The massive methane leak in California is only the tip of a giant, dangerous iceberg. According to a new report from EcoWatch, there are more than 300 similar natural gas storage facilities around the U.S., and any one of them could be the site of the next disaster.

The ongoing leak at Porter Ranch continues to pour thousands of pounds of methane into our atmosphere every hour, and we continue to learn just how badly our natural gas infrastructure has been managed.

A recent report from LA Weekly about the Aliso Canyon leak says that the well in question was last inspected in 1976, and the safety valve that may have prevented the leak was inexplicably removed just three years later. And, while officials in California are busy dealing with that ongoing disaster, hundreds of gas wells all across our country pose a similar threat.

That's why Jennifer Krill over at EcoWatch is calling for some big changes to the way natural gas wells are managed in California, and changes that we should be implementing nation wide.

First things first, we must push for an immediate effort to shut down every natural gas well that lacks basic safety equipment, like shut off valves, before we end up with another Aliso Canyon.

Only after we are safe from another potential disaster can we implement stricter oversight and management of wells and natural gas storage facilities. We should also demand that when leaks do happen, the companies that manage these wells provide support for surrounding residents impacted by methane pollution.

The gas companies - not the tax payers - should be on the hook for financial compensation and health care costs. And, above all else, we must continue to push our nation away from all fossil fuels, including natural gas, and move to 100 percent clean energy.

Just like the BP blowout in the Gulf of Mexico, the Aliso Canyon leak shows what happens when we allow corporations to destroy our planet in the name of profit. We have the technology now to make that happen, but it's going to take all of us standing together to stand up to these powerful interests.

-Thom

(What do you think? Tell us here.)

Tonight on The Big Picture on RT TV at 7pm and 10pm... Just how Dangerous is Teflon? (check your local listings for stations or stream at RT or Free Speech TV, and catch past shows on Youtube)

Free excerpt, read book for free at Truthout, buy the book!

Thursday's Daily Stack 

Hour One: Hillary, FOR Single Payer Until She's Suddenly Against It...
- Zaid Jilani, The Intercept    

Article: "Hillary Clinton's Single-Payer Pivot Greased By Millions in Industry Speech Fees" by Zaid Jilani.

Book: The New Democrats and the Return to Power by Al From.

 

Article: "All In with Chris Hayes, Transcript 1/13/2016" (incl. Howard Dean) by MSNBC.

Article: "Former MSNBC Host Ed Schultz Moving to New Show at RT" by Alex Griswold.

Article: "Al Jazeera America to shut down cable news channel" by BBC.

Article: "How to Watch Tonight's Republican Debate Online" by Daniel White.

Article: "Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement" (TPP) by EFF.

Article: "NBC and YouTube to co-host Democratic debate on Jan. 17" by Eliza Collins.

Article: "Ensuring Accurate Perceptions of the Health Insurance Industry", May 2007.

Documentary: SiCKO.

Article: "No new hearing for Florida judge kicked off bench over fight" by AP.

Article: "Cooper red-baited Bernie Sanders with deceptive Soviet honeymoon claim" by Meteor Blades.

Law: "Taft-Hartley Labor Act", 1947.

Article: "Lyme disease" by NHS.

Hour Two: FINALLY! A Progressive Is Primary-ing DWS in #FL23
- Tim Canova, Progressive Candidate challenging Rep. Debbie Wasserman Shultz (D- FL23) for her Congressional seat.  

Article: "The 28 Democrats Who Voted For Fast Track" by Dave Johnson.

Article: "New Deal" by Wikipedia.

Facebook: "Tim Canova for Congress".

 

Article: "Study of Disputed Florida Ballots Finds Justices Did Not Cast the Deciding Vote" by Ford Fessenden and John M. Broder, November 12, 2001.

Site: NutritionFacts.org.

Video: How Much Cancer Does Lunch Meat Cause?.

Article: "Brazil police to charge mining firms, execs with environmental crimes" by EFE.

Article: "Brazil Alleges Environmental Crimes in Response to Fund�o Dam Collapse" by Paul Kiernan.

Video: Conversations with Great Minds: Your Health & the Environment: An Interview with Dr. Mitchell Gaynor.

Article: "Pic Of The Moment: GOP Congressman Says Republicans "Own" Christianity" by EarlG.

Article: "Oregon militia inundated with sex toys after asking supporters for supplies (VIDEO)" by Laura Bult.

Law: "Sherman Antitrust Act", 1890.

Article: "Whiskey Rebellion" (1791-1794) by Wikipedia.

Article: "U.S. official: Navy boats drifted off-course into Iranian waters" by Barbara Starr.

Book: How Not to Die: Discover the Foods Scientifically Proven to Prevent and Reverse Disease by Michael Greger with Gene Stone.

 

Talk Media News Segment:
- Luke Vargas 

Site: "Goats for the old Goat".

Site: Governor Free Don Siegelman.

Article: "Quick Morning News - 14 January 2016" by Victoria Jones.

Article: "Iran returns detained sailors" by Justin Duckham.

Article: "2007 Iranian seizure of Royal Navy personnel" by Wikipedia.

Article: "U.N. to Help U.S. Screen Central American Migrants" by Julia Preston, David M. Herszenhorn and Michael D. Shear.

Article: "U.S. announcement on Central America refugees highlights seriousness of situation, UNHCR " by U.N.

Article: "Liberia Ebola epidemic 'over', ending West African outbreak" by BBC.

Hour Three: Howard Dean Has Sold His Soul to The Health Insurance Lobby... - Lee Fang, The Intercept    

Article: "Howard Dean, Now Employed by Health Care Lobby Firm, Opposes Bernie Sanders on Single-Payer" by Lee Fang.

Article: "Chinese Law Firm to Merge With American Firms, Employ Howard Dean, Newt Gingrich" by Lee Fang.

Article: "Senator Kay Hagan Promised to Take On Special Interests, Now She Works for Them" by Lee Fang.

 

Article: "Rare January Hurricane Forms in Atlantic, Threatens Azores" by AP.

Article: "Bundy: Meeting between armed group, locals may not happen" by Keith Ridler.

Site: Washington State Coalition to Amend the Constitution (WAmend).

Article: "Ted Cruz Didn't Report Goldman Sachs Loan in a Senate Race" by Mike McIntire.

Event: 18 January 2016 18:00 CS "Birmingham Rally with Bernie Sanders #BernieInAL".

Article: "Hillary Clinton Goes to Bat for GMOs at Biotech Conference" by Max Ocean, July 03, 2014.

Article: "Bride of Frankenfood: Hillary Clinton pushes GMO agenda... hires Monsanto lobbyist... takes huge dollars from Monsanto" by Mike Adams, May 18, 2015.

Article: "Democratic debate transcript: Clinton, Sanders, O'Malley in New Hampshire", December 19, 2015.

Article: "SuperPAC Or Not, This Group Has Money To Bern For Sanders" by Peter Overby.

Article: "Commonwealth" by Wikipedia.

Article: "Preamble to the Constitution of the United States".

Article: "Constitution of the United States" Article 1 section 8. "The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States".

Article: "26th Amendment". Vote for 18 year olds.

Site: Integrative Medicine Clinic, UW Health.

Article: "Blocking brain inflammation 'halts Alzheimer's disease'" by BBC.

Article: "2016 Caucus Expansion Efforts" (incl. Tele-Caucus for military members) by Iowa Democratic Party.

 

Do you have all the info you need to vote for @BernieSanders? Find it here.

    

Friday on The Thom Hartmann Program, 12-3pm ET 

 

We'll have the latest news and information...everything you need to know to win the water cooler wars...

 

And, the best of the rest of the news along with your calls right here on...

 

The Thom Hartmann Program, Occupying The Media 3 hours a day 5 days a week" for "we the people"

 

And don't forget...Democracy is NOT a spectator sport...it begins with you...

The Thom Hartmann Program is a Charity Wine Partner with the Organic Wine Company. Purchase any wines and they will donate a portion of the proceeds to The Hunter School for children with autism, ADHD, and other learning challenges.

 

One of my favorite wines is CHATEAU VERONIQUE 2011 - The wine that started the Organic Wine Company. Subtle and sophisticated, this wine will complement any table.

 

Purchase your next bottle of organic wine here - www.ecowine.com

 

Thom

Please support the Hunter School, a unique therapeutic boarding school for young children diagnosed with ADHD, Anxiety, Sensory, Mood and related conditions...