May 19th Day of Direct Action Against Fracking

Occupy Well Streeters protesting a frack water withdrawal site in Berwick, PA on earth day 2012.

On Saturday, May 19th, participants in the Occupy Well Street campaign against
fracking are calling for a Day of Direct Action Against Extraction. We invite
all who are opposed to the widespread use of energy extraction methods such as
hydraulic fracturing for natural gas, mountaintop removal coal mining, and tar
sands oil distillation to take creative, public direct action at local or
regional points of production in these industries. All who participate are
encouraged to employ a wide spectrum of tactics that appeal to their experience
and comfort level, such as handing out literature, arranging speaking events,
orchestrating colorful street theater, or taking up space by creative means.

Why a Day of Action? We have many reasons: We are tired of our communities
being divided and conquered by gas corporations in pursuit of ever higher
profits. The water that flows through our bioregion is being sold off for
fracking as fast as those granted responsibility for our rivers and watersheds
can rubber stamp withdrawal permits. Despite promises of gas drilling and
fracking operations creating a surplus of local and regional jobs, our region
is teeming with highly paid out of state rigworkers, engineers and other
“specialists”, while the local jobs largely consist of temporary truck
driving and dangerous “roustabout” positions. We are being lied to and
manipulated, but we refuse to be passive participants in these destructive
activities.

While there are many differences between fracking, mountaintop removal coal
mining and the tar sands megaprojects, they are all too similar in their
effects on the health of human and animal communities. Countless trucks clog
the roads, the air fills with pollutants, the water becomes undrinkable, land
and forests are cleared, and communities suffer from conflict and illness.

One of the main goals of the Occupy Well Street campaign is to create
solidarity among all those resisting energy extraction. Our communities may be
separated geographically, but voices and actions can offer effective support
between regions and allow us to continue sustaining our struggles against
extraction. We must communicate within and between movements, share information
and knowledge, and support each others' efforts in order to grow and evolve.

The last place the gas companies want concerned community members to show up is
at their fracking sites, pipeline projects, compressor stations, water
withdrawal sites, and other important facilities. The points of production are
where the physical damage occurs, and we invite you to join us in throwing a
wrench in the gears on May 19th!


Groups or individuals participating in the Day of Action are invited to send
articles, after action reports, photographs or press releases from their events
to occupywellstreet (at) riseup.net. Submissions will be posted on
http://www.owsstopfracking.org/


What have participants in the Occupy Well Street campaign been up to? Groups
have picketed active fracking sites, blocked industry truck traffic, drawn
attention to water withdrawal sites hidden in plain sight, held industry
analysts and “reporters” accountable in public meetings, and distributed
literature at pro-industry events. Occupy Well Street is committed to finding
common ground between all those fighting extraction industries, and networking
is ongoing. Stay tuned for more news soon!

Blue Ridge Earth First! blockading Dominion Energy to protest mountaintop removal coal mining in 2008.