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Before beginning this PSA project and after reflecting on what true environmental justice is, I was very excited to explore in depth how we as humans affect the earth and how we can make it a better place. In the end, we all have to share it and even the smallest bit of pollution adds to the whirlpool of filth that is flooding our planet. When beginning to develop an idea for the direction of the public service announcement, it was crucial that we addressed a subject matter that does a few things. First, that it affects our community immediately and directly. Individuals are more likely to respond and understand if they can connect their life to the problem at hand. Second, that the content and subject of the PSA is interesting. The last thing any of us wants is to sit through yet another boring informational video. After thorough discussion on the topic of the video, we decided to inform the masses about abandoned homes and vacant lots on the city of Philadelphia. As a member of this group along side my partners, I was mainly responsible for  researching different statistics and analyzing the causes and effects on abandoned homes. Much of this research was included in the final product. While working on this project, I may have been able to communicate with my group members a bit better. There are many ideas and things that we may have been able to do had I opened my mouth more. In all, this entire process was very good and enriching. It was very eye-opening to see the statistics of abandoned homes and vacant lots and know that as a student and teenager, there isn't much I can do to help the problem.

For our project we recorded a PSA about  oil trains and the danger they have on the surrounding area. We started out with talking about how the trains could fall off the rails and cause an explosion that has the blast radius of taking out a part of Southwest Philadelphia. We continued on with facts about how the trains also release dangerous fumes into the air. The we finished up by saying how if one of the trains did fall over we have no real plan for evacuation, so we would just be sitting ducks. The reason we chose this topic is because oil trains do go through our state, so this issue is real to us. People we love and care about are being affected by these trains, but no one seems to know about them. We decided that doing research on this topic might share some light with people.   

I mainly helped by trying to be a multiple purpose tool. As I helped during the research,helped record if Obasi wasn’t there. Did some small edits to help Moesha out. I didn’t want to be a burden on my group, so I tried to help out with whatever we were working on at that moment.

Most of the time if my group needed something I tried to be there for them. My time management still needs work. As for checkpoint 2 I didn’t start working on my part of the research until near midnight.I could have also helped Moesha with the script as she did the main part and I just revised my part later on.

In our video, we decided to create a parody of the television/web series “Billy On The Street”, where we question people on the spot and see exactly what they know about air pollution, the effects, and causes of air pollution while still having a comedic twist to it. I chose this topic because, as someone who often can’t breathe around smoke and other air pollutants, and someone who is socially aware about how it’s affecting our climate, I think people really need to know that although it doesn’t look like it, our city is very polluted and there needs to be information getting out there.

I felt a bit like the director and editor of the group. I made sure that we got all the footage we needed, that the video looked nice and presentable, and that all the information was contained in the video while still trying to keep it entertaining. I feel like we got what we wanted with our video: to be short, succinct, and funny while still giving out information about air pollution. What I wish I could of done differently is focus more on my group, as when I tried to I had to help other people and got sidetracked often.

Our video addressed  the issues regarding crude oil trains and how Philly can take action to make sure that if one of the trains passing through happens to derail, we have a plan and can take action. Oil trains run through Pittsburg, New Jersey, New York, Minnesota, Washington state, California, and Pennsylvania. We chose to focus on this because the media wasn’t really bringing attention to the issue and also Pennsylvanians don’t have any laws to protect their residents from this issue. This is a major problem because in the past three years there have been three derailments just in Pennsylvania. We need to take a stand and make a law to make sure we can prevent future accidents. Everyone should have access to clean air water and  soil, and to a healthy, safe, livable community. Unfortunately, these rights are often denied to minority and low-income communities, creating a disparate risk and environmental injustice for Pennsylvanians.

We set up our video as a news report. In the video you have news reporter, Governor Tom Wolf, Senator Hillary Clinton, and a random resident from the neighborhood. Governor Tom Wolf and Senator Hillary Clinton are discussing their major concerns who on the crude oil trains and why it’s important that the issue is addressed.

My contributions to this project was help create the script, helping edit the video, and set up recording times. I believe that I did a fair share amount of the work. Things I did well during this project was keeping everything organized and staying on top of the checkpoints and something I could have done differently was maybe thinking thoroughly on the PSA. I think towards the end of the project my group members pulled it together to create a great video. The most meaningful part of the experience of creating the PSA was knowing that I’m getting awareness out there to the world. To be a part of something like that makes me want to take more steps to get other environmentally justice issues out there.

The video below was made to publicize an underrated issue, CSX crude oil trains running through PA. Most people, including myself, are unaware that these oil trains are passing through our state and to most that might not seem like a problem. However, there have been several reports of these trains derailing which leads to dangerous oil spills and could harm a lot of civilians. Pennsylvania is the not the only state where these trains pass through, but the reason it's an issue specifically for citizens of PA is because of the fact that we don't have any laws protecting the trains or the people living near the tracks. The reason I chose to do this topic is because as a citizen of PA I think it is important for not only our health and safety but as a community that we have the resources and capability to immediately take action if a train is at risk of derailing or does derail.

The reason  why I have created this work is because I was gonna draw actually gonna start by drawing a cube but some house expanded on it and made more than I was going to do. Which became sort of like two hallways.

At first what I was hoping to achieve was a cube but I saw that it wasn't coming out the way I wanted it to come out so I wasn’t accomplishing my goal. So then I just decided to add random thing to my drawing and came up with two hallways like if it was an apartment, but I drew it randomly so I didn't really do it based off of two point perspective.  

I think that what my art communicates to any viewer is an illusion in most of it and many different colors just mixed in, also how I fixed it by adding the two points of perspective and then fixing it which made it way better.  

What I think I’ve achieved through the creation of this art is how to draw a two point perspective piece of art.

I don’t think that my current work relates to any of my previous work because when I learned how to draw a one point perspective room I was a freshmen and I am now a sophomore. And I haven’t learned how to draw a two point perspective drawing this was my very first time doing this.

My piece of art fits into the Abstract Sculpture Sean Newport made a sculpture that causes an illusion and I made a drawing causing an illusion.

The first thing I did was draw a rough draft of what I wanted to do which was a cube. But then I just switched up and added plenty of things and made lots of changes. I had to eliminate so many things and add others.

What inspired me to draw this piece of art is that last year I learned how to draw a one point perspective room but this time I wanted to do like two hallways going to two apartment doors.

I guess you can say that this work reflects the world we live in because nowadays there are various artists that draw pieces of art like the one I did. I don’t really think that this work reflects on my own life. My experience was last year because I learned how to draw 3D objects and illusions.  

I think that my work could influence or make an impact on the world is because when people look at my drawing they can come up with so many stories to it because of the various things I’ve drawn.

Knowing what your doing is very important because I didn’t know that I had to draw two point so I could draw the walls of the halls perpendicular to one another and so that everything can be equally measured.

Do some research or ask your teacher about what your doing make sure your 100% you're sure you know what you're doing.

Reflection

1. Provide a summary of the contents of your video and a rationale for why YOU chose this topic, in paragraph form.

1. The content of my video was showing how people constantly dump in the streets as if it is nothing, our video explains how this can harm not only the environment but every living organisms within the environment. Our topic was Illegal Waste Dumping and this topic was chosen because this is a growing problem in the Pennsylvania but also The United States and this is what we call home so we are suppose to keep it safe. This problem is killing our environment and it affects us as humans in our everyday life and if we as young adults do not fix the problem now the younger generation will not have the earth to enjoy because it will be destroyed.

2. Provide a reflection on how you contributed to the project and the role you played in the group.

1. I contributed in the group by helping out with the script, recording and engaging in group conversation on how we can make the video much better or how to go to the extra mile in this assignment.

3. What did you do well and what could you have done differently?

1. I worked well with my group members and we communicated well with each other. I think what I could have done differently was my time management. Sometimes when we were suppose to be on track we were not because all members of the group were not there.

4. What was the most meaningful part of the experience of creating the PSA?

1. The most meaningful part of the creating this PSA was that I learnt so much while doing it and that I can make a change by speaking on the problems I see and inform others. It will not just happen overnight but I know that I can make a change because this is a problem and by doing this PSA it had taught me so much about how we as humans destroy the place we call home and it made me think on some things differently.

Link to video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnPWFQtlBFU

Reflection

This video was created to inform Philadelphians about the CSX Crude Oil Trains that pass through Philadelphia. I chose this topic because many Philadelphians like myself were naive that trains transporting oil pass through our city. There has been no plan for evacuation created in case an explosion happens. These trains go past the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, North Philadelphia, and Center City where many people live. The fumes these trains leave behind makes our environment worse than it already is. I think all residents should be aware of what passes through their neighborhoods that could potentially harm them.