Maya Brattkus
My initial
response to the film was a sense of sadness and a feeling of powerlessness, as
I sat watching without any way to help, especially when watching Lourdes Lujan
showing her home which is located close to hundreds of hazardous waste plants,
causing skin and respiratory problems. However, my initial feeling of
hopelessness changed throughout the documentary; the fact that people created
hopefulness and change from hopelessness was so absolutely inspiring and
powerful. The fact that Lourdes and her neighbors took agency and complained
and campaigned to many Mexican environmental agencies is an example of extreme
radical hope. Even in a dire and horrible situation that would leave most
rendered helpless, the Chilpancingo collective instead acted on their hope, and
through years of sustained radical hope and struggle, were able to force
Mexican and American governments to begin cleaning up the site. So much was
accomplished through simple determination, hope, community, strength, and
endurance. And I think that pretty much encapsulates everything we have been
discussing and diving into in class this year thus far, so it was really
inspiring and powerful to see a living breathing example of it.
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