SCREENING IN GRABOWIEC SUNDAY JUNE 30

DRILL BABY DRILL SCREENING IN ELMIRA, NY

Odile and our community at large,

Please share this in email and social media. This is a continuing

report of how we in the USA can help in an international struggle.

This is focusing on what people are doing in NYS to send financial

support and moral support, which is equally important, to the Polish

Farmers.

We had another successful screening of DRILL BABY DRILL in Elmira, New

York USA. The audience was very attentive and the documentary stirred

much thought and emotion. The viewers of the movie saw and felt this

struggle of ordinary people who are up against this huge multinational

monster called gas and oil. It is obvious that their struggle is very

similar to ours. They drink vodka, we drink beer. The Polish people

are faced with corporate industrial bullies just as the people in

Dimock PA are. The difference is by what degree. The Polish people are

defending their children's futures far earlier into the intrusion.

They are blocking the beginning of this industry's attempt to gain a

foothold. They are smart and quick to see that the black water after

seismic testing was enough to set off an alarm. They are standing up,

tall and strong and saying NO FRACKING WAY! The industry will never

get a foothold because of the resilience of our Polish sisters and

brothers. Polish people understand how to fight extreme suppression.

Pay attention to history.

Dimock: There are few victims left of the drilling who are willing to

stand up and fight, not be silenced by non-disclosure agreements......

In the tradition of Lech Kowalski and Ray Kemble. The crowd that

showed up to see DRILL BABY DRILL  experienced a surprise visit from

two strong fighters from PA. Their community is nothing like it was

before drilling came in. The audience was in shock and awe to see Ray

and his friend Brett walk into the room. They had just given him an

ovation in the film they viewed. He had given powerful testimony in

the film and showed remarkable resolve not to give in with his water

problems caused by careless drilling. It was like his presence on the

screen helped him to be actualized into the flesh in this church hall.

This was not an accident as we playfully planned this. It was Ray's

idea, that was inspired by a caper Lech and Ray performed on previous

audiences. A question came up during the questions and answers that

stumped me. It was about contradictory reports of bad water tests

becoming good again. Contradictions between EPA and DEP testing

results.  I asked if someone in the audience knew about the Dimock

water issues or if perhaps there was someone from Dimock in the room.

On secret cue Ray and Brett Jennings walked into the room. Whispers

turned into "oh my goodness! here is the guy we just gave the ovation

to." After the excitement settled, stories were told by Ray and Brett

who experience this drilling phenomenon firsthand day by day, week

after week. The rawness of the film and the situation became all the

more real face to face with Ray and Brett.

After the questions and answers I was left with my heart in my

stomach, but my spirit soaring as I felt one more time in my being,

that this is all so surreal. I feel for those who are harmed and

affected and yet some miracle takes place in our collective being that

soars over my broken heart and circles around the world in one

instant. It comes back to remind me it is not just an environmental

issue we face; the sacrificial lamb is our very own humanity. How many

wells with spoiled water need to be counted to realize we have a huge

problem? How many children need to be exposed to bad air, noise and

worst of all; being forgotten.

I sit here writing this and cry to myself, and somehow I feel

stronger. Please take the time and see what's going on and make a

decision to help in some way. I would welcome the opportunity to hear

from you. I can offer suggestions how to help stop this atrocity being

orchestrated from behind our curtain of denial. Can you see the feet

of the monster exposed at the bottom part of this curtain? Do you dare

to help lift the curtain, face the beast, and defeat it?

thank you for reading this,

Dave Walczak

Assocaite Producer

GROUNDSWELL RISING protecting our children's air and water

a documentary project soon enough to arrive in your community

DRILL BABY DRILL SCREENING IN CORNING USA

Odile & Lech,

It was an honor for me to facilitate the Q &A after the screening.

We had a full theater in Corning NY USA screening Drill Baby Drill.

The audience was very attentive and stayed an hour and a half after

the screening. They were very inspired and there was much discussion

as to similarities and differences on the international anti-fracking

scene. The farmers in Poland were inspirational to the people who

came. We had one elected official.

During the question and answer time I interspersed answers to

questions that Odile answered from a list I emailed her earlier in the

day. That worked well to mix the words from Europe with ones in the

room!

Everybody in attendance thought the film was inspiring and fresh! The

spirit of the movement was very alive!

The Ray Kimble interview had standing ovation (people were really

sitting). One woman commented "this film was unique and was more

effective in a foreign language. It was powerful with it's rawness and

truth! The message is more filtered here in the USA."

A 76 year old gentleman stood up at the end and said elders should

climb onto gas industry equipment and get arrested....adding he needs

something to do in his retirement years.

The film and the creative resistance Polish farmers are doing moved

people to a new level of commitment to be engaged.

The evening was high energy and brought attention to the need to keep

fighting in NEPA and Poland and of course Internationally. We are all

in this together!

We will keep taking this banner to screenings and events to support

Polish farmers who block Chevron from destroying communities.

SOLIDARNIE BLOKUJA!

Dave Walczak

Associate Producer

Groundswell Rising Documentary

DRILL BABY DRILL WILL PREMIERE IN UK IN SHEFFIELD DOC/FEST ON JUNE 12 AND JUNE 14

In rural Pennsylvania, the cows are unwell. It is the heart of shale gas mining, and the farmers are belatedly realizing the devastation that the fracking has had upon their livelihoods. Filmmaker Lech Kowalski is taking careful note of what is happening in Pennsylvania – it is the harbinger of what is to come in Poland. Kowalski is on hand with his probing camera as a group of farmers in Eastern Poland awaken to the reality that Chevron is preparing to establish numerous mines on their land. Initially open to the idea, their internet research, coupled with their blackening well water, quickly sends alarm bells ringing. They mobilize to stop Chevron, but is it too late? A lack of concrete information, and the secretive nature of Chevron’s plans perpetuate an atmosphere of fear and paranoia, in this David vs. Goliath story with a surprising ending.

http://sheffdocfest.com/films/show/5389

DRILL BABY DRILL AUSTRIAN PREMIERE AT CROSSROADS FESTIVAL JUNE 11, 2013

For our Austrian Friends,  Drill Baby Drill / Gas-Fieber in Graz on June 11 at 15h30

Q&A with Lech Kowalski via Skype after the screening !

Am Ende des fossilen Zeitalters nimmt der Run auf die letzten föderbaren Öl- und Gasvorkommen immer destruktivere Formen an. Sie werden mit immer gefährlicheren Methoden und immer weniger Rücksicht auf Menschen und Umwelt aus der Erde gesaugt.

In den letzten Jahren wurde das sogenannte „Schiefergas“ zu einem (vermeintlichen) Game Changer. In den USA herrscht Gold-Rush-Stimmung und obwohl immer klarer wird, dass die Förderung enorme Gesundheits- und Umweltschäden verursacht, versuchen die Energiekonzerne derzeit auch in Europa (auch die OMV in Österreich) in größerem Ausmaß an die für sie äusserst profitable Ressource zu kommen.

Doch was ist dieses Schiefergas eigentlich und welche Folgen hat seine Förderung? Diesen Fragen geht Lech Kowalskis Gas-Fieber nach. An den Beispielen von Bradford County, Pennsylvania, einer Region, in der die Förderung schon relativ lange betrieben wird, und der Region um die ostpolnische Stadt Zamosc, deren Bewohner_innen sich bisher erfolgreich gegen die Förderung von Schiefergas wehren konnten, veranschaulicht er die Kluft zwischen der Realität der Schiefergasförderung und dem Idealbild, mit dem die Konzerne den Europäer_innen das sogenannte unkonventionelle Erdgas schmackhaft machen wollen.

More information:

http://crossroads-festival.org/en/program/films/gas-fieber

POLISH PREMIERE IN KRAKOW

Waiting for the bus in Krakow with Alex Dayet who worked on film with us 

and Raphaelle shooting for Arte website 

Arrival of the bus from East Poland : 6 hours trip one way!

Phillipe Muller from Arte is meeting all the polish characters

Tee shirts where made specially for the screening

back of the Tee shirt 

All the stars  from Drill Baby Drill

Arrival in festival office 

With Philippe Muller from French German channel Arte

Barbara make-up before festival tv interview

Make-up for the director

Make up for the mayor !

Make up for everybody!

festival interview

Q&A with Philippe Muller

Screening in Krakow with Barbara

Polish vodka and flowers

IN KRAKOW WITH SOME OF THE STARS OF DRILL BABY DRILL FOR POLISH PREMIERE