This Mother’s Day, activists dramatized a “battle on the border” of Ohio and Pennsylvania to defend Mother Earth! It was a networking potluck with a bit of playful theater.
Despite cold weather, activists from PA and OH turned out in high spirits! A reporter from the Gazette came, as well as about 2 dozen people from Erie, Butler Co PA, Columbus, Youngstown, Cleveland, and Ashtabula Co OH. We enjoyed each other’s company, and shared stories. Great networking! There is a clear thirst for these kinds of activities, as many more wanted to come but couldn’t. We’ll have to organize something again with more schedules involved.
Unfortunately, the environmental movement is treated as terrorism and government arms came out in unnecessary numbers. ODNR, OH police, and PA police were all the first to arrive! 🙂 They expressed concerns about property damage and mostly traffic safety on the bridge for our photo-op, Barrel-Battle-At-The-Border. After ample discussion, we decided to stay off the causeway and made a dramatized state line instead. We had fun pretending to fight over who is taking the toxic fracking waste that comes from PA and OH natural gas well fracking. Maybe one day peace-lovers will be able to get together without government arms chaperoning.
Here is more about the event from our press release:
Ohioans are sick of being the dumping ground for the radioactive toxic wastewater that comes from hydraulic fracturing of natural gas wells in Pennsylvania. Likewise, Pennsylvanians don’t want nasty drilling waste in their backyards either! Activists will butt heads this Mother’s Day, as residents from each state refuse fracking wastewater in their own communities.
Ohio’s “Ashtabula County Water Watch” (ACWW) is joining forces with Pennsylvania’s “Our Water, Our Air, Our Rights” (OWOAOR) to battle over our common Mother. Anti-fracking sentiment is building in our region, and passions collide on the border! Activists will play “hot potato” with a barrel of “fracking waste” on the bridge connecting Ohio to Pennsylvania, as they each battle to defend Mother Earth.
Activists from both states are encouraged to attend to network and build ties toward common goals. Other groups expected to attend include: Marcellus Outreach Butler, Committee for the Youngstown Community Bill of Rights, Cleveland Environmental Action Network (CLEAN), Northeast Ohio Sierra Club, and more. Come out to build bridges with fellow activists – or to battle on them! It’s a “Barrel Battle at the Border!”
Fracking for natural gas in PA (and elsewhere) requires enormous amounts of fresh water that can never be used again once turned into “brine” wastewater that is injected into one of OH’s many Class II injection wells (among other disposal methods). Pymatuning Reservoir is a beautiful fresh water system enjoyed by OH and PA residents alike, making it the perfect setting to highlight frack-water issues in both OH and PA. Come learn about the threats to fresh water that our states share.
Sunday, May 14, 2017, Mother’s Day
4pm: Event begins
5pm: Barrel Battle at the Border! – Photo opportunity
Followed by potluck and networking – bring a dish to share if you are able
Ohio side of Pymatuning State Park
“Main Beach Pavilion”
Andover, OH
Just off of Rt 85 / 285
Contact ACWW with questions: (440) 549-0111, acwaterwatch@gmail.com
Join us for the Battle at the Border! Which state will win? …
Sponsored by: Network for Oil & Gas Accountability & Protection (NEOGAP), Ohio Food & Farm Association (OEFFA), FrackFree Geauga, Cleveland Environmental Action Network (CLEAN), Northeast Ohio Sierra Club, Faith Communities Acting Together (FACT)
