It has been well documented of the dangers hydraulic fracturing (or fracking, hydrofracking) poses for the planet. Many of the well known dangers like ground water contamination and ground movements (earthquakes) have had devastating effects on people in many places throughout the United States. This issue is coming to head a little closer to home in New York State.
As the hour draws nigh for State law makers to approve or disapprove the practice here in New York, the public has been making more and more noise for State law makers to jettison the idea. Yesterday outside a State office building in Downtown Buffalo NY a coalition of groups gathered to send a message to members of State government; “BAN fracking, BAN fracking now”.
Members of Citizen Action, WNY Drilling Defense, Food and Water Watch, The National Fuel Accountability Coalition (NFAC), PUSH Buffalo, the Atlantic Chapter of the Sierra Club and Protecting Our Water Rights (POWR) held an anti-fracking rally.
Speakers made the connection between the natural gas industry (proponents/benefactors of hydrofracking) and their influence on the political process in New York State. Sara Buckley of POWR noted that this industry alone donated $1,340,246.58 in campaign contributions to candidates at the local (Buffalo area) and State levels over the past 4 years. We believe that this cozy relationship will insure that this dangerous process will never be banned in New York as it should.
Not to anyone’s surprise National Fuel Gas is one of the largest political campaign donors among energy companies in this State. The majority of their fracking business has been located in Pennsylvania but they have been looking to get it popping in New York. They haven’t only shunned the possibility of low income weatherization in New York. They’ve also been polluting the environment. And, all along they’ve been making it rain (money that is) on elected officials.
The NFAC will be joining the groups mentioned above on May 3, 2012 at State Senator Tim Kennedy’s office in Buffalo to ask him to cast a vote for regular people and not big gas companies. The WNY Drilling Defense one of the groups spearheading this event puts it in a better perspective:
On May 3, New Yorkers Against Fracking and our allies will be holding actions across the state, urging Governor Cuomo and legislators to support a statewide ban on fracking.
In Albany, we’ll be delivering thousands of petitions to Governor Cuomo. In Buffalo, we’ll rally outside of Senator Kennedy’s office where we will tell him to BAN fracking!
The Buffalo region is a critical district where, currently, no senators have signed on to co-sponsor a ban on fracking in New York. With the Department of Environmental Conservation trying to push fracking regulations through to begin drilling this year, we are running out of time! Join us for a rally outside of Senator Kennedy’s office where we will tell him to listen to constituents and BAN fracking!
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WHAT: RALLY TO BAN FRACKING NOW: Buffalo, NY
WHEN: Thursday May 3, 2012 @ 11am-1pm
WHERE: 2239 South Park Avenue, Buffalo NY
