Gallatin's Coal Ash Story

Fifty-five years worth of coal ash waste adds up – to over two billion gallons.  And that is what is stored in several coal ash ponds surrounding Tennessee Valley Authorities’ (TVA) Gallatin coal fired power plant. For decades, these ponds have been leaking toxic chemicals into nearby groundwater, threatening public health. Many area residents and environmental groups blame this on The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation’s (TDEC) weak and unenforced standards. A recent investigation revealed that TVA wanted TDEC to step in to file a lawsuit, in order to…

Coal Ash Stories tours Missouri

Missouri is home to twenty-one coal fired power plants, most of which are in vulnerable floodplains and along our nation’s two largest rivers – the Missouri and the Mississippi. These plants produce 2.68 million tons of coal waste per year ranking the state 16th in the nation for the production of coal waste. Many in Missouri are not happy with the way state regulatory agencies are handling this waste. In December 2014, the federal EPA released coal ash rules which provide guidance and regulatory language for states to adopt and enforce.…

CMSI interviews Working Films' co-director, Molly Murphy

Working Films’ co-director, Molly Murphy will present as part of the Media Impact Tools Showcase: Meet the Experts panel at the CSMI’s 11th annual Media that Matters conference. Check out CMSI’s interview with her for a glimpse of what she’ll cover: 1. WHAT DO YOU DO? HOW IS YOUR WORK BREAKING NEW GROUND? I co-direct Working Films, a fifteen-year-old national nonprofit that uses documentary media to advance social justice and environmental sustainability. We broker strategic partnerships between filmmakers, nonprofits, and issue experts so that every time a viewer asks, “What…

Call for Media about the Racial Wealth Divide

United for a Fair Economy and Working Films are looking for short and feature length films that delve into the story of the rising income inequality, as told through the lens of Race. Media should touch on or complement the topics that United for a Fair Economy has focused on over the last 10 years, including financial exclusion, housing, healthcare, tax policy, lack of employment, voting rights, government austerity/cuts, foreclosure, disinvestment and others. We want to pique the interest of audiences, spur discussion, and generate action to address these critical…

Coal Ash Stories in Tennessee

When a Duke Energy coal ash pond spilled millions of gallons of toxic sludge into the Dan River last year, Working films responded with Coal Ash Stories. This 30 minute short film compilation explains the toxic impact of coal ash and showcases community-driven solutions. Our goal in developing the series was to enhance the efforts of organizations working to protect residents from coal ash pollution and to hold Duke Energy accountable. In the last six months, we have co-hosted 15 community screenings in partnership with 32 locally based groups across the state, increasing their reach and turning audience members into active participants…

Come Hell or High Water: The Battle for Turkey Creek Tours North Carolina

Working Films, Bennett College, UNC-Chapel Hill and Warren Wilson College are bringing filmmaker Leah Mahan on a tour across North Carolina this February. Screenings of her documentary Come Hell or High Water: The Battle for Turkey Creek will connect faculty, students, and local residents to issues of environmental justice in the state. February 10, 2015, 8pm Warren Wilson College Holden Auditorium, Holden Arts Center, Asheville, NC 28815 Public parking available on campus. Please RSVP to ensure your seat: hharvey@warren-wilson.edu, or 828-771-3062. February 11, 2015 at 6 pm Bennett College Global…

Coal Ash Stories Events in Lumberton and Pittsboro

We’re hard at work bringing Coal Ash Stories to even more areas in North Carolina, and two recent screenings highlight the importance of bringing these film to communities that face the potential hazards of coal ash pollution. Events in Lumberton (Robeson County) and Pittsboro (Chatham County) were organized by local organizations who want to assure that their sites – and all 14 coal ash storage locations across the state – are properly cleaned up. On the banks of the Lumber River and home to the Lumbee Tribe, Lumberton has a…

Come Hell or High Water: The Battle for Turkey Creek – An Organizing Tool for Environmental Justice in the South

A few weeks ago, a group of activists and scholars of environmental justice met at The Franklinton Center at Bricks for the 17th annual North Carolina Environmental Justice Summit. The former slave plantation and early African American school in Whitakers, NC that has been repurposed as a training, retreat, and educational center for social justice, made for a profound setting for the opening night screening of Come Hell or High Water: The Battle for Turkey Creek by Leah Mahan. Fifty participants gathered to watch and discuss the painful but inspiring story…

Seeking Volunteers for Coal Ash Art Installation

Working Films is partnering with the Cucalorus Film Festival to put together an art installation entitled, Smoke and Water. We need people like you to participate in creating the installation. Could you volunteer a few hours of your time to help the artist paint? No artistic ability required, just a willingness to get your hands dirty with some bright paint. We need your help this Thursday November 6th through Tuesday November 11th. You can sign up for a block of time. See the specifics on time and location below and…

Artists and Filmmakers Take on Coal Ash

This November marks the 20th anniversary of the Cucalorus Film Festival, an internationally recognized event that has never shied away from connecting art to important social and environmental issues. Working Films is honored to partner with Cucalorus to engage key leaders and community members around the issue of coal ash pollution. Through our Coal Ash Stories initiative, we are supporting Cucalorus Work-in-Progress film Coal Ash Chronicles. We will be coordinating special viewings and hosting a related art installation Smoke and Water. Join us at the following art and film events…