NATURAL GAS MYTHS
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)
Honoring Pete Seeger’s Vision: 
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.
Clearwater’s Great Hudson River Revival (aka “the Clearwater Festival” or “Revival”) features seven sustainably powered stages with diverse music, dance, storytelling and family-oriented programming as well as juried crafts, the Green Living Expo, the Working Waterfront with small boat exhibits and rides, an artisanal food & farm market, environmental education displays and exhibits, and the Circle of Song where audience participation is the focus. The festival is wheelchair accessible and most stage programming is staffed with American Sign Language interpreters.Inspired by Pete Seeger’s desire to clean up the river over forty years ago, Clearwater’s Great Hudson River Revival initially helped raise the funds to build the sloop Clearwater, which has since become a world-renowned floating classroom and a symbol of effective grassroots action. Today, Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, Inc. is a non-profit organization that sails at the forefront of the nation’s environmental challenges. The revenue raised by the Revival goes to support Clearwater’s numerous educational programs and its work toward environmental and social justice—as well as keeping the sloop Clearwater afloat. - See more at: