In mid-October, people gathered at San Francisco’s iconic Roxie theater in the Mission district for the Green Film Festival of San Francisco. People grabbed their popcorn and seats to enjoy and be inspired by a rich mix of films in the festival, including the story of “Oil Washed.” 
This short film was made by USF Media Studies alumna Giuliana Salomone, and features our MSEM Director, Prof. Stephanie Siehr. The film traces the oil industry’s shift from climate change denial to greenwashing their response to climate change, and encourages everyone to exercise their power for a just and clean energy transition. Stephanie’s band “The Stratospheres” also makes an appearance, offering music to grow joy and community and climate justice.
This film is especially timely as California Attorney General Rob Bonta recently filed a lawsuit against Exxon Mobil, Shell, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, and BP, and the American Petroleum Institute for misleading the public about climate change. The complaint targets these companies for knowing about the climate warming potential of burning fossil fuels since the 1960s, but have continuously denied the science in public and marketing statements.
California is the largest economy to file a lawsuit such as this one and follows on the heels of a big win for youth and climate in Montana, where a court concluded that state inaction on climate is jeopardizing the lives of the plaintiffs. This was a monumental win and proves how impactful our youth and our voices can be in the fight to save our planet.
