Sandra Steingraber gives a talk in Hammondsport, New York, on September 15, 2011. She describes the earth below the surface as a living eco-system, especially in the Marcellus Shale. It is not a dead, inert place, just rock and dirt, as many of us might assume. She tells the story of how New York State was formed.
Then she addresses the effects of natural gas drilling on air, water, food production, tourism, and road safety. She explains that the Supplemental Generic Environmental Impact Statement that is now being vetted does not even mention these impacts.In 1930, my greatgrandparents purchased a beautiful farm in Bradford County, PA, in a little hamlet called French Azilum. In the summer, we spent time there, resting, breathing in the fresh air, enjoying the wild flowers, the bright stars and planets on a clear moonlit night, and swimming in the Susquehanna River. If gas drilling is allowed to continue, Bradford County and all of Pennsylvania will be forever changed, ruined beyond repair.
Thank you for this lovely framing of Sandra's recent talk! Join us on our Facebook page "Raising Elijah by Sandra Steingraber" to keep current on her writings, speaking engagements, and actions to fight fracking.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your response, Carmi. I met Sandra in Ithaca last spring at the Big Frack Day (forget the actual name). Even got Elijah's autograph in my "Raising Elijah" book. How cool is that!!! Sandra is my favorite author writing about the environment, especially natural gas drilling. She's brilliant!
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