Ciné-ONU Madrid: Out of Plastic

On the 23^rd October 2019, Ciné-ONU screened ‘Out of Plastic’ in Madrid, organized by the Spain and Andorra Desk Office of UNRIC, in partnership with Asociación de Mujeres Cineastas y de Medios Audiovisuales CIMA and the Film Academy Foundation of Spain to celebrate United Nations Day.

"Out of Plastic" is a documentary film that explores the obscure depths of plastics in the Mediterranean. The film is set in the Balearic Islands, and offers viewers a moment to reflect on the profound presence of plastic in our lives and our natural environment. The film explores sweeping landscapes and mystic ocean depths and intends to demonstrate how our over consumption of single-use plastic has tipped the scales, to the detriment of nature, and ultimately ourselves.

The documentary was followed by a debate about the importance of the reduction of plastic use, moderated by Carlos Jimenez, Desk Officer for Spain and Andorra at UNRIC. The two panelists were Line Hadsbjerg the director, screenwriter and producer of the film, and Cristina Gallach, High Commissioner for the 2030 Agenda in Spain and former Deputy Secretary General for United Nations Communication and Public Information.

During the debate, Line Hadsbjerg and Cristina Gallach talked about the consequences of environmental pollution produced by plastics and its relationship with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The director also discussed the importance of reusable bottles as a way to drastically reduce the amount of plastic that ends up in the sea.

Cristina Gallach highlighted the usefulness of documentaries like “Out of Plastic” to promote increased awareness of current environmental problems. She made an urgent call for action, explaining that it has been almost 5 years since the setting of the SDGs and the 2030 Agenda, and the improvements seen are still not enough. “We have to make significant changes to our lifestyle”, she said.

Members of the audience engaged strongly with the issues in the documentary and asked for “Out of Plastic” to be distributed to schools to increase awareness amongst younger generations. One of the audience members noted, “We have to remember that we’ve lived without using plastics in the past”.

For more information about the film, click here.

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