Occupy Phoenixville/Phoenixville Films for Action joins Occupy Norristown and Ursinus We CAN (Care About the Nation) for a free screening of Gasland, an award-winning documentary about the controversial practice of hydraulic fracturing used by the natural gas industry. In “fracking” millions of gallons of water are sent deep into the ground to fracture layers of shale and release natural gas. This technology has led the way for the largest natural gas drilling boom in United States history, including more than four thousand wells drilled in Pennsylvania in the last four years, with thousands more planned for the years ahead.
But is fracking safe? When filmmaker Josh Fox was asked to lease his land for drilling, he embarked on a cross-country road trip to find the answer to this question. Fox traveled to 34 states and talked to dozens of property owners and environmental experts on the under-reported dangers of fracking and the resultant toxic waste water. Part verite travelogue, part expose, part mystery, part bluegrass banjo meltdown, part showdown, Gasland was awarded a Sundance Film Festival Special Jury Prize and nominated for an Academy Award for best documentary of 2010.
This screening will take place on March 14, at 7 PM in Olin Auditorium, Olin Auditorium, Ursinus College. Adam Garber of PennEnvironment will be available after the screening to share information about shale gas drilling in Pennsylvania and to answer any questions. The event is free, but donations will be accepted for PennEnvironment’s work in calling attention to health and safety issues confronting the Pennsyvlania shale gas industry