November 18, 2014
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Anti-frackers ask Wolf to forget shale tax
“We’re going to be in Wolf’s face everywhere he goes, to make our message heard and make him respond,” said Karen Feridun of Berks Gas Truth, who called for Wolf to halt the extraction practice and study it.
Wilkes-Barre Times Leader: Anti-fracking rally set for Nov. 18 in Harrisburg
Pike County Courier: New anti-frack group to rally Nov. 18
Pennsylvanians Against Fracking Press Release:
For more information:
Karen Feridun, Berks Gas Truth, 610-678-7726
Sam Bernhardt, Food & Water Watch, 267-428-1903
Tracy Carluccio, Delaware Riverkeeper Network, 215-369-1188 x 104
Pennsylvanians Against Fracking Launch Campaign with Rally in Harrisburg
As Wolf Prepares to Take Office, New Coalition Calls on Him to ‘Clean Up Pennsylvania’ with a Statewide Moratorium
Harrisburg, Pa: Pennsylvanians Against Fracking marked the election of new Governor Tom Wolf with a rally to stop fracking. The new coalition planned their ‘Clean Up Pennsylvania’ rally to begin pressuring Governor-elect Wolf as early as possible, just two weeks after his victory in the November 4th election. Over 100 Pennsylvanians congregated at the Capitol Rotunda to carry out a symbolic cleaning of the state government, calling on Wolf to halt fracking with a statewide moratorium.
After hearing from speakers on the importance of keeping pressure on Wolf early and often, attendees assembled outside the Capitol entrance to sweep out the corrupting influence the fracking industry has had on Pennsylvania. They then used mirrors to carry out a solar-powered disinfection of the state government.
“Governor-elect Wolf has ignored the science on fracking,” says Karen Feridun, Founder of Berks Gas Truth. “Even worse, he’s ignored the evidence coming out of the agencies tasked with oversight of drilling and public health that they are in a state of regulatory meltdown. He can’t honestly promote his severance tax on fracking with the promise that it will be done safely when the DEP and DOH are as broken as they clearly are. The only responsible way forward, short of the outright ban he should place on fracking, is an immediate moratorium to clean up the regulatory mess.”
Pennsylvanians Against Fracking is a new statewide coalition of over 80 members, including advocacy organizations, business, and faith institutions, calling for a ban on fracking. With their Clean Up Pennsylvania rally, the coalition called on Governor-elect Wolf to change course from his predecessor, Tom Corbett, by ridding state government of dirty energy money and speeding the transition to clean energy alternatives. Specifically, the group called on Wolf to halt fracking with a statewide moratorium.
“It is heartbreaking that Pennsylvania is the example people in other states point to as an example of the harm that can be inflicted when the frackers are given a free rein,” said Diane Sipe, of Marcellus Outreach Butler. “Past administrations laid the state wide open for gas industry exploitation, enabling the industry to invade Pennsylvania communities without concern for the environment or the health, safety and welfare of the people of those communities. Now we have a new governor about to be installed and we want this governor to do what those before him did not—put the welfare of the people and the environment first. We demand a moratorium to be enacted to protect Pennsylvanians, including future generations from this industry’s relentless and reckless drive for profits.
“The mounting evidence that fracking is polluting our drinking water, our air, and communities cannot be ignored. In fact, these intolerable conditions have somehow become the status quo in Pennsylvania. But Pennsylvanians have spoken very clearly that they want a change with the election of a new Governor who is promising environmental protection. We are here in Harrisburg today to say ‘Let’s clean up Pennsylvania, let’s stop fracking and let’s let the sun shine so that renewable energy like solar and wind and energy efficiency become our Commonwealth’s new status quo,’ said Tracy Carluccio, Deputy Director, Delaware Riverkeeper Network.
Organizers view the rally as the beginning step in building a statewide movement to pressure Wolf as he takes office. “The movement against fracking is seizing on the opportunity presented by having a new Governor in office,” said Sam Bernhardt, Pennsylvania Organizer for Food & Water Watch. “As Governor Wolf tours the state introducing himself to Pennsylvania, Pennsylvanians Against Fracking will be present calling on him to halt fracking. We’re just getting started here today.”
Despite claims by the fracking industry, Pennsylvania could meet all its energy needs by making our buildings, homes and schools more energy efficient; building wind farms throughout the Commonwealth; and harvesting the virtually limitless amount of solar power that falls on millions of roofs.
Learn more about Pennsylvanians Against Fracking at paagainstfracking.org
###