Our community includes creatives & artists who are amplifying bodily autonomy through their work, audiences who applaud these stories and collaborative organizational partners with shared goals.
rePROFilm connects storytellers and advocates who celebrate bodily autonomy.
VOL. 25, LEARN:
THERE IS NO PLANET B
December 2023 through February 2024 was the Lower 48’s warmest winter in 130 years. It was 82 degrees on Leap Day in our home base of Wichita, Kansas.
Reproductive justice and environmental justice may not seem like they go together, but when you think about it, they really do: SisterSong defines the former as “the human right to maintain personal bodily autonomy, have children, not have children, and parent the children we have in safe and sustainable communities.”
A safe and sustainable community has safe drinking water. Its children breathe clean air. It doesn’t suffer adverse effects from climate change. In order to achieve reproductive justice, we need environmental justice, too.
Both movements are also aligned in recognizing that poor and marginalized communities face greater consequences of reproductive and environmental justice. As we discuss this topic in Vol. 25 of the Periodical, we won’t forget that.
XO,
the rePROFilm Team
It’s time to combine the fights for climate change and reproductive justice
“Those concerned about reproductive and maternal health need to pay more attention to the climate crisis and other environmental disasters. And people concerned about our planet’s environment need to pay more attention to the increases in maternal and infant mortality,” write activists Skye Wheeler and Kelly Davis. Our right to a healthy environment, they argue, should be inextricably linked to safe abortion access, birth control, family planning and maternal health care.
(The Hill)
Environmental advocates are asking the EPA to take a stand on reproductive justice
“Lead exposure is resulting in lower fertility rates and a higher risk of stillbirth. Fracking is connected to higher rates of preterm birth and congenital heart defects in newborns. Chemicals like PFAS, commonly found in drinking water, can decrease fertility and have been linked to higher blood pressure in pregnant people.” These are among the reasons why activists are pushing the U.S. environmental regulatory body to address reproductive justice. This story will introduce you to the activists working on this issue —including Skye Wheeler, who co-wrote the opinion piece linked above.
(The 19th)
Fact sheet: Black women, reproductive justice and environmental justice
Are you a data junkie? Want to dive into the details? This rundown will give you all the facts (and citations) you’re looking for. Some are stunning: more than one third of Black women have had to boil water in order to safely drink it. It’s no wonder that “45% say having access to water has been a factor in deciding to become a parent.”
(In Our Own Voice: Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda)
Abortion Storytelling: At Athena Film Festival
With Asha Dahya, Jess Jacobs, Renee Bracey Sherman & Ruth Leitman, moderated by rePROFilm co-founder Lela Meadow-Conner
Last weekend, we had the great privilege to take part in a panel at the Athena Film Festival focused on Abortion Storytelling. Panelists included rePROFiilm podcast host Asha Dahya, who also premiered her new short film “Someone You Know“; rePROFilm friend and alumna Jess Jacobs (“Choices”, “Plan C”), “the Beyoncé of Abortion Storytelling” and founder of We Testify Renee Bracey Sherman, and Director Ruth Leitman (‘No One Asked You’).
As abortion continues to make headlines around the world, it’s never been more imperative to embrace storytelling as a catalyst for cultural change around reproductive justice.
This powerhouse group of storytellers and activists delivered!
rePROFilm endeavors to make our programming a safe, accessible and welcome place for anyone who wants to participate. We acknowledge that we have much to learn about creating this space, and welcome and and all feedback that can make us better aware and able to support all minds and bodies.
We are committed to screening films in accessible venues, and also understand that meeting ADA standards for accessibility does not actually mean a venue is actually accommodating for everyone. As best we can, we will offer a complimentary companion ticket to our film screenings as requested. For our virtual screenings, we ask all filmmaking teams to provide closed captioning, audio descriptions or open captions whenever possible. For any questions, please contact us at 323-810-6909 or help@reprofilm.org. We are here to do our best to make our programming as inclusive as possible.