Anti-Fracking Rally at Bidwell Park in Buffalo - Saturday, 11am

Global Frackdown in Buffalo with ZEPHYR TEACHOUT!

• Saturday Oct. 18th at 11 a.m.

• Bidwell Park (Elmwood Ave. & Bidwell Parkway, Buffalo) Across the street from the farmer's market

Invite Friends on Facebook: Click Here

On Saturday, October 18 — will you take a stand against fracking in Buffalo? The Global Frackdown is a massive day of international protests against fracking. It's a day for us to come together — to unify as New Yorkers and as members of our global community — to demand an end to the dirty and dangerous practice of fracking. Join the Global Frackdown in Buffalo!

In Buffalo we'll rally to tell Governor Cuomo that he mustn't frack with our future and instead invest in renewable energy in New York State. Along with the rally will be a community speak-out that welcomes the public to pick up the microphone and say a few words, or recite poetry or spoken word about the dangers of fracking.

The day's forecast currently rainy but our event will happen rain or shine. You may wish to bring an umbrella, poncho, or other rain gear. Attendees will be able to pick up free rally signs, literature, event handouts, and purchase an anti-fracking lawn sign at the information table any time during the event. Sign up for the speak-out will take place on a first-come, first-serve basis with a total of eight spots. We will be set up at the blue tent with the table, sound system & podium underneath.

Cosponsors: Sierra Club Niagara Group, PUSH Buffalo, NYPIRG at Buffalo State, Food & Water Watch, New Yorkers Against Fracking, Citizen's Campaign for the Environment - Buffalo, WNY Peace Center, Western NY Drilling Defense, Protecting Our Water Rights (POWR), and Nurse Rise ~ Nurses for Safe Water.

SCHEDULE:
Press Conference & Rally:
Rita Yelda, Food & Water Watch - Zephyr Teachout, Fordham Law Professor & Gubernatorial candidate - Lynda Schneekloth, Sierra Club Niagara Group - Julia White, NYPIRG at Buffalo State - John Washington, PUSH Buffalo - Mary Herbst, RN & member of Concerned Health Professionals of NY - Meghan Zaldivar, PUSH Buffalo

Community Speak Out - 3 spots
Music & Performance: The Nickel City String Band
Community Speak Out - 3 spots
Music & Performance: My Rap Name is Alex - Dave Harter
Community Speak Out - 2 spots
Music & Performance: Tyler Westcott  - Ismail & Company - Lauren Gay (dance) - Active Hope (dance) 

Community to Rally and Speak Out Against Fracking

On Saturday, October 18, 11am, we'll rally at Bidwell Park in Buffalo to tell Governor Cuomo that he mustn't frack with our future! Instead, Cuomo should invest in renewable energy in New York State.

Along with the rally will be a community speak-out that welcomes the public to pick up the microphone and say a few words, or recite poetry or spoken word about the dangers of fracking (please prepare a 5-minute speech or performance.)

Additionally, there will be:
- Music from The Nickel City String Band, Alex Mead, Dave Harter, and fun from the Buffalo Joywalkers and Linda Abrams
- Expert speakers discussing the growing connection between fracking and our health
- Pick up a lawn sign, sign the petition to ban fracking, and find out what we're up to in your community

We need you with us to stand together to send a clear message to Governor Cuomo: we demand a future powered by clean, renewable energy, not one that depends on dirty, polluting fossil fuels.

Join and Invite your Friends on Facebook: Click Here

Global Frackdown Video: Click Here

Sponsors include Sierra Club Niagara Group, PUSH Buffalo, NYPIRG at Buffalo State, Food & Water Watch, New Yorkers Against Fracking, Citizen's Campaign for the Environment - Buffalo, Western NY Drilling Defense, and Protecting Our Water Rights (POWR).

Rally to Ban Fracking at Gov. Cuomo’s 'NY State Fair' Appearance

What: Rally to Ban Fracking and Protect NY Farms, Agriculture and Tourism with a swift transition to Renewable Energy- Outside Governor Cuomo’s Appearance on “Governor’s Day” at The Great New York State Fair!

Carpool Information

When: Thursday, August 21st

Leaving Buffalo from the Burchfield Penney Art Center at 8:15am

Leaving Rochester from the Village Gate Square at 9:45am

Sign up for the Buffalo/Rochester Carpool and find more info on departure and arrival times here

**Contact Rita Yelda at ryelda@fwwatch.org for more info on the Western NY carpool.

Rally: 11AM to 3PM, including  Press Conference and Speakers/Performers, with songs by Joe Driscoll and Colleen Kattau at 12:30PM

Where: New York State Fairgrounds, Outside the Main Gate, 581 State Fair Boulevard, Syracuse, NY

Bring: Comfortable shoes, a rain poncho and/or umbrella. Bring signs celebrating food, wine, beer, farming, tourism and water. Bring money if you would like to enjoy the fair before departure.

Sign up for Carpools from Buffalo and Rochester Here

Co-sponsored by New Yorkers Against Fracking, Frack Action, Food & Water Watch, Catskill Mountainkeeper, NOFA NY, NYPIRG, Citizen Action NY, Sierra Club- Atlantic Chapter, Environmental Advocates, Citizens Campaign for the Environment, MoveOn.org, R-CAUSE, WNY Drilling Defense, Catskill Citizens for Safe Energy, Shaleshock CNY, GDACC, the Syracuse Peace Council, the Alliance for a Green Economy, PAUSE and more! 

RSVP, Share Event and Invite Friends on Facebook!

We encourage everyone to also enjoy and support the NY State Fair while we’re there. It’s a wonderful event with many great vendors from across the state.  

Contact me at renee@frackaction.com for general inquiries. 

Thank you and see you at The Fair!

Renee Vogelsang

 

Albany Rally - No to Fracking, Yes to Renewable Energy [UPDATED - Breaking News]

 

 Critical Crossroads for NY State -- Fracking vs. Renewable Energy.

In one direction is fracking, leading to further catastrophic dependence on fossil fuels. That path is lined with drill rigs, contaminated rivers and water wells, smog and toxic air, dangerous pipelines, compressor stations, and other infrastructure, and poisoned farms. It leads to a future with worse climate change, super storms and public health disasters.

In the other direction – Governor Cuomo and the people of New York say no to fracking and instead embrace renewable energy. That path leads to good jobs, healthy families, and sustainable homes and communities. New York can step up and show the nation and the world a place where people can live, work and thrive without dirty and dangerous extreme energy. We can take a stand for public health and clean water. We can champion and support our jobs in agriculture and tourism and continue to develop more jobs in efficiency and renewable energy like wind and solar.

Governor Cuomo has announced a decision will be made before the 2014 election and the fate of our state is at stake.

New Yorkers Against Fracking and supporting organizations will rally in Albany at the State of the State Address on Wednesday, January 8th, 2014 in order for Governor Cuomo to see that the will of the people of New York is to say no to fracking and yes to a healthy, renewable energy future.

~  ~  ~ 

UPDATED - BREAKING NEWS: Associated Press - January 8, 1:04 PM

NY energy plan released; doesn't include fracking
ALBANY, N.Y. - (AP) -- New York's long-term energy plan focuses on increased use of renewable energy and clean technology, while reducing consumer utility bills.

The plan, released Tuesday for a 60-day public comment period, calls for expanding use of natural gas instead of oil to reduce harmful air emissions. But it doesn't include expanding in-state gas production through hydraulic fracturing in the Marcellus Shale.

The 2009 version touted the economic and energy policy benefits of tapping New York's shale gas resources. But the 2014 plan takes no position for or against fracking, noting that state officials are reviewing health and environmental concerns. New York has had a moratorium on fracking since an environmental review was launched in 2008.

Six public hearings will be held on the plan.

Link: Wall Street Journal.
See also www.energyplan.ny.gov

Cuomo Visit: Rally - No Fracking, Yes Renewable Energy

Governor Andrew Cuomo is coming to Buffalo to host a fundraiser at the Hyatt Regency Hotel for his re-election in 2014. The governor's local donors and supporters will be there. 

WNY Drilling Defense is calling on local citizens to show up and Rally For Renewable Energy and Against Fracking. See their Facebook page for more information.

• WHAT:  Rally - No Fracking, Yes Renewable Energy
• WHEN: Tuesday, November 19, 5:00 p.m.
• WHERE:  Outside the Hyatt Regency Hotel, Corner of W. Huron St. & Pearl St., Buffalo

Frackers and GOP Pols Meet Today in Buffalo [11/07 UPDATE - DEMs Rally Video]

Erie County DEMs to host a rally outside the meeting place.

Buffalo, the first town in the State to ban fracking, is the site of a meeting of the Independent Oil and Gas Association of New York (IOGA-NY), which lobbies for fracking (The logo they submitted for the "I LOVE NY" campaign has a drilling rig in place of a heart).

Ed Cox, NY State GOP Chairman, will be a keynote speaker at the IOGA-NY meeting today. Cox, a pro-fracker and board member of a gas drilling company, is reported to be out to attack Gov. Cuomo for refusing to approve fracking for shale gas in the NY Southern Tier.

Scheduled to participate in a "Legislative Session" at the IOGA-NY meeting with Cox is a group of Republican legislators, including Assemblywoman Jane Corwin, Assemblyman David DiPietro, Assemblyman Andrew Goodell, Senator Michael Ranzenhofer, Assemblyman Robin Schimminger, Assemblyman Raymond Walter, and Congressman Tom Reed (Invited).

A "Meet & Greet the Legislators" Cocktail Reception will precede the speech by Cox.


No Democrats are listed in the IOGA-NY meeting program.

Democrats will host a Rally
The Erie County Democratic committee is hosting a rally today, Wednesday, Nov. 6, outside the Hyatt Regency Hotel, the IOGA-NY meeting place. On the rally event page the E.C. DEMs wrote:

Join our progressive allies as we rally to counter NY GOP Ed Cox speech at the Independent Oil and Gas Association in Buffalo.

The rally will be held at 5:30pm-7pm today at Roosevelt Plaza, corner of Main and E. Huron Streets, across the street from the Hyatt [MAP].

The Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter sent an email message yesterday urging members and supporters to attend the rally and to bring anti-fracking and pro-clean energy signs and banners.

UPDATE - Video: Watch a video of Wednesday's Rally courtesy of WNYmedia.

RALLY: Protect our Water, Air, Land and People

President Obama will visit Buffalo on Thursday, August 22 to speak at UB Alumni Arena. People opposed to unsafe fracking want the topic of shale gas drilling to be on the President's agenda and will hold a rally there.

Check the WNY Drilling Defense FB for updates, contacts & map HERE.
See also an informative PDF from the Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter HERE.

Sponsors include WNY Drilling Defense and Sierra Club Niagara Group 
and Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter

WNY Drilling Defense wants to send the President a clear message that fracking is unsafe and that we don't want fracking in New York – or anywhere else. 

Rita Yelda will have protest signs available if you need them.

Sierra Club Niagara Group wants to tell the President that they want Renewable Energy - Not Fracking - and No Keystone Pipeline!

Bob Ciesielski will also have protest signs available. Also, printable signs can be found HERE

Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter says that the rally is a critical opportunity to tell the President that he needs to end his misguided support of dangerous, polluting fracking. Urge the President to Embrace Renewable Energy and say NO to Fracking!