Movies That Matter

A free screening of Gasland, a 2009 Oscar-nominated documentary directed by Josh Fox, will be shown at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Ephraim on Tuesday, March 15 at 4:30 pm.

The largest domestic natural gas drilling boom in history has swept across the United States. The Halliburton-developed drilling technology of “fracking” or hydraulic fracturing has unlocked a “Saudi Arabia of natural gas” just beneath us. But is fracking safe? When Fox is asked to lease his land for drilling, he embarks on a cross-country odyssey uncovering a trail of secrets, lies, and contamination. What he found included poisoned water sources, kitchen sinks that burst into flame and unhealthy animals and people. Is natural gas a viable alternative to the country’s dwindling energy resources, or do the potential harmful consequences outweigh the positives? Fox’s film raises these and many more probing questions.

The film is part of the monthly Movies That Matter series examining a wide range of issues. The UU Fellowship is located at 10341 Hwy. 42, Ephraim.