Gasland

“Gasland” Premieres on HBO Monday Night

The winner of the Special Jury Prize for Documentary at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival, “GASLAND” premieres on HBO on Monday, June 21 at 9 p.m.

Filmmaker Josh Fox became curious about natural gas drilling when a gas company approached him to lease his family’s land in Pennsylvania. Bece his initial research raised many concerns, he decided to dig deeper – with camera in hand.

He first visited Dimock, PA, where many homeowner’s wells were contaminated with natural gas and chemicals after drilling began close to their homes. But this process was still new in PA, so Fox traveled to areas with a longer history of hydrofracturing of gas wells. His gas drilling tour included Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, Louisiana and Texas.

The film is dramatic and haunting. Interviews are conducted with individuals and families that have been affected by gas drilling: suffering from extreme neurological damage, being exposed to the constant noise and light of drilling rigs or compressor stations, and experiencing flammable tap water and streams. The film is upsetting.

People who live in the Marcellus Shale area should watch this film to get the side of the story they will never hear from landmen, gas companies, and politicians.

The documentary is supported by a website which includes instructions on how to host a house party – see http://gaslandthemovie.com. If you do not have HBO perhaps you can encourage a friend who does to host a house party.