Texas Gold (2008)

This is a portrait of Diane Wilson, a shrimper from Seadrift, Texas, who became an activist fighting pollution along Highway 185. Calhoun County is now the nation's most polluted area, dominated by giant petrochemical companies. Wilson has used hunger strikes to pressure these companies to change their practices, and she famously confronted Dow/Union Carbide by entering their plant and displaying a banner. The film shows life in Seadrift – a struggling town with a deserted main street, a casualty of the declining fishing industry. Interviews with experts discuss Texas's environmental policies since George W. Bush was governor. We also see Wilson's satirical commercial highlighting the poor quality of the local water, dubbed "Texas Gold." Throughout, Wilson embodies both resilience and optimism.