LEWES, DE – August 13, 2019—The Unitarian Universalists of Southern Delaware (UUSD) and The Socially Responsible Agriculture Project will host the official Delaware premiere of the documentary film Right to Harm on Friday, September 6 at 6:30 p.m., at 30486 Lewes-Georgetown Highway in Lewes, Delaware. Created by the makers of the critically acclaimed SUSTAINABLE (2016) and executive produced by journalist Mark Bittman, the film shines a light on the public health impact of concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) in the DelMarVa region and other communities across the country.  The screening is free and open to the public.

“Once you learn what it’s like for people who live near these facilities and then experience it firsthand, you can’t go back,” says Right to Harm filmmaker Matt Wechsler. “I can’t bring myself to support a system that is inherently inequitable, and I wanted to share that feeling with others.” According to Right to Harm, corporate farming operations produce millions of gallons of untreated waste that can destroy the quality of life for their neighbors. The film also examines political issues that stand in the way of necessary reforms.

Maria Payan, who is featured in the film, was forced to abandon her home outside of York, PA because a nearby poultry operation tainted her groundwater, sickening her family for years. She is now a resident and clean water advocate in Sussex County, Delaware where four of five chicken processing plants have received environmental violations since 2014. Maria will be part of a facilitated panel discussion following the screening.  Joining her will be Dr. John Ikerd, Professor Emeritus of Agricultural Economics at the University of Missouri, an expert in the film on the impacts of corporate farming on rural communities, and Carole Morison, operator of a small DelMarVa chicken farm and a long-time advocate for reform in the poultry industry.

Susan Goekler, co-chair of UUSD’s Social & Environmental Justice committee shares why her faith community has taken an interest in the film: “Unitarian Universalists strive to choose foods that minimize harm and protect the environment, consumers, farmers, and all those involved in food production and distribution,” she says. “Not only does this film help us make food choices that minimize harm. It can also help us stimulate policy actions that contribute to the common good.”

For more information about the Lewes, Delaware screening, contact The Unitarian Universalists of Southern Delaware at SocialJustice@uussd.org.Communities can request screenings and learn more about ongoing campaigns nationally by visiting https://righttoharm.film.

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About the Socially Responsible Agriculture Project (SRAP)
SRAP is a non-profit that advocates for ecologically sound, socially equitable and economically vital agriculture. Learn more at https://sraproject.org.

The Unitarian Universalists of Southern Delaware (UUSSD)
UUSD is a welcoming and progressive spiritual community with a mission is to nurture spiritual growth, embrace diversity, work for justice, and strive for a loving world. For more information, go to www.uussd.org.

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Contact: SocialJustice@uussd.org

Photos:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1YUG8QsZxVtVoWO0R-_cDL_wVy0q1Xcrk?usp=sharing

Full film press kit:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/itordza0uruy4pw/AADzADb_CfmDO5IDwY4JFW-ya?dl=0