News
Forbes published an important interview with Riki Ott of The ALERT Project about the use of chemical dispersants after the oil spills in Mauritius which contains many internationally protected nature reserves with unique species that live nowhere else.
Would The Use Of Chemical Dispersants In Mauritius Oil Spill Be Considered An Ecocide?
www.forbes.com
The use of chemical dispersants following a major oil spill has been controversial. However, it remains the oil industry's standard go-to response to most spills. Marine toxicologist, Riki Ott, explains the risks, how the oil industry needs to change, and the lessons for the Mauritius oil spill.Hakai Magazine published a great article about regulations to prevent large oil spills.
30 Years of OPA90: Legislation to Prevent Another Exxon Valdez | Hakai Magazine
www.hakaimagazine.com
30 years ago today, a new law controlling the oil and gas industry was adopted in the wake of the <em>Exxon Valdez </em>disaster<em>. </em>Now some fear those regulations are being rolled back.This article from DeSmog features an interview with Kindra Arnesen, a Louisiana resident who is in our film. Arnesen credits Dr. Riki Ott for helping Kindra find answers for the illnesses she was facing due to Corexit dispersant exposure..
10 Years After BP Oil Spill, Pandemic Compounds Hardships Faced by Louisiana’s Commercial Fishers
www.desmogblog.com
A decade after the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig exploded, killing 11 and spewing 200 million gallons of crude oil into the Gulf of Mexico, south Louisiana resident Kindra Arnesen told me that the community was never made whole again, despite BP’s ads promising it would.For those of you who'd like to see our film, Stanford Arts is offering an online screening and discussion of A Concerned Citizen Movie with Dr. Riki Ott on Monday, May 18th, 2020 for a special Camera as Witness Virtual Program
A CONCERNED CITIZEN: Documentary Screening and Discussion – Stanford Arts
arts.stanford.edu
A documentary about Dr. Riki Ott, the whistleblower who predicted the Exxon Valdez oil spill hours before it happened. A toxicologist, author, and activist, Riki has been organizing Gulf Coast communities as they try to recover from the BP Deepwater Horizon disaster, as well as helping spearhead a c...10 years after the BP Oil Spill in the Gulf, WPMI NBC 15 News features Riki Ott and The ALERT Project in their segment.
alertproject.org/nbc-features-the-alert-project/
Read how industrial waste is polluting water in the US in this article by The Center for Public Integrity.
Industrial waste pollutes America’s drinking water – Center for Public Integrity
publicintegrity.org
The Center for Public Integrity is an investigative newsroom that exposes betrayals of the public trust by powerful interests.Learn more about the latest on filtration methods to sanitize contaminated water in this article by Science News Magazine.
New ways to clean up polluted sources of drinking water | Science News for Students
www.sciencenewsforstudents.org
Some 21 million people in the United States may get drinking water from sources that are polluted. Some new water treatments promise to greatly lower costs or tackle formerly hard-to-remove pollutants.Cigarette butts continue to rank among the most common types of marine debris found. Learn what you can do about keeping those cigarette butts, lighters and cigar tips from spoiling our ocean in this article by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
What is the most commonly found ocean litter?
oceanservice.noaa.gov
Cigarette butts are the most common form of marine litter.This YouTube video explains the concept of Eutrophication, a process that may result in oxygen depletion of a water body.
www.youtube.com
What is eutrophication? Here's an overview in a one minute video. Harmful algal blooms, dead zones, and fish kills are the results of a process called eutrop...TreeHugger answers the question, is bottled water safer than tap water?
Mythbusting: Bottled water isn't safer than tap water
www.treehugger.com
We are using way too many plastic bottles for no reason.The Nature Conservancy shares a report that analyzes 4,000 cities to demonstrate the health, climate and biodiversity benefits of source water protection.
A Natural Solution to Water Security
www.nature.org
Report analyzes 4,000 cities to demonstrate the health, climate and biodiversity benefits of source water protection.JSTOR Daily explains the effects of offshore drilling on marine life.
How Offshore Oil Exploration Affects Marine Life | JSTOR Daily
daily.jstor.org
Offshore oil and gas exploration in the Atlantic Ocean will involve seismic blasts, which may be harmful to whales and marine mammals.The World Counts has published a very informative interactive article focused on chemical pollution around the world.
Forbes explains why fracking is dangerous for your health.
Fracking Is Dangerous To Your Health -- Here's Why
www.forbes.com
Fracking is likely the cause of a wide range of health problems. Dismantling the EPA will greatly increase our health, water safety, and environmental risks, but governmental denial means we may never know the consequences.In this article by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), learn how scientists are able to predict the movement of spilled oil.
What is an oil spill trajectory?
oceanservice.noaa.gov
A map that shows where spilled oil is likely to travel and which shorelines and other environmentally or culturally sensitive areas might be at risk.Read how to improve water quality and prevent water pollution in this article by the Solar Impulse.
Solutions to water pollution: how to improve water quality?
solarimpulse.com
How to reduce water pollution? Find out its causes and effects, but also the ways and technologic...Dr. Riki Ott’s Ultimate Civics' instructional videos are now part of BCTV’s "Activating my Democracy" civic curriculum for middle and high school students.
Ultimate Civics serve as a refresher for all ages in understanding the underlying power dynamic that drives our democracy and society throughout our 230-year democracy journey.
"Ultimate Civics" video lessons available, recorded at BCTV by Riki Ott | BCTV
www.bctv.org
Ultimate Civics instructional videos are now part of the Activating My Democracy civics curriculum available for middle and high school students. Produced at the BCTV studio in 2019, The Ultimate Civics videos supplement a class curriculum in order to highlight effective methods of active civic enga...Learn how oil impacts marine life in this article by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
How does oil impact marine life?
oceanservice.noaa.gov
Oil spills can be very harmful to marine birds and mammals as well as fish and shellfishIn this article by NRDC, read the different causes of water pollution.
Water Pollution: Everything You Need to Know
www.nrdc.org
Our rivers, reservoirs, lakes, and seas are drowning in chemicals, waste, plastic, and other pollutants. Here’s why―and what you can do to help.Learn everything you need to know about oil spills in this article by the Safe Drinking Water Foundation.
Oil Spills — Safe Drinking Water Foundation
www.safewater.org
Oil pollution does come from oil spills from large tankers, but there are other sources of oil pollution that, collectively, discharge more oil into water than the major oil spills do.In this article by the Smithsonian, learn why there is a lack of measures to prevent and control oil spills around the world.
Why We Pretend to Clean Up Oil Spills
www.smithsonianmag.com
Six years after Deepwater Horizon spewed oil into the Gulf of Mexico, we still have no idea what we're doingDiscover why oil spills generate long-term damage to the world in this article by The New York Times.
After Oil Spills, Hidden Damage Can Last for Years
www.nytimes.com
Every oil spill is different, but the thread that unites some major ones is a growing scientific awareness of the persistent damage that spills can do.Dr. Riki Ott is the lead plaintiff on a new lawsuit to compel the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to issue rules restricting the use of chemical agents such as Corexit to clean up oil spills. Learn more in the link below.
Lawsuit Challenges EPA’s Dangerously Outdated Plan for Offshore Oil Spills
biologicaldiversity.org
Center for Biological Diversity: Warning of ‘Next Big One’ Under Trump Administration’s Expanded Drilling Plans, Advocates Seek EPA Action on Toxic Dispersant ChemicalsA Concerned Citizen is an Official Selection of the Cinema Verde International Environmental Film & Arts Festival February 13th-16th in Gainesville, Florida. Visit www.cinemaverde.org/ for more information.
For Academic screenings, our A Concerned Citizen Movie is available through Docuseek2
Docuseek | A Concerned Citizen
docuseek2.com
Docuseek2 is the new academic streaming source for the best in social issue and documentary film, with hundreds of titles in all major disciplines.This just in from Our Children's Trust - YouthvGov...
The Ninth Circuit released its decision. 2:1 Split court agreed with youth on all main points EXCEPT one...
Agreed
√ government was actively contributing to climate change,
√ youth plaintiffs did prove harm / injuries
√ youth plaintiffs did show federal policies were a substantial factor in causing plaintiffs’ constitutional injuries
Disagreed
√ a majority of the panel concluded there was nothing federal courts could do to address these constitutional violations
Youth plaintiffs will file a petition for an en banc review by all the justices of the Ninth Circuit court.
www.ourchildrenstrust.org/s/Juliana-Press-Release-1-17-20.pdf
We're thrilled to be at the 2020 Wild & Scenic Film Festival! Stay tuned to see our Digital Strategist, Nicole C. Scott speak on behalf of our film at 5:25pm.
The World Economic Forum explains how we can help protect our water sources.
Here's why we should protect our water sources
www.weforum.org
Protecting our water sources brings a wealth of benefits.This happened in Seattle last year! We hope our film is screened in more festivals! First up this year is January 18th at the Wild And Scenic Film Festival in Nevada City, CA
West Seattle Meaningful Movies presents 'A Concerned Citizen' (2019-05-04)
westseattleblog.com
A Concerned Citizen “Provides the viewer with both a history of how we got into this environmental mess as well as a roadmap for how to move forward. . . . Highly recommended!” –Anne Miller, South Seattle Climate Action Network This film documents the work of Dr. Riki Ott, a whistlebFood & Water Watch reports that the Senate Environmental and Natural Resources Committee in Florida has moved forward the fracking ban legislation sponsored by Committee Chair Senator Bill Montford.
In this article by Food & Water Watch, read about the new cuts to the environmental protection funds in Pennsylvania.
A Fracking Slush Fund is a Terrible Plan for Pennsylvania
www.foodandwaterwatch.org
Governor Wolf’s Restore PA Plan is Bad Policy and Cynical PoliticsGreat news! Baltimore residents, with the help of Food & Water Watch have managed to block Baltimore’s municipal water from ever being privatized and jeopardized by greedy corporations.
Baltimore Becomes First Big U.S. City to Ban Water Privatization
www.foodandwaterwatch.org
Baltimore City paves the way for how cities across the country can protect their water systems from the risks and costs of corporate control.Food & Water Watch reports on a plan to build a massive fracked gas power plant in Dover Plains, near Connecticut.
The Fight to Stop Cricket Valley
www.foodandwaterwatch.org
New York banned fracking and passed a strong new climate law. So why is it building new fracked gas power plants?Food & Water Watch explains the importance of banning fracking immediately.
Fracking Endgame: It's Literally Us Or The Frackers
www.foodandwaterwatch.org
With just a few years left to transition to 100 percent clean, renewable energy, the pressure is on to pivot away from fossil fuels as fast as we can. But if the frackers get their way, it’s game over for a stable climate. It’s them or us.In this article by NPR, learn more about the lack of water access for minorities and rural groups in the United States.
Wharton water conference highlights water inequity in U.S.
whyy.org
The Global Water Alliance symposium focused on challenges to clean-water access and underscored that the problem isn’t confined to the developing world.In this article by The New York Times, read why the Donald J. Trump administration is proposing a rule that would bar the Environmental Protection Agency from relying on research when crafting regulations.
E.P.A. to Limit Science Used to Write Public Health Rules
www.nytimes.com
A new agency rule would restrict the science that can be used in drafting health regulations by requiring researchers to turn over confidential health data.We're pleased to announce that our film is an Official Selection of the Poppy Jasper International Film Festival! We will share an event listing with the date, location, and time, when the schedule is published.
Greenpeace International explains the effects of fracking in our environment.
Fracking’s Environmental Impacts: Water
www.greenpeace.org
In order to frack, an enormous amount of water is mixed with various toxic chemical compounds to create frack fluid. This frack fluid is further contaminated by the heavy metals and radioactive elements that exist naturally in the shale. A significant portion of the frack fluid returns to the surfac...Unicredit Bank, the largest bank in Italy and one of the largest in Europe, just released a policy that rules out financing for Arctic oil projects! Learn more in this article by Reuters.
Italy's UniCredit to exit thermal coal financing by 2023
www.reuters.com
Italian bank UniCredit has pledged to halt all lending for thermal coal projects...According to a new study by Detroit Free Press, there may be at least 1.6 million Americans without a tap or toilet in their home.
How many Americans go without clean water? Study aims to find out
www.freep.com
A new study aims to find out how many American slack access to water and to identify ways to extend water access to all Americans.According to the report by DigDeep and the U.S. Water Alliance, fifty-eight out of every 1,000 Native American households lack plumbing, compared with three out of every 1,000 white households.
Native Americans Have the Most Difficulty Accessing Clean Water, Report Says
truthout.org
The groundwater in some areas of the Navajo Nation has been contaminated by the 521 abandoned uranium mines.We are thrilled to be an official selection at the 2020 Wild & Scenic Film Festival in Grass Valley, California! We'll let you know the date and time once the schedule becomes available.
A Concerned Citizen: Civics in Action - Wild & Scenic Film Festival
www.wildandscenicfilmfestival.org
Learn more about the possible future legislation changes created to reduce the use of gas in commercial and residential buildings in this article by Reuters.
The next target in the climate-change debate: your gas stove
www.reuters.com
Dozens of cities in liberal-leaning states such as California, Washington, and M...Thanks to Tim DeChristopher, for his review published in The Solutions Journal!
www.thesolutionsjournal.com
“What can I do? What can I do?” That is the question constantly asked of Riki Ott, and not only does she have an answer, she has a whole curriculum about what citizens can do and have done to exercise their power to shape their own society. But equally instructive is the lived example of ...A new study by the Environmental Working Group shows that every year between 1982 and 2015, between 9 and 45 million people were served water that had violated federal health-based water quality standards.
New Data Show Severity of Water Contamination in Poor Neighborhoods
truthout.org
A new report highlights the glaring injustice inherent in the U.S.'s drinking water systems.An international group of scientists released a report detailing how the fossil fuel industry actively campaigned to sow doubt about the climate crisis and what steps need to be taken to undo the damage, as the Los Angeles Times reported.
Report details how ExxonMobil and fossil fuel firms sowed seeds of doubt on climate change
www.latimes.com
A new report details how ExxonMobil and the fossil fuel industry, over decades, worked to deceive the public over the science of climate change and avoid regulation.
