Press release:
Surprise Flashmob Greets American Pellet Fuels Institute Conference Goers and Guests at Asheville’s Grove Park Inn
Parody of Talking Head’s song and coordinated dance playfully pokes fun at Enviva and Drax for their role in forest destruction in the South
Asheville, N.C. – In the early evening of July 24, as attendees were arriving at the American Pellet Fuels Institute Conference at the Grove Park Inn in Asheville, a spontaneous Flashmob broke into song and dance playfully criticizing key conference goers Enviva and Drax for their role in the logging and damage to precious forests across the Southern United States.
The group sang revised lyrics to the Talking Head’s “Burning Down the House,” which they titled “Burning Down the Forest.” The goal of the event was to highlight how some of the largest companies at the conference have been actively clearcutting forests across the Southern U.S. to turn them into wood pellets and ship them to Europe to be burned for electricity at the expense of our forests, climate, and rural communities.
“Our forests provide clean air, fresh drinking water, a place for spiritual renewal, and habitat for wildlife,” said Rita Frost, one of the flashmobbers who took part in the event. “I hope that industrial wood pellet companies like Enviva and Drax hear our message loud and clear – our forests are not fuel!”
The fun event caught the attention of conference participants and guests alike as they stood by and watched the song and dance number unfold. As the conference kicks off, this will give attendees pause to think more critically about the impact this newly burgeoning industry has on people, wildlife and the planet.
You can watch a clip from the routine here and the full video will be available in the coming weeks:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMt-TA8kBEg&feature=youtu.be
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