Catalyst Communication Services

04/30/2023

Call on Idaho Senators to support the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho and a solution to pollution from massive mountain top removal coal mines in Canada. An indigenous led international watershed board could lead the way!

The Kootenai Tribe of Idaho has joined a group of First Nations and Tribes in calling on Canadian officials to address the impact of industrial mining on waterways in historic tribal lands.

01/23/2023

Stewart Udall: The Politics of Beauty -- a new and beautiful film that examines the life of a man who fostered the dawn of the American environmental movement. As Secretary of the Interior in the 1960's, Udall laid the groundwork for some of the most important environmental laws and policies that we rely on today.
He was the first public official to speak out about global warming and was known for his ability to work with adversaries to accomplish important goals. He was responsible for the Wild & Scenic Rivers Act which protected the Middle Fork Salmon River in Idaho (a big-time favorite of mine) and others.
This wonderful film will screen at the Department of Interior in Washington DC on January 31st, 2pm. I'm honored to be part of the team for this film. Please join us in DC, and share with your friends and colleagues!

Stewart Udall & The Politics of Beauty For more on how to watch this feature length documentary go to www.StewartUdallFilm.org

01/15/2023

By Jennifer Ekstrom Reader Contributor We have some pretty amazing wild spaces up here in North Idaho. Massive lakes. Sparkling rivers. Diverse landscapes ranging from rainforests to rocky crags. And peat bogs. Yes, peat...

01/15/2023

https://sandpointreader.com/coolin-development-threatens-rare-peat-bog-at-priest-lake/

By Jennifer Ekstrom Reader Contributor We have some pretty amazing wild spaces up here in North Idaho. Massive lakes. Sparkling rivers. Diverse landscapes ranging from rainforests to rocky crags. And peat bogs. Yes, peat...

07/31/2022

We're delighted to be on the team for the film, Stewart Udall and the Politics of Beauty. The film highlights the legacy of Stewart Udall, a visionary who worked tirelessly for the expansion of federal public lands, national parks, national monuments, recreation areas, historic sites, and wildlife refuges.

He was also an effective leader fighting greed, and racial and social injustice.

As a Congressman and then as Secretary of the Interior, his example of getting important work done through camaraderie can inspire us all. In these polarized times, his example is needed more than ever.

To finish the film, we launched a Kickstarter campaign. Please check it out and if the mood strikes you, please support and choose your reward.

John de Graaf's feature-length documentary on the inspirational life, achievements, and lasting environmental impact of Stewart Udall.

03/13/2022

02/22/2022

Quick Action!

Help stop the Coastal Gaslink pipeline from being built in northern British Columbia, across unceded Wet’suwet’en territory. This pipeline and associated Kitimat Port development would be the most expensive fracked gas development in Canadian history.

It would lock in decades of increased fracking and exporting of volatile gas through dangerous and sensitive waterways. Increased exports will line the pockets of a few fat cats and leave communities and First Nations high and dry, with all the risk and pollution to deal with for decades.

Join the action! It takes just 5 seconds. Thanks to Stand.earth!






Wetsuweten Strong

The Coastal Gaslink fracked gas pipeline is financed by 27 banks. Over 100 non-governmental organizations have demanded that these banks defund the Coastal Gaslink pipeline. Sign this petition to join them and pressure these banks to stop funding the violation of Indigenous rights and defund climate...

01/19/2022

Wow, look at those colors! It’s a concerning stormwater outfall near a sewage treatment plant into Lake Pend Oreille.

Find out more in the upcoming film for Lake Pend Oreille Waterkeeper …

Working with .fullerton on this important piece that illuminates the impacts of under-regulated growth and development.

01/18/2022

A flood of newcomers and unprecedented development are creating challenges for small, beautiful towns across the west.

Sandpoint, Idaho and the communities of Lake Pend Oreille are no exception. People are flocking to this magnificent area in droves. The migration can cause terrible problems for water quality, especially in places like Idaho which takes pride in having minimal regulation on development.

See how one community and Lake Pend Oreille Waterkeeper are working to get ahead of the problems, in an upcoming short film we are working on with , Jimmy Matlosz, Mitchell Fullerton and Scott Rulander.

Check out the trailer here!

This is "Lake Pend Oreille Waterkeeper Film Trailer" by Catalyst Communication Services on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love…

10/16/2021

Hundreds of indigenous, faith, environmental and social justice leaders descend on the White House calling on President Biden to stop new fossil fuel projects. Thousands of people joined the week-long protest and over five hundred were arrested.

The demands include:
1) stop crude oil exports

2) no new fossil fuel leases on public lands

3) no new fossil fuel infrastructure.

The US is a net total fossil fuel energy exporter, meaning we exploit more than we need.

07/28/2021

What an honor for Jennifer Ekstrom to be a featured filmmaker of Wild & Scenic Film Festival! This fest really empowers environmental filmmakers to get their stories out and achieve their films' goals!

This is a great time to watch our latest film, Rise Beyond Gold, available at catalystcommunication.org, and get inspired to help stop the !

Who are you? (where are you from, where do you live, why did you get into film, whatever you want to tell us really) After growing up in eastern Washington, I’ve been happy to call Nevada City home since 2015. I moved here the year after I published my first film, and was delighted to […]

06/02/2021

The Idaho Maryland gold mine might re-open in Nevada County, CA. This area was at the heart of the gold rush, which brought droves of people to California in the late 1800's. Since the mine closed in the 1950's, town has grown in around its remnants.

View the workshop hosted by Wild & Scenic Film Festival to learn all about the situation, then let Nevada County Supervisors know what you think!

The film that inspired the workshop is Rise Beyond Gold. Find the full film and watch it free at catalystcommunication.org
Jennifer Ekstrom The Sierra Fund MineWatch - Stop the Idaho Maryland Mine MineWatch Nevada County Shelly Covert California Heritage: Indigenous Research Project

Watch this WSFF Workshop: "Mining Gold Again in Nevada County?" -- Originally recorded live Saturday, January 23, 2021, during the 19th annual Wild & Scenic Film Festival.

https://youtu.be/Kw-NF85XlYo

Join Nevada County leaders and conservation activists as they discuss the proposed reopening of Idaho Maryland Mine and offer actions you can take now to help prevent it. This proposal by a foreign corporation is the topic of the film, Rise Beyond Gold, which premiers in the "Local Love" film session. This workshop explores the impacts the community would face if Nevada County allows the mine to open. It offers insights from trusted community leaders, highlights ways to stay informed, and includes tips for influencing decision-makers. Pascale Fusshoeller, esteemed editor of YubaNet and 21-year veteran of the Nevada County news scene, will moderate the panel featuring:

Jennifer Ekstrom - Filmmaker, Rise Beyond Gold
Pascale Fusshoeller - Moderator, Editor of YubaNet
Ralph Silberstein - Community Environmental Advocates Foundation
Mike Shea - Impacted Property Owner from Mine
Shelly Covert - Secretary, Community Outreach, and Spokesperson, Nevada City Rancheria Nisenan Tribal Council / California Heritage: Indigenous Research Project
Izzy Martin - CEO, The Sierra Fund

MineWatch - Stop the Idaho Maryland Mine