Well, we all wanted to celebrate a few days back when the NY state senate voted to pass the resolution to put a Moratorium on Hydrofracking with a 2 - 1 margin. It was a huge, fabulous victory for those of us who have fought to stop hydrofracking in this state, which protects fresh drinking water for millions upon millions upon millions of Americans.
But.
Governor Paterson failed to sign the bill into law. And this, AFTER he went on the record, on radio, saying that "The Anti Hydrofrackers have Won. They Taught Us How Dangerous this Practice Is".
Looks like there was some behind-the-scenes strong-arming by the gas industry, because if, in fact, this bill WAS signed into law, it would have preciptated a tidal wave effect throughout the country, allowing state governments to put a halt to the greed-feeding-frenzy of the natural gas industry. Which, by the way, we don't need because we already have enough at this point in time! Everything that comes up is now sold to CHINA!!!
So. I honestly can't blame Paterson for caving in to the pressure of the Gas Mafia. I'm sure their tactics are as dirty as it gets, and after all, he wasn't even elected into office.
So.... despairing for the place where I live, where I'm raising my son, I continue to look for hope in this darkness.
In Orange County, just down the mountains from us and out of range of the Marcellus Shale, they've just broken ground on a Biomass Plant, which would effectively turn NYC's garbage into it's power.
And it's based on this model, which has been hugely successful.
But it means that recycling is SOOOOO important, and I want you to take the utmost responsibility to make sure that you are recycling 100% and urging those around you to do the same. Perhaps we can combat these idiotic greedy fascists by surviving after they've killed themselves off.
Showing posts with label renewable energy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label renewable energy. Show all posts
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Friday, June 25, 2010
Getting Involved is What Matters
It's so easy to be disillusioned; disheartened; disenfranchised when you look this oily beast in the eye; they've got more money than the rest of the world combined. But tonight, I heard a few people say some things that put steam back in my sails and made me feel like I'm a part of something incredibly important.The event was a fundraiser for David Sager, who is running for NY State Senate against a longtime, popular senator who has recently changed his tune from "Drill Baby Drill" to "Maybe Drill Next Year". And at first intro, most people say "Oh, he doesn't have a chance" and they write him off, even if they wish he could actually win.
But the reality is that Mr. Sager has the power of believers on his side; people who are fighting tooth and nail with him to prevent New York from becoming a disaster area; to lessen the painful burden of property taxes; and to deal with issues that have been ignored on the state level for too too long.
I felt fortunate to be in this room of people who are fighting so incredibly hard to protect New York. People who have taught me everything I know about hydrofracking... people who know how to make waves, who are well-connected, and who's passion and love for this area is overflowing.
Mark Ruffalo, the actor, was in attendance tonight and in his short speech he said about disheartened people, "Obviously they're not writing enough letters to their senators". What a great get-off-your-behind call to action! And he's perfectly right. It's a simple, fast thing that anyone can do and it makes a tremendous difference!
When David Sager got up to talk he said that his campaign may not be well-financed like his opponent's; but he's on the side of "right", and he's got the "right" people behind him. Looking around the room at the array of people, I had to agree with him. Maybe, in this case, Right Makes Might.
I listened to a man who talked about puttiong his money into creating a farm powered by renewable energy, and about how excited he is for the future of his young son. There was lots of conversation about how to link up the fight against carbon to the renewable energy industry; how to expand the coalitions of the grassroots behind a unified voice.
And may people talked about Wind power - how it's so successful some places, and yet we're doing so little with it when we have such great wind resources.
So .... there is an army of people working tirelessly to save our habitat. Really extraordinary people; not drones. You don't have to feel alone or helpless in this fight.... just do whatever you can to make a difference, and think of all the other people out there who are doing the same.
Monday, November 9, 2009
Shocking Oil Discovery.....
Last week I read a headline that really got me laughing hard. It was an investment newsletter which I opt to receive because it's very anti-Obama (I like to hear all sides) and they write all kinds of interesting things about how to protect your millions from the Socialization of America, how to make more money and where to hide it, etc etc etc. They're always coming up with hair-brained schemes to make investment profits. In this past year, it's really been very amusing. But this one headline really took the cake.
The headline reads, "Shocking Oil Discovery Made Under Eiffel Tower"
and the sub-headline reads, "Dallas, TX Company preparing to legally "steal" $2.8 trillion in oil from the French"
Ah, great. More oil. As our world becomes more and more sicker for our addiction to oil, more oil has been found! And who better to SHAFT than the French, eh? How good it will be to steal from those frog-eating socialists who actually think health care is important.
Ugh.
Last night I went to see "This Is It", the documentary about the Michael Jackson show that wasn't to be. Aside from incredible music and dancing, I was very moved by the ending of the show, which I think was the only new song. The movie in the show was about the destruction of the rainforest, done very well I might add, with commentary by MJ interspersed with the music. His basic point is, if WE - meaning citizens of the world - don't do something to stop global warming, then nobody will. The governments obviously CAN'T. And if we don't take care of this issue, NOW, then nothing else is important, because we won't be here.
A football field a second.... that's what we're losing in the Amazon Rainforests, and have been losing for a very long time.
Well said! (I was a MJ hater; I really was, except that as a DJ I could ALWAYS use his music to get people up on the dancefloor, and since his death I have seen how deeply he has influenced millions upon millions upon millions of people in this world. Whatever he did or didn't do with little boys, as a musician he was the best we've seen in our lifetime, in that genre. And after seeing this movie, as a musician, I am truly humbled.)
So what should we do about a Texas Oil company that wants to drill for more oil in France? Or, about the Bureau of Land Management that wants to lease more gas fields in Wyoming? Or Chesapeake Energy that wants to come in to the Catskills, destroy our water so they can make profits on natural gas, which we don't even need because there's already too much natural gas in storage in this country?
Right now, people need to stand up and SHOUT, as loud as any Rush Limbaugh or Bill O'Reilly - SHOUT yourself heard. Talk about global warming every chance you can get - get evangelical about it - start learning how to reduce your carbon footprint TODAY, and DO IT. Teach it to your family, insist they make this a part of their daily routine. Take your money out of oil and gas investments, pour it into renewable energy. Drive less!!!!
Bottom line: Don't make it profitable for oil and gas companies to do any more drilling!! (Okay, that's ONE of the bottom lines...)
If you care about our world, the time for each of us to make a change is RIGHT NOW. Don't be lazy! It is a small sacrifice to make for your children, and your grandchildren etc, to alter your daily routines just a little bit!
This is NOT the world we grew up into. But it's a world that we must take care of.
- Use less energy
- Winterize your house
- Grow as much of your food as you can; eat locally grown food
- Plant trees
- Drive less
- Invest in renewable energy
And, perhaps most importantly, shine your love out onto the world as much as you possibly can!
The headline reads, "Shocking Oil Discovery Made Under Eiffel Tower"
and the sub-headline reads, "Dallas, TX Company preparing to legally "steal" $2.8 trillion in oil from the French"
Ah, great. More oil. As our world becomes more and more sicker for our addiction to oil, more oil has been found! And who better to SHAFT than the French, eh? How good it will be to steal from those frog-eating socialists who actually think health care is important.
Ugh.
Last night I went to see "This Is It", the documentary about the Michael Jackson show that wasn't to be. Aside from incredible music and dancing, I was very moved by the ending of the show, which I think was the only new song. The movie in the show was about the destruction of the rainforest, done very well I might add, with commentary by MJ interspersed with the music. His basic point is, if WE - meaning citizens of the world - don't do something to stop global warming, then nobody will. The governments obviously CAN'T. And if we don't take care of this issue, NOW, then nothing else is important, because we won't be here.
A football field a second.... that's what we're losing in the Amazon Rainforests, and have been losing for a very long time.
Well said! (I was a MJ hater; I really was, except that as a DJ I could ALWAYS use his music to get people up on the dancefloor, and since his death I have seen how deeply he has influenced millions upon millions upon millions of people in this world. Whatever he did or didn't do with little boys, as a musician he was the best we've seen in our lifetime, in that genre. And after seeing this movie, as a musician, I am truly humbled.)
So what should we do about a Texas Oil company that wants to drill for more oil in France? Or, about the Bureau of Land Management that wants to lease more gas fields in Wyoming? Or Chesapeake Energy that wants to come in to the Catskills, destroy our water so they can make profits on natural gas, which we don't even need because there's already too much natural gas in storage in this country?
Right now, people need to stand up and SHOUT, as loud as any Rush Limbaugh or Bill O'Reilly - SHOUT yourself heard. Talk about global warming every chance you can get - get evangelical about it - start learning how to reduce your carbon footprint TODAY, and DO IT. Teach it to your family, insist they make this a part of their daily routine. Take your money out of oil and gas investments, pour it into renewable energy. Drive less!!!!
Bottom line: Don't make it profitable for oil and gas companies to do any more drilling!! (Okay, that's ONE of the bottom lines...)
If you care about our world, the time for each of us to make a change is RIGHT NOW. Don't be lazy! It is a small sacrifice to make for your children, and your grandchildren etc, to alter your daily routines just a little bit!
This is NOT the world we grew up into. But it's a world that we must take care of.
- Use less energy
- Winterize your house
- Grow as much of your food as you can; eat locally grown food
- Plant trees
- Drive less
- Invest in renewable energy
And, perhaps most importantly, shine your love out onto the world as much as you possibly can!
Friday, October 16, 2009
Marceulls Shale Drilling vs. Renewable Energy
Listening to a recording I made earlier this year with On'kaa Davis and his Original Djuke Players. Trying to get into the head of writing about trying to prevent a disaster from happening. Hoping that my words energize you to take some kind of action on this issue.
I live in the Catskill Mountains, near to the PA and NJ border, Delaware River, and just a coupla miles from the border of Catskill Park. We moved here just a year and a half ago so my young son can grow up enjoying the wood, stream, fresh air and water; so that we can create a sustainable plot of land for our family. But right now there is a threat to this part of the world, where the outcome is frightening.
Background:
The Marcellus Shale formation runs through several states - beginning in central New York and running through West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Ohio. Because of our nation's addiction to petroleum products, the gas in this shale has a very high value right now, and there are companies very eager to start the process of hydraulic fracturing, otherwise known as HydroFracing.
On September 30th of this year, the New York State DEC published it's Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Study. In it, they essentially lay down the environmental guidelines for the companies that want to come in and get this gas.
HydroFracing has been in operation for several years now, out in the west and more recently in Pennsylvania. Actually Pennsylvania just stopped production, because, among other things these clowns destroyed a whole river with illegal dumping of these highly toxic, somewhat radioactive "chemicals" that are a byproduct of the process.
Summary from catskillmountainkeeper.org:
Dunkard Creek which meanders lazily back and forth across the border of Pennsylvania and West Virginia was one of the most ecologically diverse streams in both states, containing freshwater mussels, mudpuppy salamanders and a host of fish species from minnows to 3-foot-long muskies. Today 161 species of fish, mussels, salamanders, crayfish and aquatic insects have been wiped out along the creek. While the EPA has yet to pinpoint the cause, chemical analysis shows the creek water contains extremely high total dissolved solids or TDS and chlorides, properties found in wastewater from Marcellus Shale. The state agencies are now looking at the possibility that someone has illegally dumped drilling wastewater into the creek to avoid the expense of complying with laws governing its disposal.
The stories coming out of hydro-fracing sites in the West are also very disturbing; and it's looking like these "experts" don't care HOW they get the gas out, or who it affects.
Some of the immediate results of this process to any community include unbearable stress on the infrastructure (estimated 50 million diesel trucks hauling stuff in and out of the Catskills!), public health problems, aquifer and ground water & aquifer contamination, property values plummet, and possible earthquakes.
In conjunction with the gas drilling, NY State will be obligated to implement an entirely new water delivery system to the southern counties (including NYC), to the tune of $36 billion dollars!!
Whoa!! That's a lot of money!!!!
Which leads me very quickly to ask a question.
WHO IS IT that wants to destroy some of America's most beautiful landscapes, purest water and air, creating unimaginable consequences, when for HALF THE PRICE of the water delivery system, they could take this entire corridor and create a new green economy - start building and researching and manufacturing product for the renewable energy future. And by doing so, put millions back to work!!!!
FOR EXAMPLE: The Delaware River has a powerful wind corridor which could power all of Sullivan County if installed, for just $100 million. And, Orange County has a new facility that turns garbage into energy. There are tons of old warehouses that could be turned into manufacturing plants.
THERE ARE SO MANY POSSIBILITIES that make DRILLING FOR GAS an INSANE option!! IT IS NOT NECESSARY! As a matter of fact, this is the PERFECT OPPORTUNITY to turn away from gas and implement RENEWABLE ENERGY!
It seems to me that somebody is making a boatload of money off this deal, while those of us who live here are being left for dead. Because if these drilling companies get their way - and time is SHORT and they have only the public as an obstacle, it's possible that the entire Marcellus range - from NY to Ohio - will have no fresh water or fresh air!
CAN YOU IMAGINE THAT?
I can't. That's why I'm doing something about it.
Please visit catskillmountainkeeper.org to read all about this issue, they are really on top of the news and updates.
I live in the Catskill Mountains, near to the PA and NJ border, Delaware River, and just a coupla miles from the border of Catskill Park. We moved here just a year and a half ago so my young son can grow up enjoying the wood, stream, fresh air and water; so that we can create a sustainable plot of land for our family. But right now there is a threat to this part of the world, where the outcome is frightening.
Background:
The Marcellus Shale formation runs through several states - beginning in central New York and running through West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Ohio. Because of our nation's addiction to petroleum products, the gas in this shale has a very high value right now, and there are companies very eager to start the process of hydraulic fracturing, otherwise known as HydroFracing.
On September 30th of this year, the New York State DEC published it's Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Study. In it, they essentially lay down the environmental guidelines for the companies that want to come in and get this gas.
HydroFracing has been in operation for several years now, out in the west and more recently in Pennsylvania. Actually Pennsylvania just stopped production, because, among other things these clowns destroyed a whole river with illegal dumping of these highly toxic, somewhat radioactive "chemicals" that are a byproduct of the process.
Summary from catskillmountainkeeper.org:
Dunkard Creek which meanders lazily back and forth across the border of Pennsylvania and West Virginia was one of the most ecologically diverse streams in both states, containing freshwater mussels, mudpuppy salamanders and a host of fish species from minnows to 3-foot-long muskies. Today 161 species of fish, mussels, salamanders, crayfish and aquatic insects have been wiped out along the creek. While the EPA has yet to pinpoint the cause, chemical analysis shows the creek water contains extremely high total dissolved solids or TDS and chlorides, properties found in wastewater from Marcellus Shale. The state agencies are now looking at the possibility that someone has illegally dumped drilling wastewater into the creek to avoid the expense of complying with laws governing its disposal.
The stories coming out of hydro-fracing sites in the West are also very disturbing; and it's looking like these "experts" don't care HOW they get the gas out, or who it affects.
Some of the immediate results of this process to any community include unbearable stress on the infrastructure (estimated 50 million diesel trucks hauling stuff in and out of the Catskills!), public health problems, aquifer and ground water & aquifer contamination, property values plummet, and possible earthquakes.
In conjunction with the gas drilling, NY State will be obligated to implement an entirely new water delivery system to the southern counties (including NYC), to the tune of $36 billion dollars!!
Whoa!! That's a lot of money!!!!
Which leads me very quickly to ask a question.
WHO IS IT that wants to destroy some of America's most beautiful landscapes, purest water and air, creating unimaginable consequences, when for HALF THE PRICE of the water delivery system, they could take this entire corridor and create a new green economy - start building and researching and manufacturing product for the renewable energy future. And by doing so, put millions back to work!!!!
FOR EXAMPLE: The Delaware River has a powerful wind corridor which could power all of Sullivan County if installed, for just $100 million. And, Orange County has a new facility that turns garbage into energy. There are tons of old warehouses that could be turned into manufacturing plants.
THERE ARE SO MANY POSSIBILITIES that make DRILLING FOR GAS an INSANE option!! IT IS NOT NECESSARY! As a matter of fact, this is the PERFECT OPPORTUNITY to turn away from gas and implement RENEWABLE ENERGY!
It seems to me that somebody is making a boatload of money off this deal, while those of us who live here are being left for dead. Because if these drilling companies get their way - and time is SHORT and they have only the public as an obstacle, it's possible that the entire Marcellus range - from NY to Ohio - will have no fresh water or fresh air!
CAN YOU IMAGINE THAT?
I can't. That's why I'm doing something about it.
Please visit catskillmountainkeeper.org to read all about this issue, they are really on top of the news and updates.
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