Canadian documentary To the Ends of the Earth examines impact of extreme energy

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      In November, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau approved the Kinder Morgan pipeline expansion (which runs from Edmonton to Burnaby) and the Enbridge Line 3 pipeline (which travels from Hardisty, Alberta, through Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Dakota, and Minnesota to Superior, Wisconsin)

      On January 24, U.S. President Donald Trump approved the construction of the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines. (Barack Obama had previously stopped the project due to climate change and environmental issues.)

      That's in addition to proposed LNG plant projects in Squamish and Prince Rupert.

      To the Ends of the Earth

      In light of all this, a timely documentary about extreme energy recently screened at the Rio Theatre and will have another showing at the Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival.

      To the Ends of the Earth, narrated by Emma Thompson and directed by Albertan filmmaker David Lavallée (White Water, Black Gold), examines the impact of our energy system by visiting citizens living in close proximity to where extreme oil and gas extraction is taking place.

      To the Ends of the Earth filmmaker David Lavallée

      Interviewees express a variety of concerns, ranging from an Inuit mayor on Baffin Island worried about how seismic testing is impacting sealife to a Utah conservationist fighting to protect the Colorado River from oil shale projects.  

      Although unconventional resources, which involves tar sands and fracking, have grown to make up a significant percentage of the world's energy, the film also takes a look at how the world can progress beyond these resources in the future.

      A 55-minute version of the film will screen at 7:30 p.m. on February 11 at the Cinematheque (1131 Howe Street) as part of the VIMFF.

      Screening details are available at the VIMFF website.

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