What’s “The True Cost of Fracking” In Pennsylvania?

The annual Shale Gas Outrage Freedom From Fracking Conference has become the place to educate, organize and agitate. This year’s conference, “The True Cost of Fracking,” is a day-long teach-in event featuring impacted citizens, activist leaders, scientists, physicians and energy policy experts. Beginning at 1pm with a networking lunch, the schedule includes speakers, panels and breakout sessions. The conference is free and open to the public with registration.  

It’s no coincidence that this conference opens just as the nearby gas industry conference, Shale Gas Insight, concludes. Freedom From Fracking organizers are encouraging press and public alike to educate themselves from a non-industry point-of-view. 

A new event, the Shale Gas Outrage LocalStand Water Drive will conclude in the morning, prior to the Freedom From Fracking conference. Click here for more information on how you can help Pennsylvanians whose drinking water has been impacted by shale gas drilling.

The Freedom From Fracking III keynote address will be given by John Fenton, "a Pavillion, Wyoming rancher whose water was impacted by fracking. The impacts on his land and life were poignantly captured by director Josh Fox in his Gasland documentaries. Fenton will advocate for the EPA’s investigation into water contamination in Pavillion, abruptly stopped earlier this year, to be reopened.”

Sessions include:

• Understanding economic costs of fracking
• Health impacts of fracking
• Reports from people in impacted communities
• The footprint of pipelines, compressors and other gas infrastructure
• Air, climate & health impacts of shale gas infrastructure and possible solutions
• The need for a drilling moratorium and other action
• The gas industry in Philadelphia and the Delaware River’s port system--LNG
• And more! Get the complete, updated schedule here: www.shalegasoutrage.wordpress.com/conference-schedule/

Freedom Is Free!

Unlike the hefty $1,075 price of a non-member ticket to the gas industry conference, Freedom From Fracking is FREE, though pre-registration is strongly recommended due to space limitations. A sustainably sourced lunch may be purchased for $10 in advance with your registration.  

Where:  Friends Center, 1501 Cherry Street, Philadelphia, PA 

When:  1pm networking lunch, followed by Conference at 2pm - 8pm 

Registration:  http://fffconference.eventbrite.com

Unfortunately, Fresh Drinking Water Isn't Free

Take a LOCAL STAND! September 24th – 26th and donate to the Water Drive for Pennsylvanians Impacted by Shale Gas Drilling.

While shale industry insiders and public officials meet inside the Philadelphia Convention Center from September 24th through September 26th, anti-fracking organizations will be outside collecting jugs of water and cash contributions. Funds raised from the water drive will be used to purchase water for Pennsylvanians who have lost their water to drilling operations.

Please bring unopened gallon jugs of water or cash donations to: 

The Arch Street United Methodist Church, 55 N. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107 (in plain view of the Pennsylvania Convention Center)

Tuesday, September 24th Noon-7pm

Wednesday 25th 8 AM – 7 PM

Thursday 26th 8am–10:30am [Press Conference at 9:30am]

(Cars please use the alley just south of the church (named Cuthbert Street, unmarked) with flashers on to drop off water. Note: you will need to back out. Volunteers will be standing by to assist you.) 

Donations Needed For Emergency Water Fund! 

Donations are the most efficient way to get water to the impacted people who need it -- please click here to learn how to donate online or by check.

The LOCAL STAND Water Drive is a statewide campaign to bring clean drinking water to those who have lost theirs due to industrial shale gas drilling in Pennsylvania. 

Shale Gas Outrage is organized by Protecting Our Waters in partnership with Delaware Riverkeeper Network, PennEnvironment, Clean Air Council, and Berks Gas Truth. Protecting Our Waters (www.protectingourwaters.com)is a Philadelphia-area grassroots advocacy group fighting fracking and defending people, animals, air, water and land hurt by fracking. 

Click here for a complete list sponsors and endorsing organizations.