GOOD JOB WE DIDN’T FRACK
It goes without saying that thoughts and prayers go out at this time to all New Brunswickers affected by the recent flooding. We can definitely be proud, as a province, of how friends, neighbours, even strangers, have banded together to help one another other in a time of crisis.

In the midst of ongoing accounts of disaster and devastation, however, it remains to be observed how thankful we can be that areas now flooded with untreated river water, sewage and other debris were not also dotted with fracking wells.

In a province where 20 per cent of the population – 100,000 souls to be exact – depend on private wells for their drinking water, imagine the situation (and expense) our provincial government would be facing now if, in addition to the present mess, the clean-up had been complicated by the addition of millions of gallons of toxic wastewater pouring into wells and river from flooded fracking wells?

Ominously, all of the areas in Southern New Brunswick now under water – Grand Lake, Jemseg, Gage-town, Hampstead, Darlings Island, Hampton Valley – were designated zones ripe for fracking with, apparently, little risk or chance of contamination by former premier David Alward and our previous government.

Considering the very real possibility that the degree of flooding we’ve seen in the province this year may in fact be the “new norm,” the absence of fracking wells in the various flood zones must surely be considered a narrow escape rather than a hardship or economic opportunity missed. What’s more, I believe that our present premier, Brian Gallant, deserves a vote of thanks for considering the evidence and ensuring the safety of our province’s land and water with an ongoing fracking moratorium.

CHRIS REIBLING
Saint John

Following our second meeting, the unanimous consensus was to press ahead with a number of initiatives to educate the public and our elected representatives about the numerous dangers of fracking. Fracking would damage our drinking water, our fisheries, our tourism industry, and the health of the most vulnerable in our society. Our 100% reliance on groundwater for drinking, along with our vertically fractured soft geology, when combined with the toxic carcinogens used for fracking, and the documented failure of gas well casings, would result in an unacceptable level of risk to the citizens of PEI.

Organizations and individuals across PEI  joined us in our efforts to bring about a permanent ban on fracking, while encouraging the development of alternative energy sources and a reduction in energy use throughout the province.

With innumerable briefs, community meetings, workshops, meetings with politicians, rallies, movie and documentary showings, we travelled the Island from Tignish to Souris and kept up the pressure until, in December 2017, we achieved a permanent legislated ban in The Water Act. Both a ban on high capacity wells and a ban on fracking were the most commonly heard recommendations made during the public hearings on The Water Act.

Don’t Frack PEI is now committed to Wind, Water, Sun – Energy for the Long Run – but in the meantime we want to invite the many Islanders and Groups who have helped us achieve this Ban to a community celebration. We will celebrate with some brief comments and the music of Tony Reddin and Teresa Doyle – with her song “Let’s Ban the Foolin’ Frackin'”. All Islanders who supported a ban on fracking are invited to join us at Upstreet Craft Brewing , 41 Allen Street, Charlottetown, on Thursday May 10th from 6:00pm to 8:00 pm. 

Contact :  For more information Leo Cheverie at 902-940-5635 

One of the documents issued by the government today states that saying NO to hydraulic fracturing addresses a key public concern. Quite right!

Don’t Frack PEI intends to see that a ban becomes part of the Act. In other news, MLA Brad Trivers will propose a Motion Calling For a Moratorium on Fracking in the Spring sitting of the legislature.

So fracking is going to be very much back in the spotlight this spring. Don’t Frack PEI has incurred some expenses to keep the website running, rent a mailbox, host meetings, pay presenters, and produce t-shirts, hats and literature. Unfortunately our donations haven’t kept up with the expenses, for instance a website and e-mail hosting bill of $289 has come out of the pockets of the committee. Please consider making a donation to help with these costs – and you can make it using PayPal or a Credit Card on our website – it’s perfectly secure. Just click the green button on the home page.

Thank you for your support on this important issue.
Don’t Frack PEI Steering Committee.

Physicians, Scientists and Engineers for Healthy Energy has issued a Compendium of Scientific, Medical, and Media Findings Demonstrating the Risks and Harms of Fracking, which can be found here: http://concernedhealthny.org/compendium

It is complimented by the incredible online, near-exhaustive database maintained by Physicians, Scientists and Engineers for Healthy Energy of all the peer-reviewed science. It is fully searchable with many tools.  It is up to date, whereas the Compendium is updated at periodic intervals. You can get it at:  http://www.psehealthyenergy.org/site/view/1180

Here is their latest report, including links to other recent national and international fracking news: http://dontfrackpei.com/PDFs/Update_no_8.pdf

The Journal of New Brunswick Studies recently published three comprehensive reports on the Shale Gas industry in NB, which contain a wealth of information on the industry, including much criticism of the ongoing government handling of the issues:

http://dontfrackpei.com/PDFs/Bronson_2016_NB_Energy_Institute.pdf

http://dontfrackpei.com/PDFs/Gillies_2016_NB_hydrailic_fracturing_commission.pdf

http://dontfrackpei.com/PDFs/Hill_et_al_2016_shale_gas_royalties_in_NB.pdf

http://dontfrackpei.com/PDFs/Simon_2016_NB_shale_gas_conflict.pdf

The new version is far more worrying than the first, which found “no evidence that fracking systemically contaminates water” supplies. In a significant change, that conclusion was deleted from the final study.

Read the report in the New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/13/us/reversing-course-epa-says-fracking-can-contaminate-drinking-water.html

When you vote, there will be two ‘proportional’ options – and it’s important that you make these your first and second choices. To pledge your vote for proportional representation, and to receive updates on the campaign over the coming weeks, sign up today at www.PRonPEI.vote/pledge.

For more information on the voting process, including how to vote on-line or on the phone, visit http://www.yourchoicepei.ca and for more information on proportional representation, visit https://peipr.ca

Please spread the word – because in order for the government to get the message, we need people to get out and vote.

http://dontfrackpei.com/web/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Dimock-Trial-Verdict-Sheet.pdf

Here are some of their enlightened findings:

“The Government of New Brunswick must move from project-specific consultation to ongoing collaboration because, as we learned through our work, New Brunswick residents are no longer satisfied with simply understanding government decisions; they want to be at the table. They want to be a part of the decision-making process.”

“On the surface, activist anger appeared to dominate the public discussion, but once we dove a bit deeper, we discovered the issue of shale gas was also rooted in weariness and fear felt by all sides that New Brunswick is incapable of change.”

“There is a disconnect between the Government of New Brunswick and residents around issues of economic development and land use.”

And a summary by the New Brunswick Anti-Shale Gas Alliance (NBASGA) picks our these recommendations that are made in the report:

“All policies must consider the impacts on climate change before proceeding, and must guarantee the ‘long-­term viability’ of our water and energy resources.”

“Environmental and energy policy should lead us into the new value-­added and knowledge-­based economy.”

“The relationship between governments and First Nations must be rebuilt from the ground-­‐up on a nation-­to-­nation basis.”

“Discussions with First Nations, municipalities and citizens, especially those bearing the risks, must be based on the two-­way flow of objective and scientifically valid information in order to do a valid risk/benefit analysis and to ask for social license.”

“A Health Impact Assessment must be included with the Environmental Impact Statement. Both must examine cumulative effects over space and time, and look beyond a particular project in isolation.”

“The mapping of aquifers and baseline data, such as water quality, air quality and health conditions, must be established before any development begins.”

The NBASGA press release can be found here.

Read the article here: http://www.truth-out.org/news/item/33136-after-the-frack-hydraulic-fracturing-s-intense-thirst