Additional Resources

The People’s Picture Company aims to entertain, educate and inspire its audiences.  We believe in the power of media to change individuals’ perspectives and their lives.  Our films always have a dual purpose, to artfully tell a story and to deliver a powerful social and educational message. 

Our hope for Living Downstream is that, in addition to being quality television programming, it will also be a powerful tool for educators, activists, health care professionals and businesses.  The film will not only raise the public’s awareness about the links between environmental contamination and cancer incidence, but will inspire its viewers to become engaged in public health and environmental issues.   Through every step of the production process, we have been consulting with individuals at the grassroots to ensure that Living Downstream will have as much value for the public as possible.

To this end, we are creating a series of supplementary materials, to be used in tandem with the film.  With a purchase of the DVD, individuals and groups will receive one of the following resources:

Living Downstream... In the Classroom

This resource will be included with the copies of the Educational DVD sold to educational institutions and educators.  The Living Downstream... In the Classroom resource is being created for: teachers, librarians and other educators.  It will provide ideas for structuring a class, an event, a study unit, or an extracurricular club project around Living Downstream. We are producing this guide in collaboration with several teachers and their students.  It will include correlation with curriculum standards for several target states and provinces in the US and Canada. This resource will include the following contents:

• Introduction by Sandra Steingraber – an essay written for teachers and students, to convey the educational importance of understanding and engaging with the issues.
• About the Film – general information, including: synopsis, biographies (filmmakers and experts) and photos.
• About the Book – synopsis, publication history, and how to order your copy of the book.
• Intended Audience – brief outline of the appropriate grade levels.
• Subject Areas – brief outline of the appropriate subjects of study.
• Key Concepts – a discussion of the key concepts in the film, including: precautionary principle, health as a human right, ecological fallacy, biomagnification.
• Chapter Descriptions – suggested chapters to view for topical/discussion-based viewing, or viewing to meet specific time restrictions. 
• Lesson Plans – suggested lesson plans for different secondary & post-secondary levels, with suggested questions and exercises for each possible subject of focus (science, health, social science, literature, environmental studies).
• Review Questions – questions to assess students’ comprehension of the information in the film.
• Classroom Discussion Guide – a guide for leading informal class discussions, including pre-viewing and post-viewing questions.
• Independent Studies Projects – suggestions for independent projects based upon the film.
• Beyond the Classroom – activity suggestions aimed at encouraging students towards community engagement.  Ideal for individual students or groups who are inspired by the film, or for after-school and extracurricular clubs concerned with responsible citizenship, environmental sustainability, healthy communities and social justice.
• Educational Case Studies – how individuals and groups are using documentary film to teach about important social issues.
• Social Change Case Studies – how individuals and groups are re-envisioning our economy without the use of toxic chemicals (including case studies of businesses that are changing their chemical practices).
• Learning from Europe – how Europe’s new chemical policy, REACH is approaching chemical reform from a precautionary perspective.
• Academic Standards – correlation with curriculum standards for both the US and Canada.
• Suggested Further Reading & Other Resources
• Glossary of Terms

Living Downstream... In the Community

This resource will be included with all copies of the Educational DVD sold to organizations and community groups.  Living Downstream... In the Community is being created for use by non-profit organizations, community groups and grassroots activists.  It will provide these individuals and groups with more information and will help them to analyze the issues and formulate a personal (or organizational) plan of action. It will present case studies profiling the work of other organizations, suggested itineraries and activities for workshops and trainings and will provide inspiration and encouragement, as well as practical tips for engaging the community meaningfully in the issue of cancer and its environmental links.  This resource will include the following sections:  

• Introduction by Sandra Steingraber – an essay written for community members about the importance of working for change.
• About the Film – general information, including: synopsis, biographies (filmmakers and experts) and photos.
• About the Book – synopsis, publication history, and how to order your copy of the book.
• Suggestions for Using the Film – suggestions for a variety of different situations, with a variety of different expected outcomes.
• Key Concepts – information on the key concepts in the film, including: Precautionary Principle, health as a human right, ecological fallacy, and biomagnification.
• Chapter Descriptions – suggested chapters to view for topical/discussion-based viewing, or viewing to meet specific time restrictions. 
• Discussion Guide – suggestions for using the film as a springboard for any number of community discussions, including pre-screening and post-screening questions.
• Take Action – practical thoughts and suggestions about ways that individuals can exercise their power as consumers to choose the least toxic alternative and as citizens to take individual and collective action for change.
• Facilitator Training Modules – outlines of suggested training sessions for people who want to learn how to use the film in their activism. 
• Educational Case Studies – how individuals and groups are using documentary film to teach about important social issues.
• Social Change Case Studies – how individuals and groups are re-envisioning our economy without the use of toxic chemicals (including case studies of businesses that are changing their chemical practices).
• Learning from Europe – how Europe’s new chemical policy, REACH is approaching chemical reform from a precautionary perspective.
• Suggested Further Reading & Other Resources

Living Downstream... At Home

This mini-resource will be included as an insert with all copies of the Home Video DVD, and targeted specifically to those purchasing Home Video copies of the DVD (ie. not the educational version).  Living Downstream... At Home will include the following elements:

• Introduction by Sandra Steingraber – essay written for the average viewer about why talking about the topics of environmental contamination and cancer should not cause us to be depressed. 
• About the Film – general information, including: synopsis, biographies (filmmakers and experts) and photos.
• About the Book – synopsis, publication history, and how to order your copy.
• Background on the Science – some brief explanatory notes about the science outlined in the film.
• Ideas for Using the Film – some ideas on how an individual might use the film in their community.
• Suggested Further Resources
• Where to Start – ideas of how individuals might begin thinking about the changes they could make in their own lives, neighbourhoods, workplaces and communities, and information on how to look into larger educational and activist activities in which to engage.

“What we love we must protect.”

~ Sandra Steingraber

Order the DVD

The Living Downstream Educational DVD is now available for pre-order.

Learn more here.

Get on our Mailing List

Once on our mailing list, you’ll receive updates, news and health resources, right in your inbox!

E-mail address:

News

August 15, 2010

15 Upcoming Screenings announced!

April 16, 2010

Educational DVD now available for pre-order.