NY Anti-Fracking Groups Join Forces

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Sensing that Gov. Andrew Cuomo may be close to moving forward with issuing permits for shale gas drilling, anti-drilling groups are joining forces in New York State to form a coalition called New Yorkers Against Fracking. Movie star Mark Ruffalo, who plays Bruce Banner (the Hulk) in the upcoming movie The Avengers, is on board with the effort. (Those who support drilling may want to consider bypassing The Avengers to send a message to Mr. Ruffalo and Hollywood.)

Dozens of grass-roots environmental groups have joined forces to launch a coordinated campaign to ban natural gas drilling using high-volume hydraulic fracturing in New York state.

The effort launched Monday comes as the state Department of Environmental Conservation works to complete a four-year review of whether shale gas development using the controversial technology known as “fracking” can be done safely under strict regulations.

Also Monday, a New York State Assembly proposal for an independent health impact study of hydraulic fracturing for natural gas has been dropped during budget negotiations. Numerous physicians and environmental groups criticized Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos for blocking the $100,000 Assembly appropriation for a health study.

Cuomo has said a decision on whether to permit fracking in New York is likely in several months.

Sandra Steingraber, a biologist and environmental writer who recently won the Heinz Award for her work on how chemical contaminants in air, water and food endanger human health, said she’ll donate much of her $100,000 prize money to start the anti-fracking coalition, New Yorkers Against Fracking.

Among other things, the coalition plans to fund advertising to get its message out. A clip from the first such video will be aired Wednesday night on Comedy Central’s Colbert Report, coalition member Claire Sandberg said. Actor Mark Ruffalo, an outspoken anti-fracking advocate and member of the coalition, is scheduled as a guest on the show.*

*Syracuse The Post Standard (Mar 26, 2012) – New York environmental groups join to form coalition to work for hydrofracking ban

7 Comments

  1. Ahh yes advertise where the numb brained get their news -Among the worries like taking mid-terms, who is Snookies baby’s Daddy and “where is my fake ID”, they have time to get their “facts” and “news” from The Daily Show and The Colbert Report. It is truely unfortunate that we have a generation of people who get their “news” from comedy central. What is further alarming is they have the right to vote. If you have some one they follow (Rufalo for instance) pitch something, the lemmings they are will go for it and believe it in droves. The advertising agencies lock on to these 18-30 crowd and steer them like obidient oxen. They need just the right pitch and these morons folow like they are in a cult. I actually had an argument with one of my friends 20 year old kids about “facts” they learned from Jon Stewart. It’s pathetic. Took an hour and several news clips from CNN & FOX to correct this young lady’s thinking. What was good is after she did learn the facts she changed her outlook and opinion. Thank God their brains are still open to learning. It is who they learn something from that is the problem.

  2. OK, they get their news from Jon Stewart and you get yours from gas industry flacks. I’ll take Jon Stewart any day over professional liars from the gas industry. 

  3.  What lies Joe? Put down some “factual” lies you have seen written, and let us check them out for accuracy. All the Anti’s put up are propaganda, hype, fear mongering,and out right lies. Most anti “stories” are quickly dispelled with fact soon after they are released. ( Ex. Dimock, PA). Joe,get out of the way, its coming, its needed and its abundant!! and all the anti’s will soon be sent into the abyss. My only hope is that when they finally see their wallets save some big coin  that they will embrace it, and help police it, all of us pros can use extra eyes to watch and make sure NG drilling companies are following the rules.