Critics to protest ‘fracking’ conference in Point Edward

Chip Martin for QMI Agency

But protesters alarmed by environmental cost

Fracking has not yet begun in Southwestern Ontario but it’s all the talk already.

As promoters of the new technology to exploit natural gas trapped in shale gather Thursday at a Point Edward hotel, environmentalists will protest the move.

“Sooner or later it’s going to occur and we want to alert people,” said Zak Nicholls, a Sarnia environmentalist organizing the protest along with Londoner Toban Black, a doctoral student in sociology and environmental sustainability at the University of Western Ontario.

The release of methane and chemicals like radium into the air and water have been found in Pennsylvania, New York and Michigan where fracking is underway, Black noted.

May 19th Rally – “Don’t Frack with Our Water”

Please join us in our demonstration to protect our water.

WHERE – Holiday Inn Sarnia, 1498 Venetian Blvd., Point Edward

WHEN – Thursday, May 19th. The main rally will be at 2:30pm. See below for more details about the schedule.

Major global players of the Shale Gas Industry are converging at the Holiday Inn to determine the future of Shale Gas in our province. Well recognized names like BP, Imperial Oil, and NOVA will be working with all levels of Government to make Shale Gas extraction and production a reality for Ontario.

We are protesting these plans in order to protect our water.

Hydraulic Fracturing (aka FRACKING) is an extraction process that uses incredible amounts of water and numerous carcinogenic, endocrine disrupting, flammable, and otherwise poisonous chemicals to collect natural gas that lies in shale bodies below the ground. These chemicals are left behind in the process of drilling, and contaminate any water bodies they become a part of.

Tap water can be set on fire as a result of Fracking.

Suncor’s flarestack

Suncor hired contractors to remediate the damage caused by a fire to Aamjiwnaang lands. Grass seed was sprayed on both sides of the ditch. The cause of the fire still stands in the background

- Wilson Plain

Chemical Valley lawsuit moves ahead

Shawn Jeffords in The Observer

A landmark Charter of Rights challenge launched by two members of the Aamjiwnaang First Nation over the health impacts industrial pollution has on their community is moving forward.

More than 2,100 pages of evidence have been filed with an Ontario District Court is support of the lawsuit, which names the Ontario government and Suncor Energy.

Band members Ron Plain and Ada Lockridge allege pollution from the Chemical Valley is violating their human rights.

“For the last six months we’ve been pulling together the evidence from 13 different witnesses,” said EcoJustice staff lawyer Justin Duncan.

The filings include sworn affidavits from seven experts who speak to links between pollution and adverse health effects, Duncan said.

A 2005 health study found the sex ratio in the First Nations community was roughly two girls born for every boy. Some scientists blame the effect of gender-bending industrial chemicals.

After a fire on Aamjiwnaang land

The fire occured on Aamjiwnaang land, and it was caused by hot liquid falling from Suncor’s flarestack. It should be noted that an Aamjiwnaang residence is 300 meters from the flarestack.

Photo and information from Wilson Plain