Free documentary exposes environmental activists' real agenda':

Film shows Thursday at Totah
By Cornelia de Bruin The Daily Times
Article Launched: 05/19/2008 12:00:00 AM MDT


FARMINGTON — The Albuquerque-based Rio Grande Foundation and Citizen's Alliance for Responsible Energy partnered to bring the film "Mine Your Own Business" to Farmington's Totah Theater on Thursday.
The film is a one-hour documentary that exposes "the real agenda" of prominent environmental activists, focusing on how the environmental movement ignores the world's poor and their need for economic development, according to advance information sent by the Foundation.

"It has three story lines that intertwine, starting in Romania where a Canadian company wants to mine gold that is there," said Paul Gessing, president of the Foundation. "They want to repair the ground afterward; the place is polluted, the river is filthy, it's ecologically devastated."

The area was mined previously during the communist era, Gessing said.
"Non-local environmentalists discuss how quaint their (the locals') lifestyles are. It shows how the environmentalists are outsiders who want to force the people to live as they are," Gessing said.

Filmmakers then travel to other mining-related situations in Madagascar, where they show white environmentalists from outside telling black locals how to live, Gessing said. It continues to a situation in Chile that has similar overtones.
"The effort is not meant to destroy environmentalists, but it is on the site of the locals," he said. "I think it applies directly to some things that are happening in New Mexico."
The people involved here, he said, are generally from Santa Fe.
"They may think they are well-intentioned, but they don't really care how others are living their lives," Gessing said. "We think that, done responsibly, oil and gas drilling, and mining can be done right."
He hopes some of those in attendance will be people who disagree with the film.
"We feel that government lands should be used the best way for the locals," Gessing said. "It's not right to tell people what they can and can't do."
Following the film, author Paul Driessen will localize the movie's message and field questions from the audience and media.
"The three examples in the film are the tip of the iceberg — it's everywhere," he said. "There's a highly capitalized and organized opposition funded mostly by big foundations that oppose any development."
He likened the effort, which he said includes Greenpeace, World Wildlife Fund, Wildlife Federation, Friends of the Earth, Oxfam and Christian Aid, to a destroy all the traditional, blue-collar industries and turn the West into "a playground for the rich."
Driessen studied geology and law in college, became interested in ecology and was involved with the environmental movement.
"I found out it was tied to the philosophy that Americans use too much resources and they won't change, so let's make the rest of the resources unavailable'," he said. "If we do that it puts tremendous pressure on prices because we're importing everything. We're only running out of resources politically."
The author is also senior policy adviser for the educational and human rights organization Congress of Racial Equality.
A happy hour precedes the film from 5 to 5:30 p.m. The film begins at 5:30 p.m., and will be followed by Driessen's presentation at 6:30 p.m.
The event is open to the public. The film, food and beverages are free. Gessing hopes the freebie will attract more viewers.
"People can stay as long as they want," he said.

Cornelia de Bruin: cdebruin@daily-times.com

Documentary Billed as Environmentalist Exposé Showing in Salt Lake City

Filmmakers are Guests of The Sutherland Institute(KCPW News)

Apr 25, 2008

A controversial documentary being billed as an exposé of the "dark side" of environmentalism is expected to play to a sold-out crowd at the Gateway this morning. "Mine Your Own Business" features interviews with environmentalists hoping to stop the development of a gold mine in Romania, and some local residents who invite the development it would bring.
The husband-and-wife team of Phelim McAleer and Ann McElhinney directed the film. They came to town from Ireland to present it to guests of conservative think-tank The Sutherland Institute.

KCPW's Jeff Robinson talked with McAleer about the documentary and the reception it's gotten around the world. Listen here: http://www.kcpw.org/article/5854

Mine Your Own Business in New Mexico

MAY 2008

Mark you calendars now! CARE and the Rio Grande Foundation are partnering to bring a powerful evening event to New Mexico!

On May 20-22 we will be showing the movie Mine Your Own Business in New Mexico

Albuquerque--May 20: State Bar of New Mexico, 5121 Masthead NE, Albuquerque, NM 87109
Roswell--May 21: Roswell Museum and Art Center, 100 West 11th Street, Roswell, NM 88201
Farmington--May 22: Totah Theater, 315 W. Main Street, , Farmington, NM 87401

The Real Agenda of Global Environmental Activists
Mine Your Own Business is a one-hour feature documentary. It is an entertaining and informative exposé on how the environmental movement is ignoring the world's poor and their dire need for development. The film features interviews with some of the world's poorest people and reflects on their individual goals for a better life. It is the first documentary to ask hard questions of the environmental movement and the right of all people to live prosperous and productive lives. Even if you think you understand the importance of economic development, this film will provide insight into the desperate state of the world's poor--as no book or study can--and why we cannot deny them the dignity of development and economic achievement. (Read a review of the movie. Watch the preview.)

Each showing will be followed with a short presentation by Paul Driessen, author of the book Eco-Imperialism. Driessen will localize the movies message and answer questions from the audience.

Each event will be held in a "happy hour" type timeframe with refreshments (Beer and wine will be available at the Albuquerque and Roswell locations)from 4:30-5:30, showings at 5:30 and Paul Driessen's presentations at 6:30. These events are open to the public free-of-charge and you are encouraged to bring everyone you know! (Event sponsorships are still available.)

Arizona to screen Mine Your own Business

Memo to uranium opponents: 'Mine' your own business

By DENNIS FOSTER
Guest Editorial
Sunday, April 20, 2008

What good is mining? To those who care to notice, it is a more significant contributor to our standard of living than is our ability to hunt and gather. Without mining, you can't ride around in subsidized buses, you can't heat your affordable home, you can't operate your solar oven, and you can't enjoy your favorite microbrew.

Should uranium mining be banned in northern Arizona? Some argue it should, because it was poorly done in the past and that it poses some risk. But, then, why not ban all production? There is no such thing as a world without risks. Let's assess these risks, and assess the benefits. Then, let's have an open, and honest, discussion about uranium mining. Maybe it shouldn't be allowed, but maybe it should.

Indeed, if you believe all the mumbo jumbo about human-caused global warming dooming our planet to a fiery grave, you should be an unabashed supporter of uranium mining -- the benefits of saving the human race must certainly outweigh mining's risk factors. Stop being bitter, clutching at your solar panels and your copy of "The Population Bomb." Grab a shovel and help move us into a truly nuclear age.

The clash between environmentalists and people struggling for a decent living in mining is going on all around the globe. If that clash interests you, come see a special screening of the documentary, "Mine Your Own Business" at NAU's Cline Library Auditorium on Wednesday, April 23, at 7 p.m. Free and open to the public.

Dennis Foster has a Ph.D. in economics, teaches at the university level, and is an avid Grand Canyon hiker.

SALT LAKE CITY TO SCREEN MINE YOUR OWN BUSINESS AND HOST FILMMAKERS MCELHINNEY & MCALEER

Earth Week: Mine Your Own Business 4/25/2008 9:00 AM Megaplex 12 at the Gateway, 165 South Rio Grande

As part of its Earth Week, the Sutherland Institute will show a free screening of the documentary, "Mine Your Own Business," on Friday, April 25 at Megaplex 12 at the Gateway in Salt Lake City. The documentary reveals the real agenda of liberal environmentalism. The two film-makers, Ann McElhinney and Phelim McAleer, will be available for questions and comments.