Come out to Ithaca, NY for the Weekend of May 28-30 for the first Marcellus regional gathering of Earth First! Hosted by the newly formed Fingerlakes EF! The gathering will bring together folks from all over the Marcellus region and beyond who want to take action to stop “high-volume horizontal slickwater hydro-fracking” (aka Fracking).

There will be workshops, presentations, and games during the day (each one teach one), and performances after dinner. Gatherings like this strengthen our community and give us time to be outside and enjoy the land we’re rising up to defend. We hope for this to be the first in a series of gatherings that would rotate around to other bio-regions around the Marcellus Shale in Upstate New York and Pennsylvania. Bring your tents and camping gear!

If you’re planning on coming, want more information, or would like to give a workshop/perform see details below and please contact FingerlakesEF@yahoo.com Also RSVP on facebook for event updates: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=115730118461281

Fracking in the Marcellus Shale

The Marcellus Shale is HUGE. It stretches from Upstate New York, through Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Eastern Ohio, and part of Maryland. It’s the 3rd largest natural gas deposit on the planet. Major Oil & Gas companies have been scoping this out for years and are already drilling in WV and PA. They’re all geared up to drill in Upstate NY but have been stalled by some pesky regulatory processes.

The issues are expansive and complicated. One thing we know for sure is that Natural Gas is NOT a green fuel. Like so called “clean coal” natural gas is being touted as a solution to maintain the un-sustainable fossil fuel economy of overconsumption. While they try to tell that Natural Gas is clean, those of us who live in the gas fields hear a different story. Check out the following links, and do some of your own research.

Click here for more info:          Gas Drilling 101

NO DRILLING! NO COMPROMISE! Calling for Regional EF! Movement to Resist Oil & Gas Development

In collaboration with Genessee Valley Earth First! and friends from the Northeast Anarchist Network (NEAN), we are calling for the formation of an Earth First! network across the entire Marcellus Region as a coordinated response to this crisis. Many of us are involved in a wide variety of struggles for social and environmental justice. We see this as a chance to connect a struggle for the land, to our own struggles for freedom and autonomy in a world of borders, prisons, and police.

No Compromise in Defense of Mother Earth!

ARRIVAL: Welcome tent/check-in opening at 4pm Friday, May 28th.

WHAT TO BRING: Pack in Pack out. Bring food for yourself and to share with others. If you can bring essentials (large pots and pans, other kitchen supplies or donations), please let us know. Also be prepared to camp. Bring instruments if you play music. Bring your friends and family.

LOCATION: Stay tuned for specific site info and directions. Contact Fingerlakesef@yahoo.com if you have questions or specific requests.

HELPING OUT: There will be a volunteer signup sheet for participants in the campout. We plan to share responsibilities to each availability/ability. Prepare to help out with cooking, setting up, tearing down, conflict mediation, security, etc…

WISH LIST: Please help us find the following items and get them to the site.

- Food donations (veggies, grains, canned goods, snacks, etc…)

- Large cooking pots, bowls, and utencils (to borrow)

- Cooking Stove

- Fire wood (only local)

- Saw dust, a shovel, and a tarp

- Big tarps and canopy tents

c0ntact: fingerlakesEF@yahoo.com

WORKSHOPS & TRAININGS:

The Marcellus Regional Campout will have workshop blocks during the day on Saturday and Sunday. Some confirmed workshops so far include…

- Plant and Medicinal Herb walk

- Direct Action 101

- Police Tactics

- Earth First Movement History and Present Issues

There will be a sign-up board for workshops at the campout. However, let us know in advance, so we can spread the word! E-mail us at FingerlakesEF@yahoo.com

…more details will be updated on this site as they arrive…