Sand, Sun, Oil & Gas traces the more-than-a-century history of coastal oil and gas development along the Santa Barbara Channel with particular emphasis on the 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill.
“This documentary, which debuted in January 2007, provides comments from major figures involved in reporting of and protection from oil and gas effects for the past 40 years. These experts clearly state that whatever oil and gas proponents say about their projects, the fact is that oil and gas development is inherently polluting,” Bridgers said. “And the historical facts clearly bear that out,” she added.
The documentary includes historic visuals of early oil wells and the 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill contributed by numerous sources including the estates of Robert Easton and Dick Smith and by KEYT-TV in Santa Barbara. Music for the documentary has been composed by Michael de Martino. “Earth Alert is extremely grateful for the cooperation that was offered on this project,” Bridgers said.
The documentary debuted to a standing-room only free public presentation at the Santa Barbara on January 9, 2007, at the Santa Barbara Library and in Oxnard on January 10 at the Oxnard Public Library. The presentations were followed by discussion of coastal protection efforts’ relevance to local, state and global communities.
“The work on this documentary began with the ‘Heroes of the Coast’ project to record oral histories of the state’s leading coastal activists. “We’ve reached the point where the major activists from the time of the oil spill, and the passage of Prop 20, which created the Coastal Act, are elderly. Some have died, are ill, or have retired and moved away,” said Janet Bridgers, the documentary’s producer. “This project honors their contributions, with the hope that it will help inspire renewed commitment to the coast.”
The project was largely funded by a grant from the California Council for the Humanities, with additional funding provided by the Los Padres Chapter of the Sierra Club and Ormond Beach Observers.
Videos produced by Earth Alert:
Heroes of the Coast — the Documentary
Sand Sun Oil + Gas
Ormond Wetland Wonderland
Sharing the Santa Barbara Channel
Stories of the Spill
