The Last Mountain

Back in May, I posted two times about mountain top coal removal-- Flip 'Em Off! and End Mountain Top Removal.

So you can imagine my excitement when we arrived in Park City, Utah for the Sundance Film Festival to find out that Brita had given us tickets to see the world premier of the documentary "The Last Mountain." (YAY!!  Thanks Brita!!)  Having read up on the topic, I wasn't shocked by what I saw... although it pained me to see the horrible truths of the coal industry on the big screen... I was completely devastated by what the coal industry is doing to the health of the people in Coal River Valley.  (...and really all across our nation.)

At the end of the film, there was a Q&A with the director... AND....an activist that was in the film said, "Now you know.  You have to do something."

Soooo... I thought to myself... what can *I* do???  What can WE do???

A good first step is to become aware that we are ALL connected to this problem.  Find your connection to mountain top coal removal at iLoveMountains.org.  Then take social action through conserving, helping and supporting the groups in Appalachia, and taking political action.

To learn more about the problems of mountain top coal removal and how you  WE can make a difference.... visit: The Last Mountain: Social Action

It Starts With Me

Over the weekend, my husband and I went to the Sundance Film Festival courtesy of the Brita FilterForGood Film Project.  We had such a great time at the Festival... saw some really great films-- The Last Mountain, Win Win, Higher Ground, Being Elmo and The Lie... made new friends and of course, got to see the film that was inspired by my efforts at Wrightsville Beach, NC.  To say that I LOVE it... could be an understatement ;)  I am so grateful that Destin completely saw and understands who I am and was able to convey (better than I could have ever imagined) who I am and why I do what I do....

Destin, Brett and Ron are remarkably talented... and while I may be no critic... I can certainly critique myself... and I've watched the film so many times and haven't once went to critique anything.  I can only keep saying that they made everything "so beautiful." Also, the music-- which I've been referring to as beautiful, inspiring and hopeful-- in the film was composed by Joel P. West... like Destin, Brett and Ron... I'd invite him to our home anytime.  He's part of The Tree Ring who will be releasing their album in February.  Check them out :)

My friends Sara and Mark are in the film along with my family. Please take the time to learn about what they're doing :)  You can find Sara at The Daily Ocean and Mark at The Bait Tank.

Thanks again to everyone for taking the time to vote for my project back in October and for all of the support (and friends that I've made) since... 

Our Daily Ocean: Day 39

Earlier today, I met Katie Harden of WWAY at Wrightsville Beach to talk about my Brita FilterForGood short film and how I'm feeling about going to the Sundance Film Festival this weekend.  While I talked to Katie, my Mom-- who, along with my sister, is visiting from St. Louis-- picked up litter at Access 36... AND...nearly all of today's litter was picked up by my Mom!!!  YAY!!!

Thanks to everyone that took the time to vote for my project back in October, my project is now a short film... and we're leaving tomorrow morning for the Sundance Film Festival where my short film will be screened at the Brita FilterForGood event on Saturday... hmmm... I have a feeling there's going to be lots of happy dances this weekend ;)

One thing that Katie asked me is what my hopes are for the film.  Of course, I want the film to help raise awareness of the cigarette butt litter issue... but after much rambling... my response led me back to the reason that I started this blog:  To inspire people to want to make a difference in our world.  Even if it's something as simple as saying, "No straws, please." ;)

Last week, I saw the poster that they'll be using to promote the short film inspired by my project "me"... it's absolutely stunning and I wish I could share it with everyone. (but I can't just yet)  One thing that I can share is the title of the film... something Destin had asked if I would be ok with back in December while we were filming.... of course, I was over-the-top ecstatic to see that Destin decided to title the film: "It Starts With Me" (...I can't stop smiling)

20 minutes on January 20, 2011


Litter by weight: 13.1 oz
101 cigarette butts

Total amount of cigarette butts picked up off of Wrightsville Beach, NC in 39 days:

13,771

Our Daily Ocean: Day 37

It's crazy to think that just a few short months ago, my FilterForGood Film Project was being voted on... and my project being made into a short film was just a possibility.  But now, the possibility has become a reality and next weekend we will be at the Sundance Film Festival to see my project as a short film directed by Destin Cretton.  (squeeee!!)

We haven't been to Wrightsville Beach in over a week because--on Monday-- our area got hit with a winter storm.  We were originally supposed to get an accumulation of less than an inch of snow... but somehow we ended up getting 6 inches!!!  With the snow and cold temperatures, we stayed clear of the beach and found other things to do like go sledding in our backyard.   BUT... today the weather was actually kind of nice... so we made a visit to Access 29!!  As we were walking around the shoreline, my kids came across this little party on the.... errr... buried in the sand.   Hmmm... I don't think that I should have to say this... but... even if someone takes the time to bury their litter... it's STILL litter!!! 

(sorry about the grainy photos... I completely spaced and forgot my camera!!)

For the entire 52 weeks of 2011, I am collecting my plastic waste to share on "My Plastic Free Life" Show Your Plastic Challenge.   Every time I go to the beach, I always am reminded why I am making a conscious effort to reduce the amount of plastics that we use...  

When we stop accepting the products that litter our streets, our beaches, our parks.... our world... then we effectively start changing a system that isn't working.  Plastic pollution is a global problem... but in order to fix a global problem...we have to start local... and it doesn't get more local than your own home.  I encourage everyone to take the Show Your Plastic Challenge... no guilt... no judging... just an opportunity to become conscious of the things we can change... one step at a time.  My thought process: 

If we don't like something...we need to stop talking about how much we don't like it... and actively work to change it.  

(Example: Think plastic in our oceans sucks?... think littered roadways look trashy?... stop supporting those products... it's as simple as saying "No Thank You".)

On another note, it's dog days of winter at Wrightsville Beach.  We didn't take our dogs to the beach today, but they were certainly happy that some forgetful dog owners left this frisbee and 3 tennis balls.

I'm naturally an animal lover... we have 3 dogs.  BUT.... I'm not a lover of dog poo on the beach.    There was so much today... in the grasses, the tideline, randomly on the sand... shoot my kids almost stepped in some a few times... Besides the obvious reason for disliking dog poo on the beach (or other places!!), the bacteria in the feces contaminates our waters.... yuck!!  

20 minutes on January 15, 2011

Litter by weight: 1 lb 8.1 oz 

Cigarette butts: 66

Total amount of cigarette butts removed from Wrightsville Beach, NC in 37 days:

13,470