Everyday Activist - Cowspiracy

Posted on Friday, April 24, 2015 at 09:00 AM

Review: Cowspiracy

Movie Review by Everyday Activist X CalgaryMovies.com

Cowspiracy Digital Download Only $1 until April 29th!

With Earth Day just passed and California’s drought issue constantly in the news, this might be a good time to tell you until Wednesday April 29th 2015 you can purchase Cowspiracy for $1 USD, and yes I bought my copy. Edmonton and Lethbridge have held multiple screenings, but we haven’t had any in Calgary to my knowledge. Dr. Will Tuttle, who is featured in the film did come to Calgary to give a lecture in October 2013. I got my copy of his book, World Peace Diet signed. I first watched Cowspiracy in Lethbridge before it was officially released on DVD. Interestingly, I found out about the screening when I was buying vegan chocolate for my nephew. Go figure.

Much like Revolution, which I wrote about last week, our story starts with a cute, young man doing everything he can to help the environment, only to find out that he could do more. Kip Andersen was inspired to take an active role in environmental stewardship by Al Gore’s documentary, An Inconvenient Truth. To do his part, he started riding his bike more, taking shorter showers, and recycling, among other things good environmentally consciously people do. Then he finds out about the environmental impacts of animal agriculture and wants to find out why no one talks about it.

During his research he learns that when people speak out against ranchers, they put themselves in serious danger. Sister Dorothy Stang spoke up about the devastating effects cattle ranching has on the Amazon and was gunned down while walking home. She’s one of over 1100 rainforest activists who have died in the last 20 years in Brazil. At the Banff Mountain Film Festival, I asked the activist/film makers of the film DamNation, if they ever felt threatened by government agencies. They were not concerned their actions would be punished; however, they feared for other activists specifically those campaigning against animal agriculture.

Because animal agriculture uses precious water resources and displaces natural habitat for many spieces of both plants and animals, one would think major environmental groups say Green Peace and the Sierra Club would be the first to denounce eating meat. Turns out they aren’t, even though they are well aware of the issues. This brings attention to the power of the meat industry. Kip’s persistence to get them of film is admirable as well as his desire to keep going even when film sponsors pull funding. My favorite line in the movie is by the Mad Cowboy, Howard Lynman, who clearly states, “You can’t be an environmentalist and eat animal products, period.”

Cowspiracy was definitely one of my favorite films of last year. I hope many people take advantage of their $1 deal, to own your own copy. Something as simple as changing your diet can have a huge impact on the planet not only in terms of environmental impact but also in terms of social justice. People in poor countries would no longer starve, because the grains currently fed to animals could be fed to people. Activists might live a bit longer. Our oceans would have a chance to recover. Do your part. Be aware and take action.

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