Raising Awareness of Environmental Ethics through Film Screening in Education

This study explores the role of cinema in raising awareness of environmental ethics and ecology for an education for sustainable development. It focuses on The Beekeeper, a philosophical masterpiece by Theo Angelopoulos. The research was carried out in a vocational upper secondary school (EPAL). The film was interpreted through the lens of environmental ethics, followed by the creation of a bee hotel. The impacts on participants were assessed through essays and questionnaire analysis. In short, the participants sufficiently realized the intrinsic value of the non-human world and expressed admiration for the species’ diversity and the harmonious functioning of nature. They also recognized the vital role of pollination and reported increased motivation to engage in future awareness-raising activities concerning the benefits of wild pollinators. The participants demonstrated motivation to adopt attitudes of moral responsibility towards wildlife and acknowledged the primary causes of biodiversity loss. Participation in the project encouraged them to live in a more environmentally friendly way. Consequently, environmental ethics was engaged in educational practice by a philosophical, aesthetical and creative thinking framework.