The once-grassroots anti-fracking movement in New York State is attracting some more high-profile supporters.
Yoko Ono and her son, Sean Lennon, have announced their coalition “Artists Against Fracking”. There are also reports the two have sent a letter to New York Governor Andrew Cuomo requesting a meeting.
Cuomo has been under intense pressure not to approve natural gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale through the hydraulic fracturing process known as fracking. Activists have been rallying the governor to tell his environmental officials not to go ahead with the plan.
According to The New York Times (NYT), Ono says it was not hard to recruit more than 180 artists to the coalition. She reportedly reached out to some friends. And soon, dozens of artists, many of them with homes in New York, agreed to publicly join the campaign.
Ono told the newspaper that she was leaving it up to the artists to design their own advocacy. “When people say, “What can I do?” I say, “think creatively,”” she said during an interview at The New York Times. “I’m thinking about spirit and brains. We have the brains and the spirit.”
Current allies include Lady Gaga, Paul McCartney, David Geffen and Deepak Chopra. The celebrities are jumping into the debate over fracking, just as New York officials are finalizing regulations to govern the new drilling. Reports say a decision is expected soon over whether fracking will be allowed in New York State, where and under what conditions.
Ono and her son plan to use their fan base to sway public opinion on the drilling process. The coalition believes fracking threatens watersheds and wilderness areas. The group plans to spread that message through social media and various celebrity events.
In an opinion piece published in The Times earlier this week, Lennon wrote about spending time on the family farm Ms. Ono and John Lennon bought in the Catskills in the 1970s before he was born.
Ono told the newspaper she’s been quietly supporting the anti-fracking cause for two years. She wants New York to move away from fossil fuels and embrace renewable energy and become “an ecologically beautiful model state.”
Fracking is a relatively new drilling technology that’s revolutionized the energy industry and caused significant health and environmental concerns. The process has brought massive supplies of fuel to the market. And the technology is now being used to unlock giant oil fields long considered too difficult to tap.
first of all fracking is not a new technology! it has been used since 1920ish. Who the heck do celebrities think they are speaking for local citizens who might want lower gas prices and jobs. Fracking is not a hazard but oil and gas development may not be everyones cup of tea and sure discuss that aspect. Further where is NY getting their energy from now? NY without gas is the dumbest thing I have ever heard. Wake up Ono. How about a balance and why would you make oil development more expensive, why? this is such insanity. Please let me know why fracking is bad.
THEY INJECT A RADIOACTIVE SOUP INTO THE PIPES TO PUSH OUT THE GAS!! then the soup is removed and dumped! Millions of gallons of radioactive waste that they are putting into man made ponds!! Kills everything! Fracking is different than a natural gas well! LOTS DIFFERENT! Google “procedures of fracking” or even “fracking’ and READ! Bad for the citizens breathing the air, contamination of ground water with radioactive waste, 21 millions gallons of water used on EACH fracked gas well. Aquifers drying up or being contaminated, this is peoples wells that are be contaminated with this crap!! People are getting sick, some are dying! Wildlife is suffering also! gardens are coming up contaminated, can’t eat the food! There is a lot about fracking and none of it good. Please inform yourself. this is important!! Very important. Once you get informed, sign every petition you can find to stop fracking!