Community / A.C.E.
April 16, 2018
THE ASIAN REPORTER n Page 11
DisOrient Asian American Film
Festival begins April 17 in Eugene
Gardening and
injury prevention
By Dr. Neal Stumpf, D.C.
Special to The Asian Reporter
ith daffodils and other flowers blooming in the
Pacific Northwest, Portlanders know spring is
here and it’s time to start working in the yard.
Gardening is a healthy pastime for a lot of people, but like
many activities, there is a chance of getting hurt. Back,
shoulder, and arm injuries are potential ailments, but by
following some preventative steps, the chance of strains or
injuries may be lessened greatly or eliminated.
Common tasks that could lead to an injury while
gardening include pulling weeds; lifting and moving
heavy items; bending and reaching; operating machinery;
and using hand tools. An injury could also result from
stress or fatigue of the body due to overuse or gardening
for long stretches of time.
Mowing the lawn
One of the more dangerous landscaping tasks is pulling
a cord to start a lawnmower. Pulling with full strength
without first warming up could injure the shoulder. This
is especially important at the beginning of the season,
when the machinery has been sitting unused over the
winter and one’s body is not yet used to the pulling motion.
The first step is to avoid starting a lawnmower or other
machinery with a cord while exerting one’s full strength,
the second is to be sure to stretch or warm up beforehand.
Gentle exercises such as stretching your arm across the
body and behind the back may help prevent muscle
strains or tears when starting machinery with pull cords.
Weeding & using garden tools
Bending to pull weeds often causes repetitive stress on
the back and may lead to pain. When using a hoe, try one
with a longer handle and avoid leaning forward or
hunching over.
The use of clippers can also cause fatigue, but longer
handled loppers and ratchet tools may help decrease the
amount of strain placed on the hands and fingers.
Additionally, try to avoid reaching far above your head, as
this can cause pinching in the shoulders.
Lifting properly
A common culprit of gardening injuries is lifting. Lifting
heavy items or moving them while in an awkward position
puts a lot of pressure on the back. It is important to use
proper lifting techniques such as keeping your back
straight and lifting with the knees.
With all activities, be sure to regularly alternate
between tasks to avoid overuse, especially when
gardening at the beginning of the season or on an
inconsistent schedule.
Some of us already have chronic conditions we may deal
with, but still want to enjoy gardening without pain.
These prevention tips may help reduce the strain on
muscles and joints or the aggravation of existing injuries.
For others, utilizing a brace may be helpful. People with
low-back issues might consider wearing an abdominal
brace or a back brace. For those with shoulder
impingement, holding a water bottle or small weight
while relaxing the shoulder of the affected arm may help
relieve pressure on the muscles. In addition, applying ice
wrapped in a towel to an inflamed area immediately after
gardening or exercise may help alleviate symptoms.
Gardening is a healthy hobby, but strains can be serious
and long lasting. Contact a chiropractor if you are hurt
while gardening or have been unable to garden due to
injury.
Dr. Neal Stumpf holds a Doctorate of Chiropractic from the University
of Western States and practices at Accident & Wellness Chiropractic.
W
Celebrate
Earth Day
everyday!
Reduce w Reuse w Recycle
The DisOrient Asian American
Film Festival, a social-justice film
fest showcasing the work of indepen-
dent filmmakers, begins April 17 in
Eugene, Oregon. The annual event
highlights portrayals of Asian Ameri-
can and Pacific Islander experiences
at seven venues for five days. People
of color are featured in every film and
18 are written or directed by women.
In addition, 29 filmmakers from
Hong Kong, Canada, and the United
States will be in attendance.
The curated film program brings
the diversity of underrepresented
voices and stories to Oregon. Among
this year’s featured films are The
Chinese Exclusion Act, Badass
Beauty Queen, The Jade Pendant,
Find Me, and Who Is Arthur Chu?
Filmmaker question-and-answer
sessions will promote meaningful
dialog
about
social
justice,
immigration, and what it means to be
American.
Accompanying the festival this
year is “Architecture of Internment:
The Buildup to Wartime Incarcera-
tion,” a travelling display high-
lighting the role of Oregonians in the
decision to incarcerate Japanese
Americans during World War II.
The exhibit features personal
letters and proclamations from
Oregonians to then-governor Charles
Sprague in 1941 and 1942 advocating
for the exclusion and incarceration of
Japanese-American
Oregonians,
along with his responses; blueprints
of potential “Assembly Center” and
“Relocation Camp” locations such as
race tracks and fairgrounds; letters
from Japanese Americans expressing
outrage about the injustice; and
more. “Architecture of Internment,”
which is free and open to the public, is
on view April 17 through 23 at Straub
Hall on the campus of the University
of Oregon (UO).
Some events held as part of this
year’s DisOrient Asian American
Film Festival include:
The Chinese Exclusion Act
April 17, 6:00pm
Bijou Art Cinemas
The Chinese Exclusion Act, a pre-
opening night film, allows viewers to
see the United States grappling with
deep, existential questions — Who
gets to be American? How do we
define citizenship? When and why
ought people be blocked from coming
to the U.S.? The screening also
features a question-and-answer ses-
sion with UO ethnic studies faculty
member Lynn Fujiwara.
The Jade Pendant
April 19, 6:30pm
Bijou Art Cinemas
The Jade Pendant, the film
featured on opening night, follows the
journey of a young girl named Peony
who escapes from an arranged
marriage and lands on the foreign
shores of America. A tragic love story
unfolds, set against the historical
lynching of 18 Chinese immigrants in
Los Angeles in 1871. Following the
screening is a question-and-answer
session with Hong Kong director Po-
Chih Leong and author L.P. Leung.
Opening night gala
April 19, 9:30pm
Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art
Following the screening of The
Jade Pendant, festival-goers are
invited to attend the opening night
gala emceed by Brady Wakayama.
The evening features the introduc-
tion of filmmakers, entertainment by
DISORIENT FILM FEST. View portrayals of the Asian-American experience and support
Asian-American artists at the 2018 DisOrient Asian American Film Festival, this year held April 17
through 22. Pictured is an image from The Chinese Exclusion Act, which is screening on Tuesday,
April 17 at 6:00pm. (Photo courtesy of the DisOrient Asian American Film Festival)
Alex Dang and ChinYi Chen, and
special guest speaker Vishavjit Singh
— the Sikh Captain America.
Refreshments are served.
Badass Beauty Queen
April 20, 11:00am & 4:30pm
Broadway Metro
Badass Beauty Queen tells the
story of Anastasia Lin. Winning the
title of Miss World Canada 2015, Lin
was celebrated both in Canada and
her birthplace of China. But when she
uses her platform to speak out
against
China’s
human-rights
injustices, she comes to realize the
extent of the penalties and ramifica-
tions to her and her family. A
question-and-answer session with
Anastasia Lin follows the screening.
“Race and Place:
Racism and Resilience in
Oregon Past and Future”
April 20, 1:30pm
Lane Community College
Downtown Campus, Room 114
“Race and Place: Racism and
Resilience in Oregon Past and
Future” is a free talk with Anita Yap
and Traci Price, facilitators of the
“Conversation Project.” Yap and
Price lead participants in a
discussion that looks at how Oregon’s
history of racism influences our
present and asks how understanding
historic and current impacts of
racism in Oregon can contribute to a
sense of place, the vision of the future,
and how diversity and inclusion help
create thriving communities.
“Asian Americans
in Film & Media”
April 20, 3:30pm
Lane Community College
Downtown Campus, Room 114
“Asian Americans in Film &
Media,” a panel discussion with film-
makers from this year’s festival,
addresses Asian-American repre-
sentation during the production
process and in the media landscape in
general. Questions from the audience
are welcomed.
The Sakada Series &
Proof of Loyalty
April 21, 5:00pm
University of Oregon
Redwood Auditorium
Two documentaries — The Sakada
Series and Proof of Loyalty — are
screening together as part of the
Saturday program. Sakadas are
Filipino contract workers who
immigrated to Hawai‘i between 1906
and 1946 to work as laborers for the
state’s
sugar
and
pineapple
plantations. The three short films in
The Sakada Series capture personal
stories, struggles, and successes.
Proof of Loyalty tells the story of
Kazuo
Yamane,
a
Japanese
American who played a strategic role
in World War II. He and his fellow
Nisei from Hawai‘i endured prejudice
and discrimination while loyally
serving their country — and
ultimately changed the course of U.S.
history.
A
question-and-answer
session with the directors follows.
Who Is Arthur Chu?
April 21, 7:05pm
University of Oregon
Redwood Auditorium
Who Is Arthur Chu? tells the story
of Arthur Chu, who hacked the
American institution that is the
Jeopardy! game show — and won big.
Leveraging his newfound online
celebrity, he speaks out about
social-justice issues, from misogyny
to online racism in America. Director
Yu
Gu
is
featured
in
a
question-and-answer session after
the film screening.
Kuleana
April 22, 5:10pm
University of Oregon
Redwood Auditorium
Kuleana: Protect our Family,
Defend this Land is a mystery/drama
in which two childhood friends
discover the true meaning of kuleana,
the Hawaiian word for responsi-
bility. One, a disabled Vietnam vet,
must protect his family, defend their
land, and clear his father’s name,
while the other, who tragically
disappeared at age 10, mysteriously
returns to her childhood home on a
mission of her own. Director Brian
Kohne is in attendance for a
question-and-answer session.
Find Me
April 22, 7:20pm
University of Oregon
Redwood Auditorium
Find Me, the closing night film,
follows
a
recently
divorced
accountant who decides to get out into
the world again to look for a
co-worker who has mysteriously
disappeared, leaving clues for him in
National Parks across the west. The
film shows the beauty, wonder, and
accessibility of the outdoors as well as
how these places can heal, nurture,
and inspire. Director Tom Huang and
producer Randy Kulina are featured
in a question-and-answer session
after the screening.
For more information, or to obtain a
full schedule of free and ticketed
events, call (541) 954-1798 or visit
<www.disorientfilm.org>. To pur-
chase tickets, visit <www.brown
papertickets.com/producer/2220>.