RDA's Campaign to Save PA State Forests

[RDA - Responsible Drilling Alliance]

Pennsylvania’s State Forests Need Your Help, TODAY.

www.SOSinPA.org

Wild places define us. They define our character. They speak to our values as a people. Wild places are a precious legacy we leave our children and future generations of Americans. What are your favorite wild places in PA?

Have you hiked the “big woods” of the Loyalsock State Forest?
Fished the fabled Penn’s Creek in the Bald Eagle State Forest?
Paddled a glacial lake in the Delaware State Forest?
Hunted for spring gobblers in Moshannon State Forest?
Gone backpacking in Sproul State Forest?
Watched the hang gliders in Weiser State Forest?

 

Pennsylvania’s state forest system boasts 1.5 million acres divided among 19 incredible tracts of woodland. Each and every one of these forests is under threat from gas drilling. At this time, half (750,000 acres) are already leased for gas drilling.

According to environmental scientist and RDA member Kevin Heatley,  “The industrialization of our landscape for short term gain will impoverish our communities for generations. Given the intended distribution of well pads, pipelines, and access roads, there is no way to mitigate against the ecological footprint of this industry.”

Incoming Governor Tom Corbett, whose campaign received over $800,000 in donations from natural gas companies, has announced his intention to lift the current administration’s moratorium and lease the remaining half of our state forestland. 

The Responsible Drilling Alliance believes Corbett’s plan is short-sighted, politically motivated, and carries the potential for environmental devastation on may levels (air pollution, water pollution, forest fragmentation, biodiversity, invasive species).

 

RDA has launched a campaign called “S.O.S. in PA” – Save Our State Forests. The web site gives background on the issue and contains a petition. We need YOU to not only sign the petition but to HELP US SPREAD THE WORD. We need thousands of Pennsylvanians across the state to join with us to help save PA’s forests from industrialization.

 

Join the cause. Spread the word through your email contacts, on Facebook, My Space and Twitter. Visit the site. Sign the petition. Do it today. Thank you.

www.SOSinPA.org

 

Terry Wild

First Friday Reception

 

Julie's Coffee 
33 West Third Street, Williamsport, PA  17701 
5 – 7 pm  Friday, January 7th


New Topographics

 

Message from the artist:
In 1968 I traveled to Los Angeles, California to attend The Art Center College of Design to study photography in all its' forms. I remember I was overwhelmed, living in an environment and landscape that had been transformed into concrete, banal cultural vistas, and remarkable sprawl. I had come to LA from Central Pennsylvania where I was accustomed to trees and open vistas. Thus was born a point of view that extended the landscape/cityscape tradition into urban and suburban areas, concentrating on the destruction of land in the name of development. In the world of formal photographic history and traditions, this point of view has come to be coined new topographics or man altered landscapes. As the planet approaches 7 billion people I see the whole world scrambling to pave, feed, fuel, and exhaust itself.

 

I offer no perfect solutions. The photographs shown here are documentary in nature and span a period of forty years. They are here to remind us of what we do to the planet. The Marcellus Shale exploration is the most recent insult, and will change and industrialize our region. These are difficult photographs- cerebral, political, banal, deadpan, depressing and sarcastic in my minds eye. It is difficult for me to keep making them, but this theme continues to haunt me.

 

All that I can suggest is try to conserve, try to occasionally say 'no', try to stay informed, and try to lead by example.   

 

A portion of sales from this showing will benefit the ongoing and important efforts of the Responsible Drilling Alliance

Terry Wild 01/01/11

 

The Cumulative Environmental Impacts of Gas Drilling 

 

Friday, January 14th

Sullivan County High School Auditorium

Beech and South Streets, Laporte PA 18626

Open to the public. Free admission

 

Dr. Anthony Ingraffea

Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Cornell University

 

Dr. Terry Engelder

Professor of Geosciences and Fracture Mechanics at Penn State University 

 

Josh Fox

The award winning “Gasland” documentary film maker will be on had for the Q &A following the formal presentation

 

Event sponsors:

Responsible Drilling Alliance

Project Eagles Mere Alliance

For additional information, phone (570) 482-3503