In viewing the efforts of the many anti-drilling or "responsible drilling" groups and coalitions out there, I spend most of my time shaking my head in disbelief. Not because they aren't trying. They are. It's because, as I've stated several times before, they are tripping over their own egos and missing the bigger picture entirely.
I could peck away for hours on this one topic, but I'll get right to the point of this post: Everyone knows what the Marcellus Shale Coalition is, right? Everyone knows the gender and name of their primary spokesperson, right? Did I hear a resounding "Yes"?
That's what the anti, responsible and whatever-else-you-wanna-call-it drilling movement needs to do; model themselves after the MSC. Come together as one, elect/appoint a spokesperson...and go toe-to-toe with Kathryn Zuberbuhler Klaber and her $75K per month advisor, Tom Ridge, wherever the opportunities arise: in the media, at public hearings, and - if necessary - on the sidewalks of Harrisburg and Canonsburg. Don't show up 50 strong...show up 1,000 strong.
I've spoken at numerous drilling-related hearings over the past ~3 years. I always included a plea that those who wanted to stop the Marcellus Madness needed to come together as one. Guess no one listened...and look how far we've come:
Tom Corbett is our new Governor.
Grow up folks. This is - without question - the biggest threat to PA's environment and our quality of life that we will see in our lifetimes. It's gonna take everything we've got - TOGETHER - to make a difference.
Earth Day 2011 is ~90 days away. Let's start there.
Earth Day 2010 - DEP Headquarters Harrisburg, PA
Folks, I know how it feels to stop something big with plenty of political backing and years of momentum. I also know what it takes.
Do you?
Friday
ReplyDelete4-22-2011
Solidarity
Outstanding
I agree! Folks here in Harrisburg (and other areas) have been saying the same thing. We are moving toward that goal, believe it or not.
ReplyDeleteI don't have any time for egos either... our water doesn't have any time for egos!
Susan
Transition Harrisburg
Thanks for your comments. We can and MUST make this happen. Please keep in touch...and I'll continue to do my part. If I can help you in any way, let me know.
ReplyDeleteTo all: Whatever you need, the Renegade is at your service.
ReplyDeleteI've been involved in the protest against the fracking for over a year, my bad that I didn't get involved sooner.
ReplyDeleteIt's never been about ego for me, but about the water and the health and wellfare of my community. To this date, I still marvel at the numbers who have no idea about what the fuss is, and that the local authorites complain that "their hands are tied"! Heard that, been there, right?
I've contacted all my legislative people independently and as a member of my group to no avail as their one and only retort is JOBS, one of the worst of all of their ploys, as we know they are temporary, of minimal pay, unsafe and destructive. But that's the plank on which they swept into power.
We, the group, have long understood the significance of confronting en mass the MONEY, the invaders. Show us how to get everybody together. We have networks, and yet they haven't been an effective tool to coordinate a mass rally or demonstration. Even the recent inaugeration of our new gasaholic gov, only brought about 150 demonstraters who were pretty much ignored. They were loud, but ignored.
This has never been about ego, but the future. If you have an idea as to how to coordinate, share it. As for now, the local groups are at a huge disadvantage for they can't get the daily media attention that the gasholes get. I am permitted one article per year on the same topic by my local papers.
By any other name, a bribe is still a bribe and that's partiially how GAS, in the name of donations, was enabled to achieve their covert invasion of the environment.
Tell us what to do and get the message out there as I'm sure it would have an impact.