We at Friends of the Harmed, publishers of Shalefield Stories have been collecting first hand testimonials from people all over the country who have had water contamination due to fracking related incidents. The industry will tell you "not one confirmed case of contamination from Fracking" which is how they get away with it. The fracking process itself may not cause the contamination but, spills, leaking well casings and illegal dumping have been the cause of hundreds of water contamination accidents. It is a major problem wherever fracking is being done. I would like the readers to think about what it would be like if they could not use the water coming out of their taps for drinking or bathing! We hear about so many organizations helping third world countries solve potable water issues for people when in fact right here in America, thousands of families are living without potable water as a result of oil and gas activities. Here in PA HUNDREDS of families have been affected, yet our legislators and our governor are still promoting this toxic industrial process. Why? because of $$ in campaign contributions, and other financial donations to communities from the O&G industry. The O&G industry has contaminated our environment, health and our democracy. Rich Fitzgerald is a perfect example. Check out the $$ he had been given and the PG articles when he was running for County Executive. People have no idea what's at risk when it comes to fracking. The worst part, many of these families have been without water for more than 6 years now. Read Shalefieldstories.org and hear first hand from many of those families.
Please don't forget the book release of Shalefield Stories at 5115 Penn Ave. (Thomas Merton Center Annex. https://www.facebook.com/events/9565783610…
Personal and collected testimonials of life in Americas Shale Fields.
Thank you John for telling it the way it is. This industrial process is not safe, can't be done safely and should be stopped completely. It's very disturbing that the politicians in PA are more concerned with promoting this toxic industrial process than protecting the tax paying citizens who pay their salaries. Everyone is at risk but most importantly our children. It's a war on the people and we have no one in office willing to stand up to Oil and Gas industry and put a stop to this slaughter.
"Maybe the only independent Democratic voice who was seeking a new term, as county council has tended to follow Fitzgerald's lead on, well, most everything."
Barbara was a true representative of the people who elected her. Not afraid to be the lone voice of reason or disagree with other politicians who feel it necessary to protect a toxic industrial practice instead of the people who put them in office.
It sounds like the "data" Dr. Hacker has limited her knowledge to is straight from the industry and the person who gave her the job, county executive Fitzgerald. By not investigating and demanding that health impact studies be done, we have what seems to be a case of negligence.
There have been increasing peer reviewed health studies released this year showing alarming health impacts for people living near ALL drilling activities. Especially CHILDREN.
Then we can all read the news today which shows the "storytelling" talking point is straight from the industry play book. Moor proof that many of our governmental leaders are promoting this industry instead of the tax paying citizens. http://stateimpact.npr.org/pennsylvania/20…
It is unacceptable that the people elected have decided to PROMOTE this toxic industry in the name of "financial benefit" above PROTECTING the tax paying citizens that pay their salaries! There is growing evidence that people (especially children) living near drilling are experiencing the same serious health impacts all over the world. Doctors have said that people who live near natural gas development sites – including well pads and compressor stations – have suffered from skin rashes, nausea, nosebleeds and other ailments. This is why with any other industrial process Environmental along with Health Impact studies are done. Before the entire process is permitted. Now we have contamination of our health, environment and especially our democracy.
We also have a major case of neglecting to preform "Due diligence" before permitting such activity according to the ruling from our PA Supreme Court in the Act 13 ruling. In the long run, We the taxpayers will be funding this entire boom and bust toxic war on the people!
When people are blinded by money things go wrong. Just ask some of the people living in Washington county who live near drilling. None of the due diligence has been done by Fitzgerald and council. No impact or health risk studies. Not even a meeting with John Smith that was scheduled so some of these questions could be answered. Never once did anyone from the industry show up at the council meetings we've been going to since August to educate the council on some of the very serious impacts Washington, Green and Fayette county have suffered from. One council member said "there is risk in everything you do." I agree with that statement but when the risks are this high you better make sure you have done all you can to make sure you are making the right decision. No ten year master plan for that community, nothing. There are more hoops and permits you need to jump through to open a pizza shop then what is required of this ONE industry. They are exempt from all regulations that other industries must abide by. That's a red flag right there. The airport lease was voted on before council had a chance to read the lease. That doesn't give me much hope that there will be anything different with this deal. When politicians take large sums of money from a specific industry they owe them. This is just another example of this toxic industry not only contaminating our environment but our democracy. If something goes wrong, the county will be sued. Fitzgerald told us "we get sued all the time." Not the answer we were hoping to hear. If you google Fracking and see the negative impacts everywhere drilling is going on you need to worry. Now they are moving into more populated communities and the homework hasn't been done to insure the health, safety and welfare of the citizens which should be the first thing on the agenda. Unfortunately, it hasn't even been looked at. This looks like Fitzgerald ruling instead of representing the people who put him in office. I hope that the council members will be more cautious.
Look, Corbett has taken millions of dollars from the gas industry. Therefore he owes them. They were all surprised by the ruling so to make himself look good to the people who paid for his election he has to do something. This is it, probably knowing that it can't be overturned but at least he can say "I tried." Smart political move in my opinion. Then when he loses his election he will enter the revolving door of the gas industry like all the rest and end up with a big paying job with the industry! There was sufficient evidence to show harm and there is much more that hasn't been brought before the court. As the previous post says, our Science is based on facts and truth and it's not pretty. Many families have been harmed and living with toxic air and without potable water for 4 years now. There are cancer clusters and proof of animals dying and having problems with their reproductive organs. This is all very well documented, Shalefield Stories is only one source. The truth is, people are losing property value, water and becoming very ill in the shalefields across the nation. If it is looked at more closely as the industry wants, I would welcome it. Once the scientific proof, evidence and harmed come forward they might shut them down altogether. This would be a very big win for those of us who believe "You can't drink money!"
Recent Comments
Personal and collected testimonials of life in Americas Shale Fields.
Barbara was a true representative of the people who elected her. Not afraid to be the lone voice of reason or disagree with other politicians who feel it necessary to protect a toxic industrial practice instead of the people who put them in office.
There have been increasing peer reviewed health studies released this year showing alarming health impacts for people living near ALL drilling activities. Especially CHILDREN.
You can start here which was read and publicized across the globe last month! http://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/1306722/
Then we can all read the news today which shows the "storytelling" talking point is straight from the industry play book. Moor proof that many of our governmental leaders are promoting this industry instead of the tax paying citizens. http://stateimpact.npr.org/pennsylvania/20…
It is unacceptable that the people elected have decided to PROMOTE this toxic industry in the name of "financial benefit" above PROTECTING the tax paying citizens that pay their salaries! There is growing evidence that people (especially children) living near drilling are experiencing the same serious health impacts all over the world. Doctors have said that people who live near natural gas development sites – including well pads and compressor stations – have suffered from skin rashes, nausea, nosebleeds and other ailments. This is why with any other industrial process Environmental along with Health Impact studies are done. Before the entire process is permitted. Now we have contamination of our health, environment and especially our democracy.
We also have a major case of neglecting to preform "Due diligence" before permitting such activity according to the ruling from our PA Supreme Court in the Act 13 ruling. In the long run, We the taxpayers will be funding this entire boom and bust toxic war on the people!