On Monday, the Federal Energy Regulation Committee (FERC) approved the first east coast liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility in Cove Point, Maryland right on the Chesapeake Bay.

Despite massive citizen opposition to fracking, the oil and gas industry is trying to build these multi-billion dollar LNG ports all over the country so they can continue to frack the hell out of American families living above shale plays and make billions of dollars in profits shipping natural gas overseas. 

Now, more than ever, we need to come together to ban fracking.

If we let facilities like Cove Point and the 14 other proposed LNG ports be built, we are dooming families across the country to be fracked and we are solidifying the destruction of our planet through climate change. 

400,000 people took to the streets for the People’s Climate March to demand action. Thousands of them with signs reading messages similar to this “Fracking = Climate Change”.

The Global Frackdown is an important moment for us all to stand up and demand that we start developing renewable energy instead of continuing down the deadly fossil fuel path.

Please watch and share our video of the week: Join the Global Frackdown 

Thanks and have a great weekend,

Lee Ziesche, Gasland Grassroots Coordinator

Solutions Grassroots Trailer. Show coming to Brooklyn 9/21-9/26 from JFOX on Vimeo.

This summer we had two workshop performances of our newest project, The Solutions Grassroots Tour, in Callicoon and Oneonta, New York. These communities have fought hard against fracking and are ready to transition their towns from fossil fuels to 100% renewable energy.

We had packed houses for both shows, and the enthusiasm and commitment to developing democratic, renewable energy was awe inspiring. Now we want to share some of that experience with you.

Next, we’re bringing the show to Brooklyn right after the People’s Climate March when fractivists from all over the country will be in town.

THE SOLUTIONS GRASSROOTS TOUR
Directed by Josh Fox
Special premiere performance and fractivist after-party added after the People’s Climate March

September 21st – September 26th @ 7:30PM at the Irondale Theater
With guest hosts Mark Ruffalo, Debra Winger, Sandra Steingraber, Bill Mckibben, Zephyr Teachout, Peter Yarrow and Nahko Bear.

Get your tickets here.

The People’s Climate March is our chance to tell world’s leaders that we must act on climate change. We must end our deadly addiction to fossil fuels and transition to 100% renewable energy now.

As we continue to pressure our world leaders to take action, we must start taking action ourselves. The Solutions Grassroots tour is our chance to begin developing democratic, renewable energy on a community level.

We want to bring The Solutions Grassroots Tour to every community in the country that’s being threatened by fossil fuel development and climate change, and we’re working hard to make that happen.

Until we can share this incredible experience with you all in person, please watch and share our trailer, and join us in Brooklyn if you’ll be in town.

Thanks and have a great weekend,
Lee Ziesche, Gasland Grassroots Coordinator

Over 50 years later, we are still fighting many of the same fights, but that has not deterred Peter Yarrow from believing we can succeed.

Another important moment of action is upon us. A moment where we must stand up for justice for all people. A moment where we must take to the streets and let culture and activism work hand in hand to  propel us forward.

We have had so many victories and so may defeats, but we have made huge progress. It is always the people’s movement marching in the streets that makes the difference.

Please join us in New York City for the People’s Climate March and for our Solutions Grassroots Tour.

Peter Yarrow will be there.

And we need you to be there too.

I’ll leave you with Peter’s words, which are much more powerful than mine.

“ When we go forth from here, we are not to remember it as simply a moment of beauty or inspiration, but to take it as something in our hearts that we share together, that will strengthen us on the journey to make sure that the next generations are taken care of.” – Peter Yarrow

Thanks and have a great weekend.

Lee Ziesche, Gasland Grassroots Coordinator

After we march together on the 21st, we start building the future together on the 22nd.

Solutions Grassroots Tour six New York City shows only!
Monday September 22nd- Friday September 26th
Irondale Center, Brooklyn
Tickets here: http://bit.ly/1qh6pn8

Friday October 3rd
Evander Childs Educational Complex, Bronx
Time TBD

The Solutions Grassroots Tour combines classic storytelling with roll-up-your sleeves organizing to look at the impacts of fossil fuel development and provide a vision for the developing renewable energy like no other event during Climate Week.

Conceived and directed by GASLAND Director Josh Fox, with a cast of over 20 actor/dancers, live video installation and Twin Danger, the world-class seven-piece band led by Vanessa Bley and 7 time Grammy-nominee stuart Matthewman this new play with music is an event like no other on the planet.

Gasland screenings galvanized communities to organize against fracking. The Solutions Grassroots Tour seeks to do the same for renewable energy development. The tour has already inspired communities to build renewable energy community teams in updtate New York- let’s do the same in NYC!

Most of August, Josh was out west shooting for his next feature film on climate change. He witnessed the devastation of wildfires in Colorado, beetle-kill in Wyoming, and methane emissions in the Bakken Shale of North Dakota.

The disastrous impacts of fossil fuel development on our communities have never been clearer. The time has come for democratic, renewable energy.

Communities impacted by fracking and other forms of extreme energy development know that the People’s Climate March is about much more than protecting our environment from climate change.

This march is about environmental justice and equality.

As the video said, to change everything, it takes everyone.

Please watch and share our video of the week and get your tickets to the Solutions Grassroots Tour.

See you in New York!

Thanks and have a great weekend,

Lee Ziesche, Gasland Grassroots Coordinator

THE SKY IS PINK by Josh Fox and the GASLAND Team from JFOX on Vimeo.

The scientific evidence proving that fracking is a threat to our health, environment and communities is overwhelming.

Study after study supports the reporting in both GASLAND films. We are extremely honored and happy to announce that GASLAND PART II was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Research.

That’s basically the highest recognition you can get in TV news and documentary for knowing your facts.

But the oil and gas industry still denies there’s a problem.

Our Video of the Week: The Sky is Pink shows the extreme lengths the industry has gone to in order to deceive the public and deny the truth.

The Concerned Health Professionals of New York just released a compendium that compiles a significant body of scientific, medical and journalistic findings proving the dangers of fracking.

From studies on air pollution and water contamination to increased earthquakes and crime rates the evidence is damning. There is no safe fracking.

Instead of taking responsibility, the industry denies the evidence and tries to discredit anyone who stands up against them. They throw around words like hoax and debunked, and hope no one takes a real look at the scientific facts.

The industry is powerful and spends a lot of money on misinformation, but we have you.

Please help us share the truth. Watch and share our video of the week.

You can also buy or rent Gasland Part II on Amazon or iTunes. 

Thanks and have a great weekend.

Lee Ziesche, Gasland Grassroots Coordinator

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On Memorial Day, fractivists in Illinois headed to their state capital to fight for democracy.

A bit of background- on the Friday before Memorial Day Weekend, the Illinois House Executive Committee voted to pass a measure that would fast-track fracking in Illinois, allowing fracking in the state before the Illinois Department of Natural Resources finished the rule making process.

The measure would circumvent democracy, ignoring 36,000 public comments the IDNR received on the state’s proposed fracking rules and create a fracking sacrifice zone in Southern Illinois. 

A hearing on the legislation was set for Monday, Memorial Day. Despite the clear attempt to cut the people of Illinois out of the process, citizens showed up, demanding that their voices be heard.

Community groups attending the hearing included Illinois People’s Action, SAFE, IIRON student network, The People’s Lobby and Sierra Club of Illinois.

The legislation died, failing to get enough support to pass. And as Illinois People’s Action say in the video

“Oil and Gas tried to fast track fracking, but the people fought back and won thus proving once again that organizing works!”

Keep organizing. It works.

- Lee Ziesche, Gasland Grassroots Coordinator

Our video of the week is Josh’s special appearance on All in With Chris Hayes on MSNBC on Earth Day. Josh’s segment begins around 9:55.

During the interview Josh asks, “What’s money worth when there is no civilization?”

The anti-fracking movement knows the answer to this question better than anyone.

We prove that civilization and community is worth more than money every single day. We come together to help fight for not only our own health, safety and environment, but the health, safety and environment of our neighbors next door to us and those half way around the world.

We do this every day, not just Earth Day. 

Seeing the anti-fracking community in action gives us faith and motivation that we the people can bring about the change necessary to move our country to 100% renewable energy.

We’re not going to wait around until it’s profitable for Exxon Mobil and Shell to start worrying about climate change. 

We are doing it now. And we’re doing in a democratic, community-oriented way.

I hope you had a lovely Earth Day and have a great weekend.

-Lee Ziesche, Gasland Grassroots Coordinator.

Run on sentence from Corey Ransberg on Vimeo.

We know constantly reading about the latest oil spill or horrifying report on the impacts of fracking can be emotionally taxing.That’s why we wanted to share this video of the week that has nothing to do with fracking!

For us cultural and activism go hand in hand. Whether that means using music and film to help get the word out, or just listening to a great band to unwind after a week of gathering petition signatures and organizing screenings.

So today, we just wanted to share some great music from our friends with all of our other friends around the world.

We’re also very excited to announce that we’re working on a new project that will combine culture, activism and the development of renewable energy so stay tuned for that, and in the meantime kick off your weekend right with some great music!

So have a great weekend. Keep on making movies and music. Keep on fighting for a better future.

-Lee Ziesche, Gasland Grassroots Coordinator

To hear more music from Run on Sentence check out their website here.

How did a meeting of some of the best and brightest organizers against fracking inspire us to choose this video to highlight? Well, they were discussing how to stop a pipeline. The oh so ironically named Constitution Pipeline.

When Sean and Yoko discovered that the proposed Constitution Pipeline threatened their family farm they reached out to their neighbors for advice. It’s what most people do when the oil and gas industry comes to town. They reach out to those in their community and band together to fight the threat of fracking.  Of course, Sean and Yoko have a pretty impressive community of artists to reach out to as well as their neighbors and one of the results is this amazing video.

So far communities in New York have been stronger than the industry. Because of the creative outreach efforts of groups like Artist Against Fracking and the relentless work of organizers like those at the CAUD meeting there is no fracking in New York today.

But just because there’s a moratorium on fracking in the state of New York doesn’t mean there’s a moratorium on developing fracking infrastructure here.

The Constitution Pipeline would bring fracked gas through more than 700 New Yorkers’ properties. It would cross 277 streams, ponds and rivers, and over 10 miles of wetland.It would tear a gash through Central New York State, clear-cutting 1000 acres of forest, and ruining over 550 acres of prime farmland.

And building fracking infrastructure like this pipeline will encourage more fracking in Pennsylvania and could be leveraged down the line as a reason to start fracking New York.

We need to stop this pipeline.

The best way to do that is to visit Stop the Pipeline’s website and write a comment to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, on the cumulative impacts caused by fracking and the industrial development that follows in the wake of pipelines. Give them a piece of your mind, but speak from your heart!

Comments to FERC are due by April 7th.

If we want to keep our communities unfractured we must stop the infrastructure that supports fracking and will cut through our state like a scar.

Please leave your comments today, and stop the Constitution Pipeline.

-Lee Ziesche, Gasland Grassroots Coordinator

We’ve seen this myth unravel again and again. Whether it’s Chesapeake Energy stiffing folks on royalties or local Pennsylvanians telling us there were a few jobs for them at first in the oil and gas fields being drilled in their own backyards but they quickly got phased out by guys from Texas, it’s clear fracking is not the local economic savior the industry makes it out to be.

The residents of Denton, Texas are seeing what fracked communities from Pennsylvania to Colorado are seeing. Adam Briggle says it all in our video of the week, “We get the off the book costs, the pollution, the spills, the noise, ozone and doctors bills, the truck traffic, lost property values and blowouts while the lion’s share of the wealth pours out of town.”

And they’re fed up. They’ve tried to regulate fracking to keep wells away from their homes and schools, but they’ve discovered what others across the country have. The only way to keep our communities safe is to ban fracking.

Frack Free Denton has gathered more than the required signatures to put their fracking ban initiative on the November ballot. A ban in Texas, an oil and gas state, would be an incredible victory for the entire anti-fracking movement.

Please watch and share this great short by Adam Briggle of the Denton Drilling Awareness Group that simply, but effectively lays out the facts and destroys the myth that fracking is helping the local community of Denton.

Lee Ziesche, Gasland Grassroots Coordinator