The Sierra Club’s Michigan Chapter and Grand Valley State University’s School of Communications are joining forces tonight to screen a film that they hope will educate a whole new generation about environmental issues and motivate students to join the fight for a healthy environment.

“The Sierra Club has been consistently on the front lines fighting for clean water and air and protecting wilderness in Michigan,” said Gail Philbin, assistant director of the Sierra Club Michigan Chapter. “It isn’t afraid to fight for what’s right. Its members are passionate, committed people from all walks of life. It’s a great organization, and I’m proud to work for it.”

The film, “Gasland”, is about “fracking,” a method of extracting natural gas deep in the earth that ends up polluting the water and air.

“It’s a serious issue that everyone should be concerned about, especially students, because they will inherit this earth,” Philbin said. “They are at a time in their lives when they have the energy and idealism needed to fight the good fight.”

The Sierra Club was founded in 1892 and is one of the oldest and largest grassroots environmental organizations in the country. There are more than 1.3 million members and supporters nationwide, all whom are volunteers. The group seeks to protect ecosystems and natural resources for people to be able to enjoy today and for future generations.

“We’re the ones who rallied people back in the ’60s to protest and ultimately kill a plan to flood the Grand Canyon,” Philbin said. “We are also responsible in Michigan for protecting what is now Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore in the ’70s.”

Gail’s husband John Philbin, assistant professor of film and video at GVSU and coordinator for this event, said he discovered the Sierra Club when he was living in California in the ’80s, and that the club was full of kindred spirits for the great outdoors.

“These days everyone spends a lot of time on their computers and cell phones, but one only needs to venture out into the wilderness to have a transformative experience,” John said. John Philbin and John Schmit, a professor in the school of communications at GVSU, plan on taking students on a hiking trip this summer.

“The Sierra Club is a great organization to point students in the right direction to give the great outdoors a try,” Schimt said. “Along the way, there will be opportunities to learn about protecting the natural environment so we can enjoy it now and others can enjoy it in the future.”

The 70-minute film will be followed by a question and answer session. They will put the issue of “fracking” in context and talk about what the Sierra Club is doing to stop it.

“Films have the power to reach large audiences, educate people and create change,” John said.

“The ’60s and ’70s were an exciting time for the environment and we got a lot done, but now we need another infusion of energy and passion. It’s time to pass the torch to a new generation,” Gail said.

“Gasland” will be screened tonight from 7 to 9 in Loosemore Auditorium on the Pew Campus. For more information about the Sierra Club and how you can get involved visit www.michigan.sierraclub.org.

bledtke@lanthorn.com