"Then give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's."

This is an oft quoted phrase, supposedly spoken by Jesus, representative of the line between Church and state...what then do we say to define that line between government and personal rights and property? More importantly, just what is Caesar's? Just what is God's, and what is ours as individuals?  In these troubling times we live in, these are not intellectual questions to be discussed over martinis by those fortunate enough to be in that one percent who seem to rule over the rest of us...Modern day Caesar's bent on accumulating their wealth at the expense of the proverbial uncleansed masses.

Down through the ages of Industrialized America there is example after example of individuals, groups, and communities being forced to pay the ultimate price in the name of progress, or in the name of National Security. The latest example being the current war over Horizontal Hydraulic Fracturing, though moving backward from that point, the examples are numerous with perhaps the most notable one being poorly regulated nuclear energy, another the extraction of coal in states such as West Virginia, Ohio and Kentucky.  

Energy...At what cost?

There is a term in environmental enforcement that is defined on the NRC website called ALARA.  This acronym is short for, "as low as (is) reasonably achievable."  The verse goes on to say, "which means making every reasonable effort to maintain exposures to ionizing radiation as far below the dose limits as practical, consistent with the purpose for which the licensed activity is undertaken, taking into account the state of technology, the economics of improvements in relation to state of technology, the economics of improvements in relation to benefits to the public health and safety, and other societal and socioeconomic considerations, and in relation to utilization of nuclear energy and licensed materials in the public interest.

Who decides what is reasonably achievable...can we say big business, can we say government?  Just who and what is being protected in this ALARA...too often it is not the public, it is not the host community, but instead it is company profits, and a government agenda.  Here is a fact...the United States Federal Government knows that a certain number of people in a host community will contract a cancer living within close proximity to a nuclear reactor, but they A) do not care, and B) will not admit that some people will die in the name of nuclear energy as long as their licensee is within whatever current exposure limits are established under this concept of as low as reasonably (read affordable for the company) achievable standard.

Should rendering to Caesar that which is Caesar's include giving up our lives in the name of the "Greater Societal Good", in the name of a "National Energy Policy"?  At what point are individuals, or small communities allowed to say no, at what point are we as oppressed communities allowed to use force to stop what is the systematic rape of our communities and our resources...in the case of Horizontal Hydraulic Fracturing for example, we are being asked to risk our health, our environment, our pristine rural way of life, and our drinking water supplies in the name of Natural Gas Industry profits, in the name of the United States of America's Energy Policy.

Let us be clear...there are health risks that will come with Natural Gas wells being drilled in our communities. Some of those risks will contribute too, or cause the early death of some at risks citizens.  Let us be clear, there will be accidents, and there will be examples where communities or private citizens water supplies will be negatively impacted.  Should any government be allowed the right to force us to accept these risks, should they be allowed to expect us to render unto Caesar that which Caesar feels is a right of entitlement because such sacrifices being asked of us are good for the "Greater Society".  Or instead, if the desires of government place our health, safety and community in danger, should we be allowed to "Just say no"?  If the needs wants and hungers of a greedy capitalist company depend upon the rape of our lands, or in some cases the taking of them, should we not be allowed to use force to stop such wrongful actions?

Perhaps as I approach those proverbial end times, more of my life over than life left to live, I have not the patience for the lies being perpetrated by both government and industry.  Perhaps I have seen too many people have their lives shortened, their quality of life stolen away by industrial processes which are poorly regulated by government.  Perhaps I realize in being silent, we are losing our collective voice and with that lost voice we are losing not just our freedoms, but all that which is ours.  Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's, but the time has come to redefine just what it is that Caesar should be allowed to claim as his own.

Wednesday "News on the Run"...Editorial on Fracking

sniffle, sniffle, sneeze...I have a told and (as the commercial would say) need some stuffy, sneezing, coughing so I can rest medicine. Coffee tastes good, and peeking out my window, looks like a bit of a dismal day out, but there is some good news...no snow pellets. It is wet, damp, nippy, spitting and nasty out...a good day to just stay inside with my cold and give the house a complete cleaning for Christmas Day. Speaking of Christmas, I will be putting up a post on Christmas Eve that has links to all of my own favorite Christmas songs on You Tube, and hope all of our readers will find these beautiful songs a great addition to your own celebrations.

Editorial:

Last week the US EPA came out with a preliminary report which in part says a water aquifer out in Wyoming is most likely contaminated with chemicals from fracking...those in favor of hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling (Encana) have taken to the airwaves trying to tarnish both the report, and the agency. Additionally, these industry shills have tried to convince Americans that even if the findings are born out to be true, the report should in no way have any effect on their desires to drill in the rest of the nation because the underground conditions in Wyoming are far different than anywhere else, with the fracking there taking place at shallower depths than in the rest of America.

Fact...the only difference a far greater depth will make in the end line results (contamination of our water sources) is the time it takes for those contaminants to reach our aquifers and underground fresh drinking water supplies. Once you crack/fracture a rock, boulder or stone, it will continue to crack until said stone or boulder or rock formation splits into two or more pieces. Thus, it is not a matter of IF these cancer, birth defects, health risk causing chemicals reach our fresh drinking water supplies, but a question of when they reach and contaminate our fresh water supplies. What the Natural Gas Industry is counting on, is being able to get in and get out before that contaminate is found out.

Hydraulic Fracturing is the biggest CON GAME to come along in decades, and it is the people of rural America who are being asked to pay a horrible price in the name of Natural Gas company profits. As example, the Energy Secretary (DOE, who cannot be trusted, have no interest in protecting our environment) likes to trot out the lie, "at current usage rates, the Natural Gas play here in America will last at least 110 years". Lets explore this myth.

1. There is much lobbying going on in every state capital, and in Washington DC to greatly increase the consumption rate of Natural Gas. As example, lobbyist for the Natural Gas industry convinced Pennsylvania officials to give the industry $50 million of our taxpayer dollars to help the industry built Natural Gas stations along the interstate, and to give grants to municipalities to convert their fleets to natural gas. Both of these actions aimed at greatly INCREASING current rates of consumption.

2. By some estimates, as much as 60 percent of the Natural Gas plays here in America have been sold to foreign companies...the largest player being China's state owned CNOOC. In short, this means the lions share of America's natural gas will be shipped overseas...which would explain why it is that most Natural Gas companies are investing their own capital into building large plants to liquify the natural gas, load it onto ships to be sent offshore (just like our jobs) to China and other countries such as India, while our tax dollars are being used to increase domestic supply and demand, which in turn will DRIVE UP PRICES, making Natural Gas just as expensive as the petrol we now put into our cars.

These two realities change the whole argument. Ask yourselves a question, "Are you willing to risk your family's health, your community's property values and fresh drinking water supplies for a gas play that will last fifteen years or less? Oh, I am sorry Chesapeake Energy, Exxon and Cabot, is that an inconvenient truth you would prefer not to speak upon? are we in rural America not supposed to realize that the DOE, our government and the Natural Gas industry refer to this Natural Gas Energy as a TRANSITIONAL ENERGY source...curious here...what are we transitioning to? Add to this the fact that the lions share of this transitional energy source is promised to China and India, and that fifteen year energy supply actually represents only a seven and one half year energy supply here in America...barely enough supply for you to pay off that new Natural Gas burning car they want us all to go out and purchase based on say a 60 month car loan.

"We need to consider the depletion rate of these rigs, which is surprisingly 60% in one year! It means a gas well uses up its own supplies after 2 years of time!"

The natural industry, and even our own government are spending tens of millions of advertising dollars telling us it is our patriotic duty to allow fracking in our communities. We are told these natural gas reserves locked in such places as the Marcellus Shale will allow America to break our dependence on Foreign oil...if this were true, then why are there no laws stipulating that said Natural Gas reserves if mined from under our lands are for DOMESTIC USE ONLY? If these reserves are meant to break us of our dependence on foreign oil, why are companies like Exxon, Chesapeake Oil, Cabot and others being allowed to sell off their plays to foreign companies owned fully by foreign governments?

The underground aquifer in Wyoming WAS CONTAMINATED by Hydraulic Fracturing chemicals, and waters in other states including Pennsylvania have been contaminated by Hydraulic Fracturing chemicals, and by well pad accidents. Our fresh drinking water supplies will be contaminate, the question being when, not if. Our government, the DOE, and the US EPA know this...is it why Congress under the direction of Dick Cheney exempted this industry from the regulatory requirements of both the Clean Water and Clean Air acts. The industry knows this as well, and it is why they want to GET IN, suck out the gas and be gone before the contamination of our waters is noticed so that they can hide behind their attorneys and say, "Was not us. and even if it was, PROVE IT".

New York's DEC is in the process of approving regulations by which FRACKING will be regulated...the rules are inadequate, and the department does not have the manpower to enforce them even if they were adequate. The only solution for the state of New York that protects citizen health, and our clean water supplies is an OUT RIGHT BAN OF HYDRAULIC FRACTURING in our state, rather than simply banning it in a few protected areas. Locally, both the Town of Fallsburg and Sullivan County should be passing local zoning laws that FORBID FRACKING in our communities.

Articles You Should Read

Fracking rules to be more stringent Youngstown Vindicator By Karl Henkel Ohio plans to scrap some fracking regulations in lieu of more- stringent rules, but some antifracking advocates remain skeptical about the proposed changes. Ohio Legislative Service Commission Final Analysis of Sub. ...

Fracking may test water law Independent Online Asked what international reports on fracking had been studied by her department, she said technical papers and reports “have also been consulted” from Canada, Europe and Australia – in addition to the US – where hydraulic fracturing for shale gas ...

Earthquakes, Water Pollution and Increased Greenhouse Gas Emissions? Fracking ... FXstreet.com The last decade has seen a sustained campaign by the hydraulic fracturing ('fracking") industry against its critics, as the fracking industry in the US alone was worth an estimated $76 billion in 2010 and is projected to grow to $231 billion in 2036 if ...