Running for the Mountains

FILM REVIEW by Nancy Pearlman

While Pantheists enjoy the natural outdoor environment and the wonderful nature that can be appreciated and enjoyed, it is also important to volunteer to preserve and protect those natural areas both for the preservation of life’s diversity and for the health of the people. The plight of the Appalachian Mountains in West Virginia is a case in point.  The excessive resource extraction from coal mining to strip mining, fracking, and natural gas pipelines is destroying the beauty of the region as well as creating horrible pollution of the land, air and water. The film Running for the Mountains uncovers a story of dirty money and dirty politics, one that affects the entire nation as well as presents the impact of environmental deregulation. 

Transcending party lines, this compelling documentary exposes the cautionary tale of the rough and tumble politics and reckless policies that dominate West Virginia,  now being exported to the rest of the nation. Documentary producers Julie Eisenberg and Babette Hogan co-produced, co-directed, and co-wrote this superb film which has won many festival awards. In their 15-year investigation they unveil the ties between extractive industries and West Virginia's politicians, who place their personal profit over the health and well being of their constituents by subjecting their state to deadly toxic air, water and land. The policies of this one deregulated state affect us all.

The filmmakers question West Virginia’s saga of patriotic sacrifice. It becomes clear that protecting our natural world is the most patriotic activity. Landowners are distressed that with eminent domain, their farms and ranches are being taken over. Eisenberg and Hogan deliver surprising undercover scenes that make it clear that the current devastating activities of resource extraction without regulations is harming both the environment and the people. They believe people should vote, run for office, and fight to overturn the court ruling Citizens United which allows corporations to give big money to politicians. Their beautiful footage shows the beauty of the West Virginia mountains as well as following the activists who are trying to save the Appalachians.

The film is available on Amazon and on Kanopy. For more information go to www.runningforthemountains.com. You can listen to my half-hour interview with the creators on YouTube: Environmental Directions with Nancy Pearlman.