Threats to the Governor Won’t Change the Natural Gas Science
Rachael discusses the increasingly irrational and intolerant tone of the natural gas opposition as a deadline nears for Governor Andrew Cuomo to decide the future of hydraulic fracturing in New York and with it the future of the Southern Tier. There is a full court press by the antis and it’s not pretty.
Last night my family and I were watching the news and the main story was about natural gas development. I was, in a word, shocked. I am sure anyone else who saw it agreed. A small group of people opposed to natural gas development in the Binghamton area agreed to conduct an interview with a local reporter and demonstrated how completely childish and intolerant they are of anyone else’s views.
As WICZ Fox 40 noted, many people in the Southern Tier and all over upstate New York are hoping natural gas comes to the area because we desperately need jobs, opportunity and better income opportunities. Times are certainly hard for thousands of people in New York and natural gas development could prove to be the best chance the region has to recapture economic vitality. Yet, there are still people not only against this development but who refuse to even consider the science, let alone the views of their neighbors.
Natural gas opponents in upstate New York simply do not have facts to back up their outlandish claims so they have switched tactics and started to employ not s0 subtle threats of harm to those who disagree with them. They have, to be fair, always threatened to use civil disobedience but behind those words have been murmurs about the French Revolution and suggestions things could take a violent turn if they don’t get their way. Now, the groups have launched a website called “Save the Southern Tier” which advocates against natural gas development and for a strategy of this sort.
Isaac Silberman-Gorn is a member of Citizen Action, a well-known anti natural gas group, and he tells us all about their new plans:
Right now our focus is petitioning and such and we’ll shift tactics accordingly. Governor Cuomo we’re prepared to commit civil disobedience. We are going to be having trainings and it will be focused on you.
The group then tells the news reporter they have 6,000 people who have pledged to commit civil disobedience to stop natural gas development. How many of these folks are really ready to put themselves on the line is questionable but, even at 6,000, it doesn’t even register given the number of people in upstate New York with vastly different opinions. There are 62 counties, 932 towns and 62 cities in upstate and most of those who reside in areas with any potential for natural gas development think it’s a pretty darned good idea, whether they’re affected businesses, natural gas users or landowners hoping to harvest their resources.
The reaction of this group to these other folks was to treat them as if they didn’t exist and to insist on things going their way or no way, employing questionable tactics to threaten others. Do they know what civil disobedience really is? Here’s a definition:
Civil disobedience is the active, professed refusal to obey certain laws, demands, and commands of a government, or of an occupying international power. Civil disobedience is commonly, though not always, defined as being nonviolent resistance. It is one form of civil resistance. In one view (in India, known as ahinsa or satyagraha) it could be said that it is compassion in the form of respectful disagreement.
Civil disobedience is defined as respectful disagreement. Are threats respectful? Is depicting Governor Cuomo as a devil respectful? You be the judge.
Regardless, the shocking threats to Governor Cuomo should not be taken lightly. We have been to several events where people are holding signs depicting him as the devil. If you were Governor Cuomo wouldn’t you look at this as extreme measures? Would you comply with whatever they tell you to agree with?
Once the news was over a woman from Massachusetts called our home . We had no idea what the call was going to be about when we saw the out of area number. Curious, we answered. The woman called my father, Earl Colley, and urged him to go to Albany this coming Monday for an anti-natural gas rally. If the group did any research at all, or were actually from New York, let alone the local area, don’t you think they would recognize his name? He is part of several coalitions, plays leadership roles in a few and has been mentioned on this blog dozens of times. The answer is clear, many of the people the opposition has working behind the scenes and funding their efforts are not from the local areas or even the state.
These individuals struggling to convince the Governor natural gas is dangerous face a dilemma because they do not have any science to back-up their claims. What do they do? They switch their game plan and begin threatening people whom they have elected. They verbally threaten the Governor and depict him as a devil. When will these folks learn throwing a fit because the Governor isn’t listening doesn’t work? Why are these personal threats tolerated? Governor Cuomo, look what the natural gas opposition is saying and how they’re acting. Look who supports their activities. It’s clear they are the enemy of reasoned debate.
Follow Us:
Comments are closed.
The desperation of these people is coming to a head. I over heard Sandra Stiengraber say the same thing here is what she said
“6000 of us have signed the pledge to resist fracking, I am one of them, although we advocate non violence there are many amonst us with their own mind set”
To me that sounds like she is addressing those with the different mind set!
However I don’t believe there numbers, They may have 6,000 signutures but how many are New Yorkers?
Why with the draws such as Mark Ruffalo, Natilie Merchant, Yoko Ono,The Burns sisters the best they can get in attendence is 1200 at there rallies, mostly from out of the gas zone and with the promise of a passing grade from their teachers. Of course they report 3-5000 in Albany on the 9th of January. Not telling you there were other groups there such as 350 pro gas supporters from Broome county a group from NYC to legalize pot, construction and other trade unions but in there best interest they claimed those groups as well
Well, that put the icing on the fracking cake!Yep these threats should do it. Don’t know if we should thank you now or on the 13th! Seriously threaten Governor Cuomo, wonderful job.Got to wonder in all your antis infamous wisdom, what are you thinking? Civil disobedience as you obstructionists portray it and act out is just a few steps below terrorism. So let’s see blockade roads to drill sites, climb tree’s and strap oneself in (hoping a dozer will rip u out) sabotage equipment! This is all a form of terrorism and should be deemed as such. AGAIN, and I can’t say this enough what part of it’s our land,farms and we pay the taxes don’t you antis get? So keep up the wonderful job as portraying yourselves in this fashion. Hope to see you rascals (nice word) on our farms soon!!! DRILL BABY DRILL!!!
Ken is it terrorism for people to protect themselves from the greedy (like you perhaps) because they have a concern for their health ,environment and their families ,and most of you pro gassers are just interested in the cash you think your going to get and screw the neighbors and environment around you .Your outlook is rather lame ( euphemism ) .I pay taxes and have land also and at one time was supportive of the drilling (when I was ignorant of what actually takes place and how much is disrupted in the drilling area ) but now after seeing what goes on ( 3 + yrs ) I am all for stopping it ASAP …..I don’t feel like I’m a terrorist ,I believe I am a patriot ,one that care more about the land ,people and future generations than those that are thinking only of themselves and profits they believe they will get .
What are you talking about. No one is going to drill your property or put one thing on it or under it without your permission and they can’t do anything without complying with the law. Are you suggesting you would break the law and go on others’ properties to impose your view?
Tommy boy …first I never go on others property without permission ( not like pro gassers do ) …Also PA has a Right of Capture law which I believe allows them to draw gas right on property lines and under adjacent properties .Last I really don’t know how you got off on the tangent above, my concern was the overall nuisance and trespass that this gas drilling does beyond properties leased to them .For instance traffic on roads .blockage of roads ,noise (all hours of the night and day ) ,pollution from diesel fumes,spills,leaks,air (silica sand dust which goes way beyond property lines for as much as a mile ) compressor stations required ( approximately every 30 wells or so ) gathering pipelines ,( installation and ROW everywhere) intrusion by workers ( which feels almost like a military invasion at times ) water contamination ( which has occurred not only in Dimock ) and outright disruption to the quality of life people living in drilling areas live in these areas for .Just because large landowners feel they should be able to lease their lands ( I have land too ) they need to be held responsible for these above nuisances to their neighbors that don’t want the disruption and other issues .Of which there are plenty and are a legal matter which can be addressed ……
Bill, first off its not all about greed (as your type try to portray as greedy) .By the way at one time I thought just like you.That is till a woke up, finally seen the big picture! It don’t take a rocket scientist, just a little brains and some common sense. I am positive that I don’t have to go into how many wells have been fracked (with a K) with basically no problems! OH and speaking of greed! The select few that did supposedly have problems refused treatments and or help.Strangely they still live there!! Hmmm now that’s what the true definition of greediness means! Can you say sue for millions?Can you say severely GREEDY? Ihave yet to see anyone on the progas side spewing out any terrorism type of threats, screaming, dancing, weeding, holding snake’s and or making threats pointed at Governor Cuomo!! Wow wee what in the world are they thinking?? I certainly hope that there are enough jail cells available!
@ Ken B…No I believe it’s all about the cash .Say what you want but in the end that’s what matters .I watched people in Susquehanna try to stop water deliveries to people that needed water for what Why did they go out of their way to hurt others ( basically because these people interfered with their possible leasing of their land) .I also see the greed here in Bradford County and how people put God and country as the reason they want the NG drilling ( I say this is just BS) they really want the money plain and simple and don’t care who gets hurt by it .Like I mentioned above back in 2009 (when I was completely ignorant of what was going to take place ) I was all for the drilling and the money I thought I was going to get .I also had $$$$ in my eyes ,but when the drilling started here and I saw what it actually was all about and saw people here that never had health or water problems develop them ,I changed my opinion on this heavy industrialized process .I believe because of what I have all around me I am experienced to give a true perspective on what really goes on .There are 34 pads (6 wells per ) within 4 miles radius of my home .The closest is 1800 feet ,others at 3200 ,3800 and the rest within the radius .Also there are 4 impoundments within 4 miles ,we should have at least 3 compressors here eventually (within the surrounding township areas ,depending on well output .Compressors produce pollution that is not only local but regional .We all in NE PA will see a difference in our air quality in years to come (soon ) PA will have over 400 Comp. S and most will be in NEPA .I could go on here ,but I’ll leave it at that …I believe not many here in PA have the foresight to see what ( WILL ) be our future here .
What’s the matter …EID can’t take the truth I posted right .that’s OK getting it out there anyhow ….!
hmmmm do you live in PA…. I know a Bill in Warren Center who used to live in NJ; he’s 64 mybe 65, very nice man, well versed in life
@Bill Ferullo
Bill, you work? earn a pay check? maybe your a hard worker? maybe your on assistance? I don’t know and I don’t care but no matter what you answer to the above question money is as fundamental to survive as water anywhere on this planet. Maybe not cash or precious metals as we know it, Maybe somewhere in Africa there is a tribe that survives on trade only, but what ever they use for trade is in fact money! So here in the USA where the rich say money doesn’t buy you happiness I can honestly say that being poor doesn’t buy you a life of ease. I am not talking about luxury’s but everyday Items. Sometimes those of us who were not handed a silver spoon might not sleep at night because we worried that the car we bought, or the home we lived in would be taken away because of a lack of money, maybe due to a job loss, a spouse that died, whatever. So quit trying to argue the opportunity that is afforded a farmer, a landowner, through the leasing of their mineral rights is based on greed because it is not. Money in itself in our society a survival mechanism.
Greed is a branch of the envy tree, it is when you want yours and want to deny anyone else theirs out of fear they may obtain more. Greed is selfish and I am more then willing to share my natural gas with you and the world are you willing to share your paycheck with me?
As far as people stopping water deliveries to those in Dimock… that statement just is not true. If they really had a need for water because there wells were bad from fracking with a “K”, I am sure they would have provided their water test results instead of saying their lawyer recommend they don’t. If Matt Ryan who bypassed hundreds of flood victims here in Conklin NY without water too deliver water to 11 litigants in PA just to make a political statement for his anti activism, then stopping him was the right thing to do.
I protest the way you use God and Country and BS in the same sentence. To me that is one of the most ignorant statements you can make aimed at those who believe as I do, that obtaining our own resources for our own use and the use of those who don’t have the gas available is somehow un patriotic and uncaring,
I also don’t buy into your line that you were for it but are now against it as if that would buy you some credibility to your argument. Just be honest and say your against it you don’t have to explain why because your 1st in a huge minority and 2nd no one cares about your fables.
@ Victor …I am all for people making money ,but when they do it with NO regard for those they are or might affect with there actions I am against it 100% and I call it like I believe it .I also believe in God ,but not a hypocrite like many who go to church and after the mass cut off their neighbors to get out of the parking lot .Believing in God’s way’s goes far beyond going to church .It’s how you live your life and respect your world and neighbors .The only reason you want to obtain your so called resources ( of which you are only the care taker ) is to stuff your pockets and become rich .I don’t see this to be a problem if it weren’t for the way you are going about it .People are having problems with their health and quality of the life they once knew ….http://stateimpact.npr.org/pennsylvania/2012/06/21/chesapeake-to-pay-1-6-million-for-contaminating-water-wells-in-bradford-county/
Wow Bill….
Reading this you make it sound as if all landowners are equal to drug dealers… Go figure
@ Vic F…No not drug dealers ! I can also understand wanting to make money from the venture ,but I also have seen issues and you never know where they will come up.That’s what makes this drilling process bad.Many can have no problems but there are those that will and once you have problems it’s a real pain trying to get the drilling co. the face up to what they caused .You should know this .It can happen to anyone .
will the anti-fracker hippies be training on american soil or will they go overseas for their training where they likely fit in?
NY4GAS ……your not very bright are you .Hate to bring this out but a stupid remark like you made deserves abstract answer .Get with it it’s not just hippies ,it’s people who are concerned because they have the intelligence and foresight to anticipate what the affects of NG drilling will bring .I realize this might be hard for you to comprehend ,but give it a try !