Between his upcoming documentary and future plans, Hedden does more than tell us to make greener decisions. He wants to show us how.

Brian Hedden didn’t set out to make a documentary on fracking in Colorado. But back in 2017 he met some Lakota Elders, who had been at Standing Rock, and they convinced him to just look into it. 

“At the time my thoughts were more about climate change in general, and what a person can do about it,” said Hedden. 

But before he knew it, Hedden was going to meetings, talking to activists, recording thousands of stories, filming protests, and editing together footage that would become “Fracking the System: Colorado’s Oil and Gas Wars.” Early on, he was also hit with a lawsuit from the oil and gas companies who claimed he was illegally filming. They didn’t want any money. They just wanted the footage. The suit dragged on for 10 months, but eventually Hedden won. 

That’s when he knew he was on to something. 

“Of course, that’s just one little piece of the whole puzzle,” said Hedden. “But it inspired me to keep going with the film and try to get even better footage.” 

Still from “Fracking the System.” Provided by Brian Hedden

Trying to wrap a complex, ongoing story neatly into a documentary is no small feat. He leaned on his men’s group, The Mankind Project, for support. 

“There were so many times I wanted to quit and just put the footage I had on YouTube and say ‘Hey everybody, hope someone can use this for something better,'” said Hedden. “But their feedback was so supportive and encouraging.”

However, in 2018, it looked like the story may have its ending when activists were successful in getting Colorado Proposition 112 on the ballot. The proposition would mandate oil and gas wells be at least 2,500 feet from “occupied buildings” such as schools and homes.

But it didn’t pass.

“I had all this footage and when [the activists] didn’t win, I was like ‘I don’t know how this story ends now.’” So the footage sat. But the buzz surrounding the proposition didn’t fade, which resulted in the passing of Senate Bill 181 in 2019.

“I just picked up my camera and went to the capital and started filming,” said Hedden. The activists had a victory and Hedden had an ending of sorts. Under the new ruling, fracking sites had to be set back at least 2,000 feet from inhabited buildings, and the Colorado Oil & Gas Conservation Commission, COGCC, changed their guidelines from “fostering” to “regulating” the oil and gas industry. However, the law didn’t go into effect until 2020 and in that time the COGCC approved nearly 4,000 permits that didn’t necessarily fit the new guidelines but were nevertheless grandfathered in. 

So while it was a victory of sorts, it didn’t feel that way to the neighborhoods that still had wells right behind their homes and schools, as “Fracking the System” points out. 

Still from “Fracking the System.” Provided by Brian Hedden

But the activists aren’t done fighting. In response, Safe & Healthy Colorado was formed. This grassroots campaign of activists and volunteers is currently working to get the 135,000 signatures needed to get a measure on the 2024 ballot that would phase out new fracking permits by 2030. According to the organization’s website, if it passes the 50,000 active oil wells in Colorado will continue to operate. 

As for Hedden, his documentary will debut at Golden’s Environmental Film Festival, February 22–25, 2024. 

But Hedden is far from done with his plans to cover the environmental movement.  

“The argument against banning fracking is that we need oil and gas,” said Hedden. “And they aren’t wrong. And to transition away from that is not a small task. It’s convenient and hopeful to say ‘let’s switch to green energy,’ as if it’s a quick swap. It’s not that easy. That’s why, over the next 10 years, I want to make videos about sustainable, green, and regenerative economies. I also want to start an ecovillage to demonstrate what it’s like to live within planetary boundaries, through growing our own food, using green energy, and using the global economy as little as possible.”

The post Brian Hedden Leads Colorado’s Environmental Movement By Example appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Press Releases are provided to Yellow Scene. In an effort to keep our community informed, we publish some press releases in whole.

Message courtesy of Safe & Healthy Colorado.

I’m serving as one of two designated representatives for Safe & Healthy Colorado’s statewide ballot initiative campaign to phase out new fracking permits in Colorado by 2030. This is not just about protecting our environment; it’s about safeguarding the health and well-being of every Coloradan and securing a brighter, sustainable future for generations to come.

I became active in the fight to stop fracking 2019 after a massive site was moved from a predominately white affluent school to less than 700 feet from the playground of my son’s school, Bella Romero Academy, which is attended primarily by children from less wealthy families, the majority are people of color, and many are immigrants.

Unfortunately, today there are still wells at Bella Romero. That is why I am committed more than ever to end fracking in Colorado. Our children’s health and safety must be protected  and prioritized. I am currently serving as a member of the Safe & Healthy Colorado Steering Committee and I have volunteered to be a lead proponent for the ballot initiative to phase out fracking.

Oil and gas industry attorneys have challenged the language approved by the Colorado Title Board after two hearings that would allow us to gather signatures to place the initiative on the 2024 statewide ballot. Because the Title Board is part of the Secretary of State’s office, challenges go to the highest court in the state. We need to raise $20,000 to cover legal and administrative expenses.

Will you make a donation today to help us win this battle for a safer, healthier future?

Your generous donation will not only fund legal representation; it will empower us to take this historic effort the next step toward the 2024 ballot so voters can create tangible change toward a clean energy future.

By investing in this campaign, you are taking a stand for a safer and healthier Colorado. You are supporting efforts to preserve our precious land, purify our air, and safeguard our water resources. You ‘re actively participating in the development of a 21st-century economy, built on clean energy and sustainable practices.

Timing is crucial. Early donations like yours, have a tremendous impact on the rest of our campaign. They not only demonstrate widespread support but build momentum for the movement.

Please join us in this fight for a better tomorrow and learn more at safeandhealthyco.org.

Thank you for being an unwavering supporter and for your commitment to the protection and well-being of all of our children and our beautiful state. With your help, we can turn our vision of a Safe & Healthy Colorado into reality.

En Solidaridad,
Patricia Garcia-Nelson
Designated Representative
Safe and Healthy Colorado

Paid for by Safe and Healthy Colorado.

The post The Oil & Gas Industry is taking us to the Supreme Court this week! Please help us Phase Out Fracking By 2030! appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

 

 

More on the Acme Pad. 

Polis v Earth: Reckoning

You can sign the ballot initiative here. 

Colorado Activists Revive Anti-Fracking Ballot Iniative, New York Times

The post New 2500 Set-back measure collecting signatures for the ballot appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.