|
|
|
The Akron Civic Theatre is the site of the Ohio premiere of Coal Country, a documentary by local film maker Mari-lyn Evans.
Evans, a graduate of Springfield High School, focused her camera on the issue of mountain top removal, a process of coal mining in which the mountain tops are literally scraped away and excavating of coal begins. Retention and slug ponds pose environmental hazards, critics claim.
“It’s balanced,” said Evans’ sister, Mona Clevenger. “At the end of the movie you will either stand up and cheer or you will cry.”
While mountain top removal (MTR) is an industry practice in Virginia, Kentucky and the Appalachia region, Evans focuses on southwestern West Virginia.
It’s the state Evans and Clevenger hold dear. It’s where they were born.
It’s a land rich with resources, said Evans, yet, consider the poverty of the state.
“Mari-lyn has been working on her research ever since she worked on The Appalachians,” said Clevenger. “She wants to educate people.”
Coal Country has sparked controversy in West Virginia, even to the point of delaying the West Virginia premiere. Mining interests, families impacted by mountain top removal and environmentalists are featured in Coal Country.
Judy Bonds, a West Virginian who has fought against mountain top removal, said passions run high when a fight affects a person's livelihood. Bonds' struggle is featured in Coal Country.
Evans documents the conflict between miners and neighbors. An industry responsible for more than 40,000 jobs in West Virginia is pitted against environmentalists who are concerned about the devastation of the land, water and air quality resulting from mountain top removal.
Actress Daryl Hannah, who sat down in the middle of a mining road to protest mountain top removal said, “Coal Country is incredibly moving and an important film to see to be a truly informed citizen.”
“My hope is this superb documentary will shock Americans and create a surge of urgency that stops the atrocity of mountain top removal coal mining immediately,” said actress Ashley Judd.
“The timing of the release of Coal Country couldn't be more perfect,” said Clevenger. “With so much talk about our energy sources and our energy future, this is important.”
The use of coal provides more than one-half of the electricity in America.
Evans authored the book, The Appalachians, which she collaborated with Johnny Cash, June Carter, Naomi Judd and many others about America's first and last frontier. The book was a companion to her movie, which aired on PBS as a multi-part series. The Appalachians was Evans' second movie. The first production was a PBS series, Living Well: A Guide to Healthy Aging.
The Coal Country premiere is set for Sept. 12, 8 p.m. at the Akron Civic Theatre. Admission is free.
“The Akron-area has many native West Virginians who will have an interest in this movie,” said Clevenger. “We hope they will attend.”
For more information about Coal Country and mountain top removal, go online to www.coalcountrythemovie.com.
The Akron Civic Theatre is the site of the Ohio premiere of Coal Country, a documentary by local film maker Mari-lyn Evans.
Evans, a graduate of Springfield High School, focused her camera on the issue of mountain top removal, a process of coal mining in which the mountain tops are literally scraped away and excavating of coal begins. Retention and slug ponds pose environmental hazards, critics claim.
“It’s balanced,” said Evans’ sister, Mona Clevenger. “At the end of the movie you will either stand up and cheer or you will cry.”
While mountain top removal (MTR) is an industry practice in Virginia, Kentucky and the Appalachia region, Evans focuses on southwestern West Virginia.
It’s the state Evans and Clevenger hold dear. It’s where they were born.
It’s a land rich with resources, said Evans, yet, consider the poverty of the state.
“Mari-lyn has been working on her research ever since she worked on The Appalachians,” said Clevenger. “She wants to educate people.”
Coal Country has sparked controversy in West Virginia, even to the point of delaying the West Virginia premiere. Mining interests, families impacted by mountain top removal and environmentalists are featured in Coal Country.
Judy Bonds, a West Virginian who has fought against mountain top removal, said passions run high when a fight affects a person's livelihood. Bonds' struggle is featured in Coal Country.
Evans documents the conflict between miners and neighbors. An industry responsible for more than 40,000 jobs in West Virginia is pitted against environmentalists who are concerned about the devastation of the land, water and air quality resulting from mountain top removal.
Actress Daryl Hannah, who sat down in the middle of a mining road to protest mountain top removal said, “Coal Country is incredibly moving and an important film to see to be a truly informed citizen.”
“My hope is this superb documentary will shock Americans and create a surge of urgency that stops the atrocity of mountain top removal coal mining immediately,” said actress Ashley Judd.
“The timing of the release of Coal Country couldn't be more perfect,” said Clevenger. “With so much talk about our energy sources and our energy future, this is important.”
The use of coal provides more than one-half of the electricity in America.
Evans authored the book, The Appalachians, which she collaborated with Johnny Cash, June Carter, Naomi Judd and many others about America's first and last frontier. The book was a companion to her movie, which aired on PBS as a multi-part series. The Appalachians was Evans' second movie. The first production was a PBS series, Living Well: A Guide to Healthy Aging.
The Coal Country premiere is set for Sept. 12, 8 p.m. at the Akron Civic Theatre. Admission is free.
“The Akron-area has many native West Virginians who will have an interest in this movie,” said Clevenger. “We hope they will attend.”
For more information about Coal Country and mountain top removal, go online to www.coalcountrythemovie.com.
