Tens of Thousands Demand DNC Add National Fracking Ban to Party Platform

[Cheese Sandwich]

Climate activists on Wednesday delivered more than 90,000 petitions to the Democratic National Committee (DNC) demanding that the party's 2016 platform include a nationwide ban on fracking.

As the DNC convened in Washington, D.C. for its open forum on shaping the platform, activists with Food & Water Watch, 350.org, Honor the Earth, and other groups handed over the appeals and said officials must acknowledge the harm that fracking has caused the environment.

"The Democratic Party has been complicit in the U.S. fracking boom which is poisoning communities and our climate," said Emily Wurth, water program director at Food & Water Watch. "Any serious plan to combat climate change must include a ban on fracking, and as the committee develops the platform, they should heed the calls of the growing movement to ban fracking and keep fossil fuels in the ground."

The groups noted that more than 137,000 fracking wells have been opened in the U.S. since 2005 as part of President Barack Obama's "all-of-the-above" energy policy that included promoting the use of natural gas. By contrast, the 2016 presidential election has seen candidates backing away from the fossil fuel industry...

http://www.commondreams.org/news/2016/06/08/tens-thousands-demand-dnc-add-national-fracking-ban-party-platform

[tonyt53]

1. Obama didn't take office until 2009. I didn't know he had any influence about such things in 2005.

Also, got news for ya, the heavy transportation industry, trucks and trains, are reliant upon fossil fuels for their fuel. That isn't going to change for the forseeable future. Even natural gas is not a consideration because of the loss of energy per unit. Fracking has been around for since the 20's, but back then it was called flooding. Oh, before you think I have an agenda supporting fossil fuels, you should know that I have 20+ years working with alternative and renewable fuels resources. It's what my company does. i understand the concerns of the that 90K, but exactly what viable alternative do they suggest? Solar? Not remotely viable in many parts of the country? Wind? not even remotely viable in many parts of the country. Biofuels? Somewhat viable but has its limitations. What viable alternative is this group proposing?

[Cheese Sandwich]

2. Fracking really took off after 2008 though as part of the Obama energy policy

[stopbush]

3. It's amusing to hear people lauding the fact that we are now

less reliant on coal turning their ire on fracking, when the increase in fracking is in part responsible for us being less reliant on coal.

[sufrommich]

4. That would be a great talking point for the republicans:

"Blame democrats for the high price of heating your home and the price at the gas pumps".

[Cheese Sandwich]

5. on the other hand Dem's support of fracking makes a great talking point for the Green Party

"Blame Democrats for your water faucet lights on fire and you can't afford bottled water "

oh and the headaches, dizziness, difficulty breathing, and irritated eyes, etc.

[sufrommich]

6. I'm not making the argument for or against fracking. I'm asking for you

to understand the dilemma for elected democrats. Not everyone in the country is against fracking,many don't even see it as pro or con,what they do know is that the price of gas has gone down and we rely less on imported oil.If they lose that because of a total ban on fracking,they will punish those who made that decision.

[Cheese Sandwich]

7. Neither am I

I'm asking for you to understand the dilemma for people being poisoned. Not everyone in the country supports fracking, many can't survive it, what they do know is that their families could be getting very sick and it also isn't so great for global warming. If they face that because of a total support for fracking, they will punish those who made that decision.

[My Good Babushka]

8. It's an environmental injustice

http://inthesetimes.com/article/17355/fracking_the_poor
and because the detrimental effects fall on low income, underprivileged areas, it will take a mighty arm-twisting to get our established, energy-friendly party to acknowledge it.

[Invincibility]

9. Coal or fracking?

If we ban fracking, expect to see coal have a resurgence. Personally, I think coal is the greater evil.

[Cheese Sandwich]

10. false choice