Wednesday, April 29

Lobby Day in Harrisburg. 

More details to follow. 

Truth and Consequences on Dam Run Road

by Barb Jarmoska, RDA Board of Directors 

As they had hoped, the young protestors who chained themselves to concrete barriers on Dam Run Road made front page headlines on March 21st. They were not, however, prepared for the unexpected consequences of their less-than-perfectly-planned direct action. Fortunately, no one was hurt and valuable lessons were learned. In democracy and in life, both are good outcomes.

I had the opportunity to meet these bright-eyed, passionate and intelligent young folks the Sunday before their protest. I was invited to share my Power Point presentation during a "Voices from the Shale Fields" panel on opening night of the week-long gathering they organized at Camp Krisland. License plates on their cars attested to the fact that they came from all over the country; gathering there to meet with like-minded others, tell their stories, share communal meals, and talk of how they might make the world a better place for themselves and the children they expect to have some day. I was inspired by their vision and hope for a healthier world, and their willingness to forgo the antics of others of their generation, also on spring break, whom during that week were apt to be drunk on Florida beaches. Instead, these kids slept in sub-freezing temperatures in unheated cabins. The planning behind the event, dubbed "Shale Justice Spring Break" was impressive, a full schedule of events and workshops focused on how to make their voices heard and their dreams of a more compassionate and sustainable world a reality. 

I was also present at the hearing held for the 5 protesters arrested on Dam Run Road 5 days later, after they blocked a road by attaching themselves to concrete barriers from which they were extracted by emergency responders. I waited for 2 hours in Magistrate Lepley's waiting area, in a seat beside the parents of one of the jailed girls, entering into casual and friendly conversations that took place with State Police, parents of protestors, and a gaggle of their friends from the camp.

State Police Sergeant Triponey gave me permission to quote his opinion on the incident, "Other than blocking the road, this was a powerful direct action. They have the right to speak their minds. This is America, thank God for that."

The mother of one of the girls could no longer hold back tears as the kids marched by in their prison jumpsuits, 5 sets of shackles dragging noisily along the plastic flooring, and her daughter trying to look brave as she called out, "Hi Mommy, I love you." 

In the days that followed, bail was paid, the protestors were released from prison, email messages were exchanged, the direct action was examined in detail, and an outstanding letter to the editor of the Sun Gazette was published. Ruth Steck's letter, entitled "Good Kids, Wrong Move" can be read here: Good Kids, Wrong Move.

My subsequent correspondence with some of the organizers and participants at the camp included these reflections:

"While bad decision making happens, as groups are able to sit down and talk about it... we realize where things went bad and can avoid that next time."

"I have really mixed feelings about the direct action. And it seemed that lots of people had mixed feelings. Overall, it was a pretty disorganized event, and many of the people that put themselves in a lot of risk were not informed of important details."

The best lessons in life are about accountability, and I'm not saying the protestors should be off the hook without consequences. I am saying that I understand their frustration. The message about shale gas and all of its ramifications is being carefully crafted and deftly controlled by the industry. Turn on your TV, pick up the newspaper, tune into the radio, read the billboards, attend the conferences and assemblies in PA public schools, and you're sure to hear the corporate drum, never straying from its beat:  "Energy Independence," "Job Creation," "Economic Opportunity," "Clean American Energy," and even "Environmental Stewardship."  Joseph Stalin was right, "If you tell a lie often enough, it becomes true."

The other side of the gas drilling science and conversation, that which RDA strives to bring to you in this newsletter, is rarely seen or heard in mainstream media.  Money talks, and here in Pennsylvania - gas money talks loudly and incessantly.

And so, although I'm not about to risk arrest, I do understand the frustration and anger these kids feel. I feel it too, when learning that RDA has been denied access to renting the Community Arts Center as a venue for free public screenings of documentary films. I feel it when PA Senator Gene Yaw, a rural land owner living elsewhere but reaping the financial gain of a gas lease, publishes a myopic editorial entitled "Hardly a Menace." I feel it when Chamber president Vince Matteo refers to deeply committed citizens as "environmental extremists." I feel it when, as happened this past weekend, another friend is suddenly unable to safely drink the water from her well. I certainly felt it last week when the Supreme Court lifted the ceiling on campaign contributions, opening the floodgates for candidates to be placed in office by the corporations who will collect their favors in "yes" votes for industry-sponsored legislation.  

If I were 20 again, looking at a future that could span 60 years or more, would I chain myself to a concrete barrier because it felt like the only way to make my voice heard? I'm not sure. As Pennsylvania plunges full speed ahead into chaotic development of the third and final fossil fuel with nary a pause to consider the actual cost, would I be willing to end up in shackles and handcuffs to proclaim the seeming insanity of our rush to drill? Again, not sure.

The Dam Run Road direct action was lacking in planning and forethought, but the fact remains:  when it comes to the long term costs and consequences of unconventional gas drilling and the industrialized build-out it demands, we know not what we do. But we're doing it anyways, driven by the deeply strategized and executed agenda of multinational energy corporations. Well-considered bad actions are most deserving of condemnation, and PA's "open for business" posture and lack of meaningful protection to citizens make our state's rush to drill the greatest poorly planned and executed direct action of them all.  

 An Earth First activist patiently awaits Anadarko's arrival.

by Jim Slotterback, RDA Board of Directors

Why do we do such things? Several inches of ice covered the steep, rocky trail. Winds were cold and moist and the sky was overcast. This section of the Loyalsock Trail is not for the faint of heart. Most of us fell at least once during our trek and we all struggled on the uphill/downhill section of this hike (which encompassed the majority of it). Why?

I believe this quote from Henry David Thoreau best answers my question: "I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived."  

This was a difficult path to hike. We chose it because of what it has to offer, what we can learn from it, and why it is important. The ridge line to the East of this trail is leased for gas drilling; and appropriately enough, the hike emphasized what truly matters to us:  clean air, clean water, and a healthy environment. We traversed frozen streams, breathed in the cold northern winds, and were afforded awe-inspiring views. 

Keep it Wild hikes allow us to engage others that have similar interests, and we almost always have new faces on each journey. No matter where these friends stand on the issues, we can find the common ground that binds us together. Standing up for our community and our environment is not an easy path. But through the slips, falls, bumps and bruises we are occasionally afforded a view: a view of our sweeping landscape, a view of our future, a view of our past, and a view of our community coming together for a common cause. These truly are our "Special Places." Let's Keep it Wild!

KIW - Pete's Path Photos courtesy of Richard Karp