A platform that encourages healthy conversation, spiritual support, growth and fellowship
NOLACatholic Parenting Podcast
A natural progression of our weekly column in the Clarion Herald and blog
The best in Catholic news and inspiration - wherever you are!
Courtesy Academy of the Sacred Heart
“Water or Plastic,” a documentary produced by students at the Academy of the Sacred Heart, earned national runner-up honors June 11 in an environmental film competition.
Sacred Heart students enrolled in Environmental Science and Digital Media classes collaborated on the documentary, whose purpose was to educate their peers and the community at large on the origin of “microplastics” and their impact in Louisiana.
Microplastics – pieces of plastic smaller than several millimeters – have been found even in human tissue because they have become part of the global food supply.
The documentary illustrates that microplastics are everywhere, including waterways. The plastic pieces release caustic chemicals that make their way through the food chain. The microplastics originate from single-use plastics that often end up in waterways, where they are broken down by the chemicals they release.
Students entered the documentary in a film competition hosted by GreenShorts Louisiana. They used primary research, insight from Dr. Mark Benfield of the Department of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences at Louisiana State University and their own storytelling and production skills.
GreenShorts was founded in Los Angeles at UCLA’s Institute of Environment and Sustainability. Through a partnership with the LSU College of the Coast and Environment, Louisiana high school students were invited to participate. Submissions to the contest were evaluated by judges at LSU and UCLA before moving to a final round, which was judged by a team composed of representatives from Netflix, Skydance Media and Vulcan Productions.
The award-winning video can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VELcL5AbYHU.