Southern Exposure Film Series

So, this year at Altamont our global initiative focuses on the environment, specifically resources and climate change. Thus, during our screening of the Southern Exposure Films, which we were fortunate enough to preview on September 7th, we saw some films that show the state of the environment in Alabama. The first movie talked about mussels, and how important they are! They look like just lifeless shells, but apparently, they are able to keep the water around clean through their filter feeding. Experts on the environment, mussels, and marine biology all agreed when saying that mussels are absolutely essential to the environment, something I am sure no one knew prior. This one was personally my favorite. I learned about how great mussels are, and it was presented in a nice artistic style. The next were pretty standard, and said information that many already knew. Basically, citizens need to take care of the local water resources and recycle more. Even though the positive effects of recycling are well known, the movie is still good at reinforcing its importance. I don’t think enough people consciously think that hard about what they are recycling or throwing away. People need to care more about the environment, and that is really the take away point. At the very least, care about the world. You do not have to go plant one hundred trees or force every person on earth to recycle, but you can care and do your small part.  If even everyone at Altamont did that, then a huge difference would be made. Although we cannot exactly sympathize with the dying mussels, we at Altamont now know what happens to the water, the animals, and us when pollution and mindless waste goes where it should not.  

Sameer Sultan, 9th