Daily Loaf

We’ve recently seen an influx of environmental themed films that deal with what we’re putting into our bodies. Food, Inc. and Fresh dealt with the mega industrial food industries, and the results of the hormones and chemicals that enter our bodies from the overprocessed foods we eat. But what about chemicals and pesticides that enter our bodies from the upkeep of our prized lush, green lawns?

The new documentary, A Chemical Reaction: The Story of a True Green Revolution, addresses the health risks and side effects of synthetic lawn pesticide and herbicide use and human and animal illnesses, and what a small town did to be the first place in North America to ban the use of these toxic chemicals.

See the film’s trailer after the break

The film’s official website states:

A Chemical Reaction, is a documentary movie scheduled for release in 2009 that tells the story of one of the most powerful and effective community initiatives in the history of North America. It started with one lone voice in 1984. Dr. June Irwin, a dermatologist, noticed a connection between her patients’ health conditions and their exposure to chemical pesticides and herbicides. With relentless persistence she brought her concerns to town meetings to warn her fellow citizens that the chemicals they were putting on their lawns posed severe health risks and had unknown side effects on the environment

Dr. Irwin’s persuasive arguments and data to back her findings eventually led the town of Hudson to enact a by-law that banned the use of all chemical pesticides and herbicides. The most mighty chemical companies in North America put their full legal weight on the tiny town and eventually the case made it to the Supreme Court.

The town’s right to protect its citizens was upheld, and — like a row of dominos — other municipalities followed suit. The movement spread so far and wide that the entire province of Quebec enacted a ban and Home Depot stopped putting the dangerous pesticide products on their shelves.

Paul Tukey, one of the nation’s leading experts on organic lawn care has been following this story for years. After becoming seriously ill with acute pesticide sensitivity from applying chemical lawn products in his own lawn care business, he became an outspoken advocate for alternatives to chemical lawn care. He travels across the country lecturing on the subject and has written the nation’s leading book on organic lawn care titled, The Organic Lawn Care Manual.

This documentary follows his journey that leads to the doorstep of Hudson, Quebec. It’s an inspiring story of overcoming great odds and demonstrates the power of people coming together to effect great change in our society.

The film has already been shown to sold out crowds at the Boston Film Festival, the Wine Country Film Festival in Sonoma, the Camden Maine International Film Festival, and the New Jersey Film Festival. In our own state, it is set to be shown at the Ft. Lauderdale International Film Festival and the Orlando International Film Festival in November. If you’re near one of these venues be sure to check it out, and hopefully we’ll be seeing it in the Tampa Bay area very soon after.

Ft. Lauderdale International Film Festival
11.09.09 @ 7:30 PM (Cinema Paradiso, Ft. Lauderdale)

Orlando International Film Festival
11.05.09 @ 1PM (Theater #2)

Posted in Activism, Green Community, Green Living, Green Policy, Movies | Leave a comment