Dear friends, welcome to another November Thanksgiving issue of BIC Magazine. As always, we want to begin by thanking God, our family, friends, staff, readers, marketing partners and suppliers for blessing us with the opportunity to use BIC Magazine and our networking events to help connect folks in business, industry and our community with each other for the betterment of all. As I look back at all the exciting news we have covered, events we have co-sponsored or attended in 2014 and what lies ahead during the remainder of 2014, I am especially thankful for the kindness and support we have had not only this year but also for the past 30-plus years.
Also, as we look at some of the developments unfolding globally and across America I am very proud we live in a country where freedom of speech, freedom of the press and freedom of religion are still part of our heritage and our Bill of Rights. I want to stress, however, there are forces globally and, yes, even here in America that are seeking to destroy our lives and our freedoms and are using the freedom of speech and freedom of the press to serve their own agendas. In fact, if you look closely at websites like www.topdocumentaries.com, you will find over 130 documentaries about the environment, most of which reflect negatively on the energy sector.
This negativity toward the energy sector isn’t new but is actually getting worse with feature films like Matt Damon’s movie “Promised Land” and the documentary “Gasland” by environmental activist and filmmaker Josh Fox. Both of these movies and many others are being funded and produced by individuals and organizations that are more interested in ending the use of fossil fuel and eliminating fracking entirely than in making America less dependent on foreign oil or finding a rational middle. “Promised Land,” for example, was partially funded by AD Media, a company owned by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Government, an OPEC member. UAE has invested billions attempting to shore up its share of the plastics and chemical industry.
The Independent Petroleum Association of America (IPAA) has taken a leading role in addressing the misinformation in movies like “Promised Land” and “Gasland,” including producing “Truthland.” This is also a global issue because misinformation and negative media have caused France and several other countries in Europe to prohibit fracking. Also, some in the media have stated the Cold War isn’t over, and Russia is supporting no fracking in Europe through negative media and film campaigns. Of course, Russia and many of the OPEC countries want Europe and America to be more dependent on oil from them, so funding environmental activists and negative movies about fracking are part of their strategic planning and marketing strategy.
At BIC Alliance, we strive to be at the forefront of ensuring not only those in the energy sector but also those in our community and our government get to know the positive things going on in the energy and industrial sector. But trade publications alone will not be enough to compete for top-of-mind awareness across America and beyond. Recently, we created a new “Energy and Media” section in BIC Magazine so we could share with our readers, our community and our governmental regulators and elected officials about movies and documentaries like “Energy At the Movies,” “American Made Movie,” the Rational Middle® Energy Series (funded by Shell and produced by Gregory Kallenberg) that we featured in our September issue and “FrackNation,” which we are featuring in our “Energy and Media” section of this issue. Also, in our effort to better serve and connect our North American and global readers with each other we have expanded our website BICMagazine.com and our digital capability to provide more energy news and informational and educational videos.
Also, we are expanding beyond our print and digital capability by expanding BIC Media Solutions to offer more online books and into funding, co-producing and helping market and promote movies and documentaries that are inspirational, family and faith friendly, patriotic or educational.
We have also found not only are the oil companies and energy organizations beginning to fund educational and informational movies but the business and industry entrepreneurs, executives and investors are also beginning to invest in the movie industry. But print and movies are not enough. We also need events where who’s who in energy can get together to learn from each other and network. Some of you may remember BIC Alliance was among the first publishing firms in America to produce energy and environmental trade shows and energy investment conferences when we introduced Ind-Viro Expo and the Ind-Viro Business Conferences in the 1990s. So in addition to investing in films, we are also expanding our energy, investments and film event sponsorships and production. In October, BIC Media Solutions sponsored the New Sources of Film Investment panel at the New Orleans Film Festival, bringing in speakers from business and industry who have begun investing in the film industry. Also in October, BIC Alliance, along with Economic Alliance Houston Port Region, sponsored an Industrial Procurement Networking Breakfast. Look for coverage of both events in the December/January issue of BIC.
Recently, my partner Thomas Brinsko attended a complimentary screening of “FrackNation” sponsored by our BIC Alliance marketing partners at Bowen, Miclette & Britt and the folks at James E. Bashaw & Co. with about 100 other guests. Thomas was so impressed by the movie and the level of interest from the guests, he suggested I watch the movie, which I did, and I was very impressed.
We will sponsor screenings of our newest feature length film “A Gift Horse” in Baton Rouge Nov. 9 and Jackson, Mississippi, Nov. 16. BIC Alliance will sponsor showings of “FrackNation” in the coming months and will announce dates and locations at a later date.
Now let’s talk about some of the interesting articles that appear in the November issue of BIC. We feature insight from Mark Phair, vice president and general manager of the Valero Wilmington Refinery; Burt Hurlock, CEO of Azima DLI; and Ross E. Eisenberg, vice president of energy and resources policy at the National Association of Manufacturers. We also hear from a panel of petrochemical leaders and one of transportation experts on the challenges of their expanding industries.
Additionally, you will find the “best of” on-the-job info for contractor and plant turnaround success, emergency management, safety and more. We also include information on Founder and former CEO of AltairStrickland Jerry Strickland’s newly released book, “Turnarounds: A Life of Inspiring Change.” BIC Alliance has joined Jerry in helping to promote The Wheelhouse, a bare bones living environment that offers help to alcohol addicted men.
In closing, I want to share one last bit of Thanksgiving news that will help all of us stay better connected nationally and globally. As a way of saying Happy Thanksgiving and as a token of our appreciation for your kindness and support over the years, we are working on the link so you can access a free download of our popular book, “Earl’s Pearls,” from our BICMagazine.com website. Further, during the coming year, BIC Magazine will be available to download free of charge on iTunes and Google Play. Happy Thanksgiving and may God bless you, your family and your endeavors.
