Myth: Natural gas is going to free America from energy independence on foreign oil.

Mythbuster factoid

Most of the “natural” gas is being exported, not to create energy independence but for profit for a few. 

The frackers have received the exemptions from key federal air and water environmental regulations that were designed to protect us. Without subsidies from our tax dollars and exemptions there would be little profit.

http://www.propublica.org/article/former-bush-epa-official-says-fracking-exemption-went-too-far 

Myth: Regrettably we need fossil fuels.

Mythbuster factoid

“It’s absolutely not true that we need natural gas, coal or oil — we think it’s a myth,” said Mark Z. Jacobson, a professor of civil and environmental engineering. “You could power America with renewables from a technical and economic standpoint. The biggest obstacles are social and political — what you need is the will to do it.” http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/24/sunday-review/life-after-oil-and-gas.html  & http://www.stanford.edu/group/efmh/jacobson/Articles/I/NewYorkWWSEnPolicy.pdf 

Myth: There is a huge supply of oil and gas.

Mythbuster factoid

The proven reserves are much less than the pubic relations machine reports. Investors have been duped as well as the public. The USGS has revised its estimates of how much methane gas is available and it is a fraction of what the fracking industry says it is. http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/future_tense/2011/12/is_there_really_100_years_worth_of_natural_gas_beneath_the_united_states_.html 

Myth: Ultimately our government will protect us.

Mythbuster factoid

Corporate influence and profit over the pubic welfare is documented. Conflict of interest is the norm.

Expenditures of the Natural Gas Industry in New York to Influence Public Policy http://www.commoncause.org/site/pp.asp?c=dkLNK1MQIwG&b=6721533 

Myth: Climate change is liberal junk science.

Mythbuster factoid

Real studies have been done! http://www.nyc.gov/html/dep/pdf/natural_gas_drilling/12_23_2009_final_assessment_report.pdf 

James Northrup shows science of hydrofracking destroying the water, leaks of the toxic fracking fluid into our water supplies, methane into the aquifers and the atmosphere, when it gets into our drinking water you CAN’T get it out. It is permanent. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2Ozcl7lV_g 

Fracking has caused earthquakes http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/jun/01/blackpool-earthquake-tremors-gas-drilling http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-215_162-57363765/fracking-gets-its-own-occupy-movement/ Earthquakes and nuclear power don’t mix. http://rt.com/usa/fracking-nuclear-earthquake-safety-243 

Climate change and the burning of fossil fuels is scientific fact. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/17/science/earth/warming-arctic-permafrost-fuels-climate-change-worries.html?scp=2&sq=Arctic%20and%20Justin%20&st=cse&_r=0 

Myth: NY needs the Spectra pipeline, the Rockaway Lateral Pipeline and the Constitution pipelines

Mythbuster factoid

The claim of increased local demand and stable pricing is a false premise. 80% of the gs is slated to go to foreign countries where the price for gas is more expensive. The pipeline is an unnecessary infrastructure expense intended to enable export. http://saneenergyproject.org/overview/

Myth: Pipelines are totally safe!

Similar high pressure pipelines to Spectra, and others coming into NY,C have exploded. Spectra is slated to enter NYC through the West Village, an explosion like in San Bruno in 2010 would destroy the area. http://abcnews.go.com/US/san-bruno-explosion-investigation-pipelines-run-homes-safe/story?id=11628120

Myth: We will practice safe drilling.

Mythbuster factoid

The public is continually thwarted from knowing the truth.There is NO safe fracking. http://nyagainstfracking.org/theres-no-safe-fracking-governor-cuomo/ Explosions and radioactivity in the gas are real dangers that we can’t ignore.

It seems the fracking industry feels a few explosions here and there are a small price to pay for all the energy (er profit). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nTLzuhK0OI&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL

There is no safe fracking. Sandra Steingraber says Safe Hydrofracking Is the New Jumbo Shrimp. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sandra-steingraber/safe-hydrofracking_b_1520574.html

Cement well casings fail, floods have been known to spill the toxic radioactive water into communities and farms, there is radon in natural gas in 70 times higher concentrations in the Marcellus Shale, the toxic chemicals are carcinogenic and cannot be filtered out once in our water supply it is permanent there is no known treatment plan. Hazen and Sawyer report for the DEP says hydraulic fracturing is catastrophic for the environment. http://www.nyc.gov/html/dep/pdf/natural_gas_drilling/12_23_2009_final_assessment_report.pdf

Water Contamination from Fracking http://watercontaminationfromfracking.com/?gclid=CMGiwN3u7KICFQiD5QodnDTzfQ

Myth: Fracked gas burns cleaner and is better for the environment than other fossil fuels

Mythbuster factoid

Mark Jacobson explores the major environmental issues of global warming, air pollution, and energy insecurity and outlines a plan to solve them.

Solar and wind are moving forward! NYS can be shifted from fossil fuel to clean, renewable energy by 2030. Renewables will provide permanent long lasting jobs. Fracking for gas gas is dirtier and methane causes more greenhouse gases than CO2. http://new.livestream.com/TheNewSchool/economics-of-climate-change http://news.stanford.edu/news/2009/october19/jacobson-energy-study-102009.html

James Howarth study shows much more leakage into the environment that previously reported. http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2013/01/02/1388021/bridge-to-nowhere-noaa-confirms-high-methane-leakage-rate-up-to-9-from-gas-fields-gutting-climate-benefit/

We need to BAN FRACKING NOW!  We CAN make a difference! Change can be enacted town by town if necessary. One town fought for an ordinance against drilling. We need more of that. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/22/us

Educate yourselves and act up. Show Gaslands in your community. Gaslands2 trailer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_uNx2fXlfE

Read the articles here and stay informed!           (Note: this article was first published 4/20/13)

Join NYCFC Monday October 31, for our Halloween 3 hour brunch sail 11am to 2pm, on the historic sloop Clearwater.

Last years annual sail was dedicated to Toshi Seeger who had just passed. This 2014 sail is dedicated to Pete and Toshi and all they did in partnership Our annual sail is part of our membership drive and we welcome new folks to participate in NYCFC activities and events. Bring your voices, your instruments, your cooking skills or at least something to share and your ideas.

We seek to educate as many people as we can to the joys of the river and its It is OUR river, an important resource, to keep clean and healthy. It didn’t just get cleaner over the years by the largess of the powers that be. There were many water activists who worked with education and legislation to make it happen. Pete Seeger and the Clearwater organization led the way for this.

Lend your voice and show your interest by becoming a member of 11am to 2pm, on the historic sloop Clearwater. for our precious planet and its people.

All current paid members of NYCFC sail for $15.

Membership: basic $20, family $35, seniors/unemployed $10

Plus $15 for the sail. Non members/Starfish $50.

Please send check to guarantee your reservation to

NYC Friends of Clearwater,

PO Box 20381, Park West Station, New York NY 10025,

Best to send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or text/phone Steven Gradman at 917 374-9729 to let us know it is on the way.

You can also pay by PayPal to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

We are a 501(c)3 and your membership is tax deductible.

We will meet October 31, at 10:15 am, at the 79th Hudson River.

Reservations will be confirmed so please text or call St Boat Basin, on the 917 374-9729 or 646 420-0773 if you haven’t received a reply.

If RSVP’ed and paying the day of the sail please arrive 10:15

Brunch on the boat is pot luck so bring food, desserts, drinks, or fruit to share. Home made dishes are always appreciated. Bringing your own plates

This IS Clearwater so that means bring your instruments and your voices and News and updates on the state of the environment is all part of what makes this special.

If you are an organizational member of NYCFC and sending members make sure they bring literature of what your organization is doing and cutlery is encouraged. get ready to have a great time. for the environment. www.nycfriendsofclearwater.org

EDUCATE ADVOCATE CELEBRATE COMMUNITY!

 We are very excited to present this event. 

Looking forward to seeing you there! Please get your tickets soon.

Honoring Pete Seeger’s Vision: 
May 22nd Thursday 6:30 - 9:30 pm

NYC Friends of Clearwater with the NY Society for Ethical Culture present a night of song and remembrances of what Pete Seeger wanted for this planet and all people.

Pete Seeger touched so very many people’s lives. Even people who don’t immediately know the name, know his songs. The man and his music sang out for social justice, environmental justice, peace and equality.

We honor Pete Seeger’s Vision today. What he stood for, what he sang for and what he urged each of us to strive for.

Folk music moved the world with song and it will be a music filled evening! This dazzling lineup represents every phase of Pete’s musical development since he emerged from the McCarthy era. Veteran performers include the WalkAbout Clearwater Chorus, David Amram, Guy Davis, Christine Lavin, Oscar Brand, Charlie King, Happy Traum, David Bernz. You’ll also hear the next generation heirs of Pete’s legacy, Jacob Bernz and Matt Emmer.

Speakers include Manna Jo Greene, Environmental Action Director of Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, Paul Gallay, President of Riverkeeper and Chief Oren Lyons, a Faithkeeper for the Onondaga Nation.

Sloop club representatives from up and down the Hudson will share how Pete inspired them, including NYCFC past presidents Talbot Katz and Jeanne Stork, presidents Ed Dlugosz  of  NJ Friends of Clearwater, Saul Rozinsky of Beacon Sloop Club, Marcia Kaplan-Mann of Brooklyn Sloop Club, Warren Lindstrom of Riverlovers, Chris Greico of Ferrysloops and Donna Stein of NYC Friends of Clearwater. Susan Murphy of Ulster Friends of Clearwater sends her best anecdote.

Please reserve your space at http://petesvision.eventbrite.com as soon as possible before we promote this event to the general public. Online tickets are $12 plus a small processing fee. Donations can be made online as well. Admission is kept affordable as Pete would like, and space permitting no one will be turned away for lack of funds. 

If you know someone who is not online, or does not wish to order online, please help them out by ordering tickets for them.  If ordering online is absolutely not an option or if you are in need of a scholarship please leave a message to make arrangements at 347.796.0602.

A portion of proceeds go to the Pete Seeger Environmental Educators Network, a NYCFC Project to promote Pete's ideals and the promise of youth.

May 22nd Thursday 6:30 - 9:30 pm at the New York Society for Ethical Culture 2 West 64th St, Auditorium

Tickets: http://petesvision.eventbrite.com

Note: Please order online where possible as it will be difficult logistically to handle too many offline requests.

On Febuary 21st NYC Friends of Clearwater held a very memorable evening as we joined in a "circle of song" to honor the life and memory of Pete and Toshi Seeger.

As we all know, there is no better way to honor Pete than by keeping alive the songs he wrote and the songs he loved - and by rededicating ourselves to the environmental work and other progressive causes that were so important to him. 

There was large turnout with some of our favorite performers, and lots of other folks, too.