Part 1 of this article appeared in the February, 2013 edition of the People’s Tribune.
CROSSVILLE, IL— It is full speed ahead for corporate exploitation of Southern Illinois if the hydro-fracking industry bill passes. Fracking is the process of extracting natural gas via high pressure, water, chemical and sand deep into the earth. The proposed bill does not grant local control at the county level. It does not classify reclaimed water as a radioactive hazard or address the air emissions and pollutions standards. And the threat remains that federal industry exemptions will protect the industry, proprietary secrets, and the poison injected below Illinois farmland by fracking.
Yet the gas and oil companies cry foul at attempts for real regulations and the moratorium. They label us as environmental “tree hugging extremists” as anti-American, terrorists and “gasp” liberals.
Is it liberal to think that 20 or 30 years down the road I would expect my children to come home and drink out of the tap without having any fear of what might be in our water? Is it idealistic to think that air should be breathable without non-methane hydrocarbons produced as a bi-product of fracking?
If I had poisoned my neighbors well with pesticides or dumped used oil and diesel fuels into the nearby creek which feeds into Cypress wildlife refuge, I’d be looking at federal prison. However, we are turning our heads, looking the other way with fracking companies and calling it “patriotic duty” and “sacrifice.”
Is it un-American to ask for a vote on that which not only threatens the duty of each person to provide and maintain a healthful environment now, but also for future generations? Or at the very least grant the authority to counties and municipalities who resolve to ban the process of fracking and uphold Article XI of our State constitution.
It is inconceivable to believe that pollution would contain itself. Water and air pollution don’t abide by property lines. Radioactive dust won’t discriminate between rich children or welfare recipients. Frack rash, neurotoxins and endocrine cancer don’t look to see what political lines you stood in or what church you attended.
If contamination could be completely contained to one property, then I suppose a person could make the argument that it is an individual choice of the landowner whether he or she wishes to sacrifice the land or water in this way. The notion of a state or for-profit-company assuming the right to sacrifice someone else’s land, water, and air is simply non-democratic. Rather, quite fascistic, don’t you think?
The ramifications of this industrial process have the potential to devastate and debilitate our small communities. However fanatical, it only seems just and democratic to ban hydraulic fracturing for shale gas until a full state-sponsored study of its impact is complete.
“The public policy of the State and the duty of each person are to provide and maintain a healthful environment for the benefit of this and future generations. Each person has the right to a healthful environment. Each person may enforce this right against any party, governmental or private,…” (Illinois Constitution, Article XI.)
I suggest exercising our rights before we lose them.
Contact Tabitha Tripp at saveourwater@dontfractureillinois.net
New fracking moratorium bill
The Illinois Coalition for a Moratorium on Fracking, including SAFE (Southern Illinoisans Against Fracturing our Environment) announced the introduction of Bill 1418 into the Illinois General Assembly. The bill promotes a 2-year moratorium on the controversial drilling process of high-volume fracturing in Illinois. The moratorium will allow time for a science-based investigative taskforce to look at current and ongoing studies on fracking. Critical studies regarding health effects from proximity to high-volume fracturing will be one key area of study. Contact am@greenmediaservice.com or call 217-273-1000 for more information.
