Still from “Crude Beyond Belief,” with Tom Frantz, far left, and tour participants. Credit: CMAC, Fresno.

By Jean Hays, WILPF Fresno Earth Democracy

On July 19, the Fresno Branch of WILPF US held its DVD premiere of “Crude Beyond Belief.” This video was the outcome of a fracking tour led by Kern County water and air expert Tom Frantz and filmed by our local Community Media Access Collaborative (CMAC).

In November 2015, the WILPF Fresno Branch received a minigrant from National WILPF to organize and film this fracking tour in California’s Kern County. Co-contributors to the venture included Fresnans Against Fracking and Tehipite Chapter of the Sierra Club. We toured various fracking sites, open-pit holding ponds, and injection well sites near Bakersfield, Wasco, and Shafter.

The documentary was shown to one and all on July 19. Stars of the film, besides Tom Frantz and the CMAC team, were the 30 tour participants from Fresno and Reedley. The film premiere was a huge success. Seeing what fracking truly looks like is a real eye-opener. Remembering the old saying, “A picture is worth a thousand words,” film attendees were amazed, saddened, and angered at what has been done to Mother Earth in the name of monetary profit and with no thought given to the long-term effects on the health and well-being of all inhabitants of the planet.

WILPF Fresno is offering copies of the DVD for sale to branches and other interested groups or individuals. Contact Jean Hays at skyhorse3593@sbcglobal.net.