Documentary Film & Discussion Series: “Under Pressure,” Dec. 12

The Ashland Documentary Film & Discussion Series presents the film Under Pressure (45 min.), Thursday, Dec. 12, 7 to 9 p.m., at the Ashland Library, Community Room, 66 Front St. The event is free and open to the public. All points of view are welcome.

Under Pressure was made by 30 students from the Four Rivers Charter Public School class of 2019. Born in this century, the students are the generation social critic Noam Chomsky says “will have to make a decision of cosmic significance . . . [that is,] will organized human society survive?”

Under Pressure deals with the enormous threat of environmental catastrophe. Students examined the Merrimack Valley disaster, and over a semester, discovered how corporate profits gain control over and corrupt government, spin narratives and disinformation that confuse and mislead, and seek to retain short-term profit at any cost – including the cost of human survival itself.

In the film, the students present their discovery of how corporate capitalism works and their answer to it: rise up now, organize now, resist now, and vote for change now. Regain control of the political and economic system and place it in the service of a humane future.

The film has particular relevance for Ashland and Hopkinton where Eversource Energy proposes doubling the width in nearly four miles of natural gas pipeline.

The Ashland Documentary Film & Discussion Series has been running continuously since 2005, taking an in-depth look at important topics of our day. Discussions are often lively and thought-provoking. All points of view are welcomed. The series is sponsored by the Friends of the Ashland Library. For more information, call the library, 508-881-0134, or visit www.friendsoftheapl.com.