Moscow Idaho – An award winning documentary film that exposes plans to strip mine vast landscapes in the upper reaches of the Colorado River watershed will screen at the UUCP on Monday, February 23 at 7:00 pm.

Last Rush for the Wild West: Tar Sands, Oil Shale and the American Frontier was named as one of the 10 Best Eco-Docs of 2014 by EcoWatch and also earned the Audience Appeal Award from Moab International Film Festival. The film highlights efforts already underway to strip mine almost a million acres of tar sands and oil shale deposits across eastern Utah, Colorado and Wyoming. Potential strip mines would overuse and pollute the delicate watershed that 36 million people living in drought-stricken areas downstream depend on for drinking water, agriculture and recreation.

The film’s director Jennifer Ekstrom, who was born and raised in eastern Washington, will attend the event to introduce the film and host a post screening question and answer session.

Click here to view the film’s website and trailer: Last Rush for the Wild West Also, see Last Rush for the Wild West flyer.

“Making this film has opened my eyes to the magnitude of destruction on the horizon if strip mining for tar sands and oil shale is allowed to gain momentum in America,” said Jennifer Ekstrom, producer and director of the film. “The massive strip mines already approved by the State of Utah are setting the stage for what could be one of the most destructive and polluting industrial complexes in our Nation. Utah’s approval process did absolutely nothing to protect public health or the environment, but there is still time to stop these devastating projects before it’s too late.”

“Last Rush for the Wild West presents a compelling look at an issue that is important to all Americans,” said Pat Rathmann of the Palouse Environmental Sustainability Coalition and Helen Yost of WIRT. “We are pleased to host this screening and help bring awareness about this unprecedented threat to our cherished publicly owned landscapes, water, air and climate.”

Last Rush for the Wild West highlights a resolute contingent of Utah citizens and local experts, as well as indigenous leaders from tar sands impacted communities in Alberta, Canada, as they encourage American taxpayers and voters to stand up with them and stop this impending disaster.

If you haven’t yet been to a CCL chapter meeting, this would be a great one to attend–free food, free drink, and the chance to take what Dr. James Hansen calls, “the most effective step you can take to save creation for your grandchildren.”