"Either we're going to go with some grace into green energy, or we're going to go kicking and screaming, but we're going, by God. The world is already leaving us behind. We're being left behind. America. Because the gas and oil industry has a stranglehold on us. And our politicians."
Who in the world would voice such an opinion? An elected official? Someone who is entrusted with the well-being of American citizens, someone concerned about the future of the US? He also said:
"What people have a hard time with now is hope. They feel like the system is rigged against them. What I always say, and I know to be true from my own experiences and adventures, is if you're losing hope then you're not doing enough. And it's you. It's not it, it's you. And even writing a letter, you're already engaged in hope, you've done something that's proactive, that's greater than yourself."
This is a quote not from Al Gore or some other elder statesman, and certainly not from Barack Obama, but from Mark Ruffalo, talking about defending the country from fracking, taking back our democracy from the corporatocracy.
After watching Gasland, and then seeing the report on 60 minutes about fracking, wherein one oil company exec seemed to snicker at the idea of concern over poisoning drinking water, it's good to see someone in a position of authority taking a stand and speaking out. And I did see in Gasland that there are politicians in NY taking a stand against fracking, but they got little or no attention. I admire Mark Ruffalo a lot for this, even more than I did after I saw him in "We Don't Live Here Anymore." I really liked that movie.
Here's a link to the article which includes websites and addresses. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/18/mark-ruffalo-fights-frack_n_810461.html
It's worth reading, and a little inspiring. Ardee and I were talking about a lack of leadership, and then here comes of all people, Mark Ruffalo.
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Comments
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It did not help back when Boone Pickens started throwing his money and mouth thru self paid promos on the tube talking about how important the new natural gas was going to power this country.
Since I did spend some time studying earth sciences, I know this process well.
It is not good for anyone when high pressured chemicals are pumped deep into the earth causing many microquakes deep down to shake loose the residual natural gas between layers of shale. To me, the fact that the oil and gas industries will not even disclose these chemicals to the world says much.
I have not watched the movie Gasland since so far I have not had the time. I am sure I will eventually. I don't expect to be surprised tho'. I do feel sad that so many will lose drinking water wells from it. It breaks my heart to see so much damage to this planet we call earth.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U01EK76Sy4A
And I found out about it through a post on Huffpo that Mark Ruffalo did last year. Rachel Maddow had him on and he's a very serious guy.
LS, good for him. The Sierra Club wins big sometimes.
And Jane, good for you. Just remember, some awful people are very happy when people like us give up.
Mission, apparently GWB made it legal to exempt the gas and oil companies from the Clean Water Act, and that they would not have to disclose what they are using for fracking. It's insane. And I remember after 9/11, we in Oregon were worried about terrorists poisoning the water supply. It's very sad for these people, some are very sick from their water.
Ardee, I've seen that video. It was on Gasland, lots of people were able to do that, and had cancer, and were raising cattle that were poisoned and died, and it was just unbelievable to see that happening in America, which is addressed in this article. I should watch Rachel Maddow more, but all of those cable shows have so many commercials. I wish she were on NPR.