A screening of the documentary “Gasland” and a talk by Josh Fox, director of the Academy-Award-nominated film on natural gas drilling, will highlight “Green Dragon Week 2011” in the annual tribute to environmental awareness at SUNY Oneonta. “Gasland” will be shown at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, April 27, in the Hunt Union Ballroom on campus, and Fox’s talk will follow at 8:30 p.m. Admission to both events is complimentary, and members of the community are invited to attend.
“Gasland” explores the impacts that natural gas drilling and hydrofracking have had on communities in the United States. Fox was prompted to write and direct the film after a gas-drilling company offered to lease his family’s land in Milanville, Pennsylvania, to drill in the Marcellus Shale. He initially investigated drilling in the Marcellus Shale and later in several western states.
“Gasland” premiered at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival, where it received the Special Jury Prize. It has gone on to receive several other awards at film festivals, and it was broadcast on HBO.
Fox’s appearance and the screening of his film at SUNY Oneonta are sponsored by Oneonta Auxiliary Services, the Political Science Department, College Union Activities Council, Geography Department, Red Dragon Reading Series, Center for Multicultural Experiences, and Office of Residence Life.
On the day before Fox’s appearance, Dr. Gina Keel of the SUNY Oneonta Political Science Department will moderate a panel discussion on gas drilling and hydrofracking featuring SUNY Oneonta faculty members Dr. Ron Bishop of the Chemistry and Biochemistry Department and Dr. Devin Castendyk of the Earth Sciences Department. The panel discussion will be held on Tuesday, April 26, in the Union Square of the Hunt College Union. Members of the community are invited to attend, and brown bag lunches are permitted.
On Thursday, April 28, “Green Dragon Week” will feature an Earth Day Expo in front of Mills Hall on campus. Participants will present materials and information related to environmental awareness. Scheduled participants include Ioxus, the Delaware-Otsego Audubon Society, Nikita Indoor/Outdoor Furniture, Butternut Valley Spinners, Otsego County Conservation Association, and a number of SUNY Oneonta clubs and organizations.
“Green Dragon Week” will include several other campus events focusing on sustainability and the environment. The week is sponsored by the SUNY Oneonta Sustainability Task Force, Protect Your Environment Club, Oneonta Auxiliary Services, and the Hunt College Union. More information about Green Dragon Week is available from Leslie Craigmyle of the Sustainability Task Force at (607) 436-2948.