For my home region of Northeastern Pennsylvania, March has been a historic month--and it's only been March for two weeks. But after generations of the fossil fuel industry ruling over the area with little regard for residents' safety, the tables might finally be turning.
The month began with the Constitution Pipeline fight becoming ugly. Heavily armed marshals arrived to ensure the clearing of prized sugar maple trees on the Holleran family's property in New Milford, PA. The fallen trees, emblazoned with American flags, sent a message to the local peaceful protestors of the use of eminent domain to destroy a sustainable family business: the industry is bigger, stronger, and wealthier than the people of Northeastern PA, and they will do what they want. While dismayed, those of us fighting are more than used to the industry's intimidation tactics. We heard their message, but we are not going down without a fight. A few short days later, Williams announced the delay of the Constitution Pipeline construction until late 2017.
At the same time, a landmark federal jury trial in Scranton, PA, brought two families from Dimock, PA face to face with Cabot Oil and Gas, the company responsible for fracking and related shale gas development in the area. After seven years, the Ely and Hubert families finally made their case to a jury, who returned a verdict in their favor, agreeing that Cabot's negligent practices had contaminated their water supplies and damaged their lives and property.
Excerpt from the jury verdict forms
While we know our fight is far from over, these two small victories are telling a David versus Goliath story and finally giving hope to the trampled and less fortunate members of our community. So, naturally, we celebrated.
An impromptu screening of Josh Fox's (the director of Gasland, Gasland II, and Gaswork) latest film on climate change, How to Let Go of the World and Love All the Things Climate Can't Change, was held in Susquehanna County, bringing the community together for one night to reflect, strategize, and look forward to more victories in the future. The Holleran family brought maple syrup to sell. Organizers from the Energy Justice Network, who made the water contamination trial possible by funding it entirely were present to discuss current and future tactics and how others can get involved (hint: donating to the organization pays for the Holleran's legal fund and the fight for clean water in Susquehanna County). Josh Fox discussed his plan to bring free screenings of How to Let Go to other impacted communities like ours. Locals made plans to support each other in fighting fossil fuel infrastructure like pipelines, power plants, and compressor stations.
Bottom, L-R: Pat Farnelli, Dimock resident; Alex Lotorto, Energy Justice Network organizer; Sarita Farnelli, Dimock resident
I remember the day in early 2009 when Josh Fox arrived in my driveway to meet my mother, Pat Farnelli, the "town crier of Dimock," to learn more about fracking and what it did to communities like ours. At the time, he did not know he would even be making a documentary that would play a key role in a nationwide movement against fracking and related development. At the time, I had never met Alex Lotorto and the Energy Justice Network, or the Holleran family, or most of the beautiful and brave faces I have come to know from the years they have spent fighting with us on the front lines in what can be described as a fractured wasteland. But this month, we have been reminded what we as a community love and defend and represent. For my family, my neighbors, and my corner of the state, the battles we've won this month have come after years of the hardest fight we could imagine facing.
To make a long story short, the trip I had planned weeks in advance to visit my mother for her birthday happened at a time when the whole world seemed to be arriving here as well. While we have proven (to ourselves and to the world) that we are resilient against all odds, even when faced with the most powerful industry in the world; we still need support to continue the fight. We ask you to stand with us. To quote How to Let Go of the World, "We're not drowning. We are fighting."
