VP: Your film Gasland, that has been airing on HBO for the past few months, has garnered incredible reviews and has done wonders to raise awareness about this issue. What are your proudest accomplishments in this regard? What are your current goals?
JF: Well, I feel great about how many people have seen the film, over three million at this point. But there is still a lot of this legislative battle to be continued. The Marcellus shale provides pure drinking water to more than 15,6 million people on the East Coast (NY, DE, PA, NJ) including right here in New York City. It’s the largest unfiltered water supply in the world. We’ve done a lot to tour throughout New York State, working with activist groups, grassroots groups, providing the film to the entire NY State Senate and Assembly, so they can see what this issue really is. Because, of course, the Gas Companies will come in and deny that there is any problem.
I certainly feel great about the New York State Senate passing the moratorium (aiming to block new authorizations for gas drilling until more testing has been conducted – or at least until May 15th of next year) but I’m still very nervous about that bill making it through the Assembly.
Right now, New York State could be the first in the nation to have a moratorium against this kind of drilling, which would be a huge step and also help push the FRAC Act to Congress. (An one-paragraph bill reversing the exemption of compliance with the clean drinking water act that the Gas companies received in 2005 from the Bush/Cheney administration – seriously???)
Learn more about your local situation at www.gaslandthemovie.com
VP: After the Oil and Gas Journal ran a review of your film saying it was : “well done, holding people’s attention. And that it could block {their} industry”, an organization known as Energy-In-Depth came out with a statement “debunking” the facts exposed in your film. You told JON STEWART on The Daily Show that their statements were erroneous, and that the organization was a partial one. Can you explain to us who they are and what you think happened?
GASLAND IN CENTRAIL PARK TONIGHT!!!
For tix or info:
The Arsenal Gallery, Central Park, 64th Street and Fifth Avenue
Reception to follow.
R.S.V.P. required. Call 212.360.1324,
This is an amazing documentary and so important for everyone to watch. we have to protect our water and our land!
thanks for running this story.
thank you gloria for getting off the couch – and to the public parlor!!
I live in Pittsburgh. Before the media got hold of the story, back in early August, we knew we were being monitored by Pennsylvania’s Homeland Security. I am proud beyond words to say that not one of the dear people who’ve stood with me (at countless community meetings and protests, etc.) backed down. Sure, several expressed a bit of trepidation, but they kept getting up off the couch & going to make their voices heard.
We’re planning a Marcellus protest on November 3 in Pittsburgh, everyone’s invited, more info, go here: marcellusprotest.org
Thank you Josh for getting us up off the couch.
Josh Fox will be on the Keith Olbermann show on Monday night talking about how Homeland Security was spying on gas drilling activsts at GASLAND screenings and giving their names to pro-drilling organizations.