| Megan,
If we’re going to stop the rush to frack here in Maryland, then we must stand up to the oil and gas industry’s biggest weapon: the droves of lobbyists and troves of cash it pours into influencing -- and intimidating -- our legislators.
Students are taking the lead on November 15th. Will you join us?
In Annapolis, the industry's top shill is the American Petroleum Institute. In the past legislative session, API dedicated a team of five lobbyists and more than $142,000 to thwarting fracking safeguards that had the support of 71 percent of Marylanders. They succeeded because we didn’t call them out.
This year, we’re building a statewide grassroots movement to pass a moratorium on fracking -- and key to our success will be challenging API’s corrupting influence. We must make it harder for legislators to stand with the industry’s bottom line and against our interests in clean water, healthy air and a safe climate.
Students are taking the lead in exposing API with a creative action November 15th in Annapolis. Will you join us?
On November 15th, students are converging on the statehouse to hold a mock “Funeral for Maryland’s Democracy.” With “coffins” in hand and somber chants, we’ll process from the capitol grounds to API’s offices a few short blocks away, showcasing the consequences we face if we don’t take back our democracy.
We know that API will go to any length to protect the Big Oil profits it serves. API is linked to a shady web of groups and individuals that, for years, have conspired to deny the science and reality of climate change. In 2009, API was exposed as one of the masterminds behind a fake astroturf campaign to manufacture grassroots opposition to federal climate change legislation.1 In this election cycle alone, API has reportedly spent nearly $40 million to run TV ads promoting more climate-destroying oil and gas drilling.2
If we let API go unchallenged in Maryland, it will mean dangerous consequences not only for communities on the front lines of fracking, but also for our democracy.
Join us on Thursday, Nov. 15th for a mock "Funeral for Maryland's Democracy" to challenge API’s influence in Annapolis.
We know that polluter lobbyists are most successful when they operate in the dark and legislators don’t think we’re watching. Together, let's expose API's corrupt behavior in Annapolis, take back our democracy, and pass a legislative moratorium to ensure that Marylanders are protected from the dangers of fracking.
Let's get started in Annapolis on November 15.
Onward,
Megan Jenny
MD Field Coordinator
Chesapeake Climate Action Network
Notes:
1. Polluter Watch: American Petroleum Institute.
2. Huffington Post: "Jack Gerard, Top Oil Lobbyist, Positioned To Be Key Player In A Romney Administration." October 29, 2012.
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