NEW YORK — Yoko Ono and Sean Lennon have teamed with a growing list of celebrities to speak out against the controversial oil and natural gas drilling process known as hydraulic fracturing, industrial gas drilling or simply fracking. The two last month formed an organization, Artists Against Fracking, as a new coalition of artists, musicians, filmmakers and public figures opposed to hydraulic fracking.
Artists Against Fracking aims to work to expose and stop the harmful and contaminating practice of fracking for natural gas and oil through mass awareness and peaceful democratic action, the group offered in an official statement. Yoko and Sean said they were compelled into action by Governor Andrew Cuomo’s recent announcement that fracking might soon begin in New York. “Protecting our drinking water is fundamental to life. And people worldwide know that as a species, we are near a tipping point – it could go either way,” explained Sean. “We all have a responsibility to preserve the planet’s life-support systems for future generations.”
Mark Ruffalo explained to EarthJustice why he’s against fracking: “I was moved to step into the fight against hydraulic fracturing when I went to Dimock, PA and saw how their wells had been destroyed. I saw how crass and arrogant the companies who destroyed them acted toward their victims—refusing to take responsibility for the wrongs they had done. I saw that the local and state and federal government agencies that have been put in place to keep these kinds of things from happening were either apathetic or corrupt. I felt it was the right thing to stand up and say ‘No.’ I had seen something so clearly wrong and knew I would be less of a man if I didn’t fight for what I know is right.”
For an illuminating film on fracking and its effects on the environment, check out Gasland.
The Artists Against Fracking coalition now includes more than 180 members, including Hollywood celebrities Lady Gaga, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Anne Hathaway, Alec Baldwin, Marina Abramovic, Gwyneth Paltrow, Cindy Sherman, MGMT, Wilco, Bonnie Raitt, Liv Tyler, Mario Batali, Roberta Flack, Robert De Niro, Mark Ruffalo, Uma Thurman, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and many others. The full list is at the Artists Against Fracking website.
Hydraulic fracking has come under wide scrutiny by environmentalists because it pushes gas and oil out of rocks that are 2,000-10,000 feet below the earth by injecting millions of gallons of water laced with chemicals at high pressure to break the rocks and free trapped methane. Poeple living in communities where fracking takes place have complained of combustible water, earthquakes and other environmental hazards.
In 2005, the Bush/Cheney Energy Policy Act exempted fracking for natural gas from the Safe Drinking Water Act, allowing the use of harmful chemical carcinogens and neurotoxins in the extraction process and eliminating the need for public disclosure of these dangers. 650 chemical toxins are known to be used used for fracking, chemicals which threaten aquifers and other water supplies. Fracking also releases large amounts of methane, a potent greenhouse gas.
For further information about Artists Against Fracking, visit there website here.