NM-Wild joins the Rio Grande Chapter of the Sierra Club in presenting a free screening of Gasland on May 22, Sunday at 1 PM only at the Guild Cinema in Albuquerque.

Gasland is an award-winning documentary [2010 Sundance Special Jury Prize] about the controversial practice of hydraulic fracturing used by the natural gas industry. “Fracking,” developed by Halliburton, pumps millions of gallons of water saturated with more than 500 chemicals into the ground to release the natural gas, and this technology has led the way for the largest natural gas drilling boom in United States history.

But is fracking safe? When filmmaker Josh Fox is asked to lease his land for drilling, he embarks on a cross-country road trip to find the answer to this question. What he finds is unsettling—water that can be lit on fire right out of the faucet—and a “call” to action. In 2005, the Bush/Cheney Energy Bill exempted natural gas drilling from the Safe Drinking Water Act.

This event includes a presentation by Judy Calman, staff attorney with NM-Wild, on current issues with drilling for natural gas in New Mexico.

Advance tickets are available at the Nob Hill and Rio Grande Blvd (North Valley) La Montanita Food Coop locations after May 10 or RSVP by calling NM Wilderness at 843-8696. Donations for this screening will be gratefully accepted.

Gasland: Watch the trailer on YouTube