Iowa Coal Wars: Fighting Our Own Goliath
Iowans are facing a fight right here in our own backyard with proposed coal burning plants in Waterloo and Marshalltown. On Sunday, January 18, the Iowa City Environmental Film Festival and Sierra Club will sponsor a screening of Fighting Goliath: Texas Coal Wars. The film portrays how Texans formed unlikely coalitions to fight the construction of nineteen coal-fired power plants being fast-tracked by the state's governor, Rick Perry. The film, narrated by Robert Redford, has received numerous awards.
Representatives from two groups instrumental in challenging the construction of the two plants in Iowa will lead a discussion following the film. Mike Carberry, Sierra Club, will be joined by Carrie LeSeur, founder and Executive Director of Plains Justice, to talk about what is being done and what Iowans can do to stop construction of the coal-fired power plants. Plains Justice, a public interest law center, was founded in 2006 in part in response to the Waterloo, Iowa Coal Plant Proposal, which has now been withdrawn.
“The heart of this film is really about issues of health, future generations and the value of our own land and resources. The film was made to support the story of the Texas coalition and their struggle against a giant power company. It is our way of giving other states and communities a model for what can happen when people take personal responsibility and get results. We want to let people know that they don't have to give up hope.” Robert Redford~
“The single most important action needed to decrease the present large planetary imbalance driving climate change is curtailment of CO2 emissions from coal burning. Saving the planet and creation surely requires phase-out of coal use except where CO2 is captured and sequestered.” Dr. James Hansen, Director, Goddard Institute for Space Studies, NASA~
Event details:
Sunday, January 18th at the Iowa City Public Library, 123 S. Linn St., Room A at 3:00 PM.
The screening is free and open to the public.
The Iowa City Environmental Film Festival collaborates with non-profit environmental groups throughout the region to host one film screening each month through May 2009. Its goal is to present thought-provoking films that connect the environment to our daily lives, creating an urgency to become engaged in environmental issues. Click here for more information, or send us an email.
Click here for a film overview.
Please join us on Sunday to learn what you can do.
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