Posted on 08/20/2006 8:51:59 AM PDT by SmithL
Can Indiana Jones rescue Hetch Hetchy Valley from its watery Temple of Doom?
No sooner did the California Department of Water Resources issue a report concluding it would cost between $3 billion and $10 billion to drain the Hetch Hetchy reservoir and replace San Francisco's water and power supply than never-say-never environmentalists enlisted action hero actor Harrison Ford to their daunting cause.
The 64-year-old Ford flew his own plane into Tuolumne County this past week, then drove to Hetch Hetchy in Yosemite National Park to shoot a bit of added footage and commentary for the 19-minute Environmental Defense documentary, "Discover Hetch Hetchy." The short film, which has already premiered at a Nevada City film festival, also features the likes of former U.S Secretary of Interior Don Hodel and state Assemblywoman Lois Wolk, D-Davis.
Jennifer Witherspoon of Environmental Defense, which has been leading the charge to restore Hetch Hetchy, said Ford was tapped for the role because he is "really dedicated to protecting and restoring important natural places around the world."
But Tony Winnicker, spokesman for the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, whose 2.4 million customers rely on the Hetch Hetchy for their drinking water, had a very different take on Ford's involvement: "As an actor best known for starring in major fantasy and science fiction movies, appearing in a film about draining the Hetch Hetchy sounds like a role right up his alley."
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
They should get to fund raising then. Why should I pay for their attempts to feel good?
You've obviously never seen "The Mosquito Coast" or "Witness" then.
Interesting.
Ditto. He may be a lefty in the real world, but he's an excellent actor.
Just a thought...why couldn't they have had Harry as the lead in "Snakes On A Plane" instead of Samuel Jackson?
I watched WORKING GIRL and THE FUGITIVE last week. I swear, he could have been the same character in each role.
Why? B/c they're "the Annointed" while we're merely the lumpenproletariat,that's why.
Just a modest proposal:
Drain Hetch Hetchy.
Dam and fill Yosemite.
Every generation, switch...
Never trust a 64 year old male who sports earrings...
Ford does what John Wayne always advocated his acting was--it's all in the raising of the eyebrows, and really just saying the lines.
Draining San Fagsisco's water supply sounds like a good idea??
Wonder how many tons of Blood for Oil he burned in his Gulfstream to make this film?? Can you say enviro-hypocrite?
Pray for W and Our Troops
That's just the beginning...
Imagine paying for a new supply of water to accomodate 4-6,000,000 people, in an atmosphere of almost total technical environmental ignorance, hamstrung by environmental regulations that will require 20 years and billions$ additional?
Not to expose my hopelessly cynical but historically justified side, but I do hope that the new water supply is in place before destroying the perfectly good existing one. Perhaps there will be an epidemic of human reason and, realizing that in one of the world's most populated and seismically active earthquake areas, perhaps having a backup system might be wise.
Or not.
It makes me all warm and fuzzy thinking about it.
What is it with these actors anyway? Let's trace the "thought" process. "I have all the money I could ever want. Anything material or service is at my disposal. What are my choices in life? Strung-out junkie or environmentalist." For current and former A-list actors, it's about 50-50 between junkie and environmentalist. I guess it's too much work to go find a hobby.
The king of One Dimensional has to be Patrick Swayze (sp?), though...
Harrison Ford has often appeared to be drunk at awards and other shows. Maybe he's a strung-out junkie AND an environmental activist!
No joke, a single cross-country chartered jet trip burns more fuel than your car does in 5 years. Funny I don't see ole Harry and Robert Redford living in the sticks and surviving on acorns but they expect it from you.
(No more Olmert! No more Kadima! No more Oslo!)
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