GLIN==> 7PM Tonight: GASLAND ON THE BIG SCREEN! Followed by an expert panel.

7PM TONIGHT:  GASLAND ON THE BIG SCREEN!  Celebration Cinema North, 2121
Celebration Drive, Grand Rapids, MI - Followed by an expert panel!  

 



 

 

GASLAND:  West Michigan Takes A Hard Look At Fracking

 

Recent Innovations in Natural Gas Exploration Lead to New Environmental
Controversy in Michigan 

The West Michigan Environmental Action Council, Clean Water Action, and a
coalition of environmental groups will examine an emerging threat to
Michigan water resources from recent innovations in natural gas exploration
with its screening of the award-winning documentary GASLAND on Wednesday,
March 23 at 7 p.m. at Celebration Cinema North in Grand Rapids.  The
screening will be followed by an expert panel discussion.  

 

High-Volume Horizontal Hydraulic fracturing, commonly known as fracking, is
a mineral exploration technique that pumps fluid into the ground at
high-pressure to break up rock formations and free hidden mineral deposits.
In recent years, improvements in the process for natural gas exploration
using a proprietary blend of chemicals, sand, and groundwater has been
linked to some terrifying environmental impacts in several communities
across the country, the worst a town in Pennsylvania that can now literally
light its tap fire on fire.

 

Josh Fox's GASLAND was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Documentary
and won top prize at this year's Sundance Film Festival.  GASLAND details
how the largest domestic natural gas drilling boom in history is sweeping
across the United States thanks to fracking, unlocking a Saudi Arabia of
natural gas beneath American soil at a potentially devastating environmental
cost.

 

"West Michigan loves and values its streams, rivers and lakes," said Rachel
Hood, WMEAC Executive Director.  "Recent innovations in natural gas fracking
threaten the health of our water resources; this issue is capturing the
concern and attention of Michigan's environmentalists. GASLAND will be a
catalyst for a productive discussion learning about fracking and the steps
we must take to protect our water."

 

Hood noted that the event comes only a few weeks after the first reported
fracking leak in Michigan at a natural gas well in Benzie County. This
follows a record year for natural gas license sales in Michigan, with the
state government netting $178 million last May alone through an auction of
drilling leases for public lands.  The state has only collected a total of
$191 million in leases in the previous 81 years.

 

Following the screening a panel discussion representing a variety of views
will contribute significant expertise and provide a Michigan context to the
film.  Featured panelists include William B. Harrison, III, Professor
Emeritus at Western Michigan University and Director of the Michigan Basin
Core Research Laboratory; Susan E. Harley, Policy Director for Clean Water
Action; and Harold R. Fitch, Assistant Supervisor of Wells and Director of
the DEQ Office of Geological Survey. 

 

Tickets are $5 ($3 for WMEAC members), available at the door or in advance
at the WMEAC office.  Sponsorships for the event are still available.
Contact Daniel Schoonmaker at 616.451.3051 x28 or dschoonmaker at wmeac.org for
information.

 

Learn more about the film at www.gaslandthemovie.com.

 

 

 

Nicholas Occhipinti, MPP

Policy and Community Activism Director

West Michigan Environmental Action Council

1007 Lake Drive SE

Grand Rapids, MI  49506

(Office) 616.451.3051 ext. 23

(Cell) 616.890.3276

 

www.thewmeacblog.org

www.wmeac.org

 <http://eepurl.com/f0zc> Sign up for WMEAC Eblasts 

 

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