The High Cost of Cheap Gas
Natural gas development is coming to the deserts of Southern Africa, some of the most pristine and diverse environments on Earth.
International gas companies are selling this development as a safe and clean job creation opportunity. In the USA mounting scientific evidence shows that hydraulic fracturing is not as safe or environmentally friendly as previously thought. Even the proposed economic benefits are increasingly being questioned. From air and water pollution to dangerous health effects this film sets out to discover: how high is the true cost of cheap gas?
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Who Are We?
Director Jeffrey Barbee is an investigative photojournalist and film producer who works for Global Post, LinkTV, the UK Guardian and many more. Originally from western Colorado Jeff witnessed first hand the effects of 14 years of directional drilling and fracking on the mountain environment and communities of his county.
Producer Mira Dutschke is a human rights expert with ten years of international research experience. Through advocating for social, economic and cultural justice and equality in Southern Africa she is acutely aware of the dangers that environmental pollution has on the rights of the most vulnerable and marginalized communities in this region.
Both feel it is vital to share their experiences with people facing wide-spread fracking and natural gas production in their countries.
What will your contribution achieve?
By helping fund this film you contribute to leveling the playing fields against one of the most powerful industries in the world. The oil and gas industry has almost unlimited resources to lobby decision-makers and spread incomplete information to the public. This film suppliesthis missing information about the proven scientific and social effects of this industry in the US and presents it to communities in countries that are contemplating adopting this technology. Armed with the knowledge in this film, people can make informed decisions that contribute toward the growing movement for environmental, social and economic justice.
How much funding we need and where it’s going to go
We are looking for finishing funds of 10,000 Dollars. The funds we are seeking will allow us to finish the shooting in the USA. This presents the “after” picture: what the communities and environments look like once natural gas extraction was allowed to go ahead. This funding will also allow us to edit the final full-length film and ensure its distribution in Southern Africa. We have already shot much of the South African footage, which presents the “before” picture: a visual story of what we stand to loose.
Your Perks
The number one perk: Helping save Southern Africa’s beautiful and productive Deserts.
As a testimony to what you are contributing towards, the Director Jeffrey Barbee, an award winning photographer, is offering print copies of a limited selection of the images from the uniquely stunning Karoo and Kalahari deserts and the people that live there. You can also receive copies of the film to share with classrooms, organize local film showings or other not-for profit viewings. You could even be invited along on a shoot in either the Southern African or the American leg of the filming to join our team on the reporting adventure of a lifetime. Backers also get exclusive access to interviews, receive postcards from the team and get daily updates from the road.
Funding for this project thus far has come from a private foundation, Link TV and from the journalist himself. A few other sources have expressed interest in funding parts of this documentary. Since time is of the essence in getting this story told, we are seeking support from the public to make sure that we will be able to make this film and distribute it. The more funding we get the more compelling the film and the greater our outreach will be.
The Impact
By helping fund this film donors help cut through the PR and misinformation by gas companies and help peel back this facade to reveal what gas development really looks like, whom it benefits, and what the long-term effects are. We have a global reach. Our television partners at LinkTV are committed to running this documentary on television and on the web. They have 6 million viewers across the US and they reach millions more around the world through their website. Local broadcast partners in South Africa include the award-winning program Carte Blanche, who are in talks with the producers to create a program for broadcast in 21 different African countries. The film has a website and is available across social marketing platforms.
The impact is simple, get this information out through traditional and non-traditional media outlets and make sure people are well informed of the facts to make real judgments about this industry.
Can we do it? Why yes, we have done it before.
Jeffrey Barbee and Mira Dutschke produced the film Creating A Climate For Change, in 2012, which was selected for the Princeton Environmental Film Fest, the AREday Film Festival, the Sustain Our Africa festival and won the jury award for best environmental film at the Film Festival of Colorado.
The director is a television correspondent for Earth Focus, the longest running show of it’s kind in the US. Watch his 15 part series on diving with Coral Reef rescuers in the Caribbean to trekking through the mountain forests of Mozambique to discover new animal species
Other Ways You Can Help
Even if you cannot contribute money, get involved by taking this message to your community both online and through your friends and family. Share our facebook page and this site and get people talking about it. We need volunteers to help get the word out. Feel free to comment here or mail the filmmakers directly to discover how you can join our team and make a difference.
Visit the Website for this film for slide shows, updates and much more.
