Azul Celebrates World Ocean Day Premiere of Its Ocean Justice Film, EnClave, in the Nation’s Capital and Honors Ocean Congressional Champion Rep. Raúl Grijalva
For Immediate Release
Wednesday, June 8, 2022
Media Contacts
Lucila Garcia, López-Wagner Strategies, 323-646-2150, garciaoneil@gmail.com
Betsy López-Wagner, López-Wagner Strategies, 708-717-9408, media@azul.org
Azul Celebrates World Ocean Day Premiere of Its Ocean Justice Film, EnClave, in the Nation’s Capital and Honors Ocean Congressional Champion Rep. Raúl Grijalva
Azul closes out World Ocean Day with ocean documentary spotlighting environmental racism, community-driven solutions and celebrates Latino Congressman
Washington, D.C. (June 6, 2022) – Azul, an environmental justice organization working with Latinxs to conserve coasts and the ocean, premiered its first produced documentary, EnClave, with award-winning artist and filmmaker Bocafloja.
EnClave, a Spanish-language documentary with English subtitles, explores the historical and geopolitical factors involved in the extensive extraction of our ocean and its impact in social life. The film exposes environmental racism through music, dance, and storytelling to bring viewers through to see the paramount social injustices that cannot be dismissed, but must be addressed to advance climate action.
“EnClave marks an important milestone for Azul as the film sheds light on coastal and marine life for people everywhere and captures the essence, beauty and representation of our ocean,” said Marce Gutiérrez-Graudiņš, Executive Director of Azul. “Filmed in Panama, EnClave is one of the few film projects focused on the experience and contributions of communities marginalized and historically excluded within a typically white-controlled dialogue.”
“The ocean has been an omnipresent figure in my formation and early memories. As a person of Afro-Indigenous descent, part of my social imaginary was conformed with elements which often resemble mobility, displacement, waves, water, and salt. More than a set of metaphors I quickly understood that those references were crucial survival tools to oxygenate our political will,” said Bocafloja.
In celebration of the premiere, Representative Raúl Grijalva was presented the coveted Estrella Marina award from Azul for his ocean championship. At the event to receive the award on his behalf was Lora Snyder, Deputy Staff Director for the House Natural Resources Committee.
“Our oceans are the lifeblood of this planet—protecting them is not just our duty, but a matter of our survival. No one knows this better than the people living in coastal and island communities who are already experiencing the impacts of warming temperatures and rising sea levels. We need bold, decisive action that puts oceans at the forefront of climate policy and gives these frontline communities a seat at the decision-making table. Azul is working to do just that and I’m proud to be honored by them today,” said Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva in remarks shared earlier.
In addition to today’s film opening, the Biden-Harris Administration announced this commitment to ocean justice by announcing a series of environmental actions aimed at ocean stewardship and protection. This announcement comes days following Azul and the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators letter on behalf of Latino state legislators from 12 states plus Puerto Rico asking President Joe Biden and Secretary Deb Haaland to ensure the nation’s conservation initiatives provide equitable access to U.S. lands, waters, and the ocean.
For interview opportunities or to attend tonight’s event, contact Betsy López-Wagner.
About Azul
Azul is a grassroots organization working with Latinxs to conserve coasts and oceans. It was founded in 2011 to bring Latinxs perspectives and participation to ocean conservation and has long advocated for environmental justice and equity in the state of California, across the nation and at international levels.
About Bocafloja
Bocafloja is an award winning artist of music and film. He has been featured in PBS, Once TV, BBC, NPR, Afropunk and Okayplayer, amongst other media outlets worldwide. Following the tradition of Third Cinema, Bocafloja approaches his art through the practice of visual poetry by emphasizing the artistic and political possibilities of discourse and subjectivity.