Returning to Paradise: Voices of the Human Spirit

"Returning to Paradise: The Preview" Oil Film will be released Later TODAY!

2011-01-24T02:18:00.002-06:00

EIU Team will release the preview to "Returning to Paradise" TODAY on TCPFilm's website (www.TCPFilms.com). The preview will highlight conversations with co-directors Cameron Craig and Zach Nugent about the project and present some of the footage and key interviews of residents across the Gulf coast.

The GEHD Team will be going back to Dauphin Island, Alabama on February 10-13 to complete a follow-up on the residents of the island before completing the documentary in March. The final release date of the full-length documentary film, "Returning to Paradise: Voices of the Human Spirit" will be on the one year anniversary of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Disaster, April 20, 2011.

Are you from the Gulf Coast? We want to Hear from You!

2010-07-06T12:06:00.002-05:00

This thread is for residents living along the Gulf Coast. We invite you to tell us your thoughts about the impact the oil disaster is having on your life and your surroundings. This is an important learning opportunity for students to understand more of what is happening to individual hard working families.

Thank you in advance!
Cameron Craig

GEHD Project Featured on WCIA-TV, Champaign, Illinois (June 17, 2010)

2010-07-04T12:30:00.000-05:00

http://illinoishomepage.net/fulltext?nxd_id=155435

GEHD Project excursion promotes new documentary: Returning to Paradise

2010-06-27T03:18:00.010-05:00

One week after the project team returned from the Gulf, Cameron Craig, geographer and documentarian, begins outlining the full-length documentary film entitled, "Returning to Paradise: Voices of the Human Spirit." The film, supported by the Department of Geology/Geography, Rho Chapter of Gamma Theta Upsilon, Tempestas et Caelum Productions, Center for Academic Technology Support, and private contributors, will be released this Fall. Watch the short trailer on YouTube or Vimeo.

WEIU-TV Features "Gulf Oil Spill Impact" June 21-25 with Zach Nugent

2010-06-27T03:05:00.002-05:00

Zach Nugent and Mike Gismondi edited the footage the team acquired over the weekend into a five-part series about the impact the oil spill had on Gulf residents. The topics included tourism, personal stories, and the impact hurricanes have on the oil spill. The series portrayed the excursion very well. Cameron Craig, project leader, was impressed with Mr. Nugent's and Mr. Gismondi's ability to explain the impact in the short form. You can watch these packages by using the links from WEIU.net.

The team greatly appreciates WEIUs Newswatch for featuring the project this week. Thank you!

GEHD Project Journal: Dauphin Island (June 20, 2010)

2010-06-27T02:26:00.003-05:00

[Copied from an original made during the excursion]

After a very long 13 hour journey to Baton Rouge, LA and an early wake-up call yesterday, we allowed for a slight sleep-in today before returning to Dauphin Island. We left New Orleans for the last time for Dauphin Island. The purpose of the return trip was to gather additional footage of the island and speak with a few more residents.

We arrived at Dauphin Island to see more people fishing and taking in the sun on the beaches. Our first visit was the East End where the ferry docks. Off shore we saw natural gas rigs and many boats. The shore was bustling with visitors engaged in water activities including swimming. The beaches were just opened two days before our arrival. It seemed as though nothing of an oil disaster ever occurred. We filmed wildlife and waterfowl for about an hour until we received a return call from council member Mary Thompson who received permission to talk to us from the Mayor of Dauphin Island. We met Ms. Thompson at the town hall and interview her about the impact of the oil spill on the island. She noted that prior to the oil spill there was a lack of consideration to renovate the beaches after Hurricane Katrina. Since the spill, there is better hope that their wishes will come true.

Thanking Mary for the interview we went to the Sea Lab to interview the expert about the impact the oil has on aquatic life. Unfortunately, the expert we were given information about was unavailable. Therefore, we went through the aquarium and acquired some interesting footage of Gulf aquatic sea life such as jellyfish, flounder, shark, and alligator.

We revisited the now bustling Lighthouse Bakery to acquire additional footage for Zach's news package and then left the island around 3pm to make our long journey back to the Midwest.

It was a very long night back to Terre Haute and Charleston arriving back at 5:30am in Terre Haute and 6:30am in Charleston. Exhausted from the intense weekend the team experienced a new perspective the impact of the oil spill had on the Gulf residents. Although we visited only a few locations, we learned that the impact of the oil spill on humanity along the Gulf coast is very much a serious and uncertain situation. We hope that our footage and interviews in the documentary film as well as the news packages that Zach and Mike work on at WEIU will provide Central Illinois an awareness of humanity's desire to adapt and return to a life of normalcy.

The excursion was an integrative learning opportunity that could not have been experienced in any other way. Had we not made the trip, we would still be unable to comprehend the impact on so many personal lives.

We greatly appreciate the support from our contributors who made it possible for us to make the trip to learn more about the impact and bring the individual stories back to Central Illinois and the students at Eastern Illinois University. Thank you!

GEHD Project Journal: Mobile Bay Area (June 19, 2010)

2010-06-27T00:38:00.006-05:00

[Copied from an original made during the excursion]

We began the day very early to make the 2.5 hour drive to Mobile, Alabama for our first destination, a flight over the bay area provided by the Civil Air Patrol. It was again a very hot and humid day with a very bright sky.

Once we got to the Downtown Airport, we were briefed on what the flight would entail and signed waivers releasing the CAP of liabilities. The plane was an single engine eight seater. Mike and A.J. sat behind the pilots, Zach on the left side behind them, and Cameron sat in the spot with the camera window. It got very warm very quickly. The feeling among the students was one of 'what have I gotten myself into.'

We took off and headed south to the Dauphin Island area which is situated to the southwest of the bay. Along the way, booms could be seen linking to a from the coast. Oil spill response vessels were scattered throughout the southern portion of the bay and around Dauphin Island. The pilot stated that some of the vessels were skimming oil remnants from the surface. We flew around Dauphin Island and observed mounds and mounds of sand along the western and southern beaches. It seemed that the western portion of the island was hardest it as video will show. We then flew across the bay and one could observe a slight sheen on the surface of the water to the south of the bay. Once on the eastern side of the bay, we turned north and did a 360 over Point Clear to see a resort take precautions on their own by placing three boom rings to protect their waterfront property should the oil migrate into the bay. This, however, would not be possible as five rivers from the mainland drain into the bay keeping the chances of oil in the Gulf. The only way that oil could move into the bay would be if a drought occurred reducing river flow and/or a hurricane that made landfall in the vicinity that would ultimately bring oil inland with its storm surge. We returned to the airport via Mobile.

Back on the ground, we spoke with the pilots about the response and asked for suggestions where to go next. One pilot told us about the Operation Command Center that was ground zero for the response for the Mobile Bay area. He said it was an amazing feeling that so many people went beyond the minimum to help. "The outpouring support is an overwhelming feeling that makes you feel proud," he stated as tears filled his eyes. "No one is hesitant to lend a hand." Since our cameras would not be allowed in the facility, we took their other suggestions. First, to Point Clear and then to Dauphin Island.

We drove around the bay to the affluent town, Point Clear. Situated on the point is a resort property called the Grand Hotel operated by Marriott. We arrived and parked across from the property and took a golf cart to the main entrance. The resort has a rustic setting, very ornate. It was bustling with many visitors and guests. Zach secured an interview with the Vice President of Sales and film him in the lounge. The VP accompanied us to the waterfront so that we could film footage of the booms. It was evident from the bustling feel of the resort that the impact of the oil on tourism on this side of the Bay was less than those locations on the southern and southwestern portions of the bay.

We left Point Clear to head toward Dauphin Island that is situated on the southwestern edge of the bay. A few miles from the island, we stopped at a gas station. While refreshing ourselves, we were approached by a man who came up to the window of the Jeep. "So you are with PBS?" he asked. "I listen to your radio programs. Are you here to cover the oil spill? You should talk with Mary who runs a bakery on the island. She is vocal about the impact and would be a great person to speak with." We found the number and called Mary. It was near closing but she stayed behind to allow us to interview her.

On approaching Dauphin Island on the 3.5 mile bridge we witnessed oil booms linked around sensitive areas. Response vessels we observed from above were scattered on both sides. Pelicans and various other birds were soaring across the landscape. We found the Lighthouse Bakery which is established in an early 1900s home. It has a very inviting feel about it, relaxing and calm. Mary came in and told us about the impact the oil spill has on the island. Visitors are less and vacationers that had reserved housing cancelled as the spill migrated toward the region leaving a somber feeling. After the interview, she provided us additional names and places to visit with other residents. One of which was a fish store. As we began to pack our equipment into the Jeep, she ran out with a box of wonderful cookies, pastries, and french bread! All her own recipes. We must say the cookies were heavenly!

We found the fish store and went in just before closing. The store was full of fresh fish and crabs. It was an awesome sight to be in reach of the freshest beauties of the sea because we are so used to frozen seafood here in the Midwest. We asked the owner if we could interview her or her husband about the fishing industry. "Sorry, if you came yesterday, we could have talked to you," she said reluctantly. "We are not to talk to the media because we are under contract with BP." We responded with understanding and left her with a comment of how wonderful it was to see so much fresh food.

Dauphin Island is a very tranquil place. There is no traffic light or outrageous traffic jams and only 1100 residents. There are eateries, shops, aquarium, beaches, ferry to the east side of the bay, homes, school, churches, parks, and kindness.

The time of day was quickly approaching evening and we drove toward the East End when we looked to the left at a red building identified as "ACP Inc." On the front porch were five people chatting with beer in hand. We parked and approached the porch without our equipment. "Good evening," we said. "We are from Eastern Illinois University and WEIU-TV in Charleston, Illinois and would like to get some comments from you about the oil spill for a project." "Sure." They responded with laughter. "Pull up a chair and have a beer." We appreciatively refused and set up our equipment. Of the five we interviewed four of them about the impact the oil spill had on the island. The fifth individual was a council member and requested that she not participate in the interview. The interview lasted about an hour and was the most engaging and educational experience for all of us on the team. There were moments when we empathized and felt a bit emotional about the impact the oil had on these individuals and their families. The interview yielded some wonder moments of both agreement and disagreement about the impact on tourism, life, using oil, and considering renewable energy.

After the interview, the council member took us to the west side of the island that had a checkpoint. We were allowed to pass and greatly appreciated the opportunity. Along the way, massive mounds of sand were piled several tens of feet to the south in order to protect the rest of the island from the possibility of oil. Massive dump trucks were also on hand to quickly move the contaminated sand off the island. We filmed the setting sun and sea gulls that had their nests scattered throughout the northern beaches. Some properties allowed their backyards of sand to be dug up to provide for the mountains of sand. The council member also said that it was the time of the year when the turtles began making their way to the beaches. Another reminder of the fragility of the natural environment that hopefully will not be highly impacted by the oil.

We left Dauphin Island at dusk to head back to New Orleans. As we traveled on the 3.5 mile bridge, we reflected on the last few hours. We all came to the conclusion that Dauphin Island was the story of focus and decided that we would return tomorrow to interview a few more people and visit the Sea Lab and beaches. We all had a feeling of awe. We were amongst the kindest and generous people, very inviting and extremely helpful. It will be a moment to remember for many years to come.

GEHD Project Journal: Grand Isle Excursion (June 18, 2010)

2010-06-20T03:02:00.001-05:00

[Disclaimer: Before we go further, we apologize ahead of time that some of the information learned from the project will not be divulged because we are trying to establish prior knowledge in the blog entry entitled, "What are your emotions concerning the disaster." It is important that we understand your thoughts and emotions of the disaster. Therefore, please provide your thoughts in the previous blog.]

Greetings from Louisiana! First, we apologize for the delay in getting back to our blog. Yesterday was a very long and busy day. We arrived in Baton Rouge at 7:30AM CDT to begin our first interview with a Veterinary Aquatic scientist at Louisiana State University. We were so excited that we were 1.5 hours early. The interview was extremely enlightening and educational. The discussion concerned the impact the spill has on aquatic life and how the impact influences our food chain. Aquatic life scientists are currently examining specimens to see how oil moves through the food chain.

We also had the privilege of speaking with the Earth Scan Laboratory about the methods that they use in acquiring, analyzing, and disseminating satellite imagery of the oil spill. (A long-time colleague of mine from Indiana State University Climate Laboratory was instrumental in setting up the opportunity, thanks!) The lab uses satellite imagery to show the current position of the oil spill. My senior seminar at Eastern Illinois University asked several questions concerning the impact a hurricane has on the oil spill. The lab is well known for its involvement with analyzing Hurricane Katrina as well as other events that impacted the Gulf Coast. From our discussion with the Lab, it is highly possible that hurricanes can cause increased damage to the coast in that it will push storm surge well into the inland areas. Rather than having oil at the coasts edge, it could reach several miles inland depending on the strength of the hurricane and/or the height of the storm surge.

We moved on to New Orleans where we first had a moment of civility (i.e. freshening up). Exhausted and tired from the previous overnight drive, we trekked on to the southern portion of Louisiana that we highly impacted by the oil spill, Grand Isle. It is a very long two hour drive with most of it being over aquatic wetlands. The landscape is absolutely awe inspiring.

Again, we are withholding our specific findings until we can establish prior knowledge. You can find those results on Tuesday. Thank you for your understanding.

Readers Input: What are your emotions concerning the disaster?

2010-06-20T00:58:00.002-05:00

We invite you to explain your thoughts and emotions about the human and/or environmental impacts the oil spill is having along the Gulf coast. What are the specific details about the disaster that are troubling you?

This discussion is probably the most important component of our blog as we want to understand your perception of the spill.

GEHD Project Begins after a Great Day of Media

2010-06-18T01:52:00.001-05:00

The team left Charleston, IL at 7pm CDT, Thursday, June 17, 2010.
Currenly it is 1:38am and we just passed the Mississippi state line.
It should take us approximately six hours more to get to our first
stop in Baton Rouge, LA to interview an expert on the impact an oil
spill has on aquatic life and on the human consumption of seafood.

We are doing well after a full day of media interviews from which the
students are still glowing.

We want to conclude with a very special thanks to those very special
individuals and organizations that helped provide support in very
unique ways today and this week! Thank you for your continued interest
and support in our projects!

Cheers until Dawn!

Readers Input: What was the number one cause of this oil spill?

2010-06-15T23:07:00.003-05:00

We are reading, watching, and listening to many interviews and reports about the effects of the oil spill but what is the number one cause of the spill? Is it just one company, one industry, or one individual? Or, is it mechanical? Think about the cause and provide us with your thoughts.

Supporters of the GEHD Project

2010-06-12T23:20:00.012-05:00

The participants of the GEHD Project would like to thank the following for their generous financial support of the project:

Department of Geology/Geography

Tempestas et Caelum Productions

Gamma Theta Upsilon, Rho Chapter

Center for Academic Technology Support

John Paul Stimac and Lisa New Freeland

Moffett R. Craig

Anonyous

Jean Dodds

WEIU-TV

Thank you for providing an Integrative Learning opportunity for our students and colleagues!

Discussion: Images from the Gulf

2010-06-12T00:35:00.006-05:00

You have seen the images from the Gulf coast showing wildlife in great distress. What is your opinion about the media publishing images like these?

Images from National Geographic: Gulf Oil Spill Pictures: Birds, Fish, Crabs Coated

Readers Input: Impact of the Gulf Oil Spill

2010-06-11T19:24:00.002-05:00

In your opinion, what are the impacts of the Gulf oil spill disaster on East Central Illinois? If you reside outside of East Central Illinois, we want to read your thoughts on this issue. Be sure to indicate your geographic location when providing your thoughts.