National Sacrifice Zone:
Colorado and the Cost of Energy Independence
By Kurt Gutjahr
The Center of the American West was proud to host this screening of National Sacrifice Zone: Colorado and the Cost of Energy Independence, Joe Brown's documentary about energy development on the Western Slope. After the final credits had rolled, the Center brought the house lights up on Reeves Brown of the Western Slope advocacy organization Club 20, Pam Eaton of the Wilderness Society, and Marc Smith of IPAMS of the Independent Petroleum Association of Mountain States to join Joe Brown in a lively and thought-provoking panel discussion about the issues raised by the film. The evening captured all the Center stands for: an even-handed conversation among people who hold a variety of views. We may not have come to a final agreement on the complicated issue, but everyone - speakers and audience members alike - conceded enough space to establish common ground. We'd like to thank our participants for their willingness to enter into this forum and our audience for being a part of this exciting exchange of ideas.