The Breach Continues Its Message

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Our friend Mark Titus, whose wild salmon film The Breach, was featured in the magazine, filed this update:

Season of Salmon – Season of Lights

The winter rains have come and with them the salmon.  Kids marvel at the return of late-fall Chum and Coho into our urban creeks and streams.  All of us do.  When you watch these large fish in small water attempting to fulfill their life’s mission and truly think about what they’ve gone through to get here, it borders on the mystical.   Life finds a way.

 

I want to thank you for your continued support and encouragement of this film that somehow found its way into the world.  I’ve had quite a few queries lately on where folks can get it to give as a gift or to watch it over the holidays.  Well, you can access The Breachin all its current formats right now through our very own website by clicking right here:  SHARE THE BREACH

 

We’re going to have some exciting news to report in the next newsletter (the last of 2015, before the holidays.)  Here’s a peek:  First, The Breach is partnering with several esteemed organizations doing vital work for wild salmon, sustainable food and the planet.  We’re going to have the opportunity to push the film out through their channels while simultaneously raising funds for their important work.  Second, we’ve got a new streamlined, news-packed website heading your way before the holidays – complete with a page to get some cool Wild Salmon/Breach gear.  Stay tuned.

 

The Time is Now

Wild Salmon have been all over the news lately.  The work to protect them for future generations is more urgent now than it’s ever been:

 

Bristol Bay

After President Obama visited Bristol Bay this September, the corporation behind the proposed Pebble Mine ratcheted up their efforts to stall and derail the EPA from protecting Bristol Bay.  They are spending millions in lobbying efforts, commercials and hiring outside consultants to testify to Congress on their behalf. 

You can watch all three hours of this testimony right here:  TESTIMONY

 

 

If you’d like a taste of what’s at stake in Bristol Bay, watch this stunning drone footage over Lake Illiamna, filmed this last summer by Jason Ching of the University of Washington – click here:  WATCH

 

Genetically Engineered Salmon

You may have heard about this in the news.  Weeks ago, the United States FDA approved a corporation’s version of genetically engineered farmed salmon for US markets.  Under current laws, these so-called “Frankenfish” would not be required to be labeled as genetically modified when sold to consumers.  Representatives Don Young from Alaska and Peter DeFazio from Oregon have introduced House Bill HR 913 – the “Genetically Engineered Food Right-to-Know Act.”  If you feel this is an important issue, please write your legislators and tell them.  You can read an Op-Ed about this by Representatives Young and DeFazio right here:  READ NOW

 

Now the Good News – Medals of Freedom

Two vitally important characters in The Breach and titanic heroes to the people, waters and salmon of the Pacific Northwest were awarded our nation’s highest civilian honor.  Bill Ruckelshaus, first head of the EPA was awarded the medal by the president in person – and members of Billy Frank Jr.’s family accepted the posthumous award on his behalf.  Deep admiration and sincere congratulations to these two men and their families.  You can read about it right here:  HEROES

 

We keep our Facebook feed up-to-date regularly with wild salmon news.  You can like our page and follow along by clicking right here:  FACEBOOK

 

Coming Up

News about upcoming screenings and new ways The Breach will be shared across the country are coming up in a special message  just before the holidays.  For now, enjoy this time with your friends and family as we wind toward the winter solstice and the promise of new life in the streams and creeks wild salmon call home.  And remember to #eatwildsavewild by insisting on wild salmon at your local markets and restaurants.  It makes a huge difference.

 

Thank you again for your passion and support.  I’d especially like to thank David James Duncan again for his powerful words at the bottom of this page.  I thought them appropriate to pass along to you now in this season of salmon…season of lights…

 

In Wildness,

 

Mark

 

From David James Duncan…

 

The Breach sings the wild salmon like Whitman once sang the folk life and burgeoning streets of America’s cities. The Breach roars the truth that when our thousand rivers and rills are stripped of their salmon, we are all bankrupted – tribes, towns, animals, trees, flowers, all facing a horrendous desolation and dearth and theft of the shared sacred. When our rivers are stripped by ignorance, greed, and apathy, our culture is robbed, our children are robbed, all humanity is robbed of a compass bearing, a great holiness, an ancient craft that Christ Himself practiced. As the father of three kids to whom I’d love to pass down the faith that all beings are holy, I find the silence of salmonless rivers very hard to bear. So, as The Breach so beautifully suggests, let us find the loss unbearable, stand up together, and stop those who would steal away this great gift.  This film shows us the way to keep the Gift coming.

 

www.thebreachfilm.com