Herbicide Trials

In 1983, fifteen landowners from Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, filed suit to halt herbicide spraying by the local subsidiary of a Swedish multinational on forests adjacent to their properties. They learned that the testimony of scientists and broad public support, both here and abroad, was not enough to secure a victory. The documentary chronicles their ordeal and the landmark Sydney trial. It raises questions about potential conflicts of interest when a government must protect citizens' health while backing certain kinds of industry; the relative value of political and judicial processes in mediating social problems; and the need for a public forum to debate environmental issues. The film also features outstanding archival footage from 1950s chemical industry films and contemporary material about Vietnam veterans affected by Agent Orange.