FaCT Meeting 4/6 2 pm Cleveland
howard.tolley
Dear Fellow UUs,
At the UUJO Justice Assembly last November in Columbus. I was very pleased to present the workshop on Fracking in Ohio. Unfortunately, the situation continues to worsen as the power of Oil and Gas Money has completely drowned out appeals to care for our natural environment -- the Web of Life -- and for the health and safety of Ohioans.
Now I am making a special appeal to you for help with the environmental and social justice crisis that Ohio is facing with the growth of the fracking industry. More than 1,100 frack wells have been permitted, and we are expected to have 4,000 of these by 2016. Along with Pennsylvania, we may be headed toward 100,000 wells eventually. And, Ohio's population density is twice that of Pennsylvania, so human health will be much more adversely impacted here.
This industry involves not only production wells but more than 200 Class II toxic frack waste disposal wells distributed all over the state. Now Ohio also allows toxic and radioactive frack waste to be spread landfills -- also throughout the state. Besides this, we have seen a rapid expansion in industry infrastructure - more compressor stations, pipelines, and other facilities.
My organization, FaCT - Faith Communities Together for Frack Awareness, has been working on expanding participation from faith communities throughout the state, including Unitarian Universalist congregations. At this time of environmental and social justice crisis in Ohio, I am asking for your help. I know that you are involved already in social justice work, or you wouldn't be on this list. But as our planet continues to warm dangerously due to fossil fuel production, transport, and use, it will become increasingly evident that we will not be able to minister to any other social justice needs if we become inhabitants of a failed planet.
Therefore, I ask that each Unitarian Universalist Congregation in the state send at least one or two representatives to at least some of our bimonthly meetings during the year. This will help your Congregation to be part of the network of people of faith who are trying to save the Web of Life.
Our next meeting is at WEST SHORE UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CHURCH in Rocky River, on the west side of Cleveland, easily accessible by freeways. As weather and traveling conditions improve, I ask that you take this step by participating in our meeting at 2 pm., Sunday, April 6.
I have cc-ed Dorothy Faller this email. As the head of the West Shore chapter of FaCT, she will be hosting our meeting. Please RSVP by return email if you and/or someone else from your congregation can join us.
Contact me at rprosek.fact@gmail.com for a flyer that you can print and use to promote participation within your congregation or among friends that you may have in other faith communities.
Most gratefully yours,
-Ron Prosek, Convener rprosek.fact@gmail.com
FaCT - Faith Communities Together for Frack Awareness
and member of Green Sanctuary Cte.,
East Shore Unitarian Universalist Church, Kirtland