https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gciFr1hhoiU
Imagine a place, deep in the Canadian forests of Ontario, where the environment remains relatively untouched by humans, where the multi-coloured autumn trees sway in the wind and where children play in the water from dusk to dawn. Imagine a place where the water flows spectacularly down a small waterfall as it makes its way to the ocean. This place is called Bala.
Now imagine Bala being threatened with destruction by a power plant developer, and the heart of this town being blown up for a small generating station that would make most of its power when it isn't needed. When you visit this peaceful place, it is hard to imagine. I’ve been to Bala several times and am always welcomed by its glorious environment. I went there to work on a new film called The Fight for Bala, which I hope will inspire YOU to stop this unimaginable development before it becomes a grim and irreversible reality.
Growing up in the south of France, I visited the Mediterranean Sea during the summers. I swam and played with all the creatures that came my way, from little fish to hermit crabs. I spent all the time I could in the water with them, and realized the beauty and significance of all life on Earth.
After moving to Ontario, Canada, I lost the opportunity to visit the Mediterranean and all the other natural landscapes the south of France had to offer. But moving to a large North American city gave me the opportunity to pursue another passion of mine: entertainment. At the early age of 12, I began directing my first feature-length movie about the fight for my generation’s future and the environmental issues that threaten it. It was not long after that I tracked down some inspirational leaders I wanted to involve in the film, including space station commander Chris Hadfield, TED Prize winner and Mission Blue founder Dr. Sylvia Earle, Michael Jackson’s and Taylor Swift’s band members, and environmental filmmaker Rob Stewart.
After collaborating with me on my own movie, Rob Stewart asked whether I’d be available to work with him on a new film he was creating. Rob had been an inspiration to me for a long time, and being able to direct a film with him was a dream come true!
The small town of Bala, Muskoka is built around the Bala Falls, a picturesque waterfall in the heart of the community. On the way to the ocean, water from all the lakes in the Muskoka region passes through Bala Falls. This is an important tourist attraction the town depends on to economically survive, but it’s environmentally crucial too.
I am not fighting this development for my benefit, as my family doesn’t have any links to Muskoka. I am fighting to try to protect the world I love.
The region of Muskoka was named ‘one of the top travel destinations’ by National Geographic. It is a magnificent place. It has also been called ‘The Malibu of the North’ by The New York Times due to the number of celebrities who vacation in the region. Many amazing places in Muskoka are private and available only to those who can afford a property. Bala, however, is one of the rare places in Muskoka that everyone in the world can enjoy.
And that’s about to be taken away from us, for energy that would be sold at a loss to the United States. The environment won't benefit. Bala won’t benefit. You won’t benefit. No one will benefit other than the developer, which the government of Ontario will be funding with $100 million from taxpayers over the next 40 years (not to mention how dangerous this power plant would be). At a similar power plant, a quarter of the size of the one the developer intends to build at the Bala Falls, a 16-year-old child was drowned due to the dangerous and deadly currents generated by the turbines. The construction of the power plant will effect both the landscape, and the water. Rocks will be blasted, the area will be clear cut, and the turbines will kill a lot of fish. The developer will be profiting through the destruction of this magical place.
For over 10 years, the townspeople of Bala have been battling the development, but the developer keeps going ahead without obeying the original commitments made in the contract. The problem is that this small town has a tiny population. Less than 600 residents live here, and their voices are too quiet for any decision-maker to hear.
As a 15-year-old making films and music to fight for a better world, I am all for “green energy,”. There is no perfect source of power at this point in time that does not harm the environment in one way or another. But though this power plant development in Bala is a hydro dam, it will be no were close to “green energy”. I recently filmed wind turbines in the mountains of Germany. They were peaceful and quiet, and birds sang all around. There were solar panels all over as well - another great source of power. I believe there are much better ways of generating renewable energy, that is far less destructive and dangerous .
This small town is battling a large industry. But these developers have had to cancel developments in the past because they simply made no sense. There is hope to save Bala, but we need your help. Since the developer has not obeyed the contract, the project can now be cancelled at no cost - for free! It’s NOT a done deal; we need your help. Please get involved and help protect this truly magnificent environment. This place matters to all of us.
Please help us save this magical town, and protect this vital waterfall that links to the ocean, at www.FightForBala.com.