we won't use attendees' cameras or microphones. We are grateful for the panelists' participation in the Talk Back. They can't wear pajamas! Moderator and panelists are:

Moderator: Dr. Bob Bersson, JMU professor of art 1980-2003, artist, author of two art textbooks, community organizer and, in 2016, founder of the Interfaith Initiative for Peace and Justice in Harrisonburg, and currently coordinator of EMU’s Center for Interfaith Engagement spring film series.

Dr. Les Grady is a licensed environmental engineer, studying climate science and global warming in his retirement. He has taught at Purdue and Clemson, and consulted for the world's largest environmental engineering consulting company. He currently authors CAAV's Weekly Climate Roundup, presents for CAAV speakers bureau and teaches in JMU's Lifelong Learning Institute.

Virginia Healy is a science and history teacher at Skyline Middle School helping students learn how to reduce waste and to help the next generation to do even more. She is a member of the EDED leadership team.

Elly Swecker is founder and chair of EDED and a presenter on plastic pollution and achieving zero waste. She formerly worked at the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Community Services Board, and is past executive director of the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Free Clinic.

Art Fovargue is an avid citizen recycler. Trained as an engineer, he is retired from many years as laboratory manager for the Department of Physics & Astronomy at JMU. He is currently active in the Shenandoah Valley Bicycle Coalition and the Rockingham Bird Club, and is co-coordinator of CAAV’s Community Compost Drop-off project.

Learn More

Learn more about the The Story of Plastic and help end plastic pollution.

• Film review: here
• FAQs & Industry Myth: here
• Post-film discussion video by Greenpeace: here
• Coloring book: here
• Film makers: https://www.storyofstuff.org
• Global organization: http://breakfreefromplastic.org
• Youth organization: http://www.UpstreamSolutions.org/podcasts
• Youth organization: http://www.Wayfindersociety.org

Get Involved

Look us up and see what we have to offer! Visit websites, subscribe to newsletters, like and follow on Facebook, email us about volunteer opportunities--you choose!

EDED contacts:

• Site: https://www.earthdayeverydayofharrisonburg.org
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EarthDayEveryDayHarrisonburg
• Email: earthdayeverydayharrisonburg@gmail.com

CAAV contacts:

• Site: https://climateactionallianceofthevalley.org
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/caavva/
• Email: contactcaav@gmail.com