Sundance

I finally made it to Sundance. Not in it, but at it. A day trip to check it out - I like to call it my "Sundance Sampler".

I arrived just in time to check out the new documentary film, Gasland, which ultimately was named Winner of The Special Jury Prize for Documentary at the festival.

The film provides a fightening look at the effects of "fracking", a drilling process for natural gas - the supposed great solution to our energy crisis. Filmmaker Josh Fox finds out fracking is coming to his area of Pennsylvania, and sets off on a multi-state journey to investigate what this means. The results are shocking (or maybe not so shocking if you lean toward corporate cynicism to begin with): Natural gas creeping into the water supply of homes near drillng sites - water that can be lit on fire right out of the faucet, people getting mysteriously sick, crazy gas explosions, toxic sludge and dying animals.

Over 30 states now have this drilling going on and the numbers are expanding - natural gas companies are circling the New York City Watershed like wolves, with the intent to build 20,000 more wells! Check out the film website for more up-to-date information, and spread the word.

The amazing thing about documentaries is that they continue to bring such critical and timely issues to light. And thanks to the folks at Sundance for putting this one at the top of the pile.