The NEW Declaration of Independece AGAINST FRACKING - May 10 2012

Dr. J. Stephen Cleghorn's Solemn Remembrance of his Wife, Lucinda.

Blessing the land with Lucinda’s ashes.

Welcome, everyone.
Today I act to declare my farm, all that lives above on its surface, the very air and sunlight that caresses and enlivens all of us here today, and all that lies below it as firmament, I hereby declare off-limits from shale gas extraction and its toxic impacts, in perpetuity. Some will say what I do is against the law. But I say this: I act in the spirit of the founders of this nation who proclaimed in our Declaration of Independence that “the Laws of Nature and Nature’s God” entitled them to throw off the oppression of the British Crown. I act to throw off an oppression manifesting itself in the threat of “fracking” for methane gas, an extreme form of fossil fuel extraction that is but representative of a much bigger oppression that is bearing down on all of us.

There is an increasing collusion between corporate power and the governmental powers of the United States of America, Pennsylvania and other states. This flag beside me is losing its potency as a symbol of justice and freedom. The republic for which it stands is being bought and sold as though being traded on the commodities market. We are losing our democracy. Governments are protecting corporations, not people.

Seeing energy companies dictate laws such as the recently passed Act 13, I can now understand better what our nation’s founders discovered in trying to negotiate with the British Crown. Act 13 is a corporate-sponsored form of organized crime perpetrated upon the people and democracy of Pennsylvania, written by politicians purchased for that purpose by lubricious campaign contributions that exceeded $4.4 million in the 2010 election cycle, more than one-third of which went to Governor Corbett, and almost two-thirds of which went to Gov. Corbett, Senator Joe Scarnati, Speaker Sam Smith and the Republican Party Committee. That is not to count the $5 million in gas company lobbying in Harrisburg and being the Gold Sponsors of the annual meeting of the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors.

We are being systematically colonized by multinational corporations who give no quarter. There has come a time when negotiation is capitulation, when our petitioning for redress “in the most humble terms” has failed, and when our “repeated Petitions” are being “answered only by repeated injury.”

The America we love is fast becoming America, Inc. – a wholly owned subsidiary of faceless corporations that get to speak with money to get the politicians they want to make the laws they need to despoil our environment and even what we eat for their exorbitant profits. Monsanto is buying up and patenting our seeds and poisoning us with their genetically engineered crops. The USDA and Food Safety Administration – at the behest of the industrial food lobby – are preventing the labeling of genetically modified food products that a super majority of Americans want to see labeled. Chesapeake Energy and Range Resources and CONSOL Energy and EXCO Resources (allied with British Petroleum) and Cabot Oil & Gas and Shell Oil and many others are being given license to run roughshod over local zoning protections. Their transgressions against water and air and human and animal life where they drill are being shielded by court gag orders. PNC and other banks are financing mountaintop removal of coal that is destroying entire ecosystems in West Virginia.

Our political leaders, beholden to corporations to fund their campaigns, refuse to lead us out of a fossil fuel era that is warming our planet, and refuse to prevent the chemical contamination of our environment and food for corporate profits. The environment is becoming more and more toxic. Species are disappearing by the hundreds annually and many of our own human kind are finding themselves dealing more and more with the calamities of climate change.

Act 13 codifies injuries against our democracy and our earth itself. It was an outright victory for the “Shale Army” of which one energy executive boasted: “The shale army has arrived. Resistance is futile.”

But resistance is not futile. The “shale army” will find that out soon enough, after we have taken more losses at their hands, to be sure, but soon enough. Resistance can be liberating. It is also a little scary, of course. That is why our Declaration of Independence ends, knowing that war is at hand, on a somber note that appeals “to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions” and comes to a close with these words: “And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.”

That is what today is for me. And I dare say many of my friends gathered here. Our lives. Our fortunes. Our sacred honor. Maybe even our liberty will be required of us as we resist the shale army. But we shall pay those costs. We shall pledge all that to Nature and to our fellow human beings who are part of Nature, God’s Nature, even those who perpetrate the harm.
I am putting all of that into this fight, risking it all without any assurance of victory.

Why? Because we need a new paradigm for how we live on this Earth. Our individual acts of resistance such as this one today must be part of an ongoing organization to create a foundation of law based on the Rights of Nature.

Now, for a moment, let me turn to those who were invited but chose not to come today. Mr. & Mrs. Burkett. Senator Scarnati and Speaker Smith. J. Brett Harvey of CONSOL Energy and Douglas Miller of EXCO Resources.

Mr. & Mrs. Burkett – If you were here I’d say this to you. When you bought the deed to the gas rights for $150 in 1995 from a previous heir of this farm, you could not have known anything about the highly invasive and toxic processes of drilling into an unconventional gas field such as the tight shale of the Marcellus. No one did. And you could not have known that someday two people would come and pour their entire life savings into making this an organic farm. And when you made a smart deal for $80,000 in leasing bonus and looked forward to 12 ½% royalties, it must have seemed such a good thing for your family, but you had no idea that this type of drilling could destroy another family’s dreams for sustainable farming and nurturing a new generation of young farmers. But now you do know, and when you told Lucinda and me that you were not interested in selling the gas rights back to us, you said it was because you were “greedy.” I asked how you could allow the earth to be destroyed for some money, and you told me that it did not really matter because at the end of time, according to your faith, Jesus Christ would return and make the world whole again for his faithful, and those people who did the damage to the world would receive their just due. But don’t you see, Mr. & Mrs. Burkett, that “those people” are you? “Those people” are all of us if we allow the destruction of our earth.

Senator Scarnati, for two years I have tried to get you to understand the suffering that afflicts people and animals in contact with this drilling, wherever it has occurred. You refuse to take in any information about that. In fact you recently blocked a $2 million fund to develop a health registry that would track cases of people who are being sickened. Today we have presented news accounts of more than 115 such cases, but for you (on purpose) you will not pay attention to these. These are all the “disappeared ones” for you (on purpose). They do not exist for you, they cannot exist for you, and you do not want information about them to exist for anyone else. I pity you, sir, and – believe it or not – I continue to keep you in my prayers.

Speaker Smith, Mr. Harvey and Mr. Miller – let me offer this to all of you who have refused to be here today. Also to you, Mr. & Mrs. Burkett and Senator Scarnati. If you were here I’d ask you to stand up, turn slowly and look around this beautiful farm, this beautiful farmland and woods before you. Just turn your bodies slowly around and see all of it, see and imagine it as habitat for me, my family and friends, my neighbors, these goats, the fox and the deer and the moles and the mice and the groundhogs, the ground-nesting birds and peeping frogs and the slithering snakes. “Look Out” on this place and see it as a home for many, not a commodity to be exploited. “Look Out” on this particular place, which in some ways stands for all places where earth and sky and water and air and life are under threat by our insatiable “economy” built on fossil fuels, built on wars for fossil fuels, and try to hear there words from a poem called “Look Out” by the farmer Wendell Berry. Hope that these words are not about you. Hope that some day these words will not describe any of us:

Look Out – by Wendell Berry

Come to the window, look out, and see
the valley turning green in remembrance
of all springs past and to come, the woods
perfecting with immortal patience
the leaves that are the work of all of time,
the sycamore whose white limbs shed
the history of a man’s life with their old bark,
the river quivering under the morning’s breath
like the touched skin of a horse, and you will see
also the shadow cast upon it by fire, the war
that lights its way by burning the earth.
Come to your windows, people of the world,
look out at whatever you see wherever you are,
and you will see dancing upon it that shadow.
You will see that your place, wherever it is,
your house, your garden, your shop, your forest, your farm,
bears the shadow of its destruction by war
which is the economy of greed which is plunder
which is the economy of wrath which is fire.
The Lords of War sell the earth to buy fire,
they sell the water and air of life to buy fire.
They are little men grown great by willingness
to drive whatever exists into its perfect absence.
Their intention to destroy any place is solidly founded
upon their willingness to destroy every place.
Every household of the world is at their mercy,
the households of the farmer and the otter and the owl
are at their mercy. They have no mercy.
Having hate, they can have no mercy.
Their greed is the hatred of mercy.
Their pockets jingle with the small change of the poor.
Their power is the willingness to destroy
everything for knowledge which is money
which is power which is victory
which is ashes sown by the wind.
Leave your windows and go out, people of the world,
go into the streets, go into the fields, go into the woods
and along the streams. Go together, go alone.
Say no to the Lords of War which is Money
which is Fire. Say no by saying yes
to the air, to the earth, to the trees,
yes to the grasses, to the rivers, to the birds
and the animals and every living thing, yes
to the small houses, yes to the children. Yes.
My friends, please, now join me as we set aside this farm from the destruction of shale gas drilling.

The Invocations:
(To those gathered). As I move now to release a portion of my wife’s ashes upon this land, I will end each invocation with her name. When I do that, please say with me “¡Presente!” to recognize that she is here with us in spirit. “¡Presente!” is a way of saying that she here with us to take new spiritual action as guardian and protector of this farm that she so loved. So… (lifting the first handful ashes)
1. May she who was soft, warm and moist to me – now made dry by cancerous death – come now in these ashes to mingle with earth and water below our feet, come to protect the soil and water of this farm and all the lives which they sustain. Come now, Dr. Lucinda Hart-Gonzalez! (¡Presente!)
2. May she who was quench to my thirst, who was water of this good earth’s loving waters – now made grit and grief to me by cancerous death – may she come now to her final home, come speak with these ashes her final words of peace and wellness for her beloved organic farm. Come now, Dr. Lucinda Hart-Gonzalez. (¡Presente!)
3. May she who was tender and close and loving of me – now made dust and distant from me by cancerous death – come now in these ashes to declare this farm forever inviolate of shale gas drilling or any other attack upon it as a living system. Here now she declares a new right of love on the surface and below this farm that no gas drill will ever penetrate.” Come, be with us now, Dr. Lucinda Hart-Gonzalez. (¡Presente!)
Thank you. Now we will take your questions.

Another Hero in the Fight Against Fracking

In a World Run Amuck - we need Heroes - Stephen Cleghorn is one such Hero.   He lives on the Marcellus Shale in PA.  He has just lost his wife to cancer.   And still he fights a tireless battle against Shale Gas to save our next generation.   Please read his words of wisdom and visit his site. 

jstephencleghorn

Henderson Township, Jefferson County, PA

My name is Stephen Cleghorn. I am an organic farmer operating a 50-acre certified organic farm in Jefferson County, PA. If you’d like to know more about me, visit the farm’s website at www.paradisegardensandfarm.com and you can learn more about this farm and about me. You can also link to a PowerPoint I have done on the need for a moratorium on unconventional drilling for natural gas in the Marcellus Shale by a means commonly known as “fracking” – which refers to the whole process known as “high volume slickwater fracking of long laterals” to release gas from tight shale formation such as the Marcellus. This blog will be occasional posts about the “fracking” and those who would transform one-half the land mass of Pennsylvania into an industrialized zone to get at the shale gas and realize millions in profits for themselves. The blog’s name is taken from the writings of Saint Augustine who believed “Hope” to be the greatest of spiritual gifts. And, says Augustine, Hope has two lovely daughters: anger and courage. Anger so that what must not be may not be; courage so that what should be can be. Anger and Courage. We will need both in this struggle to defeat the fracking that could lay waste to one-half of Pennsylvania and threaten the water supplies of millions of people. This blog will be about having the courage to stand up to the massive global corporations that would ruin our state, take their profits, and leave the mess to future generations of Pennsylvanians to clean up. We need to rise up, my friends and be not afraid.

Calvin Tillman - Formal Complaint Against David Poole - Gen. Counsel - Range Resources

Email Concerning the Above Complaint Against Range Resources Attorneys

I wanted to update everyone on the continued intimidation tactics by David Poole, Sr. Vice President and General Counsel of Range Resources (RRC) against Sharon Wilson. As you know Range Resources (RRC) has tried to pull both myself and Sharon into depositions for lawsuits that we had nothing to do with. They are obviously trying to silence their critics, and using unprofessional, and unethical methods to accomplish this. After the latest attack on Texas Sharon's 1st amendment rights, it was apparent that their intentions were not to defend themselves in a lawsuit as they have suggested, but rather to punish those who have been critical of the manner in which they conduct their business. I felt that I had no other options but to file a formal compliant with the Texas Bar Association. Attorneys in every state have a standard of professionalism that they are bound to follow, and Mr. Poole and his outside attorneys are simply not following those standards. I believe that it is important for us to stand up for our freedoms here in America, otherwise we might as well quit now. We criticize other countries for using unethical methods to silence critics, and yet we tolerate it here. Please share this, and post on your websites and blogs if you agree with this letter. We need to make sure that we expose these immoral tactics used by Range Resources (RRC). I am certain that most Range Resources (RRC) investors would not approve of these techniques. And please never forget; together we bargain, divided we beg. Links to all of the documents that support this complaint are included below. In closing, I want to personally thank all of those who took time out of their schedule to call Mr. Poole in support of Sharon Wilson.

Letter of Complaint to Texas State Bar: https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B0P-oym-MTKzYjBjU0Y2c1pTODZqVkRXTmtCWU9nQQ

Sharon Wilson Subpoena: https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B0P-oym-MTKzejFncnVyZm9RVnlLNUdCZWI5aTJTUQ

Sharon Wilson Motion to Quash: https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B0P-oym-MTKzdExnc0tlOF9UcFcyM3l6Y1NjS21YZw

Response to Letter from David Poole: https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B0P-oym-MTKzQU1RbFJVOGxUaml6dmh0RGVCbzhwUQ

Calvin Tillman Response to David Poole: https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B0P-oym-MTKzb2JvVFdCdzlTU3VfSXdFeWl5V2Vidw

Letter From David Poole, dated March 5, 2012: https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B0P-oym-MTKzckxCWEhrTjlSN1NYanRGZDJreXBXQQ

Range Resources Subpoena to the Town of DISH, b/s Mayor Calvin Tillman: https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B0P-oym-MTKzSlpGOWtiUzRUSFdKaTFKTHZOMlp3QQ

Range Resources Subpoena to Calvin Tillman, Private Citizen: https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B0P-oym-MTKzekZ3VEh4M0ZTcktoYjJDQlNMek5TQQ

Quash Request for Subpeonas: https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B0P-oym-MTKzWjN3UWdaSlJST2FzMk9VdV9LbHUxZw

Additional Deposition Request: https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B0P-oym-MTKzYU8zMUFVNEpUSTJiQU1mQkVQdkF2Zw

Signed Affidavit: https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B0P-oym-MTKzSF90dXFZWlZTRXV1ZDV0cDNwclFjdw

Lipsky Deposition: https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B0P-oym-MTKzRzY4ZE12X3FSdWFSUElPeEpicGl4UQ

Calvin Tillman
Former Mayor, DISH, TX
(940) 453-3640

"Those who say it can not be done, should get out of the way of those that are doing it"

More Pearls of Wisdom from Calvin Tillman, Former Mayor Dish, Texas

The Paper Tiger

To those of you who have children, you have no doubt seen the movie, The Jungle Book. In this movie the villain is played by the dreaded tiger Shere Khan. Shere Khan was feared by all in the land except for the young child Mogli, who exposed Shere Khan's weakness, which was fire. Shere Khan was of course what we call a paper tiger, which appears to be powerful, but is actually powerless and ineffective.

When I started dealing with the natural gas industry, I was initially intimidated by the size and wealth of the industry. I soon learned that negotiating with them in this frame of mind, I would come up short. The industry is poised to prey on those who are intimidated by them, and I had begun to hear a number of horror stories regarding the industry and how they would threaten and intimidate those who would dare to question them. Frankly, I found the initial approach to be friendly... friendly like a car salesman, not friendly like neighbor. However, after being sold a bad used car a couple of times, you quickly learn that maybe you should question what is going on. That is when you start seeing the threats begin; first the sales pitch, and then the threats.

When growing up everyone had to deal with a bully. Maybe is was the ugly kid at school whose parents didn't like them much and who never learned to get their way without using force. But, eventually the skinny kid punches them in the nose, and the secret is out that they bleed like everyone else. The skinny kid does that when it seems likely the only option. If you figure out that you are going to get your butt kicked either way, you may as well go down swinging and this is when the paper tiger's weakness gets exposed.

This is very similar to the story in DISH. At some point we knew that there would be nothing left if we did not make a stand; nothing more than an eventual statistic. We went through the sales pitch from the paid liars, and the constant threats from the industry sociopaths. I knew we were likely going to lose, but why not go down fighting? I quickly learned that this industry was nothing more than a paper tiger, and began finding and exploiting their weaknesses. I found with a little strategy, it does not take much to get ahead of this industry.

I like playing chess, and compare this little battle to playing chess with a checkers player. They have employed the same strategy for so long, that they do not have the ability to try something different. Everyone who plays chess is familiar with the four move checkmate; however, the four move checkmate works every time on those who work in this industry. I have told them on a number of occasions that I have two advantages over them, the first being that they get paid for this...I don't, and the second being that when they were snuggled into bed I would be lying awake staring at the ceiling thinking about my next move. Many times I got only a blank stare at this comment, kinda like the lights are on, but no one is home look.

Many of the people I have spoken with feel like they are behind they industry and always reacting and catching up to them. However, I think that it is imperative to make the industry react and catch up to you. When they are getting ready to make a move, they must consider what you will do. They must make your reaction a part of their plan. Through my dealings with the industry, it is apparent that the plan that they employ is very simple, they lie, they bully, and when that doesn't work, they get the laws changed so that one of the other tactics works better next time, then they wonder why nobody likes them.

It has come to my attention that the industry is trying the bully tactic on some of my friends made through my travels around the United States. They apparently have stooped to the level of stalking and intimidating people. This is happening from Texas to Pennsylvania to people who are only trying to live the American Dream, and having that dream stolen by this industry. I have had a number of people call me and caution me about being so vocal on the industry. Many have been worried about my safety and I certainly appreciate the thoughtfulness of these warnings, but you must know by now that I am not afraid of the paper tiger.

Just like the skinny kid that bloodies the bullies nose, you have have to figure you are going to get your butt kicked either way, so why not put up a fight. This has helped improve the situation in DISH, and it will help you as well. When we have meetings in DISH, and the industry showed up, I asked them to let me know so that I could hire private security to insure their protection. Typically, they stand in the back of the room, staring at their shoes, and only speak when spoken to, I think they may actually have left their vehicles running in the parking lot for a quick escape. You see in DISH, we were not intimidated, but rather the industry was intimidated by us; in DISH we controlled the situation. Many of the state regulatory agencies also have been put in their place by the angry mob in DISH.

There always seems to be one industry person who draws the short straw and has to attend one of my presentations. They are easy to spot and do not wish for me to know their identity. I always try to sneak up on them and introduce myself. I have to sneak up on them, because if they see me coming, they will avoid the meeting. If I do manage to introduce myself, you can see the uncomfortableness of the individual as I shake their hand, making sure to squeeze their hand just enough to get their attention, and I have already told several to watch the exchange to see the reaction from the paper tiger. Many may say that I am using my notoriety to intimidate them and therefore I am no better than them. I do this for a reason, and that is to show those who invited me exactly how weak those in this industry are.

There have also been reports that some are intimidated by none other than their own neighbors, who are apparently disappointed that they have not signed the lease and are "stopping progress". I have already spoken about the "gold rush" scenario, so I won't go into that. But nonetheless, there are those who feel that it is only you that are preventing them from fulfilling their lifelong goal of being rich. They have not managed to get rich with all of their other schemes, but this is the one that will finally work. Not realizing that they are doing nothing more than helping a guy in Oklahoma make payments on his NBA arena and is wine collection. They have just been taken advantage of one more time, and they don't even know it, and they will likely end up as broke as they are now.

I am not suggesting violence, or anything that could be interpreted as that. What I am suggesting is to stand up and deal with this problem. When politicians take away our rights for the benefit of this industry, let's show them the door. When the industry tries the techniques I have described, expose them for what they are. If they stalk you, get photos, videos, and expose them for what they are doing, send this information to me and others who can expose these sort of actions. Don't let their threatening emails and message go unnoticed. Call the authorities, call the media, or call me. You will find very quickly that you are dealing with a paper tiger, the intimidation will stop immediately. And this message is also for those in the industry, it is your people that are taking these tactics, and it is your responsibility to help prevent it. A little advice for those in the industry, if you don't want to be treated like a scumbag...don't be a scumbag.

Calvin Tillman, Former Mayor, DISH, TX
(940) 453-3640



"Those who say it can not be done, should get out of the way of those that are doing it"

A Thank You to Calvin Tillman from the People of New Brunswick

Parents Against Everyday Poisons© in co-operation with Shale-Concerned Citizens Groups and Businesses in New Brunswick would like to Thank Calvin Tillman, Former Mayor of Dish, Texas for his Sacrifice of Time away from Family and his Willingness to Share his Story of Shale Gas with New Brunswicker's in his Recent Cross-Province Tour of New Brunswick from Oct. 21st to 23rd, 2011 inclusive.

Calvin Tillman's Speaking Tour of the Province of New Brunswick enabled the people of New Brunswick to hear first-hand what it is like to live with Shale Gas Exploration on one's doorstep. We provided Calvin with a demanding and hectic schedule and he met the challenge admirably. His first morning in New Brunswick, Calvin presented in a special Breakfast Meeting with Public Officials and had participated in seven interviews by 3:00 p.m. on "day one" of his New Brunswick Tour. (He had arrived at 2:00 a.m. that morning.) We certainly put Calvin through his paces and he was completely on board with all that had been planned for him despite the gruelling schedule we presented to him. Calvin executed four public Speaking Engagements and three private - in two days - including a private ad hoc meeting with Officials from the Ministry of Natural Resources from our provincial government. Officials from the Dept. of Natural Resources (DNR) are key decision-makers concerning Shale Gas in our Province. Calvin's presence in our province could not be ignored.

It goes a long way in establishing Calvin's capabilities as a Speaker when a University Professor weighs in with his very favourable comments after hearing Calvin speak. Calvin was lauded by Prof. Brad Walters of Mount Allison University’s Geography & Environment Department and complimented on the delivery and nature of his presentation. I should add that Mount Allison University is renowned throughout Canada - the very name "Mount A" commands respect due to its long-standing history of graduating some of the best minds in Canada.

In addition, Calvin was a delight to work with, and presented as "media savvy" in all of his media encounters, whether pre-planned or spontaneous.

Calvin is a "hidden gem" in a world of turmoil.

Stephanie Stoneleigh  --  Founder - Parents Against Everyday Poisons©

Breakfast Meeting a Tremendous Success!





Calvin Tillman Speaks at Breakfast Meeting
in Memramcook, New Brunswick, Friday 21, Oct. 2011

Parents  Against Everyday Poison (PAEP) in co-operation with Shale-Concerned Citizens, Businesses and Environmental Groups of New Brunswick recently sponsored Calvin Tillman in a province-wide Tour of New Brunswick where Shale Gas Exploration activities in the province have rapidly made inroads in the past year.  In the photo we see Calvin at his first of seven appearances that would take him across the province from the 21st to 22nd of October.

The "By-Invitation-Only" Breakfast Meeting was held in Memramcook, N.B. where over 80 invited guests - consisting of MLA Liberal Opposition Officials, New Brunswick's Mayors, Councillors, Business and Community Leaders, and Leading Academics were in attendance.   Special thanks go to our Volunteer Staffers, Ushers and Consultants for the Memramcook Breakfast Meeting - Rachel Léger, Dorine and Pamphile Léger, Anabel LeBlanc, Anita Boudreau, Michael Stoneleigh-all residents of Memramcook,  and Shirlee and Gary Porter of Dieppe, whose efforts made the Breakfast Meeting a great success. Thanks as well to JP Bourque for his assistance.   Special thanks go to Thérèse Melanson for her generous offer of hospitality for Calvin at her B&B - Gite 3 Moulins during the Calvin Tillman Tour.

Large Turnout to Hear Calvin Tillman in Richibucto-New Brunswick.



Stephanie Stoneleigh -
of Parents Against Everyday Poisons
 Introduces Calvin in Richibucto

The Catholic Church Hall Richibucto - packed to capacity (300+) with standing room only.  I was honoured to be asked to introduce Calvin at this venue.

I was overwhelmed by the warm response to Calvin's visit in Richibucto.  Calvin's reputation had preceded him and he was met with a standing ovation before he even took the stage to speak.   I was totally overwhelmed by this warm reception that greeted Calvin and so proud to be a transplanted New Brunswicker too at that moment.   My husband and I had to leave shortly after the introduction but I understand Calvin was on the receiving end of another standing ovation at the end of his Presentation as well.   New Brunswicker's continue to amaze me with their warm hearts and appreciation.  

The Organizers there - Denise Melanson, Debra Hopper and Murielle Gagnon, assisted by Jerry Cook did an absolutely fabulous job of organizing the event and many weeks of hard work went into that effort - with everything from refreshments and pre-event publicity to media coverage.   I'm sure there are many who worked behind the scenes whom I do not know of but deserve our thanks none-the-less.    I have to say that the Team in Richibucto led by Denise M. and Debra H. did an altogether admirable job of putting together an outstandingly successful Speaking Engagement for Calvin. They deserve our heartiest congratulations for their accomplishment.

Is this What New Brunswickers Have to Look Forward To with Shale Gas Exploration?

New Report Reveals Toxic Air Near Natural Gas Operations
Citizen Samples Confirm Neighboring Communities at Risk

Gassed! Media Coverage

FOR RELEASE 7/12/11

Contact:  Denny Larson, Global Community Monitor, 415-845-4705

Josh Joswick, San Juan Citizens Alliance, 970-259-3583

Shirley McNall, San Juan County, NM Residents Worried About Our Health, 505-334-6534

Paul Light, Battlement Concerned Citizens, 970-285-7791

El Cerrito, CA-- Citizen sampling of air quality near natural gas production facilities has identified highly unsafe levels of toxic chemicals near homes, playgrounds, schools and community centers in Colorado and New Mexico. A new report issued by Global Community Monitor, GASSED! Citizen Investigation of Toxic Air Pollution from Natural Gas Development, details the air sampling results, environmental and public health threats with living amid the natural gas boom.

A coalition of environmental and community based organizations in Colorado and New Mexico collected nine air samples that were analyzed by a certified lab. The lab detected a total of 22 toxic chemicals in the air samples, including four known carcinogens, as well as toxins known to damage the nervous system and respiratory irritants. The chemicals detected ranged from 3 to 3,000 times higher than what is considered safe by state and federal agencies. Sampling was conducted in the San Juan Basin area of Colorado and New Mexico, as well as Garfield County in western Colorado.

“Carcinogenic chemicals like benzene and acrylonitrile should not be in the air we breathe – and certainly not at these potentially harmful levels," said Dr. Mark Chernaik, scientist. “These results suggest neighboring communities are not being protected and their long-term health is being put at risk.”

"My husband, pets, and I have experienced respiratory and other health related problems during the twelve years we have lived on Cow Canyon Road in La Plata County, Colorado. We believe these health issues are related to the air quality in our neighborhood and in the area,” said Jeri L. Montgomery, neighbor of natural gas development. Through the course of the pilot study, neighbors of natural gas production facilities documented chemical odors and sampled the air. Neighbors have appealed to local, state and national government agencies to investigate their air quality complaints, to limited recourse.

"We are very concerned about the total disregard for the health and welfare of the people "existing" near the sickening toxic oil and gas industry dumps located in neighborhoods such as the land farm on Crouch Mesa and the waste disposal facility in Bloomfield that are permitted and approved by the State of New Mexico and Federal EPA,” said Shirley McNall, member of San Juan County, NM Residents Worried About Our Health.

"Experts and agencies recognize more air monitoring is needed, but it's not happening," said Paul Light, co-chair of the Battlement Concerned Citizens. "Rather than wait for the government, we used the Bucket Brigade to collect much-needed air quality information."

The community and environmental groups in the San Juan Basin and western Colorado worked with Global Community Monitor, which trains community members living near industrial operations to run their own “Bucket Brigade” to sample their air. The Bucket Brigade has been used in 27 countries internationally. The bucket uses EPA methods for testing and an independent lab for air sample analysis.

Complaints about air quality have also surfaced in other states around the country, including West Virginia, Arkansas, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Wyoming. Little information exists to educate and inform citizens about the chemicals being stored, emitted into the air, ground or water in close proximity to their homes. “People are getting gassed, and they don’t even know what is coming at them. The air monitoring provides crucial information in understanding what families are being exposed to on a day-to-day basis,” said Denny Larson of Global Community Monitor.

Federal loopholes in the Clean Air Act allow major corporations to circumvent basic protections that put public health first. US EPA is currently drafting new regulations to control and monitor air pollution from natural gas development. Congress is debating new legislation, such as the Bringing Reductions to Energies Air Born Toxic Health Effects (BREATHE) Act.

As regulation moves forward, GASSED! states that solutions are possible. The natural gas industry should invest in pollution controls to increase efficiency and reduce the amount of chemicals in the air. The report also calls for mandatory air monitoring at all natural gas operations and disclosure of chemicals used in the process to local residents.

In addition, the proximity of neighbors and wells is often too close. The report recommends a minimum quarter mile buffer zone between homes, schools and natural gas operations. This is similar to regulations enacted by Tulare County, CA on pesticide spray and St. Charles Parish, LA on industrial development. The report further states, “As the natural gas industry continues to grow, so will the number of families neighboring and affected by the emissions. Industry and government leaders have a unique opportunity to address public health and environmental issues. For coexistence between communities and gas industry to be possible, chemical exposure has to be immediately addressed.”

The full report can be downloaded at: Gassed! Full Report
Download the Appendix:   Complete Air Samples Results Spreadsheet

Full Air Sample Data Interpretation Letter from Mark Chernaik, Phd

Interview With Former Mayor of Dish, Texas

Former Mayor of Dish, Texas Speaks about

a Town Wracked by Fracking from Shale Gas Companies

Calvin Tillman has personally witnessed the destruction of a town’s peaceful lifestyle & verdant landscape along with the loss of health and well-being of the townspeople that so often happens as a by-product of Shale Gas Industry (hereafter referred to as SG Industry) – a town in which he worked heart and soul to help the townspeople, but in the end a town that was lost to Shale Gas. Here is the interview Parents Against Everyday Poisons had with Calvin Tillman 12 July 2011 (Denton, Texas)

PAEP: Calvin, I understand from my research that after many years of working as Mayor for the Town of Dish, Texas that you felt you had no other choice but to leave the Town due to on-going health issues with your young children. Have your children recovered their health now since you have moved?

CT: Yes, the chronic nosebleeds stopped as soon as we moved away from Dish, TX. We moved to Dish, TX when my oldest son was about 6 months old. He became asthmatic and when he had an attack it was serious enough that we had to go to the Emergency Ward with him. I don’t know that the conditions in the Town of Dish actually caused his asthma, but the conditions there certainly made his condition more severe.

PAEP: What were some of the changes you saw in Dish while you were there?

CT: Well, when we moved there drilling had already started in the area but the build-up of industry just increased while we lived there until finally it was basically a major Industrial Site with Compressor Site and Processing Plant and Gas Treatment facility – Bigger than the town. At this point there was constant noise, terrible odors, heavy equipment and heavy truck movement at all hours – not to mention the effect this industry was having on the health of the townspeople.

PAEP: I understand you entered municipal politics in Dish after you had been there a short time – as a councillor first and later became Mayor – correct?

CT: Yes, that’s right.

PAEP: What advice would you give to a town that might be threatened by the encroachment of the SG Industry – a place where Oil & Gas Co’s already have mapped out drilling rights?

CT: Well, someone has to organize.

PAEP: New Brunswickers live in a province where existing oil and gas interests appear to be in partnership with the newly arrived Oil & Gas Co’s from the United States and in addition the existing oil and gas interests own a fair majority of the Newspapers- it’s quite possible therefore, that the real nature of Shale Gas Drilling is not being reported in an unbiased fashion through the usual sources such as newspapers – What is your response to that situation?

CT: Well, you don’t live in a free country anymore if one person or family owns all of those things together. [Interjects this question] Have you folks seen the movie Gasland?

PAEP: Yes, some people in the area have seen that Documentary by Josh Fox. Mr. Tillman, do you do Speaking Engagements?

CT: Yes.

PAEP: What do you charge for that sort of thing; what’s involved exactly?

CT: Well, I don’t charge for speaking to a group. I have a small travel budget but we try to keep it for emergencies. I would basically need a place to stay and airfare paid to the location. I would be happy to talk to local officials to tell them of our experience at the municipal level. I have been to Quebec, Canada to talk with folks there who are concerned about Shale Gas Exploration.

PAEP: Yes, I’ve heard that the Quebec Minister of the Environment has grave doubts about the Shale Gas Technology and Quebec has backed away from Shale Gas Exploration. What would you say is the biggest obstacle to getting the word out on the dangers of Shale Gas Drilling aside from the unique media situation in New Brunswick that could be a detriment to alerting the public?

CT: Well, unfortunately there is apathy In society. People think that as long as everything is normal at home when they arrive home after work - then it’s not going to affect them.

PAEP: So they basically don’t realize there’s a problem until it’s in their back yard?

CT: That’s right. There are a lot of people who don’t agree with it and probably even most don’t agree with it - but they don’t see the need to get involved in it. But if you see anyone supporting Shale Gas, they are in the pay of the Oil and Gas Co’s.

PAEP: There’s a rumour that Amphetamine abuse is prevalent amongst Oil and Gas Industry employees. What is your response to that?

CT: Well – yes, there is some research out there that might point to that. There are often a lot of “imported workers” to the work sites. Rough-necks and Roust-Abouts can be a rowdy bunch. There have been reports of a lot of drinking and partying, hanging out in bars and reports of higher crime rates in Shale Gas areas. And of course, you tend to see drugs in that kind of environment as well.


PAEP: Are local job spin-offs a reality or the exception to the rule in this industry?

CT: Locals believe they will get gainful employment. The truth is that Shale Gas Industry imports workers and one reason is that SG Industry has lots of trained workers available. The jobs tend to go to transients – workers who have worked on other Shale Gas Sites in other places and have already been trained. The advantage to this is that the Oil and Gas Co’s don’t have to wait to train new recruits or pay for the training or wait for new employees to be trained. The SG Industry has a typical work system of 7 days on and 7 days off so it’s just as easy if not better to hire experienced workers from Texas as it is to hire locally. They are not likely to hire locals except for maybe general truck driving and back-hoe or bulldozing jobs. When I was talking to a group in New York they all expected to get jobs from SG Industry, but when I asked the crowd how many were Certified Pipeline Welders, nobody put up their hand. When I asked how many were trained at Pipeline X-Ray – again nobody put up their hand. They had no idea in that region that the promises of jobs were probably not going to materialize.

PAEP: What about the Tourism Industry in the local areas where SG Industry is present – what happens to those?

CT: Well, do you have any hunting or fishing grounds in your area? If you do then, Hunters and Sport Fishermen won’t hunt or fish in a gas field. Hotels? Well, first of all, the hotels will fill up with Rough-Necks – Tourists will not be able to find a room or will find that they don’t like the atmosphere that these workers can bring with them. B & B’s will stop getting business and Camp and RV sites will fill up with these workers because a lot of the SG workers have their own RV rig or motorhome.


PAEP: I’ve heard the expression that “BAD MONEY DRIVES OUT GOOD” – it sounds like that’s what will happen if Shale Gas Drilling comes to town? Is that your experience?

CT: Well, yes, that’s a good way of putting it.


PAEP: New Brunswick's Provincial Government is bragging that it has Regulations in place to protect our water wells and our properties – that water testing will be done before drilling starts and compensation will be given if wells are contaminated by their Drilling – What is your response to that?

CT: Well, I’m not sure what regulations can protect against some of the damages that Shale Gas Drilling produces. For example what’s your government’s plan for all the water that will be required by industry? This industry requires massive amounts of fresh water – where are they going to get it? and where will the government have the water dumped after it’s been contaminated by the drilling? – there are only two places – deep wells or lined pits. Research is showing that the lined pits pose a greater risk for contamination of wells. Shallow wells are more likely to be contaminated by this process. Do you have wells in your community?

PAEP: Yes, our whole community is on wells.

CT: Oh Dear.

PAEP: What about Water Testing? I’ve heard it said that New Brunswickers have to have their water tested by the test facility of the Oil and Gas Co’s choosing and that if a problem comes up with well water contamination NO OTHER water test will be considered valid – What is your response to that?

CT: Well, I don’t know the laws in Canada, but here in the U.S. we can have our own well water test done. I would suggest that if a Water tester hired by Oil and Gas comes to test your well water, that you have an independent test kit right there at the same time so that you do independent testing while the Tester is there. In other words, do a parallel test. It’s the intimidation factor. You can send for these tests by mail from the U.S. And I recommend Shaletest.org – our organization – we do water testing for folks who may not have the resources to pay for expensive testing.


PAEP: I’ve heard several times now that people who have been approached by Oil and Gas Companies have been asked if they will sign permissions for drilling on their land and when they decline the Oil & Gas Co’s simply tell them they can get at the gas horizontally anyway so they may as well sign a permission and get some money for themselves. Has this been the experience where you come from?

CT: Yes, this same “talk” is pretty much standard in the SG Industry. If they can’t convince someone to sign by being nice they resort to more threatening tactics.


PAEP: I’ve also heard that one homeowner here in New Brunswick sought out legal counsel when the Oil and Gas Co. approached him only to discover that his lawyer already had been put “On Retainer” by the Oil and Gas Industry. Is that something you’ve heard of before?

CT: Yes, this happens frequently. The Industry will go in and essentially “put on Retainer”(ie., place them under service contract to the O & G Industry) all the Law Firms they feel they need and they will do the same thing with the Environmental Testing Labs in the area as well. This is common.

PAEP: Well, thank you Mr. Tillman for taking the time to talk with me and for answering these questions.

∞ ∞ ∞

Parents Against Everyday Poisons© (Copyright 2011)

Paepcanada.blogspot.com

Email: paep@live.ca



PAEP Poster - "84,000 Chemicals"

84,000 - That’s the number of chemicals that are in the marketplace according to a report by CNN News (Everyday chemicals may be harming kids, panel told -- CNN Wire Staff -- October 26, 2010 1:21 p.m. EDT) - and only 200 of these 84,000 have ever been tested for human safety. The statistics are almost incomprehensible in their scope. If you are among those who believe that all chemicals are tested before they are released into the marketplace for sale, you are mistaken, but, you are NOT alone. The public has been lulled into a sense of safety – led to believe that the legal registration required by governments constitutes a scientific health and safety analysis for their effects on humans – when in fact, it does not!! Even the Medical Profession has been lulled into the belief of “safety”. One well-known Neurologist has actually admitted publicly that he was of the same belief.  During a hearing of the Senate Subcommittee on Superfund, Toxics and Environmental Health, Dr. Sanjay Gupta stated : "I'd always assumed government watchdogs had evaluated and signed off on the safety of the chemicals we encounter in our lives,".

Dr. Gupta was concerned as well that of the mere 200 chemicals tested, only five (5) have been banned. Dr. Gupta went on to say that these chemicals are not evaluated in accordance with the “precautionary principal” as is done in Europe. In North America, these chemicals are considered “Innocent until proven guilty” Gupta said.
While the truly “Innocent” are “Our Children”.  And it is because they are innocent that they deserve our protection. They are innocent of any wrong-doing. They have not created pesticides for the foods on our plates; they have not placed toxins in our laundry products. They have not created the chemicals that sell for profit. They are ultimately the Innocent Victims. We hold in Our Hands their precious lives, their present and future health, their greatness, their destinies, and their full potential !!  To see video of Dr. Sanjay Gupta’s testimony and read in greater detail about this issue click on the link below: http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/10/26/senate.toxic.america.hearing/index.html?eref=mrss_igoogle_cnn.
 Dr. Gupta – has made public his concerns about chemicals in our everyday lives - coming from a Medical and Scientific back-ground. But it is from his heart as a Father of three young girls that he speaks of his greatest concern for their health and their future. Maybe it’s time we were all concerned.