Past: Film Screening of 'Shawnee Showdown' documentary July 27 Murphysboro

Shawnee Showdown: Keep the Forest Standing, free film screening 7PM, July 27

The film, by SIUC Arts and Media professor Cade Bursell, retraces the battle over commercial logging within the Shawnee National Forest for more than three decades. In the face of climate change, activists are once again asking tough questions about current and proposed logging in Alexander, Hardin, Jackson, Johnson and Pope counties in Southern Illinois and public land use in general.

With the effects of climate change intensifying (massive worldwide heatwaves) and the knowledge that mature forests sequester more carbon, why not keep the Shawnee National Forest and other Forest Service lands standing as regional carbon sinks? Will our Illinois and central hardwood forest treasures be despoiled? How do we keep the forest standing? Learn more about the proposed Shawnee National Park & Climate Preserve and how it could be a game-changer for Southern Illinois and the nation.

Following the screening there will be a panel discussion and Q&A with environmental activists who participated in the protests and who remain active to this day. They will share information on proposed and ongoing logging projects in the Shawnee, including sites around Kinkaid Lake, and what you can do.

For more information and to view the film trailer visit: https://www.shawneeforestdefense.org or email shawneeforestdefense@gmail.com.