Rights of Nature

The James River provides drinking water for 1 in 4 Virginians. But it was once the most polluted river in America. Justin Black and Will Gemma’s two-part documentary Headwaters Down captures a 360-mile, 18-day journey from the headwaters of the James River in the Blue Ridge Mountains all the way to its mouth at the Chesapeake Bay. Friendship is the vehicle that moves the documentary through the James’ history of colonization, enslavement and industry pollution. And: Since gaining federal recognition in 2018, the Rappahannock Tribe has reclaimed thousands of acres of land and waters. The Tribe regards the Rappahannock River as a living being with its own rights. Justin, Will Gemma and tribe member Kenny Richardson are documenting efforts to empower the river in their new film, Land Back: Rappahannock.

Every summer is a cold war. We douse ourselves in bug spray to keep mosquitos away and mosquitoes still find a way to get their fix of our blood. Clément Vinauger (Virginia Tech) has found that some bugs are now attracted to DEET in bug spray.