The nuclear disaster at Fukushima, Japan, had a profound effect in the small state of Vermont, as it occurred in the midst of a years-long citizens’ campaign to close down an aging problem-plagued nuclear power plant located on the banks of the Connecticut River in southern Vermont.
Filmed over five years by director Robbie Leppzer, Power Struggle portrays a heated political battle to shut down the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant. The film follows the unfolding drama as citizen activists and elected state officials—alarmed at increasing safety violations—take on the federal government and one of the biggest power companies in the U.S. to achieve a rare grassroots environmental victory.
Power Struggle captures perspectives on all sides of the controversy, including from local residents both for and against nuclear power, elected officials (including U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders and Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin), nuclear engineer Arnie Gundersen, a Vermont Yankee spokesperson, federal nuclear regulators, and the legendary activist Frances Crowe.
Power Struggle is a timely, inspiring story of democracy in action; about whether citizens’ voices will be heard against big moneyed interests, and what people are doing to make a difference for a sustainable energy future.
Power Struggle puts nuclear power and the long-term hazards of radioactive waste on the radar screen for current debates about environmental protection and the ethical impact of technology on our society. It is one of the only films that links nuclear power and the climate justice movement.
RECOMMENDED SUBJECT AREAS
Political Science • Politics & Government • Sociology • Environmental Studies • Sustainability • Energy Policy • Climate Change • Renewable Energy • Law Studies • Contemporary Social Movements • Social Change • Philosophy of Nonviolence • Science and Technology • American Studies • Communication • Documentary Film Studies • Journalism • Media and Contemporary Culture
DOWNLOAD PDF FLYER FOR EDUCATORS
http://vizcom.org/turningtide/POWER_STRUGGLE_-_Flyer_for_Educators.pdf
FREE PREVIEWS FOR EDUCATORS AND LIBRARIANS
To request a free preview of the film for evaluation purposes, please email filmmaker Robbie Leppzer: robbie@TurningTide.com.
FILMMAKER AVAILABLE TO SPEAK
Filmmaker Robbie Leppzer is available to speak with POWER STRUGGLE on colleges campuses and at high schools to participate in a classroom or large forum Q & A with students — either in person or via an online video link such as Zoom or Skype. In addition, he can present a retrospective of his documentary films chronicling 40 years of grassroots social change activism. For more information about Robbie Leppzer’s college speaking programs and previous social issue documentaries, download:
http://vizcom.org/turningtide/Turning_Tide_Films_Catalog_-_Winter_2021.pdf
To inquire about an online or in-person speaking presentation or classroom Q & A, please email filmmaker Robbie Leppzer: robbie@TurningTide.com.