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Big Oil Bullies Attempt to Steal Loveland's Election

6/17/2014

1 Comment

 
To bully:  To use superior strength or influence to intimidate (someone), typically to force him or her to do what one wants.

Bullying has become a real problem in schools and communities across The USA and has led to acts of violence that are sickening to witness. if we hope to understand the root of the problem, I believe that first we must take an honest look at our culture, and what is being perpetuated socially, economically and Culturally. Children are great imitators and like sponges soak up the influences of their environment and culture. What examples are being set for children? What and who is influencing these children?

I do not assume to have the answer to such a complex question, but I will share some observations. As a citizens of the front range of Colorado, I have witnessed bullying on a level that I never knew existed in the adult realm, until recently. In the past year, I have seen corporations bullying communities to a degree that frightens and shocks me.

Within the past 2 years, longmont, Broomfield, Fort Collins, Lafayette and Boulder banned or paused fracking via popular vote. This occurred despite the fact that the industry oil and gas spent over a million dollars in these cities expounding misinformation via shiny fliers, paid media, and paid canvassers. If you live in the front range, you know what I’m talking about; You still can’t listen to NPR or Pandora without being assured how safe and wonderful fracking is for communities. Despite this well orchestrated media campaign by the industry, these cities voted unanimously not to be fracked. Now, the oil and gas industry (along with the state!) have actually sued these cities, implying that we have no right to participate in this decision. This is the quintessential behavior of a bully; “I did not get what I want, so I will use my power to coerce you into giving me what I want, against your will.”

Sharon Carlisle, a citizen of Loveland, Colorado has experienced corporate bullying directly.  Sharon designed an action to create awareness around Protect Our Loveland’s campaign for a two year moratorium on fracking.   Through an undertaking of deep personal commitment to this issue, Sharon decided to sit on the bench in the Pocket Park on 4th street in downtown Loveland,  7 days a week, from 8 am - 10 am. She would hold up a POL moratorium sign so as to create awareness about the upcoming vote.
One day, Sharon returned to this same spot to perform her daily ritual and the bench had been moved to the inside of the park, pushed out of sight. Sharon explains, “That bench had been sitting on the sidewalk along 4th Street in front of the Pocket Park for the whole 20 some years that I have lived in Loveland.  Why move it now?”

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It’s was obvious to Sharon that she was being silenced. Despite this disruption to her advocacy work, Sharon continued to hold her moratorium sign daily, using a folding chair to maintain her original position on the sidewalk. Since then, the bench has altogether been removed.

This didn’t discourage Sharon or other members of Protect Our Loveland from moving ahead. They successfully collecting thousands of signatures for their citizens initiated ballot. In response, an individual from Loveland sued Protect Our Loveland in attempt to stymie their effort from moving forward so at to prevent the ballot from being placed onto the November Election.  Guess who backed the individual who sued them? No surprise, the oil and gas industries’ robust legal team! The industry tactic worked and the ballot got tied up in a web of legal delays that prevented Loveland from having a vote last November.
Approximately eight months later, after showing that the suit held no weight under the law, a judge finally scheduled a special election for this upcoming June 24th.  

This delay created a number of challenges to this upcoming election that make it difficult for Loveland citizens’ voice to be fully represented. Firstly, since the election was delayed, moratorium advocates missed out on the pool of volunteer resources that were available last fall to the other cities that passed initiatives.  Also, the election period is short, so their is less time to inform voters and get out the vote. This is a clear attempt by the Oil and Gas industry to steal an election and silence the public voice in Loveland.
 In response, we aim to do the opposite. We are educating voters of their ability to vote by knocking doors and reminding citizens of this special election for a two year time out on fracking.

It is so important that we stand with Loveland right now.   By standing together as unified communities throughout the front range, we are building solidarity and power and as a result, we become a force that is more difficult to bully. We also set a different cultural example for our children; one of solidarity, support and courage. 

Please stand with us as we stand with Loveland. To get involved please email razzathiker@gmail.com
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Boulder Open Space is NOT for Sale

10/10/2013

2 Comments

 
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On October 8th it was reported that the Colorado Oil and Gas Association (COGA) has donated more than $100,000 toward a campaign to defeat 2H - a bill that would extend Boulder's moratorium on Fracking for 5 years. They have already spent $17,000 on a consulting firm, in an attempt to convince the people of Boulder that fracking is safe. This has made two things abundantly clear:  

1. The gas industry sees this, as a critical election and are attempting to buy it! 

2. Their political consultants believe that Boulder residents will be fooled by $100,000 worth of misinformation.

The gas industry is outspending us, by approximately 40 to 1, in Boulder. While we know that the truth is on our side, it will take a sustained grassroots effort overcome this funding difference and protect Boulder from Fracking. In Longmont, our side was able to overcome being outspent 20 to 1, because volunteers showed up day after day, to knock doors and make phone calls. If we are going to win here, it will take the same kind of effort. The most important thing we can do to defeat the gas industry's lies, is to make personal contacts with voters at their doors, or by phone.  Please, find the time to volunteer, today and help us keep Boulder, Frack Free!

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Frack Free Colorado Confronts Governor Hickenlooper

7/16/2013

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Last weekend was the Democratic Governors Association meeting up in Aspen, CO, so naturally, we showed up to let Governor Hickenlooper know that "Good govornors do not frack their people". Over 100 of us gathered outside of the meeting and made the message clear with signs and chanting. It was an all out rally and we definitely got his attention! Check out footage from the event and see the priceless expression that Governor Hickenlooper makes when he realizes he is being caught on camera in this clip below!
After the rally, some of us from Frack Free Colorado headed over to the Aspen Institute, where the governor met publicly with other governors to discuss policy. After the meeting we had the opportunity to catch the governor on the way out and address him directly, about the dangers of fracking. Not to our surprise, he gave us the same politically shallow answers that lack in substance and fact that we have been hearing the oil an gas industry spread over the past several months. It is obvious that he was becoming flustered. Listen for yourself; here is the clip caught by KGNU. His comments begin at 21:30.  http://www.kgnu.org/morningmag/7/15/2013

It was a great weekend and we got lots of coverage. Check it out!
Fracking Protesters Follow Hickenlooper To Aspen At DGA Meeting: Huffington Pos
Coloradoans Urge Democratic Governors to Invest in Renewables, Reject Fracking : Huffington Post
Good Govorners don't Frack their People: Aspen Daily News
Fracking protesters gather outside governors’ meeting: Aspen Times
Fractivists Push for Statewide Moratorium: Aspen Public Radio
Protect Our Colorado: Good governors don’t frack their people: Denver Post
Activist protest Hickenlooper’s oil and gas policies: KJCT8 ABC NEWS
Governor — of Washington — delivers rousing environmental speech: Aspen Daily News
Colorado Residents Protest Fracking at Democratic Governors’ Conference: Ecowatch
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How Eco Friendly is Colorado?

7/11/2013

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Check out where Colorado falls in eco-friendly ranking among other US states. We are relatively high on air & water quality raking (let's keep it that way!) , and relatively low on renewable - let's do better!

Produced by MPHOnline.org
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Local Democracy vs The Oil & Gas Industry

6/11/2013

5 Comments

 
As Oil and Gas companies like Encana Oil and Gas, attempt to claim Colorado land for Hydraulic Fracturing, which is known to have dangerous impacts on the water, health and air of those in close proximity, cities and counties are organizing to keep them out through ballot initiatives for moratoriums and Bans. Longmont was the first city in Colorado to  achieve a ban, but now are being sued by by the State Government as well as the Oil and Gas industry

On June 4th, the city of Boulder passed a one year moratorium on fracking to allow for more health and environmental impact studies and Lafayette is currently in the process of pursuing a citywide ban.

While City bans and moratoriums are a great start, countywide action will have a much more significant impact. For the past several months, thousands of Boulder County citizens including environmental scientists, members of the medical community and attorneys have provided countless reasons for why Boulder should extend the moratorium for gas and oil drilling. Thousands of citizens have sent emails, postcards, made phone calls and showed up to public hearings to personally plea with commissioners to make the logical, responsible and prudent decision to extend Boulder County's Moratorium on oil and gas. On June 18th the commissioners will take a vote on the future of Fracking in Boulder County. Your voice counts, please Email the commissioners now!

Below are some public testimony given by Boulder citizens to the Boulder County Commissioners:


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    Author

    Suzanne Spiegel is a local, yoga teaching Boulderite, who fell in love with Colorado and is committed to protecting it from fracking

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