The Kenworthy Performing Arts Centre will host a free showing Wednesday evening of “Divide in Concord,” a film discussing the negative effects of plastic water bottles.
The 7 p.m. event is sponsored by the Moscow Food Co-op and the University of Idaho Sustainability as part of their Food For Thought film series.
Alycia Rock | Courtesy
The film, “Divide in Concord,” is a story about 84-year-old Jean Hill, who took on the challenge of eliminating single-use plastic water bottles in Concord, Massachusetts.
The Sustainability Center brought the movie to the attention of several Co-op volunteers who make up the selection committee for the Food for Thought film series, which serves as a way for the community to learn about new topics and spark a conversation.
Co-Op Marketing Manager Alycia Rock said the film is a “cool intersection of entertainment and education for the Moscow community, (and a) great opportunity for free entertainment and to learn.”
The film series committee originally planned on showing “Divide in Concord” during the Sustainability Center’s Earth Day celebration. But they were given the opportunity for some speakers to attend the event, including a producer from the film and Moscow City Councilor Anne Zabala, causing them to move the date.
The film’s timing is also very pogniant for the Moscow community, Max Newland said. Recently, there have been several changes to how residents recycle.
“Many people are confused by the new recycling changes. People are either unsure of what to recycle,” said Newland, the Co-op education and event coordinator. “They’re also finding themselves noticing that they can’t recycle the same things anymore.”
Max Newland | Courtesy
With those confusing changes, comes the frustration of not knowing what to do to help the environment. But Newland hopes the film series can help those people.
“I think it will give hope to those who feel hopeless right now and wonder what they can do to help with this problem, especially in their daily life,” Newland said. “I also hope they will get involved politically, which is something everyone should do who can. Because it gives them a voice no matter how small or imperfect it may be.”
A sentiment Rock echoed.
“I hope that audiences learn more about their world, as well as further their education and they can still learn while not attending an actual class,” Rock said.
Three stainless-steel water bottles, courtesy of the Sustainability Center, will be raffled before the film begins.
Nicole Hindberg can be reached at [email protected]