Frack Action Update and US Social Forum

6 Simultaneous Rallies

Frack Action launched 6 simultaneous rallies at 6 of the 9 DEC offices in the state on June 15th. The concept of the website, FrackAction.com was birthed by Julia on May 28th, the same day that a group of us went to an Earth First gathering in Ithaca. That gathering led to our relationship with young organizers that pulled together actions in their DEC districts. For a full article with pictures see, http://www.frackaction.com/content/DECactions.

USSF 2010
The US Social Forum was a place where those in Frack Action could connect to folks from Pennsylvania, and the eco-justice movement at large about fracking, but it was also a place to be part of the growing People's Movement.
Detroit, as the 15,000 or so activists there saw, is a real boarded up, abandoned city. During the forum, there were protests in the street addressing Detroit's issues, from EMT workers being laid off to the continuation of the largest incinerator in the world, an environmental racism issue.
With the disappointment of the Obama administration, a large People's Movement is expected. Activists are seeing common enemies. Immigration, Palestine, LGBT, the Environment, disproportionate distribution of wealth in health care, education, housing, et cetera, the US occupations in Iraq, Afghanistan, Haiti and elsewhere, a new left seems to be growing and supporting itself from all sides. http://www.democracynow.org/2010/6/23/adrienne_maree_brown_on_the_us

Julia Speaks

Shortly before Julia began speaking at the press conference at City Hall with Sierra Club Mid-Atlantic Chapter, NRDC and NYH20, high school students marched by with drums and and lungs, protesting the cut of the student metro cards. At the end of the press conference, the representative from the Sierra Club explained what the commotion was about and he said that public transportation makes us more sustainable.



COME TO OUR REGIONAL DEC PRESS RALLIES, JUNE 15TH AT NOON! http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=133579409992269

Things you can do:
Week of Action
1. Come to Rally/press conference Tuesday at DEC office in Long Island City at noon
2. Call Thompson and ask him to support moratorium
3. Become member of Frackaction.com and click take action
4. Flyer with us before and after rally
5. Join Video Petition: "My name is ______ and I love NY water"
6. Hang out with us and a full-time anti-fracker

Expanding our Frack Network

Today we had yet another spontaneous meeting, now in Union Square. We had almost all the same people as the other day but also new friends of those folks. The big No Frack sign has been drawing attention- people ask what it means.
We decided to buy I <3 NY t-shirts for $1 somewhere, draw water waves in the <3 and write WATER beneath I <3 NY. These we can where as early as this Saturday when we leaflet and sign people up in various locations. We'll be at the Union Square Green Market, The Park Slope Food Coop and perhaps at a concert.
We had a conference call with folks upstate later on. People are dedicated and On it.
-Shannon

9 District Press Conferences/Demonstrations

The 4 week plan, Fracking June, a.k.a. Not Another Gulf, a.k.a. Frack Action, is unfolding. We had a meeting about it today in Washington Square Park and another one Thursday at 7, same place, (This is because the Amp Up email for today didn't really go out so only people we told in person knew about it and people who we met in the park).
This weekend some of us, Frack Action, went up to the Finger Lakes National State Park in Ithaca to meet up with Earth First, Shale Shock and independent parties around the issue of Fracking. There were some from NYC, Long Island, more from Rochester, Ithaca and some other parts (PA and ME). Fortunately Shale Shock, being as I understand, a coalition of local anti-frackers, should connect us to people in all parts.

Not Another Gulf:
The legislative session ends in about 3 weeks, (June), time in which we can spotlight the DEC for giving us reason to believe they will give out permits to the industry to frack this summer in NY. The plan is to hold press conferences next week in front of the DEC headquarters, the 9 of them throughout the state. Next is to have dozens if not more people turn out with signs. Not Another Gulf/ Enough is Enough! We’re working on what else we can do for the demonstration, such as having flaming water, glasses with skull and cross bones on them, or dare I say, just water bottles. We are launching a letter writing and video petition campaign.
Some of us will be leafletting and video petitioning the Union Square Green Market Saturday, do come. The video petition, some of which I will post, is close ups of individuals saying, "I'm ____ and I love New York tap water." We will send out a sample letter for ya'll to handwrite and mail and addresses et cetera!
-Shannon