After the Spill

https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/after-the-spill/id1114219283 Ten years ago Hurricane Katrina devastated the coast of Louisiana. Five years later the Deepwater Horizon exploded and spilled more than 200 million gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico, the worst ecologic disaster in North American history. Amazingly those aren’t the worst things facing Louisiana’s coastline today. It is that the state is fast disappearing. When on Earth Day 2010 BP’s Deepwater Horizon exploded and sank many in Louisiana predicted it would change the state’s coastline forever, both its economy and its people. How has the coast changed in the past five years? A follow-up to our 2010 film ‘SoLa, Louisiana Water Stories,’ this new film introduces us to some of the spill’s most aggrieved victims as well as those who are desperately trying to save its coastline. Writer and historian John Barry who launched a suit against 97 oil and gas companies attempting to get them to pay their fair share for reparations caused by their explorations. Consultant and native son James Carville who manages to find some hope in new technologies that may save the coast. And Lt. Gen. Russell Honore, the man who saved New Orleans post-Katrina, whose new passion is for a Green Army he has recruited.

Jon Bowermaster/2015/62 min/Health-Environment

FILM DESCRIPTION: When the Deepwater Horizon offshore drilling rig exploded, it spilled more than 200 million gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico in the worst ecologic disaster in North American history. Now, activist and filmmaker Jon Bowermaster takes stock and asks hard questions: What is the current health of the Gulf and its marine life? How sick are the fish, and how sick are the people? How has the oil industry changed since the spill … and how have we changed?

THE LOCAL SPIN: This isn’t just a coastal issue. Dozens of pipelines snake through the Midwest. Many of them are aging, like one under the Straits of Mackinac, potentially posing a catastrophic threat to the Great Lakes and the livelihoods, homes and drinking water for millions of people. 

Wednesday, March 7, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. [North]
Institute of Cultural Affairs, 4750 N. Sheridan Rd., Chicago

Did you know dozens of pipelines snake through the Midwest? Many of them are aging, potentially posing a catastrophic threat to the Great Lakes and the people and wildlife that depend on them. Learn the facts from Bill Latka, founder of Oil and Water Don't Mix; Nathaniel Miller, Director of Conservation at Audubon Great Lakes; and Matt Edgington, Manager of Mag Mile Patagonia. Leave with action ideas for protecting our lakes and wildlife. Facilitator: Samantha Sainsbury, Program Coordinator at the Institute of Cultural Affairs.

Doors open 30 minutes before start time. Arrive early to avoid lines and get best seats. Refreshments available.

Thursday, March 8, 7 to 9 p.m. [Dupage County]
College of DuPage, 425 Fawell Blvd., Room HSC 1234, Glen Ellyn

After the film, learn about the health of our local watershed with the help of experts from The Conservation Foundation and Glenbard Wastewater. Facilitator: Jodi Trendler, Executive Director of The Resiliency Institute.

Doors open 30 minutes before start time. Arrive early to avoid lines and get best seats. ADA compliant accessible venue.