Worried about fracking? Hear two PENNSYLVANIA FARMERS share their on-the-ground insights. The speakers will discuss their experiences with hydrofracking and its impact on their livelihood and well being. The presentation will offer an opportunity to hear directly from farmers who have seen the effects of hydrofracking in their lives and in their communities.
Location: Moravia Elementary School Auditorium, Rt. 38 (Main Street South) Moravia, NY.
Contact: 497-3014 for information. Sponsored by the Southern Cayuga Anti-Fracking Alliance (SCAYAFA) and the Moravia Anti-Fracking Alliance (MAFA.)
A conversation with CUSLAR Coordinator Tim Shenk and Cornell visiting fellow Cristián Alarcón Ferrari.
Friday, May 18, 7 pm
Trumansburg Fire Hall, Main St./Rt. 96
Sustained protest and community unity have led rural communities across Latin America to victories against extractive industries that threaten their natural resources and way of life.
In New York State, we’re in the early stages of a fight against hydrofracking that poses threats to clean water, local economies and human and environmental health. We would do well to learn from communities who are farther along in similar struggles, both to recognize patterns in industry strategy and to adapt methods of community creativity.
CUSLAR Coordinator Tim Shenk will share from his experience as part of the organization “Justicia Global” based in the Dominican Republic in opposing mining projects, as well as highlight case studies from around the region. Cristián Alarcón Ferrari will share concrete energy alternative strategies practiced by farmers and peasants in Brazil.
CUSLAR ON THE WEB: Read CUSLAR’s April 2012 Newsletter, read about, watch or listen to recent CUSLAR events, and learn about upcoming activities and classes, all on the newly relaunched www.cuslar.org.
The Committee on U.S.-Latin American Relations (CUSLAR) is a Cornell University based organization, founded in 1965, which seeks to promote a greater understanding of Latin America and the Caribbean. The members of CUSLAR are a diverse group of people united in our concern about the role of the United States in the social, political and economic affairs of the region. CUSLAR supports the right of the people of Latin America and the Caribbean to self-determination and control over decisions that affect their lives and communities. CUSLAR is a project partner of the Center for Transformative Action.
Canadian Oil & Gas Consultant Jessica Ernst to Give Presentation in Ithaca
7:00 pm, Wednesday, May 23, First Unitarian Society of Ithaca, 306 N. Aurora St., Ithaca
Jessica Ernst, a scientist from Alberta, Canada who is suing the EnCana gas company for contaminating her water well with methane and toxic chemicals and the Alberta regulators for negligence and unlawful activities, will present “The Truth and Consequences of Fracking”.
Alberta has been hit hard by fracking for coal bed methane. Industry, the regulators and Alberta government try hard to silence Ernst. She is visiting New York to help residents understand the dire consequences of fracking before it begins in the state.
Jessica Ernst background:
Jessica Ernst, from Rosebud, Alberta, Canada, is an environmental consultant to the oil and gas industry with 30 years of experience. Speaking to worldwide audiences about the consequences of fracking, she has traveled to Ireland and to the United Nations, where she received UNANIMA International’s “Woman of Courage” award for her efforts to hold companies accountable for environmental harm done by fracking.
Ms. Ernst will present in four locations in the area: All events start at 7:00
Monday, May 21, Elmira Heights Theater, 210 E. 14 St., Elmira Heights, sponsored by People for a Healthy Environment, Inc.
Tuesday, May 22, Hubbard Auditorium, Tioga County Office Building, 76 Main Street, Owego, sponsored by RAFT – Residents Against Fracking Tioga, and Coalition to Protect New York.
Wednesday, May 23, First Unitarian Society of Ithaca, 306 N. Aurora St., Ithaca, sponsored by Shaleshock, DRAC, and the Social Justice Committee of First Unitarian Society
Thursday, May 24, LaFayette High School, 3122 Rte. 11 N., LaFayette, sponsored by Gas Drilling Awareness of Cortland County, ShaleshockCNY, Syracuse Peace Council, and Skaneateles Citizens Hydrofracking Committee
The events are free and open.
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The event in Ithaca is sponsored by Shaleshock Action Allinace, DRAC, and the Social Justice Committee of First Unitarian Society
On Saturday, May 19th, participants in the Occupy Well Street campaign against fracking are calling for a Day of Direct Action Against Extraction. We invite all who are opposed to the widespread use of energy extraction methods such as hydraulic fracturing for natural gas, mountaintop removal coal mining, and tar sands oil distillation to take creative, public direct action at local or regional points of production in these industries. All who participate are encouraged to employ a wide spectrum of tactics that appeal to their experience and comfort level, such as handing out literature, arranging speaking events, orchestrating colorful street theater, or taking up space by creative means.
Why a Day of Action? We have many reasons: We are tired of our communities being divided and conquered by gas corporations in pursuit of ever higher profits. The water that flows through our bioregion is being sold off for fracking as fast as those granted responsibility for our rivers and watersheds can rubber stamp withdrawal permits. Despite promises of gas drilling and fracking operations creating a surplus of local and regional jobs, our region is teeming with highly paid out of state rigworkers, engineers and other “specialists”, while the local jobs largely consist of temporary truck driving and dangerous “roustabout” positions. We are being lied to and manipulated, but we refuse to be passive participants in these destructive
activities.
While there are many differences between fracking, mountaintop removal coal mining and the tar sands megaprojects, they are all too similar in their
effects on the health of human and animal communities. Countless trucks clog the roads, the air fills with pollutants, the water becomes undrinkable, land and forests are cleared, and communities suffer from conflict and illness.
One of the main goals of the Occupy Well Street campaign is to create solidarity among all those resisting energy extraction. Our communities may be
separated geographically, but voices and actions can offer effective support between regions and allow us to continue sustaining our struggles against
extraction. We must communicate within and between movements, share information and knowledge, and support each others’ efforts in order to grow and evolve.
The last place the gas companies want concerned community members to show up is at their fracking sites, pipeline projects, compressor stations, water withdrawal sites, and other important facilities. The points of production are where the physical damage occurs, and we invite you to join us in throwing a wrench in the gears on May 19th!
Groups or individuals participating in the Day of Action are invited to send articles, after action reports, photographs or press releases from their events to occupywellstreet (at) riseup.net. Submissions will be posted on http://www.owsstopfracking.org/
What have participants in the Occupy Well Street campaign been up to? Groups have picketed active fracking sites, blocked industry truck traffic, drawn attention to water withdrawal sites hidden in plain sight, held industry analysts and “reporters” accountable in public meetings, and distributed
literature at pro-industry events. Occupy Well Street is committed to finding common ground between all those fighting extraction industries, and networking is ongoing. Stay tuned for more news soon!
April 27 the Lansing Gas Drilling Committee is presenting an educational forum with 2 speakers at All Saints Church in Lansing at 7pm.
347 Ridge Road Lansing, NY 14882
Deborah Rogers will be speaking on the economics of shale gas. She is a financial analyst, who lives in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, where the first widespread use of high volume hydrofracturing for shale gas was used (in the Barnett Shale). The results here are not what the gas companies had promised, and Deborah has done an excellent job of documenting what has happened. This talk is well worth listening to no matter what side of the issue you are on. She has an informative website at: http://energypolicyforum.com/
After Rogers presentation, Dr. Sandra Steingraber, an award winning author, will speak about environmental health issues related to gas development. She is an eloquent speaker and the recent recipient of the Heinz Award for her work related to environmental health writing.
Please come join us for a very informative evening. Both speakers are well worth seeing. Please contact others and encourage them to come also.
The Caroline Town Board will be hosting a Question and Answer session about the proposed local law to ban gas drilling and related activities on Wed April 25th at the Speedsville Community Center beginning at 7pm. The Town Attorney will attend and be available to answer questions.
Copies of the proposed local law and the FAQs are also available in the Town Notebooks located at
- Speedsville Store,
- Dandy Mini Mart, Slaterville Springs
- Town Library in the Town Hall Annex
- Brookton’s Market
Questions or comments regarding the proposed Ban should be sent to Town Clerk clerk@townofcaroline.org
Town of Caroline
PO Box 136
Slaterville Springs, NY 14881
The Clerk will file your remarks and distribute them to all board members.
At the May 1 and May 8 Board meetings, 7 pm, Town Hall, the Board will consider what it has learned during the Question and Answer session and will determine next steps in the public process.
On Saturday, May 19th, participants in the Occupy Well Street campaign against fracking are calling for a Day of Direct Action Against Extraction. We invite all who are opposed to the widespread use of energy extraction methods such as hydraulic fracturing for natural gas, mountaintop removal coal mining, and tar sands oil distillation to take creative, public direct action at local or regional points of production in these industries. All who participate are encouraged to employ a wide spectrum of tactics that appeal to their experience and comfort level, such as handing out literature, arranging speaking events, orchestrating colorful street theater, or taking up space by creative means.
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