The slogan for The Last Mountain is “fight for our future,” and REACT to Film and the Sierra Alliance hope attendees do the same Monday night.
The organizations are holding a free screening of the documentary in Grover Center, Room W115 at 6:30 p.m. Monday. The event will include free pizza as well as a discussion led by professors Geoff Buckley and Bernhard Debatin on the effects of coal mining, mountain top removal and electrical energy use in society.
“It is very relevant to our location,” said Caitlin Stone, a junior studying video production and president of REACT to Film. “Not only does the film take place in Appalachia, but mountain top removal has been an important topic around here for a while.”
Written, directed and produced by Bill Haney — founder and president of the Blu Homes, an organization set to make eco-friendly homes more acceptable to retail buyers — the documentary explores a coal mining corporation and how a small community fights for the future of energy via the last great mountain of Appalachia.
“We hope that the film will engage the audience in Athens in the debate about the future of coal and the environment,” Clara Bingham, a producer of the film, said in an email. “We also hope that the film will help the audience be more aware of where their electricity comes from, and that they will consider getting involved.”
Among the many issues brought up in the film are how, in the last 30 years, the coal industry in West Virginia has increased production by 140 percent while eliminating more than 40,000 jobs; how there are more than 600 ash ponds across the country filled with 150 billion gallons of toxic sludge; and how it is unsafe to eat many freshwater fish in 48 states due to mercury contamination.
“This screening will give audiences a better collective sense on what is happening and what we can do,” Buckley said. “Many of us are connected to coal removal and have been impacted by it.”
Both Buckley and Debatin said they hope that they will be able to reach out to students and audience members with their panel about the dangers of not doing anything about coal mining and mountaintop removal.
“Both Geoff (Buckley) and I have a strong interest in coal mining and mountaintop removal, and so this is a great opportunity for us to talk about it to OU students and reach out to them about what can be done,” Debatin said.
This will be the first time the Sierra Alliance and REACT to Film have worked together for a screening.
“This film will give awareness to what is going on and how we should prevent it,” said Caitlyn McDaniel, a sophomore studying international studies and president of the Sierra Alliance.
This will be the second attempt from REACT to Film to show this movie on campus. They hope that this screening will draw in more people and reach out to a wider audience about its messages and themes.
“I thought it would be useful and relevant,” Stone said. “I hope that students and staff learn about something that effects them so much, and also I hope they get inspired to take action. That is what REACT to Film is all about.”
wa054010@ohiou.edu
If You Go:
What: The Last Mountain, presented by REACT to Film and the Sierra Alliance
When: 6:30 p.m., Monday
Where: Grover Center, Room W115
Admission: Free
