A Lawyer Proposes a Middle Way

In the summer of 2018, we began a journey to produce an independent documentary about an iconic environmental lawyer, Jim Blackburn. Semi-retired now and teaching environmental law at Rice University, Jim wrote a book called “A Texas Plan for the Texas Coast,” that describes a way to approach the powers that be in Texas, those that control the most egregious impacts on our environment, and then convince them that sustainability is something they can embrace…a big lift in a state that worships the oil industry.

We Discover a Man Equal Parts Inspirational and Quirky   

The deeper we dig and shoot, Jim emerges as a perfect subject. When he speaks, he excites his audiences with geeky facts and figures that promise a solution to global warming, and at the same time, he touches their spirit through his poetry about the Earth Church, a series of poems about the natural world. When the Pandemic isolated us all in our homes, the series blossomed into daily emails Jim called the “Virus Vigil”. 

Our Film Takes Shape

The film has evolved into examinng Jim and his ideas through three primary facets of his work: EcoServices, EcoTourism, and Spiritiuality. EcoServices will include presenting his carbon market programs such as The Texas Coastal Exchange and BCarbon. EcoTourism promotes increased focus on the wonders of nature preserved. Because they are nearby to many centers of population in Texas, promoting their protection and recognition will increase visits and public understanding and concern for the environment.