In the News
Patriot Coal to Cease Mountain Top Removal Mining
11/15/2012
One of Appalachia's biggest coal companies is getting out of the mountaintop removal business. Patriot Coal signed an agreement with the Sierra Club, Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition, and West Virginia Highlands Conservancy on November 15 to immediately phase out its practice of large-scale surface mining in Appalachia.
For Appalachians suffering from the effects of mountaintop removal mining -- increased risk of heart disease and birth defects, water and air pollution, and the destruction of 500 area mountains -- this is an historic moment.
While this is great news, there's still work to be done. Other coal companies are moving forward with plans to blow off the tops of mountains and bury streams in dozens of locations across Appalachia.
Tell the EPA to make protecting Appalachia from destructive coal mining a top priority in the next Obama administration!
https://secure.sierraclub.org/site/Advocacycmd=display&page=UserAction&id=9851
ACT NOW!
5/25/2012
Blasting is about to begin, just above Maria Gunnoe's home....please ACT NOW and speak out!
http://action.sierraclub.org/site/MessageViewer?em_id=239681.0&dlv_id=207223
Burning the Future to Air on PBS + Free Online April/May 2012
4/11/2012
To help raise greater awareness about the ongoing health and environmental impacts of coal, an updated version of the award-winning film Burning the Future: Coal in America will be broadcast on select PBS stations in April and May, and will be available to view free online for Earth Day weekend, April 21-22 for individuals who sign up at BurningtheFuture.com
America's 416 remaining coal-fired power plants are a primary focus for Earth Day and Earth Month, as coal is one of the main contributors to climate change and to public health problems like asthma and mercury pollution.Burning the Futuredramatically documents the devastating ecological, social and health impact our addiction to coal has on West Virginia, where mountaintop removal mining has destroyed over 1.4 million acres of mountains and polluted the groundwater. The film profiles courageous local residents who organized to challenge the powerful coal industry and arouse the nation to coals devastating local and global costs.
Among those featured in the film is Maria Gunnoe, who won the prestigious Goldman Environmental Prize for her organizing. The new, shorter 56 minute broadcast version of the film includes an updated ending highlighting some of the recent successes in the fight to move beyond coal.
Burning the Future won critical praise from the New York Times, Variety and New York Magazine, as well as over 15 awards including the prestigious Pare Lorentz Award from the International Documentary Association and the top honor from the Society of Environmental Journalists.
"We encourage people to watch the film, then go to BurningTheFuture.com to find out how to take action to stop coal plants and mountain-top removal, to connect with groups working to transition from coal to renewable energy, and to order a copy of the film to screen in your community to help mobilize greater opposition to coal," said David Novack, the film's producer.
For the public television schedule, to signup for free online Earth Day screenings, and for more information about the film, visit http://www.BurningTheFuture.comor call 1-800-475-2638.
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Trailers and clips available for promotional purposes. Please share and embed:
Film Trailer (:30)
http://vimeo.com/39311288
Film Excerpt Featuring Goldman Prize Winner Maria Gunnoe (1:23)
http://vimeo.com/36323828
Coal is a Public Health Issue - Short Film (6:43)
http://vimeo.com/39652140
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ABOUT SPECIALTY STUDIOS
Specialty Studios is a fully integrated media and content studio harnessing the power of socially conscious media to touch hearts, engage minds, and inspire action. We partner with producers to build powerful campaigns that get audiences actively involved in creating solutions to the world's most pressing challenges. The company offers community screenings at SpecialtyStudios.com. Its educational division, The Video Project, VideoProject.com distributes educational media and documentary programming on critical environmental, global and social issues to the widest possible audience worldwide, including colleges, schools, libraries, businesses, religious groups, government agencies and non-governmental organizations.
EPA to reduce new power plants' carbon pollution
3/27/2012
http://njtoday.net/2012/03/21/poll-shows-the-public-wants-epa-to-do-more-to-reduce-air-pollution/
A court victory for the evils of mountaintop removal coal mining: Arch Coal Spruce No. 1 mine permit reinstated
EPA's veto of Spruce Mine permit overturned
3/23/2012
http://wvgazette.com/News/MiningtheMountains/201203230106
Poll Shows The Public Wants EPA To Do More To Reduce Air Pollution
3/21/2012
http://njtoday.net/2012/03/21/poll-shows-the-public-wants-epa-to-do-more-to-reduce-air-pollution/
The Job-Creating Mercury Rule
2/22/2012
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/23/opinion/the-job-creating-mercury-rule.html
New EPA Rules to Reduce Mercury in Fish
2/22/2012
http://fox8.com/2012/02/22/new-epa-rules-to-reduce-mercury-in-fish/
Presidential Memorandum -- Flexible Implementation of the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards Rule
EPA Mercury and Air Toxics Rules for Power Plants: 20+ Years in the Making
12/14/2011
http://insights.wri.org/news/2011/12/epa-mercury-and-air-toxics-rules-power-plants-20-years-making
Burning coal is the biggest carbon source worldwide and emissions from that jumped nearly 8 percent in 2010
"Monster" greenhouse gas levels seen
11/3/2011
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-205_162-57317968/monster-greenhouse-gas-levels-seen/
NY Mayor Michael Bloomberg takes on big coal with $50 million investment:
7/21/2011
http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,2084476,00.html
NY Times article - American doc Showcase
1/16/2011
Check it out here.
Or copy/paste http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/16/movies/16docs.html?_r=2
EPA enforces Clean Water Act closes down mine in Maria's backyard
1/13/2011
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/14/science/earth/14coal.html?_r=1&emc=tnt&tntemail0=y
Marsh Fork Elementary School receives grant to relocate
5/12/2010
http://www.good.is/post/marsh-fork-elementary-school-will-escape-the-mass-of-toxic-coal-sludge/
DVD's on sale
3/5/2008
There are different versions of the dvd available for purchase on the website, www.burningthefuture.org.
The
institutional version contains robust teaching guides and a license
to display the film within the institution. This version is distributed by The Video Project, a premier educational media
distribution company.
A consumer version is available as
well directly from the website. It is a rich resource, with a
DVD-ROM section called the "Coal Impact Guide." This will
contain important materials to round out the viewers' education and
help them to dig even deeper.
Stay tuned.
