Green Film Series to present "Gasland" -- part of World Water Day observance at Michigan Tech

HOUGHTON -- The Green Film Series at Michigan Tech will present the film Gasland as part of several events scheduled on campus to observe World Water Day.

This 100-minute documentary will be shown from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday, March 20, in the Atrium and G002, Hesterberg Hall, in the Michigan Tech Forestry building. It will be followed by a discussion facilitated by Richelle Winkler, Michigan Tech assistant professor of sociology and demography. Coffee and dessert will be served. (Please bring your own mug.)

The event is free and open to the public; a $3 donation is suggested.

Focusing on U.S. communities impacted by natural gas drilling (fracking), the director, Josh Fox, spent time with citizens in their homes and on their land as they relayed stories of natural gas drilling including a variety of chronic health problems directly traceable to contamination of their air, of their water wells or of surface water. Hydraulic fracturing was exempted from the Safe Drinking Water Act in the Energy Policy Act of 2005. 

The Green Film Series is co-sponsored by Lake Superior Stewardship Initiative,  Michigan Tech Center for Water and Society, Keweenaw Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, and Keweenaw Land Trust.

Next week the following events will be held in observance of World Water Day:

Lecture and Poster Session Wednesday, March 26:
Dow Lobby -- campus side -- 4 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Student authors present -- 4 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Lecture by Dr. Robert Howarth, Cornell University professor of ecology and evolutionary biology -- 5:30 p.m. in Dow 641. Reception following.

Panel discussion on hydrofracking, Thursday, March 27
Moderator: Dr. Jennifer Arrigo, Consortium of Universities for the Advancement of Hydrologic Science, Inc. (CUAHSI) -- 10 a.m. to noon, GLRC 202

Water’s Edge Art Exhibit, March 20 - April 23
Artists Amy Arntson, Joyce Koskenmaki, Bonnie Peterson -- Great Lakes Research Center -- 1st, 2nd and 3rd floors. The public is invited to attend a "meet the artists" event from 7:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, March 26, at the Great Lakes Research Center.

World Water Day events are sponsored by Michigan Tech Center for Water and Society, Sustainable Futures Institute, Lake Superior Stewardship Initiative, Keweenaw Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Keweenaw Land Trust, Great Lakes Research Center, Michigan Tech Dept. of Visual and Performing Arts, and Finlandia University. A grant/partial funding has been provided by the Consortium of Universities for the Advancement of Hydrologic Science, Inc. (CUAHSI)

Updated: Protect the Earth Great Lakes Community Gathering to be held Aug. 6 in Champion

MARQUETTE -- The 4th Protect the Earth Great Lakes Community Gathering will be held Saturday, Aug. 6, at Van Riper State Park in Champion, Michigan. This year’s theme is "Coming Together: Uniting for Strength and Success."

The purpose of the gathering is to seek ways in which the citizens of the Upper Great Lakes Region can work together more effectively to defend their water resources against the threat of new extraction projects.

According to conference organizer Margaret Comfort, speakers will focus on proposed activity that threatens the health of the region, including the controversial Eagle Project on the Yellow Dog Plains and Hud Bay’s proposed Front 40 Project for zinc and gold takings in Menominee County.

Also on the program are "Fracking" of gas wells in lower Michigan, proposed extractive resource projects in the Penokee Hills of Wisconsin, and proposed copper-nickel sulfide projects in NE Minnesota, plus a special presentation on environmental justice and indigenous cultural issues.

The gathering is free to interested participants. It will begin with an optional walk at 9 a.m. from Koski’s Corner (intersection of US-41 and M-95) to the proposed Humboldt processing facility, approximately 2.5 miles round trip. The focus of the walk is to raise awareness of the importance of defending local water resources. Rides back to the cars will be available.

The main conference will be held in the Van Riper Park Pavillion beginning with lunch at 11:30 a.m. Al Gedicks (WI), Frank Koehn (WI), Bob Tammen (MN) are among the highlighted speakers scheduled from 1 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. A round-table discussion from 4:30 p.m. - 6 p.m. will involve threats to health due to heavy metals, sustainable alternatives to dead-end industries, and recent Michigan legislation limiting townships’ zoning authority over extractive industries. Participants will address ways of working more effectively together.

Update: Here is the schedule of featured speakers for the event:

11:30 a.m. -- LUNCH and Introduction (Kristi Mills of SWUP and WAVE)
12 noon -- Frank Koehn - Penokee
12:30 p.m. -- Bob Tammen - Minnesota
1 p.m. -- Jessica Koski - KBIC
1:30 p.m. -- Al Gedicks - Wisconsin

2 p.m. -- Strawberry Shortcake Break

2:30 p.m. -- Kristi Mills (Eagle Project)
3 p.m. -- Marla Tuinstra (Front 40)
3:30 p.m. -- Lee Sprague (Little River Band of Odawa)
4 p.m. -- Reflections on Activism - Scott Rutherford (FOLK, WAVE)

4:15 - 4:30 p.m. -- Break

4:30 p.m. - 6 p.m. -- Open Round-Table Discussion (moderated by Martha Bush)

6 p.m. Supper and Entertainment

The day will close with a catered supper and an 'open mic' session. While there is no charge, seating is limited to 100 people. Reservations are not required, but are helpful to the organizers preparing the food. Attendees can e-mail info@savethewildup.org, or call 906-228-4444 to reserve a place at the gathering or arrange for carpooling from Marquette, Big Bay, or Houghton.

This event is sponsored by WAVE -- Water Action Vital Earth -- working for clean water and a sustainable future, and Save the Wild UP, protecting the Upper Peninsula from environmental degradation and dangerous contamination.

Click here for information on camping, lodging and other details.

Please bring lawn or folding chairs -- thanks!