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By shirari, on July 30th, 2009%
Ithaca Democratic Socialists of America Presents #407: “What the Frack?” Marty Luster asks Ken Zeserson and Judy Abrams about “fracking” – a new method for extracting natural gas from much deeper underground than in conventional drilling. Contracts for such extraction are being signed all over Tompkins County. The environmental threats are severe, and the process is very weakly regulated. Recorded July 22, 2009.
Watch it on Channel 13, on Friday, July 31, 11:30 am-noon.
This week’s program will be available Tuesday in the Alternatives Library in Anabel Taylor Hall on the Cornell Campus. Now on DVD.
If you would like to help out with Ithaca Democratic Socialists’ community access cable television series, call Theresa Alt at 273-3009 or email talt at igc dot org.
By shirari, on July 30th, 2009%
Read Verlyn Klinkenborg’s editorial, published July 27, 2009 in the New York Times:
There is plenty of change in the Catskills, much of it driven by energy development. The great scar of the Millennium Pipeline, which will someday bring natural gas from Ontario to New York City, comes straight over the mountains and down to the river. Yet that is nothing when measured against the huge changes that will come if New York State gives the go-ahead to gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale.
Read the rest…
By shirari, on July 30th, 2009%
A form letter from a NY landowner coalition group is making its way around the internet.
I have written a response, and the form letter follows. The letter to Governor Paterson is being disseminated by this local landowner coalition group which accuses an un-identified “anti-drilling crowd” of impeding the progress of unconventional gas drilling in New York State. The landowners further accuse the “anti-drilling crowd” of “misinformation”, “fear-mongering” and “fabricating ‘facts’”.
As someone who has been gathering facts about unconventional gas drilling, I have attended many informational meetings related to drilling with speakers including representatives from the State Assembly, the State Senate, the US Congress, the NYS Attorney General’s Office, Farm Bureau, CCE, USGS, Soil and Water, SRBC, DEC and other agencies. Not once in all these meetings did any representative of these disparate agencies use the terms “misinformation” or “fear- mongering” when speaking of public concerns.
On the contrary, the Attorney General’s Office representatives warned landowners against signing bad leases and advised they should report to them any inappropriate behavior in their dealings with landmen. The USGS geologist who spoke here in Ithaca clearly relayed numerous concerns related to wastewater treatment and disposal. Many town and county representatives spoke of the need for plans to prepare for gas drilling to ensure the health and safety of citizens. One does not need to “fabricate” facts. The facts speak for themselves. High volumes of water and chemicals are needed to frack one well. There are expected to be tens of thousands of wells in NYS in the next few years. We do not have enough facilities to process the wastewater. From Dish, TX, to Dimock, PA, there have been problems. Real problems, not fabricated ones.
The people who have previously made accusations against public citizens of “misinformation” and “fear-mongering” are IOGA and gas industry representatives. And now, they have succeeded in getting the public to do their dirty work for them. Perhaps this is a victory for the multi-national corporations, but it is a tragedy for our communities.
Lisa Wright
Ithaca
Continue reading Industry Doesn't Want Good Neighbors
By shirari, on July 30th, 2009%
Date and facilitation has been changed, please take note.
Join us on Thursday August 27th at 6PM at the Shaleshock office above Autumn Leaves Bookstore on the Ithaca Commons (115 E. MLK st). All are invited! Working Group representatives please come prepared to discuss, organize and coordinate. Snacks provided.
At this meeting, the facilitator will be doing things a bit differently. There will be an agenda signup sheet for you to put your request for an agenda topic to be covered. There is a lot to cover and many areas of importance. Shaleshock’s role as a grass-roots resource for people here and throughout the state is getting to be an area of concern, and that is something we hope we will discuss. So please bring your ideas and look forward to seeing everyone!
We will begin passing a hat to help pay for office expenses (rent, copies, etc…) So if you’re interested in donating, or sponsoring the Shaleshock office for a month, please be prepared. Contact clover56@riseup.net with questions.
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About Us Shaleshock is an information hub connecting people to regional groups and projects working to stop exploitative drilling in the Marcellus Shale.(more)
2009 Signs of Sustainability
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