Hello, my name is Tyler and I am the vice president of Augustana’s Sierra Club. Our organization is dedicated to raising awareness of pressing environmental issues and fostering a deeper, more personal connection to the natural world. Guided by our core values of sustainability, service, and justice, we strive to create meaningful change both on campus and within the Quad Cities.
Each year, our club collaborates with Sierra Club Eagle View Group, River Action, Fourth Wall Films, Nahant Marsh Education Center, and Partners of Scott County Watersheds to participate in the Quad Cities Environmental Film Series. This event provides an opportunity for community members to engage with important environmental topics that become more critical every day.
This year, we are thrilled to present “The Shitthropocene,” a documentary which explores the origins of human consumption habits, their ties to capitalism, and the profound effects these behaviors have on ecosystems across the globe. This film aligns closely with our club’s mission, as we actively work to challenge the culture of overconsumption through initiatives such as our annual Trash Dash and “Swap Don’t Shop” clothing exchange, which encourage waste reduction and sustainable living.
Our screening will take place on February 16th at the Figge Art Museum in Davenport, Iowa. Leading up to the film, we invite attendees to join us for a Sustainability Lifestyle Fair, which will begin at 1:45 p.m. in the Figge’s main lobby. This fair will feature a variety of local businesses, nonprofit organizations, and advocacy groups that are making a positive impact on sustainability in the Quad Cities, such as Habitat for Humanity, Rescued, the Zero Waste Reserve, and many more. Guests will have the opportunity to engage directly with these groups, learn about their initiatives, and discover practical ways to incorporate sustainability into their own lives.
At 3:00 p.m., we will begin the screening of “The Shitthropocene,” a satirical documentary produced by Patagonia that delves into humanity’s consumption habits and their environmental impacts. The film uses humor alongside critical analysis to highlight the absurdity of current consumer behaviors and emphasizes the urgent need for change. After the screening, we will host a panel discussion, featuring some of the participants from the Sustainability Lifestyle Fair. The audience will then have the opportunity to ask questions relating to the film, the panelists’ experiences, or broader topics of sustainability and environmentalism.
We hope to see you all on February 16th at the Figge Art Museum. The Sustainability Lifestyle Fair begins at 1:45 p.m. and “The Shitthropocene” will be shown at 3:00 p.m. and will be followed by a panel discussion. This event is open to all community members. Tickets are $7 and a season pass is $30. You can purchase tickets at www.riveraction.org/filmseries. Student admission is free, but students must register on River Action’s website. Seating is limited, so tickets are first come, first served. Come wearing your best thrifted outfits, and we’ll see you on February 16th!