Different Terrain, Similar Tension

Our lush and beautiful Hudson Valley is no stranger to the struggles that pit promised economic boons and new jobs against protecting the environment. There is even a film, Two Square Miles, that documents the epic struggle against the proposal to construct a behemoth cement plant at our doorstep. This Sunday, March 22, brings an opportunity to view another documentary about a similar struggle in a different part of the country. 

The film, Uranium Drive-In, follows a proposed uranium mill in southwestern Colorado--the first to be built in the United States since the end of the Cold War--and the emotional debate between a population desperate for jobs and financial stability and an environmental group based in a nearby resort town. Both sides are brought to life in heart-wrenching detail as the film offers no easy answers but aims instead to capture personal stories and paint a portrait of the lives behind a complex and nuanced issue.

Following the screening, a panel discussion will focus on Hudson Valley issues and regional pressures from energy development. Participants include Manna Jo Greene, environmental action director of Hudson River Sloop Clearwater; Gary Shaw of the Indian Point Safe Energy Coalition; Cecilia Tkaczyk, a farmer and former New York State senator representing much of the Hudson Valley; and Jennifer Thurston, a Colorado activist who is featured in the film. The discussion is expected to provide updates on current issues around renewable energy, nuclear power, and fracking, and offer insights into how positive solutions and alternatives can be developed while protecting communities and the environment.

The event takes place this Sunday, March 22, at 2 p.m. at the Hudson Opera House.
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