Pete Bianco may an extreme example, but many of the fractivists here at Binghamton University are unhappy with President Barack Obama’s support of natural gas development, which would include hydrofracking.
Fractivists are expected to show up in force at B.U. Friday.
They're hoping to catch the President's eye as he rolls in. President Obama supports natural gas development. He outlined that point in his State of the Union address. Walter Hang, who is the President of Toxics Targeting, based in Ithaca, has been helping to organize the large anti-fracking rally. He says people from New York, Pennsylvania and even Ohio will be at the protest.
Walter Hang says, "They're going to be sending a very clear message to the President. He shouldn't be supporting shale fracking until comprehensive public health studies are completed and pollution liability safeguards are have been adopted. That should be his national policy and it isn't at this point."
New York currently has a moratorium on fracking. Pro-drilling supporters will be having a picnic rally at Otsiningo Park in Dickinson Friday.
Another big element of the President's visit will of course be both the pro and anti fracking groups that are expected to be on hand as he arrives in Binghamton:
"We're basically saying that the Governor has stood up and told the public that his final decision whether or not to allow fracking in New York will be based on science and that's a courageous stand," said Walter Hang, Toxics Targeting President.
With Governor Cuomo making positive comments about the economic benefits of fracking in advance of President Obama's visit to Binghamton Friday, reaction continues to come in.
Walter Hang, the owner of Ithaca-based Toxics Targeting and a well-known organizer in the Southern Tier, said he's focusing his efforts on the Binghamton University stop.
In an email Monday to thousands of fracking critics, Hang said the Obama visit will "dwarf all others in importance."
"We're working with as many groups as we possibly can to make this a national event on shale fracking," Hang said. "We're going to be putting out the call to action to groups in Pennsylvania and Ohio and all over New York."
President Obama is planning on visiting upstate New York next week to promote an education plan. But whenever a major politician visits the region, the issue of fracking is often on the agenda, whether they like it or not.
President Obama’s planned trip to Buffalo, Syracuse and Binghamton will focus on the importance of getting an affordable college education.
But activists opposed to hydro fracking want the topic of natural gas drilling to be on the agenda as well.
“We’re going to be present in Binghamton by the hundreds if not the thousands,” says Walter Hang, with the Ithaca based Toxics Targeting.
Hang says protesters are expected at the President’s other stops, as well, but the Southern Tier, which is at the epicenter of the gas drilling debate, will feature the largest demonstration.
Toxics Targeting and Citizen Action are joining forces to call on thousands of people to raise their voices about the hydrofracking debate.
“We’re all going to show up and confront the president that it is simply irresponsible to support shale fracking without assessing the health risks and adopting a pollution liability protection,” said Walter Hang, Toxics Targeting President.
Excerpted below are personalized statements selected from more than 300 communications sent since 7/1/13 to members of the New York State Hydraulic Fracturing Advisory Panel. Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and DEC and DOH Commissioners Joe Martens and Nirav R. Shah were cc'd.
Each communication reiterates the same request that the Department of Health a) halt its Review of New York's shale fracking "health impact analysis" conducted in secrecy without any public input and b) conduct a comprehensive "Public Health Impact Study" to resolve all health concerns about Marcellus Shale fracking once and for all.
My name is Stephanie. I write you this email today because this is the only way I have found to contribute to efforts which I honestly believe are necessary to ensure the best opportunities for New Yorker's health and well-being in the long-term. I am so very concerned that we will look back on fracking in 30 years and wonder what the heck we were thinking, rushing into an unsustainable and self-destructive, polluting practice with no long-term benefits, only short-term financial and political ones. Please--seriously--please do contact me about any better ways to get involved in this process, if there are any. I don't know everything about this issue, but based on what I have read and heard, I believe it is my duty to get involved on some level.
