Fracking

One of the highest honors I have gotten through the years has been being asked to serve on the board of the state League of Women Voters (first guy) and I get to go around the state and help educate people of some of the environmental issues that our state faces in my capacity as the environmental advocacy chair.

On Saturday I will be giving a presentation on Hydro Fracking to the Catawba Valley League of Women Voters at 10:30am at the Newton branch of the Catawba County Public Library. If you are in the area come on by, all are welcome.

Precinct meetings March 6 will be held around the state and here are some resolutions you can print and take with you.

A Resolution to Promote the Renewal of Industrial Hemp as an Agricultural Crop in North Carolina

A Resolution in support of a North Carolina Statewide Ban on Natural Gas Development Involving Hydraulic Fracturing

A Resolution to oppose marriage discrimination on the May ballot

Resolution to Amend the Federal Constitution to Clarify that Corporations are not People and Money is not Speech

The most surprising thing about the threat of hydraulic fracturing ﴾“fracking”) is how many people are unaware of the danger, and it’s already happening in 34 states! It has been described as possibly the largest health experiment in U.S. history, yet most people have no idea what I’m talking about if I bring up the subject in conversation. I’ve never been an activist or someone who is obsessive about politics. I am just a person who loves my tiny little plot of land. I appreciate my trees and wildlife. I simply want to have clean water for myself, my family, my friends, and my pets.

As some of you know I serve on the board of the League of Women Voters of NC as the Environmental Advocacy chair. I have been trying to organize a debate on the merits of Hydro Fracking here in NC for our annual meeting which is being held in Morehead City this spring. Didn't have any problems finding the "con" speaker but am having a hard time finding the "pro" speaker.

I wonder why this is?

This kind of approach to lawmaking should be outlawed:

“I don't want any pollutant stuff either,” said Sen. Harris Blake, a Republican representing Moore and Harnett counties. “I'm very concerned about that. But I'm concerned that we'll spend years studying this stuff and then go ahead and do it. Then look at the time we'll lose.”

If those years spent provide us with guidance on how to frack safely, and how to protect our landowners from being ripped off (which is happening now), and gives us the tools we need to manage the upfront water usage and disposal of used (tainted) water, that time will not have been wasted. And we're not the only ones studying this matter:

Surprise, surprise.

Industry representatives say the link (of fracking to earthquakes) is not proven and that the drilling technology is safe.

I guess safe is relative.