A former Pittsburgh city councilman,Doug Shields, introduced an ordinance banning corporations from natural gas drilling in the city. Now the state of Pennsylvania cries foul saying the ban has encroached on the state’s authority to create environmental regulations. Shields talks with Amy Goodman and explains why he proposed the ban in the first place.
Well, it’s inherently dangerous. There’s no environmental impact studies on the part of the state. The state—the institutions of our government failed miserably to do any kind of due diligence, says, “OK, we’re sitting in the middle of the second-largest gas supply in the world. What’s so bad about that?” And that was about the extent of the thinking from the state, no environmental impact studies, no health risk studies. And now I’ve got sick people all over. I’ve got a Department of Health that is not funded to even look into the complaints. I have a book here, Stories from the Shale Fields, where people go on the record. I mean, these are people that are harmed, people that don’t have water, people that have livestock that died.
“The explosive energy growth will occur in the developing world. Are you suggesting we just tell eight billion people to just go pound sand? You have no prayer of solving climate change that way.”
What a bloody ridiculous statement. Mark is suggesting the US deplete its own energy resources and destroy its fresh water supply to enable foreign exploitation of domestic fossil fuels.
Necessity is the mother of invention. If the US can’t figure out how to rely upon renewable energy, maybe some third world country can
No, actually Mark you do not get it. If you did you would not continue to blindly think the planet can continue on with energy systems that are not renewable or sustainable and that are polluting the planet faster than what the earth’s biological systems are able to handle.
Living systems require certain things to exist and we have for too long now taken for granted the vital importance of our land, air and water. The Golden Age of Gassing the Planet is not the answer either, unless you are wanting to fast track our way to extinction.
The solutions are out there but unfortunately old sacred fossil fuel prostituting cows die hard… And that is where we are currently at folks…..
What are those solutions?
Be aware that while renewables have many wonderful attributes which I applaud and support, they simply do not produce enough energy at this time to meet our county’s, our country’s, or our world’s needs. They no doubt will one day, but that day is far off. What do we do until then?
What’s your better plan?
US projected energy through 2050 shows pretty flat growth with an increase of 25% not double. China, Korea and India, etc… should not expect to rely upon US finite resources to meet their energy requirements.
That’s about right for the US. The explosive energy growth will occur in the developing world. Are you suggesting we just tell eight billion people to just go pound sand? You have no prayer of solving climate change that way.
Fracked gas exists all over the world. If we don’t step up and lead the way to its clean and responsible development, it will be developed in the cheapest and dirtiest way possible. That benefits no one, even us sitting here thousands of miles away. Besides that, poor development of these global resources only accelerates climate change. Once again, we lose.
These are global problems. We need global solutions. We can make a difference here in the US and in Coos County too by demonstrating that we can develop these resources in a clean, responsible way while fighting climate change at the same time. It can be done.
We can’t hide behind our oceans. The world is getting smaller every day.
Charlie Brown’s teacher is back.
Waa Waa Waa Waaa Wa Waaaa.
A better way to go would be to adopt the IEA’s “Golden Rules of Gas.”
http://www.worldenergyoutlook.org/goldenrules/
The problem is two fold: We must DOUBLE the world’s energy output by 2050. We must simultaneously cut greenhouse gas emissions. We can only do this with a multi-pronged approach that includes heavy investment in renewables and wise use of fossil fuels. This includes natural gas. Coal and nuclear also play essential key roles.
Fracking can be done wisely, well, and in a way that protects water, air, and soil. We must have strong legislation in place to ensure that it is done in such a way. Hence, the Golden Rules of Gas.
If someone has a better idea, I’m all ears.
“Fracking can be done wisely, well, and in a way that protects water, air, and soil.” Now who’s been smoking something?
Let’s say you are right.
How do you propose the energy/climate problem?
Actually believing the planet can possibly sustain a doubling of existing energy consumption using fossil fuels with or without renewable energy is the biggest fallacy.
OK. Got it. No fossil fuels. So how would you propose India, China, and the developing economies across Africa and the Middle East meet their geometrically growing energy needs?
Thank you for posting the article Mary. It is time for people to stand up, listen up, and take the facts in. Global Climate Change is here and no one is talking about the real effects of extracting natural gas and the environmental consequences. If the people don’t stand up, they will find themselves on one side or the other of the gated communities now dotting the American landscape. Now it is just a better living, but how soon until it is those with clean water and those without? Those with shelter from the sweltering sun and those without? The coast lines are changing. . .
How do we start a campaign for all coastal communities creating ‘sister cities’ that are prepared to help in a time of natural disaster? How is it that Coos Bay/North Bend don’t have a serious disaster plans? How about our schools?
OR
Keep drinking your lattes, it is all going to be okay, that ‘blue’ pill is so sweet.
I really don’t see the big deal. I drink the toilet water the city of Coos Bay sells to me for $100 a month & can hardly tell the difference between that & the water sample held up in the jar. It goes down easier if you hold your nose when you drink…