The Fossil Fuel Connection (LINK TV)

Dr. Theo Colborn speaks here about the effects of fossil fuel extraction, both vertical and horizontal drilling, and the dangerous chemicals that are released into the air during the drilling process.   Every time.   Methane is not the only or biggest worry.  Fear toluene and benzene!  The damage to healthy children is a big concern.

Denmark Aims For 100% Renewable Energy By 2050

So Americans are told that we cannot do without fossil fuels. We must have fossil fuels to live. Then why can Denmark exist on renewables, possibly by 2050? Do they know something we don't know?

Read more....

Celebrate Fossil Fool's Day Where You Are

Here is an interesting way to celebrate April Fool's Day:

Fossil Fool's Day! April 1st, 2010


The fossil fools ain't no joke - but that doesn't mean we can't fight them with one!

The Fossil Fuel Empire is real and it's here. The stakes couldn't be higher: destabilization of the global climate, communities from Alaska to Alberta to Appalachia being destroyed by dirty energy extraction and combustion, devastating super hurricanes, droughts, flooding, the list goes on...

Last December in Copenhagen, the politicians sold us out to the fossil fools, corporate lobbyists and big banks. Now we're left with "green capitalism," carbon market shenanigans and continued assaults on our communities and ecosystems.

If we’re going to stop climate change, the only real solution is to keep fossil fuels in the ground.

This April, join Rising Tide North America as we pull some pranks that pack a punch. Use the simply subversive to the downright disruptive: office occupations, banner drops, road blockades, clownish parades, spoof product launches, sub-vertising, leaflets, street theater, lock-downs and laugh-ins. Whatever works for you and your group!

Climate change is no laughing matter, but we can’t take things too seriously all the time. Join us this Fossil Fools Day as we employ our senses of humor to hatch some harebrained schemes that will strike a blow to fossil foolery everywhere!

And remember what Abbie Hoffman said: "The first duty of a revolutionary is to get away with it."

Let us know if your group wants to endorse or co-sponsor!

WHAT: Actions, Jokes and Pranks Galore to Stop the Fossil Fools
WHERE: Your Town North America
WHEN; April 1st, 2010

CONTACT: fossilfoolsday@risingtidenorthamerica.org


More information here.

TV Report on the Problems in Dimock, PA: Another Spill, Citizens Protest

Vera Scroggins of Citizens For Clean Water is interviewed by media. A spill this week along Route 29 prompted a concerned citizens response. Dimock, Pennsylvania, currently has 75 wells in operation with more on the way. Susquehanna County has one inspector to oversee the entire county. The DEP is planning to hire more inspectors.

Barnett Shale From the Air: Watch and Weep

See the true cost of gas! Natural gas is just another dirty fossil fuel. A [Barnett Shale] drilling rig operating for 3 months has the same impact as a city of 4,000 people—water use, solid waste generation, air emissions and traffic.
[David Burnett, Dir. Global Petroleum Research Institute, a collaborative research organization representing 12 major international oil producing companies]

Thanks to TXsharon and Bluedaze: Drilling Reform for Texas for this video. TXsharon is a tireless advocate for public health and safety and the irreplaceable environment we take for granted on this planet. She does her work as a volunteer inspite of repeated attempts to discredit her, intimidate her, and silence her.

People of the Marcellus Shale, this is what an industrial zone looks like. The rolling hills of Pennsylvania will soon resemble this landscape. Most of us didn't know the landmen were combing the country, getting landowners to sign gas leases. Now it is probably too late to stop it. All we have left is to regulate the industry as much as we can. However, the gas industry is the most unregulated industry in the nation. We are limited to a few things like road use and permits for water use. Don't give any gas company a free ride.

DEMAND ACCOUNTABILITY!

Natural Gas Should Not Be a Transition Fuel

Mary Sweeney of Upstate NY, writing on the Susquehanna County Gas Forum online, writes:

The gas industry has played up the possibility of using natural gas as a "transition" fuel. However, the gas locked up in the shale will take decades to extract. Moreover, that gas will be expensive to extract and extracting the gas presents very serious public health and environmental problems. In the end, even taking into account unconventional sources like shale gas and coal bed methane, this country does NOT possess that much natural gas in comparison to what is available in Russia and the Middle East.

If we convert more and more of our energy usage to natural gas, it will not be long before we are forced to turn to Russia and the Middle East for our natural gas. Meanwhile, we will have trashed some of our most valuable resources (e.g. water) in trying to squeeze more gas from the shale.

Rather than investing a HUGE amount of money in drilling the shale and then trying to clean up the environmental and public health mess that results, it would make a great deal more sense to invest that money in renewable energy sources. And if we get truly serious about energy efficiency and conservation, we will use up less fossil fuel in the meantime. That is the way to make the transition--by using less coal, oil, and natural gas. A transition based on conservation can begin immediately, will help the environment rather than harming it, and will save people money, because using less energy costs less money. Needless to say, the fossil fuel industry has its own reasons for NOT wanting people to conserve--they would like us all to keep buying fossil fuel, regardless of the environmental and health problems that will result.

We don't need a transitional fuel. We need to understand that fossil fuel use is not the way to go forward, that we have already wasted several decades and a lot of money pretending that fossil fuel use could go on and on, and that we need to stop repeating past errors and get serious about conservation and renewable energy.

My sentiments exactly! -Peacegirl

DEMAND ACCOUNTABILITY!