Food & Water Watch
Fifteen New Jersey state legislators sent a letter to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo today urging him to ban the controversial practice of hydraulic fracturing or fracking in his state for the sake of public health and environmental protection throughout the region. In the letter, they state that they have “deep concerns about the prospect of shale gas development in the region and believe opening up New York State to fracking would threaten the entire region, including New Jersey.”
Fracking is highly dangerous and destructive natural gas drilling method that has been tied to drinking water contamination, air pollution, environmental degradation, climate change and public health risks in states where it occurs. Such pollution and risks can easily traverse state lines. Gov. Cuomo faces a procedural deadline this month for deciding on the fate of fracking in New York.
“My biggest concern is that New York’s decision could put New Jersey at risk. If New York were to permit fracking, it would open up the door for shale gas development in the Delaware River basin,” said State Senator Robert Gordon. “This would put millions of New Jersey residents at risk because they rely on the river for clean drinking water. I urge New York to maintain its fracking moratorium so we can continue to protect our region from this dangerous practice.”
“As I have said before, everyone agrees we have to work to find alternative energy sources and reduce our reliance on foreign oil, but I don’t see how anyone can support pumping chemical-laced water into the ground,” said Assemblywoman Connie Wagner (D-Bergen). “From earthquakes to flammable drinking water, evidence on the potential hazards of fracking continues to mount. I would hope Governor Cuomo holds off on fracking in New York until we can find a safe way to do this practice.”
“It’s no secret that Governor Cuomo has ambitions beyond New York State, and the realization of those ambitions will depend on the support of his neighbors like us in New Jersey,” said Jim Walsh, eastern region director of Food & Water Watch. “If Cuomo puts New Jersey residents at risk from fracking waste and pollution created in New York, he also puts at risk his political future. His decision on fracking in New York will be remembered in New Jersey and elsewhere.”
“New Yorkers have attended dozens of hearings, spoken through public opinion polls, and submitted hundreds of thousands of comments to the state opposing fracking, yet Governor Cuomo is considering lifting the moratorium there,” said Tracy Carluccio, deputy director of Delaware Riverkeeper Network. “Today our legislative leaders are standing with the people of New Jersey to ask our neighbor Governor Cuomo not to jeopardize the water and air we all share. Frack pollution doesn’t stop at state boarders.”
“What happens in New York has a direct effect on New Jersey’s environment, whether it is water from fracking coming down the Hudson or Delaware Rivers, increasing greenhouse gases from drilling and pipelines, or fracking waste being shipped here for discharge,” said Jeff Tittel, director of NJ Sierra Club. “The more we learn about fracking, the more dangerous it is. Water pollution and toxic waste do not recognize state boundaries and that is why Gov. Cuomo needs to keep the moratorium in place.
Visit EcoWatch’s FRACKING page for more related news on this topic.
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Here are three new films to watch this Earth Week that will transport you from pole to pole and introduce you to the scientists and activists working to save our shared home.
1. The Year Earth Changed
Where to Watch: Apple TV+
When to Watch: From April 16
The coronavirus pandemic has brought home the stakes of humanity's impact on the environment. But the lockdowns also proved how quickly nature can recover when humans give it the space. Birds sang in empty cities, whales surfaced in Glacier Bay and capybara roamed the South American suburbs.
The Year Earth Changed captures this unique year with footage from more than 30 lockdowned cities between May 2020 to January 2021. Narrated by renowned wildlife broadcaster David Attenborough, the film explores what positive lessons we can take from the experience of a quieter, less trafficked world.
"What the film shows is that the natural world can bounce back remarkably quickly when we take a step back and reduce our impact as we did during lockdown," executive producer Alice Keens-Soper of BBC Studios Natural History Unit told EcoWatch. "If we are willing to make even small changes to our habits, the natural world can flourish. We need to learn how to co-exist with nature and understand that we are not separate from it- for example if we closed some of our beaches at for a few weeks during the turtle breeding we see that it can make a huge difference to their success. There are many ways that we can adapt our behavior to allow the natural world to thrive as it did in lockdown."
2. After Antarctica
Where to Watch: San Francisco International Film Festival
When to Watch: 12 a.m. PST April 9 to 11:59 p.m. April 18
In 1989, Will Steger led an international team of six scientists and explorers to be the first humans to cross Antarctica by dogsled. Steger and his team weren't just in it for the adventure. They also wanted to draw attention to the ways in which the climate crisis was already transforming the icy continent and to rally support for the renewal of the Antarctic Treaty, which would keep the continent safe from extractive industries.
In After Antarctica, award-winning filmmaker Tasha Van Zandt follows Steger 30 years later as he travels the Arctic this time, reflecting on his original journey and once again bringing awareness to changes in a polar landscape. The film intersperses this contemporary journey with footage from the original expedition, some of which has never been seen before.
"Will's life journey as an explorer and climate activist has led him not only to see more of the polar world than anyone else alive today, but to being an eyewitness to the changes occurring across both poles," Van Zandt told EcoWatch. "But now, these changes are happening in all of our own backyards and we have all become eyewitnesses. Through my journey with Will, I have learned that although we cannot always control change, we can change our response. I feel strongly that this is a message that resonates when we look at the current state of the world, as we each have power and control over how we choose to respond to hardships, and we all have the power to unite with others through collective action around a common goal."
After Antarctica is available to stream once you purchase a ticket to the San Francisco International Film Festival. If you miss it this weekend, it will screen again at the Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival from May 13 to May 23.
Tasha Van Zandt
3. The Race to Save the World
Where to Watch: Virtual Cinema
When to Watch: From Earth Day, April 22
While many films about the climate crisis seek to raise awareness about the extent of the problem, The Race to Save the World focuses on the people who are trying to stop it. The film tells the story of climate activists ranging from 15-year-old Aji to 72-year-old Miriam who are working to create a sustainable future. It follows them from the streets to the courtroom to their homes, and explores the impact of their advocacy on their personal lives and relationships.
Emmy award-winning documentary filmmaker Joe Gantz told EcoWatch that he wanted to make a film about climate change, but did not want to depress viewers with overwhelming statistics. Instead, he chose to inspire them by sharing the stories of people trying to make a difference.
"Unless millions of people take to the streets and make their voices heard for a livable future, the politicians are not going to get on board to help make the changes needed for a sustainable future," Gantz told Ecowatch. "I think that The Race To Save The World will energize and inspire people to take action so that future generations, as well as the plants, animals and ecosystems, can survive and thrive on this planet."
Check back with EcoWatch on the morning of Earth Day for a special preview of this inspiring film!