On Wednesday evening we held a public meeting in
Bluffton to discuss the fracking issue with speakers
Shawn and Ronalie Campbell of Ponoka. Just a
horrendous experience they have had with toxic
contamination of their water wells due to fracking.
With about 80 people in attendance it's clear this is
an issue of big concern. Several attending brought
forward their own stories of losing wells to fracking
and the complete lack of satisfactory resolution to
their problems by the oil companies and Gov.
regulators. It quickly became clear that this is more
widespread that we are led to believe yet so many
people are afraid to speak publicly because a
relative works in the oil patch and to speak out is to
make them instantly redundant.
We decided we need to create a supportive
environment where we will stand beside our
neighbours if they have a well problem. This is too
serious to be swept under the carpet. Overwhelming
support was given at the meeting to seek a
moratorium on the practice until the recently
suggested guidelines from CAPP on fracking are put
into place on a legislated basis and adequately
policed by an agency that is truly independent of
energy sector control.
I would encourage concerned citizens in other areas
to run similar meetings in an attempt to get more
people to bring to light their stories on this issue
and make it an issue on the political radar.
We need to get a lot of people past the short term
thinking that allows them to keep silent through
fear, or be paid off in $ when the future water
supply for our kids and who knows what levels of
cancers and other health concerns is at stake.
Without safe water we cannot sustain life - fracking
on the scale its happening around here threatens
that severely.
Bluffton to discuss the fracking issue with speakers
Shawn and Ronalie Campbell of Ponoka. Just a
horrendous experience they have had with toxic
contamination of their water wells due to fracking.
With about 80 people in attendance it's clear this is
an issue of big concern. Several attending brought
forward their own stories of losing wells to fracking
and the complete lack of satisfactory resolution to
their problems by the oil companies and Gov.
regulators. It quickly became clear that this is more
widespread that we are led to believe yet so many
people are afraid to speak publicly because a
relative works in the oil patch and to speak out is to
make them instantly redundant.
We decided we need to create a supportive
environment where we will stand beside our
neighbours if they have a well problem. This is too
serious to be swept under the carpet. Overwhelming
support was given at the meeting to seek a
moratorium on the practice until the recently
suggested guidelines from CAPP on fracking are put
into place on a legislated basis and adequately
policed by an agency that is truly independent of
energy sector control.
I would encourage concerned citizens in other areas
to run similar meetings in an attempt to get more
people to bring to light their stories on this issue
and make it an issue on the political radar.
We need to get a lot of people past the short term
thinking that allows them to keep silent through
fear, or be paid off in $ when the future water
supply for our kids and who knows what levels of
cancers and other health concerns is at stake.
Without safe water we cannot sustain life - fracking
on the scale its happening around here threatens
that severely.
Comment