From Okinawa, Japan to Maui, Hawaii and countless territories in between, United States imperialism has caused environmental devastation across the globe. “Earth’s Greatest Enemy,” a documentary film by journalist Abby Martin, shines a light on how the United States military became one of the biggest polluters in the world.
The Art Theatre of Long Beach screened “Earth’s Greatest Enemy” on April 15 to a diverse audience, many anticipating the wide release of the film which is now on its worldwide tour.
The film was produced under Empire Files, a documentary and interview series produced by Martin. In the film, Martin shares that in the early years of her journalism career, she began questioning what mainstream media was reporting regarding the Iraq War.
Mike Prysner, an anti-war activist who is also Martin’s husband, was a co-director on the film. The audience at The Art included a diverse crowd of people of all ages, but a large portion of the crowd was younger, with many donning keffiyehs. People watched silently, occasionally clapping at moments of the film that featured Martin in press conferences confronting politicians about their complicity in imperialist environmental harm.
Once the film concluded, Prysner appeared on Zoom to participate in a Q&A with the audience.
“Our goal with this film was to make it so that any discussion of environmental issues, and the environmental issues of our time, cannot be discussed without bringing the military and imperialism into that,” Prysner said.
“Earth’s Greatest Enemy” describes itself as “a documentary exposé of the world’s biggest–and most unaccountable polluter: the U.S. military,” according to its website. The film takes place in different locations around the globe where environments have been devastated by American militarism.
Some may know that the United States military is among the largest climate polluters in history, polluting the Earth more than most countries. But few know what that impact means for people’s livelihood and health day-to-day — until now.
Okinawa Island in Japan was a major focus of the documentary, shedding light on the significant military presence that overruns much of the island. Seventy percent of American military bases are hosted on Okinawa, covering 25% of the island.
In the film, Martin and Prysner sit on a boat during a protest on the water with Okinawan organizers. The protestors hold signs that read “no base,” “military out,” and “save the dugongs.” The latter brings attention to the destruction brought to marine wildlife caused by military presence in the waters.
The military’s impact on marine life is a consistent focus of the documentary, specifically the way that sonar testing impacts marine animals in the vicinity of the U.S. Navy’s presence.
Another focal point of the documentary was the impact of Camp Lejeune’s water contamination in Jacksonville, North Carolina.
Camp Lejeune is a Marine Corps base, home to several different marine training facilities.
The filmmakers talked to an activist born on the Camp Lejeune base between the years of 1953-1987, a time marked by largely contaminated waters affecting residents’ bathing and drinking habits. The hazardous chemicals within the water were found to be between 240 and 3,400 times the levels considered safe for consumption.
The impact was devastating, causing various forms of cancer, neurological conditions, stillbirths and miscarriages, and more health risks.
After the film concluded, Prysner appeared on Zoom to answer questions from audience members about the film and the issue of imperialism.
One person in the audience asked how Prysner remains hopeful while exploring topics that shed light on such a devastating reality.
“You have the incredible power of the working class in this country … and I have great optimism in the inevitable reality that the people in these positions will realize the power they have and shift consciousness in it dramatically,” he said.
A person who identified themselves as a nurse asked if Prysner views a general strike as an effective form of protest. A general strike is a form of protest in which a large group of members of the working class refuses to attend work. This protest may also include avoiding shopping or attending school.
“Well, I’m a communist, so yes,” Prysner responded, prompting cheers from the crowd.
“Earth’s Greatest Enemy” was a highly informative watch, spanning decades of the environmental devastation that has occurred as a result of U.S. imperialism and militarism.
Such a hefty topic may seem daunting and unapproachable to some viewers, but Martin and Prysner’s storytelling makes the topic digestible without taking away from the gravity of it. The reality of this environmental crisis isn’t watered down to make it more palatable, but is explained in such a way that helps make it easy to understand for a wider audience.
I, like many of the viewers at The Art, I’m sure, left feeling sad, but with the sense of hope that a film like this may bring immense awareness to a truth buried under imperialist propaganda.
Prysner mentioned during the Q&A that there were elements they wanted to cover in the film, but simply could not fit in, such as the Navy–Culebra protests in Puerto Rico in 1971. These protests against the U.S. Navy for its presence on the island were successful, with President Nixon, followed by President Ford, terminating all military occupations in Culebra by the end of 1975.
Prysner shared with the screening audience that “Earth’s Greatest Enemy” will be available on streaming platforms in a few months.
Sign up to be notified when a screening pops up near you, or donate to help the tour keep going on the film’s website.
