Book or movie clubs are great ways to learn more and spread the word. If you already belong to a club, suggest one of the books or movies listed below for your next gathering. Or you can start a new club—either beginning with people you know or inviting new people through community bulletin boards, local newspapers or announcements at community events.
There are no rigid rules for running a book or movie club. Some groups meet once a month to discuss an entire book, others meet every week or two to discuss a chapter.
BOOKS
A Civil Action by Jonathan Harr. The story of Woburn, Massachusetts, the high incidence of childhood cancer associated with industrial pollution and the lawsuit against the responsible company.
Diamond: A Struggle for Environmental Justice in Louisiana's Chemical Corridor by Steve Lerner. This story chronicles how the people of Diamond, an African-American subdivision sandwiched between a Shell chemical plant and a Motiva oil refinery in Norco, Louisiana, lobbied Shell to pay for their relocation after decades of exposure to toxic emissions.
Having Faith by Sandra Steingraber. The author’s story of pregnancy and environmental contaminants.
Living Downstream by Sandra Steingraber. The author’s story of having cancer and environmental contaminants linked to cancer.
Our Stolen Future by Theo Colborn, Dianne Dumanoski and John Peterson Myers. An important book about endocrine disruptors—chemicals that harm people’s hormone systems and can result in a range of serious health concerns.
Refuge: An Unnatural History of Family and Place by Terry Tempest Williams. The author’s story of dealing with her mother’s experience with breast cancer after nuclear testing by the U.S. government.
Silent Snow by Marla Cone. A journalists exploration of toxics in the Arctic, their effects on human and animal health and the lessons we can learn from the polar region.
Silent Spring by Rachel Carson. The seminal book on the role of pesticides in harming the health of animals and the environment. Many consider it an important contribution that helped inspire the start of the U.S. environmental movement.
When Smoke Ran Like Water by Devra Davis. An account of some of the most toxic smog events, including the Donora Fog (1948) that blanketed a town in Pennsylvania for a week, leaving many people sick and some dead.
Click here for tips on how to start or run a book club.
MOVIES
If an ongoing book club is more than your schedule can handle, you can try a movie night. Your group can watch the movie together, and be sure to allow time to talk when it is over.
A Civil Action: The story of Woburn, Massachusetts, the high incidence of childhood cancer associated with industrial pollution and the lawsuit against the responsible company.
Blue Vinyl: A “toxic comedy” of the harmful effects of PVC plastics and one woman’s struggle to get her parents to use healthier alternatives as siding for their house.
Erin Brockovich: The true story of one woman’s efforts to stop Pacific Gas & Electric Company from poisoning southern California residents with toxic chemicals.
Trade Secrets: A Bill Moyer’s report on the harmful effects of synthetic chemicals.
When the Levees Broke: A Spike Lee film on the disaster of Hurricane Katrina.
