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Prior to Don’t Frack Ohio Training Convergence & Rally

WCRS FM, Columbus Community Radio Program, Conscious Voices, includes audio clips from Josh Fox’s Gasland, Mark Ruffalo’s pitch, and stories from gas wells in Appalachia and Eastern Ohio

http://www.wcrsfm.org/content/conscious-voices-more-info-fracking

WCRS FM Your Voices.  Summary of Don’t Frack Ohio includes music related anti-fracking and other anti-extraction movement

http://www.wcrsfm.org/content/your-music-206-207-fracking-and-hessler-street-fair-music

Training Convergence Coverage

WCRS FM Conscious Voices includes panel presentation by Alison Auciello of Food and Water Watch, discussion of Fracking threat to Mohican state park, and commentary.

http://www.wcrsfm.org/content/conscious-voices-dont-frack-ohio-convergence

Free Speech Radio News Story 6.15.12 (aired on 150 Pacifica-affiliated radio stations)

http://fsrn.org/audio/environmental-activists-converge-ohio-major-anti-fracking-rally/10450

Rally Coverage

Group against fracking gathers at Ohio Statehouse - Fox 19  (AP wire story, picked up in ~15 outlets, mostly regional)

Thousands Protest At Statehouse Against Fracking – 10TV Ohio (CBS affiliate)

Protestors Gather in Columbus -  WYTV33 (ABC affiliate)

Hundreds Protest Fracking in Ohio as Drilling Expands – Truthout

Don’t Frack OH  - Huffington Post

Local residents to participate in state anti-fracking rally - Coshocton Tribune

Free Speech Radio News Story 6.18.12 (aired on 150 Pacifica-affiliated radio stations)

http://fsrn.org/audio/ohio-officials-increase-drilling-permits-activists-call-ban-fracking/10457 -

UPDATE: Check out this amazing video of Columbus dad Andrew Sidesinger, from the good folks at Plunderbund

Hundreds of people are headed to Columbus this weekend for the biggest action against fracking in Ohio’s history. The main event – a huge rally and march to Ohio’s statehouse – falls on Sunday June 17th, which also happens to be Father’s Day.

Family is an important theme of our long term struggle against climate change. The work we do now will have the biggest impact on the next generation and those beyond. We are either leaving a planet deeply wounded by climate change, or a sustainable community that continues to offer the wonders that we ourselves have grown up knowing.

That’s why it’s so telling that so many people are turning out when we’d normally be spending time celebrating family: Ohioans understand the stakes of this fight, and are willing to make sacrafices to be there – not despite, but because of their families.

So even though 17th is Father’s Day,  I think I agree with Gwen Fischer from Concerned Citizens Ohio in Portage County, as she put it in a recent email:  “Make this the best father’s day present ever:  Bring your father to regain our democracy!  If you are a father, bring your children to witness democracy in action.”

I’m hoping that you can help us give one of the best possible gifts to Ohio’s fathers and families: a first step towards a frack-free future.

Today in Akron, Ohio Gov. John Kasich signed SB 315 into law, turning one of the worst fracking bills in America into the worst fracking laws.

Ohioans now know clearly where their representatives at all levels of state government stand – and unfortunately, most are choosing to stand with their donors in the oil and gas industry, rather than their constituents. Gov. Kasich himself has taken over $200,000 from the gas industry, and has now more than adequately repaid the favor.

SB 315 eliminates all public notice for fracking well permits, opens gaping loopholes in disclosure laws that allow fracking companies to keep toxic chemical cocktails secret from communities, establishes the lowest tax rates on the gas industry in the country, and gags doctors from discussing the health impacts of fracking.

On June 17th, Ohioans will be mobilizing to show Gov. Kasich and his friends in the Statehouse that there will be consequences for choosing to frack Ohio. The largest mobilization against fracking in Ohio’s history will descend on Columbus, and take over the statehouse to pass people’s legislation that will defend us from the gas industry.

The action begins at 11 AM on Sunday at Arch Park in Downtown Columbus, and then march to the Statehouse. Sign up here to join us.

Friends -

We have a lot planned for next weekend. A LOT.

I’m going to try to break it all down for you in this email, but before I do, I wanted to let you know that Danny, Katie and I will be hosting a video chat on Sunday to talk about the action, and answer any questions you may have.

Just go to www.dontfrackoh.org/video-chat at 7 PM on Sunday and we’ll talk about plans for the coming week, what the action on Sunday will look like, and how you can best support what’s planned. (we’ll send a reminder Sunday, but I wanted to put it on your calendar)

OK, on to what’s happening.

First, here are some of the people who are coming:

• Hundreds and hundreds of people like you from all corners of Ohio, plus dozens of other states affected by fracking.
• Bill McKibben of 350.org, and Josh Fox, director of Gasland
• The gas industry (yep, they’ll be there to counter protest us)

Those people are the best reason to be there – it’s the human connections that make our movement work. We’re planning for 3 days of strategy sessions and trainings from June 14th to 16th to learn from each other and work together to build a stronger movement.

Trainings will be held at the Ohio Urban Arts Center, and a full agenda is available at www.dontfrackoh.org/schedule

Here’s a bit of what’s planned:

• A non-violent direct action training led by 350.org‘s awesome trainers who helped make last year’s Tar Sands Action a success
• Workshops in organizing for a local control led by Ohio’s strongest local organizers
• Updates and discussions about political strategy to outflank Gov. Kasich and the oil industry in Ohio
• Deeper trainings in media outreach, researching campaign contributions and the economics of fracking
• Art builds to make our march shine

These workshops are just a piece of the action – there are also bands and dance party on Friday night, a panel with Bill McKibben and Josh Fox on Saturday night, and a Don’t Frack Ohio contingent in Columbus’ Pride Parade Saturday at Noon.

So: it’s a full couple of days, and if you can make it, not to be missed. If you need it, there’s affordable camping space available near Columbus (sign up here), and a ride and housing board to help you make it to the action available here.

That brings us to what’s happening Sunday the 17th – the main event. If you can make it for only one day, try to make it this day.

At 11 AM we’ll gather at Arch Park, (McFerson Commons) in downtown Columbus. There, we’ll rally and get fired up for our march to the Statehouse, where we will occupy the statehouse and send an unmistakable message to Gov. Kasich: Don’t Frack Ohio! After we’ve assembled and passed people’s legislation to protect Ohio from the oil industry, we’ll march back to the park and talk about what we’re doing next. We will be wrapped up by 2:30 PM or so.

On Sunday we’ll hear from Josh and Bill, as well as green business owners, landowners affected by the gas and coal industries, and grassroots activists leading this fight at the front lines. If you’re a part of this movement, you’ll either see friends there, or make new ones.

This action, and our movement, runs on people power. If you are able to step up to do more, there’s plenty to do – from marshaling the march, to helping prep food to building art.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: it’s an honor and a pleasure to be a part of this growing movement.

Duncan Meisel
Don’t Frack Ohio

In about 10 days Ohio’s anti-fracking movement will be gathering in Columbus for a big rally – Don’t Frack Ohio. Today we found out that big oil will be there to greet us.

The American Petroleum Institute, the largest oil and gas lobby in America, has an event planned on Saturday in Columbus meant to smear Josh Fox, director of the film Gasland, and Bill McKibben, co-founder of 350.org. We now have no doubts that industry will turn out in a big way for our rally too.

This puts us in a critically important position. If the media sees a small anti-fracking rally met by a bigger pro-fracking action on the 17th… well, the impact should be obvious. Forgive the tired expression, but right now, we have to go big or go home.

Our movement is better organized to exercise people power than big oil and gas, and we need to show it on the 17th if we want to beat the frackers’ attack on Ohio. We can’t let Gov. Kasich and the oil industry’s paid representatives in government take cover behind an astroturf campaign by big oil.

Can you join the action in Columbus on June 17th? Click here to sign up: http://www.dontfrackoh.org/sign-up

Thanks to you, the gas industry knows that there is a grassroots movement rising to stop them. That’s progress, but it also means we have a lot more work to do. I’m very grateful to be a part of this growing movement – I hope to see you soon.

We’re planning a big weekend of action and training to stop the fracking industry. The main event is on June 17th, when we will take over the statehouse and hold a people’s assembly to pass the legislation we need to protect Ohio from the fracking industry. We just confirmed the details for the action – here’s what you need to know:

WHAT: Don’t Frack Ohio Rally and People’s Assembly
WHERE: McPherson Commons (aka Arch Park) in Downtown Columbus Ohio
WHEN: Rally begins at 11 AM at the commons, followed by a march and takeover of the Statehouse. We’ll march back and finish at the commons by 3 PM
WHO: The Ohio anti-fracking movement joined by allies from across the country as well as Bill McKibben from 350.org and Josh Fox, director of Gasland

Also, we’re finalizing our plans for our training and strategy sessions, which will be held from the 14th to the 16th at the Ohio State Urban Arts Center in Downtown Columbus. Here’s what we have planned:

Thursday June 14th, beginning at 11 AM

• Presentation on the overall state of fracking in Ohio
• Strategy Sessions and campaign updates led by local organizers from across Ohio
• Trainings on campaign strategy and tactics
• Art Build: big props for the action on Sunday
• Movie or Speakers, TBA

Friday, June 15th, beginning at 9 AM

• SB 315 and the politics of fracking
• Trainings on identifying allies in the fight against fracking
• Workshops on local strategies, faith organizing, legal tactics and more
• De-escalation and march marshal trainings
• Art build: signs and banners
• Local bands and dance party!

Saturday, June 16th, beginning at 9 AM

• Non-violent direct action training
• March in Pride Parade
• Continue workshops from Friday
• Intensive trainings on direct action and strategy
• Panel with Bill McKibben, Josh Fox and others TBA.

Sunday, June 17th, beginning at 11 AM – Action!

As of this weekend, over 1000 people have signed up to tell Gov. John Kasich and the bought-and-sold representatives of the gas industry in the statehouse: Don’t Frack Ohio!

This action is growing because people are fed up with the way that the gas industry has corrupted our democracy – in Ohio alone they’ve spent millions of dollars to make sure that the Assembly passes laws like SB 315, one of the worst fracking laws in the country, giving the gas industry carte blanche to threaten the health and safety of Ohioans with no notice, public comment or effective disclosure of dangerous fracking chemicals.

To join the action, click here to sign up.

Ohio’s State Assembly just passed SB 315, one of the worst fracking laws in the nation.

This bill fails to reinvest in Ohio communities, fails to adequately protect them from the toxic impacts of the fracking industry, and fails to help Ohio address the growing climate crisis.

The bill heading to Gov. Kasich’s desk creates bigger health and safety loopholes and less taxation than almost any other place in the country, opening up Ohio to the worst excesses of the fracking industry. Doctors will be gagged from talking openly about the sickness seeping into the water, and the gas industry will keep all of the profits flowing out of our communities.

The rumblings you hear when this bill is signed is not the sound of another injection well caused earthquake (though another is now likely inevitable) – it is the rumblings of a backlash against the politicians who have been bought out with millions of dollars of the gas industry’s money, and have chosen to sacrifice Ohio in return.

The rumblings will become an uproar next month when we take over the streets and statehouse in Columbus to tell Gov. Kasich: Don’t Frack Ohio! Click here to join us then.

The industry has told Ohioans to prepare for thousands of new wells beginning as soon as they can get away with. Here are some of the worst things about this bill that you need to know:

• Key portions of the bill were written, word for word, by the gas industry. Gov. Kasich and the fracking industry’s biggest supporters adopted model legislation proposed by the industry to set disclosure and key safety rules.
• Fracking companies can hide which chemicals they use in the fracking process by calling them ‘trade secrets’. That means they are exempt from telling you what they put in your water. What little they do disclose is 60 days after drilling takes place, too late for communities to test to show what was in their water before drilling, rendering the disclosure meaningless.
• The gas industry pays nothing for the mess they create. Gov. Kasich’s minor tax on individual wells is offset by new tax breaks on property taxes and other giveaways, which means the gas industry will pay less in Ohio taxes than they do in any other state in the country.
• No citizen notification or input will be allowed on any part of the fracking industry. There is no public notice, no public comment, and no right to appeal for drill sites, pipelines, or compressor stations.