OMFG...Corbett Cronies THROTTLE FREE SPEAK....Deny Anti Frackers Voice At Committee Hearing

If a picture is worth a thousand words, this damning video is priceless...seems that the Pro-Natural Gas folks inside the Pennsylvania Governor's office will stop at nothing to silence those opposed to Natural Gas Fracking. Sure if I told you that the governor instructed staff to have two sign up sheets...one inside the room for PRO NATURAL GAS FOLKS, and one outside for ANTI FRACKERS (who were not allowed in to sign the other sheet), and told you that they then called up folks from the FIRST LIST ONLY, you would say I was a conspiracy nut...well, watched the video, and you decide. FACE IT FOLKS, WE ARE BEING RAIL ROAD'ED TO HELL ON A FRACK HIGHWAY.

Severely INJURED Workers Suing Chesapeake Energy

Seems two workers injured in a serious fire on February 23rd are suing  Chesapeake Energy...what is interesting, is the facts that come out when you start looking for different versions of the news.  In the short story below, it's OK...lawsuit for injuries, basic negligence case right?  But then look at the second article from a different news source, and you see much more SERIOUS CHARGES are being claimed that should alarm all environmentalists, as well as all those who are supposed to regulate the industry...specifically, a charge of EVIDENCE TAMPERING has been brought again Chesapeake Energy.

Article Version One

AVELLA, Pa. — Two workers injured in a fiery explosion during testing at a natural gas-drilling site in southwestern western Pennsylvania are suing the drilling firm and two subcontractors.

The Observer-Reporter in Washington, Pa. says 50-year-old Richard Lancaster, of Sardis, Ohio, and 36-year-old Frank Lancaster, of New Martinsville, W.Va. filed the suit in the Circuit Court of Kanawha County, W.Va.

The men were working for a trucking firm that is not being sued, and are blaming Chesapeake Appalachia for the fire at the well near Avella, about 25 miles west of Pittsburgh.

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has said the driller failed to properly manage flammable byproducts before the Feb. 23 fire in which five 500-barrel storage tanks of the liquid condensate ignited, but has yet to say if fines are warranted.

A Chesapeake spokeswoman declined comment. Article Source

More Than Just an Eye Sore...LAND RAPER

Article Version Two...more serious charges highlighted in RED.

Injured workers sue driller
By Scott Beveridge, Staff writer
Observer-Reporter
April 28, 2011

AVELLA, PA -- Two workmen who were severely injured in a massive Feb. 23 fire at a Marcellus Shale natural gas well site near Avella have sued the drilling company, claiming it was negligent in allowing flammable vapors to ignite at the site.  As we said, basic claim of being negligent...but READ ON.

Attorneys for victims Frank Lancaster and Richard Lancaster also claim the driller, Chesapeake Appalachia, removed critical evidence after the fire at the Joseph Powers well site, West Virginia court records indicate. The lawsuit further claims the fire was a result of "lax government regulation" in Pennsylvania over the Marcellus Shale industry. The problems with oversight have "created an environment where drillers believe they can disregard commonly accepted industry standards and risk the health and safety of workers and local communities without accountability," the lawsuit states.  Article Source

Removal of EVIDENCE!...wonder if they also removed evidence of wrong doing at the well pad blowout last week? Even more DAMNING...a charge LEVELED RIGHT AT GOVERNOR CORBETT who is trying to tie the hands of his DEP inspectors behind their backs.

A Fracktoid FACTOID on Corbett's Pennsylvania

As citizens listen to Governor Tom Corbett digging in his heels, refusing to TAX the (un)Natural Gas being extracted from the state, as companies like Chesapeake Energy claim to be paying MILLIONS into the state treasury, consider this HARD FACT...Of the 783 companies to file corporate net income tax returns in 2008, 85% paid nothing in taxes.  Wonder why states like Pennsylvania have budget deficits, wonder why states like Pennsylvania are CUTTING BACK ON SOCIAL SERVICES LIKE EDUCATION?  There is your ANSWER.

Why Tom Corvett's Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission's IS A SHAME

As pointed out in the previous article, protesters yesterday successfully interupted the proceedings of the Pennsylvania Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission's second meeting, and they should be applauded.  More importantly though...do they have a point in their protests, is the governor's Commission a SHAME, stacked in favor if a dishonest, corrupt (un)Natural Gas Industry?  In a word, "Yes".  Consider if you will some very disturbing facts.

1. EIGHT companies that have liberal representation on the Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission were cited with VIOLATIONS last year...including the notorious KING DADDY ENVIRONMENTAL RAPIST, Chesapeake Energy who has had TWO well head failures in the past few months, three in the past ten with the latest being the Bradford County well failure which dumped tens of thousands of gallons of lethal fracking chemicals out onto farmland, and into streams.

2.   One of these companies with commission representation LEAD THE STATE IN VIOLATIONS, and will let you guess WHO IT WAS.

3.  SURPRISE SURPRISE, every one of these companies WERE HEAVY CONTRIBUTORS to Tom Corbett's campaign for governor.

Now if you listen to these industry insiders, the proverbial FOXES guarding the henhouse, they will claim their
presence on the Commission adds extremely valuable expertise, knowledge and talent to the panel. Knowledge of what?  How to skirt and/or break the laws meant to protect human health and the environment?  How to see that the rules meant to regulate themselves are written in a way that FAVORS THEMSELVES?  How to see that the recommendations, and resulting rules are written in a way that they can just write out a check as a cost of doing business every time they destroy a water supply, or despoil the land?

The citizens of Pennsylvania should already be circulating a Recall Petition to rid themselves of Tom Corbett who may well be the most dishonest politician to hold public office.

Protesters Interupt Commission Meeting in Harriburg

Anti Frack Protesters yesterday interrupted the Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission's second meeting, speaking TRUTH against a commission stacked in favorite of the (un)Natural Gas industry, most of the seats filled with industry insiders, and chaired by what can only be described as a industry whore and slut in Lt. Gov. Jim Cawley who along with Governor Corbett have an affinity for sucking on the teat of (Un)Natural Gas Industry money changers as the industry lines their pockets with Fracked Gold. 

Fracking Well Pad Daily Occurance?

When one protester (Mr. Stilp)suggested that the Commission be disbanded, a new one with more CITIZEN STAKEHOLDER representation created, Lt. Governor Jim (slick lips) Cawley reportedly SNORTED, "the makeup of the commission is nowhere near as important as the information that is collected." He went on to spew forth some Paul Bunyan sized tall tale about how any one could get him information they wanted the commission to review, and he would see it was put into the right hands...YEAH RIGHT.

Nathan Sooy of Clean Water Action (one of the organizations who spear headed the protest) said Lt. Governor Cawley's assurances were not enough...and they are not.  Any anal retentive chimp tripping on LSD could look at the Commission's make up and see where the ship is being steered.  It is the tail wagging the dog, the (un)Natural Gas industry getting to create/write the guidelines that they will be willing to abide by as they rape the environment, disrupt communities, and poison water.  Voluntary compliance is a farce, and putting together a Marcellus Shale Commission wherein the industry holds the MAJORITY VOTE is worthy of the Justice Department stepping in with a RICO investigation of the Governor, Lt. Governor and various members of the commission now seated.

READ MORE

Pa Shale Gas Incentives (The Great Rich White Republican Lie) Coming To a State Near You

The Beauty FRACKING Will Steal Away

First, political correctness is killing America...so if the title of this article, the tone of the writing offends someone, do apologize in advance. Politics in America is still a white, rich mans sport (White Privilege should be changed to RICH WHITE PRIVILEGE, or just RICH PRIVILEGE) for the most part, and if you do not believe me look at some simple facts.  At every level of government, we have more millionaires and billionaires than ever before, most of them stuffed shirt white men who have bought themselves a SEAT AT THE TABLE.  In New York, we have Billionaire Mayor Bloomberg as a perfect example...when he wanted to stay in office longer, he used his MONEY to change the law.  Our current President is expected to spend a billion dollars trying to get re-elected in 2012, and if his silver tongued self promoting self is too be believed, goofy haired Billionaire wheeler dealer man Donald Trump is going to run for the office of President himself.  

Secondly, because I want to set the stage, and voicing just my own opinion here, prejudice and bigotry are expertly manipulated tools of the UBER RICH used to keep our collective focus off of themselves, and on each other as we seek someone to blame for our own plight...maybe, just maybe it is time for those in the middle and lower class to realize our problems are caused not by peoples of a different race, color or sexual orientation, but by those holding well over ninety percent of America's wealth, while expecting us far too often to work for slave wages, while our taxes are used to subsidize the industries of the UBER RICH, with (un)Natural Gas just the lastest example of how our land, communities, water and health are attacked in the name of WEALTH BUILDING, the people in power thinking nothing about visiting Environemental Racism on those communities who cannot AFFORD TO PROTECT THEMSELVES.

There is a blog article talking about Republicans in Pennsylvania keeping Pennsylvania Shale Gas in the state to benefit the people of the state through a set of incentives (paid for with YOUR TAXES).   Though the number will grow, right now over $47 Million state tax dollars would go to support the Shale Gas industry, and their building of infrastructure...this, even though lunatic Governor Corbett and his Robber Barons are refusing to tax even ONE DROP of the (un)Natural Gas coming out of the state.  These incentives, the package of seven House bills, known as Marcellus Works, would use tax credits and grants to expand the number of natural gas-powered vehicles on the state's roads, the theory being more Natural Gas vehicles would thus keep more of the Natural Gas at home in Pennsylvania.  Another part of the bill would provide money to the industry to build (un)Natural Gas stations all along the Pennsylvanian Interstate system...could someone explain to all us poor people why our taxes are being given to UBER RICH PEOPLE to use to build gas stations to sell us gas they took/stole from our lands?

These incentives MAKE NO SENSE...more importantly, they are based on a FALSE PROMISE.  Supposedly, these incentives will keep Pennsylvania Marcellus Shale Gas in Pennsylvania.  Do this dishonest politicians do ANY HOMEWORK AT ALL?  Do they know, are they aware of just how much of our American Shale Gas leases have already been sold to FOREIGN INTERESTS, with the largest purchaser of our Shale Gas resources being none other than COMMUNIST CHINA, who also happens to be the holder of most of our American Government's DEBT.  

If any one is foolish enough to believe China (through wholly owned companies like CNOOC) is buying up massive mineral, gas and oil rights as just a good investment, you are either A) living under a rock, or B) devoid of patriotism, and caring only about lining your own pockets with GOLD...most politicians fall into this later category.  China has a population of BILLIONS, and their people have gotten a taste for this flawed MASS CONSUMPTION economic model that is raping the earth, and with every passing day, the citizens of China are demanding more and more access to goods, and in that demand consuming an every increasing amount of the Earth's dwindling stockpile of natural resources, and the Central Communist Committee in China is doing everything in their power to corner the market on the world's most precious (and limited) natural resources, both Gas and Oil being on that list.

Would like to have some of these politicians explain to us how incentives to keep our resources at home is not MONEY DOWN A RAT HOLE, when these same politicians are doing NOTHING to keep companies like Cabot and Chesapeake Energy to buy up leases, bundle them and sell them off to foreign companies like so much graffiti as the (un)Natural Gas industry races down the same road of despair that the Home Mortgage business ran down not that long ago.  We do not need Natural Gas welfare, do not need to be offering incentives that make no sense.  We need ENFORCEMENT, and we need laws that PRESERVE America's resources FOR AMERICANS...a simple fact that the Natural Gas industry cannot refute, "If a national law were passed tomorrow nationalizing America's Shale Gas reserves for reasons of National Security, if that law forbid the outsourcing of this commodity, the BOTTOM WOULD INSTANTLY FALL OUT OF THE AMERICAN NATURAL GAS MARKET"...why?  Because what is driving the industry is not our own market here at home, but the world demand for what will soon be a scarce resource.

So far, politicians and the Natural Gas industry have just what they want...local governments, state capitals and Washington DC paying lip service to their constituents while PAVING THE ROAD of the Natural Gas industry with Gold (with our taxes) while locally, we have neighbors fighting neighbors, as one group hopes to cash in, get a small slice of the pie, while the other fights to preserve our lands, water, environment and health. It is time that WE WAKE UP...time that we stop letting the UBER RICH manipulate us, pit us one against the other, and instead start looking at the true root of our problems here in America...a system gone bad, a government that no longer listens to and represents the will of the people.

200 plus years ago we rose in protest (Boston Tea Party) over taxation without representation, fought a war to gain our Independence from England.  Now, two centuries later, we have lost our way, are so stuck in our own morass to be bothered with problems larger than ourselves.  If we want to see true democracy in action in 2011, we have to look to the Middle East where average every day people are joining together in common goals, in a unified voice as they throw off their own chains of oppression.  Natural Gas and all that it represents is the POSTER CHILD of just what is wrong right now in America, and we are running out of time to stop this runaway train, running out of time to SAVE AMERICA.  

We cannot win this war, cannot stop the raping of our lands one small community at a time and the (un)Natural Gas Industry, our own politicians KNOW THIS...we need a National Movement, and played right, we have the power to MAKE THAT HAPPEN.  How many small communities have small Anti-Fracking groups and organizations fighting their own wars against Goliath, and how many of those communities ARE LOSING THE FIGHT?  What happens if we all start linking up together to form one NATIONAL ORGANIZATION, one NATIONAL MOVEMENT to fight the (un)Natural Gas industry, their lobbyists and the politicians THEY OWN?  We have the internet, we have twitter, and joined together we have the VOTERS to become a force to be reckoned with.

If this post, this message resonates with you, your group, if you are interested in working toward building and Anti-Fracking Army of grassroots volunteers please leave a comment on this post, private message me via Fracktoid News, or find me on Twitter.  Will leave you with this...if One Million concerned citizens opposed to Fracking each donated $100 to a National Organization, we would have enough to field at least fifty candidates for NATIONAL OFFICE...what kind of a game changer would it be if we sent 50 Anti Fracking Congressman into the Halls of Congress?  Love them or hate them, look at the effect Tea Party backed candidates who won Congressional Elections are having in Washington!  Isn't it time we had that kind of voice ourselves?

You Know Your Government is SELLING You Out To Shale Gas When They Throw Your Tax Dollars At The Industry

For those living in the state of Pennsylvania, you already know your wolf in sheeps clothing scorched earth Governor Corbett is prepared to rape your lands, and spoil your waters.  You already know he wants to destroy STATE PARK LANDS.  Seems though he is not the only politician repaying campaign donations that came from the vile (un)Natural Gas industry.  You know your politicians are selling you out when they propose almost FIFTY MILLION DOLLARS in GIVE BACKS to the (un)Natural Gas industry.  If they have their way, grants, tax incentives and other give backs will be given to any one wanting to JUMP ON THE (un)Natural Gas BAND WAGON, who wants to convert their fleets to (un)Natural Gas, or open up one or more (un)Natural Gas Stations on Pennsylvania's Interstate System!  In other words, almost FIFTY MILLION dollars of your tax money will be given to those ALREADY UBER RICH....this is a US verse THEM WAR FOLKS, and it is time for the little people to STAND UP AND BE HEARD.

By the way, if all fifty states follow suit, this (un)Natural Gas Industry WELFARE Program will steer BILLIONS into the hands of THOSE FRACKING YOUR LAND!  Steer BILLIONS into the hands of those wanting to pollute your SAFE DRINKING WATER SUPPLIES, and KILL YOUR CHILDREN.

In Pennsylvania WTF Moment, Memo Strips Oil and Gas Inspectors Ability To ISSUE VIOLATION CITATIONS!

Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett, a rabid supporter of  the shale gas industry is showing he has the balls of a Woolly Mammoth, the ethics of Bernard Madoff, and the compassion of one of Satan's demon spawn...seems he has decided Oil and Gas inspectors (the small handful there are) policing the Marcellus Shale lease holders can no longer issue a notice of violation without FIRST GETTING the approval of two of his political appointees.  This blog encourages ALL ANTI FRACKERS ACROSS AMERICA to reach out via phone and fax and give Tom Corbett a piece of your mind.

Governor Tom Corbett

Phone: (717) 787-2500
Fax:     (717) 772-8284 

You can also visit his WEBSITE and leave him an email.