New Film Documents Iowa’s Battle with Factory Farms and Toothless Legislation 
Wednesday, May 29 at 7:00 pm; Doors open at 6:30 pm
Iowa State Historical Building Theatre
600 E. Locust Street, Des Moines
$5 admission benefits Iowa Alliance for Responsible Agriculture
Wednesday, May 29 at 7:00 pm; Doors open at 6:30 pmTICKETS ON SALE HERE and at the door
Panel Discussion after the film with Drs. John Ikerd and Francis Thicke, and neighbors of CAFOs Joyce Otto and Nancy Adam
Right to Harm is a national exposé on the public health, environmental, and lifestyle impacts of factory farms. Award-winning filmmakers Matt Wechsler and Annie Speicher (SUSTAINABLE) document the ongoing battle with factory farms in Iowa as well as in Wisconsin, North Carolina, Arizona, and Delmarva.
Each of Iowa’s 13,000 factory farms are built in communities of neighbors who have few protections and little ability to have a meaningful say a confinement’s location. Right to Harm addresses the devastating ramifications that many families in Iowa and across the US experience from these inadequately regulated livestock factories.
Wechsler and Speicher address the “human welfare” impacts of factory farms, revealing the social injustice of this industrial system that is largely unknown to a broad swath of US consumers.
The film also exposes the failures of state agencies to adequately regulate industrial agriculture and chronicles actions taken by disenfranchised citizens demanding justice from their legislators.
Iowa’s Fight Featured in Right to Harm: The Iowa segment examines the plight of an Iowa County resident who was confronted with two 1200-head CAFOs built across from his family’s 145-year old farm shortly after he retired there. It also features the efforts of many Iowans coming together to protect their communities.
Wechsler will moderate a panel discussion after the film with the following guest speakers:
- Dr. John Ikerd, Professor Emeritus, University of Missouri at Columbia. Dr. Ikerd is a sought-after expert on industrial agriculture. Originally an ardent supporter of industrial agriculture, Dr. Ikerd later became an ardent critic once he saw how factory farms were damaging the health, environment, and economic vitality of rural communities. Dr. Ikerd is featured throughout Right to Harm.
- Dr. Francis Thicke, co-owner of Radiance Dairy, an organic and regenerative Fairfield, Iowa farm. Thicke formerly served on the National Organic Standards Board and is currently a board member of Jefferson County Farmers & Neighbors, Inc.
- Joyce Otto, President of Poweshiek CARES and a Poweshiek County resident who had to close her in-home nursing care business after a 5000-head CAFO was built nearby.
- Nancy Adams, a Marshall County resident who was forced to change the course of her life after a 2499-head CAFO was built near her home.
The screening is sponsored by Hourglass Films, Iowa Alliance for Responsible Agriculture, Iowa Farmers Union, Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement, Women International League for Peace and Freedom, and Iowa Sierra Club.
Purchase tickets ahead of time.
Tickets are $5 and can be purchased through the Iowa Farmers Union website. The screening is also a fundraiser for the Iowa Alliance for Responsible Agriculture (IARA), a coalition of 33 community, state, and national organizations. Additional donations are warmly welcome and support IARA’s efforts in advocating for a factory farm moratorium in Iowa.
Tickets will also be sold at the door.
Free parking is available at the Capitol Complex Parking garage on E. Grand Avenue, right across the street from the Iowa State Historical Building.
Buy your tickets here.
Listen KHOI-FM’s May 16 interview on Local Talk with Dr. John Ikerd Professor Emeritus at the University of Missouri/Columbia on the issues addressed in Right to Harm. Dr. Ikerd is featured throughout the film.
