Petition: Ban Fracking Now

Location: New York, NY

1. Update #6

   Posted on Jan 18

   The momentum is building. We already have 25,000 petition signatures! Being halfway to our goal of 50,000 we wanted to take a moment to recognize all of the incredible artists in our movement and announce that we have launched an innovative new contest asking you to create a video making the case to ban fracking in New York.

   Artists Against Fracking wants to show Governor Cuomo our opposition to fracking in the most compelling and moving way possible. The winner of the video contest will not...

   …

   The momentum is building. We already have 25,000 petition signatures! Being halfway to our goal of 50,000 we wanted to take a moment to recognize all of the incredible artists in our movement and announce that we have launched an innovative new contest asking you to create a video making the case to ban fracking in New York.

   Artists Against Fracking wants to show Governor Cuomo our opposition to fracking in the most compelling and moving way possible. The winner of the video contest will not only win lunch with the founders of Artists Against Fracking, Yoko Ono and Sean Lennon, but they will also have their video broadcast as a TV ad in New York City and Albany. Here are the details:

   The Rules
   We're looking for two types of videos: a 30-second TV ad and a short video. The 30-second TV ad should be directed at the Governor. The short video should focus on educating people about the hazards of fracking and be no more than three minutes long.

   Aside from the length limits, we aren't putting any restrictions on your video submissions. You may enter work in either one or both categories. Show us your creativity! 

   All videos should be submitted by Wednesday, January 30th.

   The Prize
   Artists Against Fracking founders Yoko Ono and Sean Lennon will judge the submissions and choose one winner from each category. The creators of the winning videos will get to have lunch with the two celebrity judges in New York City.
   
   The winning TV ad will also be broadcast as a paid ad in New York City and Albany. The winning short video will be featured on the Artists Against Fracking website, on Causes.com and other social media plus sent out widely by activist groups.
   
   Submitting Your Entry
   Once you're ready to make a submission, upload the video(s) to YouTube or Vimeo, and then fill out our entry form. 
   Check out our submission guidelines for more details.
   
   Happy filming!

   
   

2. Update #5

   Posted on Jan 7

   We have some important news today.
   
   We have four days left to collect as many petition signatures as possible to submit as official comments about fracking regulations. This is a big deal. The campaign continues after this week, but for the next four days your petition signature packs twice the power!
   
   We need voices calling to ban fracking NOW more than ever.
   
   Last week The New York Times obtained an analysis from the State Health Department that claims fracking can be done safely. Though the...

   …

   We have some important news today.
   
   We have four days left to collect as many petition signatures as possible to submit as official comments about fracking regulations. This is a big deal. The campaign continues after this week, but for the next four days your petition signature packs twice the power!
   
   We need voices calling to ban fracking NOW more than ever.
   
   Last week The New York Times obtained an analysis from the State Health Department that claims fracking can be done safely. Though the Health Department has distanced itself from the analysis, saying it is outdated and will require substantial changes, it is an ominous indication of the State's leaning on the issue. It's clear that now is a critical time to tell Governor Cuomo: Don't Frack New York! Only public pressure will convince Governor Cuomo to permanently ban fracking, setting the tone for other Governors across the country.
   
   Please spread this petition far and wide, and we will deliver your comment to the Governor and Department of Environmntal Conservation on January 11th!
   

   
   

3. Update #4

   Posted on Dec 27, 2012

   Update from Yoko Ono:

   Happy Holidays, 
   

   I wanted to take a moment to personally thank you for joining the Artists Against Fracking campaign. I can hardly believe the momentum you've helped create in opposition to fracking in New York and across the country. The work being done is a true inspiration. 

   If you haven't added your voice to the petition to ban fracking please join us, your voice is important. 

   Thinking about this year, my thoughts drift back to when John (Lennon) and I first bought...

   …

   Update from Yoko Ono:

   Happy Holidays, 
   

   I wanted to take a moment to personally thank you for joining the Artists Against Fracking campaign. I can hardly believe the momentum you've helped create in opposition to fracking in New York and across the country. The work being done is a true inspiration. 

   If you haven't added your voice to the petition to ban fracking please join us, your voice is important. 

   Thinking about this year, my thoughts drift back to when John (Lennon) and I first bought our farm in Delaware County, New York. Tucked away in the Catskill mountains, we were a part of a tight-knit community surrounded by pristine rivers and beautiful wildness. Now this community, and hundreds just like it, are threatened as Governor Cuomo considers lifting New York's moratorium on fracking.

   This year has been critical to raising awareness about fracking as a dirty, dangerous energy. Now we need to act! 2013 is about taking that awareness and turning it into action. I don't want fracking in my community; I don't want fracking in ANY community. Next year is going to be a very  important turning point for us.

   The first two weeks of 2013 are critical. By signing and sharing the petition now, your voice will have 2x the power. Not only will your petition be delivered to Governor Cuomo in February, but it will also be delivered to the Department of Environmental Conservation on Jan 11 as an official comment opposing fracking. We want to break the record for official comments and we'll need your help. You can do this by signing the petition and then sharing the petition with your friends and family.
   

   Sean and I wish you a very happy holiday. 
   

4. Update #3

   Posted on Dec 21, 2012

   Thanks to your support over 30,000 people have joined the Artist Against Fracking, and nearly 12,000 have signed the petition to ban fracking. This is a great start and gives us all some important momentum going into the holiday season. Remember, signing the petition right now packs 2x the punch. Not only will it be delivered to Governor Cuomo in February, it will also be hand delivered as a public comment in opposition to fracking on January 11.

   We also wanted to share a great interview Sean Lennon gave last night on fracking. Sean was on "The Big Picture" last night speaking about the dangers of fracking and why natural gas is NOT a clean energy solution. Great interview Sean!

   Be sure to continue to share the petition to ban fracking with your community. Thanks for you continued work for a clean energy future.

5. Update #2

   Posted on Dec 19, 2012

   Cigarettes are good for you, and so is fracking. 

   ...Well that's what they would like us to think

   You might be wondering why are we talking about cigarettes and fracking? The connections between the two might surprise you.
   

   In 2009 The American Natural Gas Association hired the PR firm Hill & Knowlton, the same consultancy group that tobacco companies hired to dispel "rumors" that tobacco was causing lung cancer. Since then the Natural Gas Association has spent $80 million on Hill & Knowlton's...

   …

   Cigarettes are good for you, and so is fracking. 

   ...Well that's what they would like us to think

   You might be wondering why are we talking about cigarettes and fracking? The connections between the two might surprise you.
   

   In 2009 The American Natural Gas Association hired the PR firm Hill & Knowlton, the same consultancy group that tobacco companies hired to dispel "rumors" that tobacco was causing lung cancer. Since then the Natural Gas Association has spent $80 million on Hill & Knowlton's public relations spin to convince the nation that fracking does not harm the environment, impact our health, or speed up climate change. 

   The Natural Gas Association is hiding behind this misinformation and it's putting communities at risk yet again. Sign the Petition to Ban Fracking.

   Fracking contamintes drinking water:
   EPA released a report showing that fracking had contaminated groundwater in Wyoming because fracking wells leaked. This contamination isn't a surprise since a single fracking well can use up to 80-300 tons of chemicals. 
   
   Fracking pollutes the air we breathe:
   Multiple studies have found higher rates of air pollutants that cause respiratory and neurological problems in areas where fracking wells exist. Not even school zones are safe from fracking.  

   Fracking speeds up climate change:
   A recent Cornell University study concluded that natural gas produced by fracking contributes to climate change at least as much as coal does.

   The facts speak louder than spin and just like there is no safe cigarette, there is no safe fracking. We need new, clean energy, not yesterday's dirty energy. Don't let your friends fall for the fracking industry's misinformation; invite them to sign the petition telling Governor Cuomo to ban fracking in New York. 

   
   

6. Update #1

   Posted on Dec 10, 2012
   HAVE YOU SEEN TODAY'S NEW YORK TIMES AD? Yoko Ono and Sean Lennon placed a full-page ad in the Dec. 10 New York Times, calling on Governor Cuomo to "Imagine There's No Fracking… and give clean energy a chance." The ad illustrates and describes how cement in wells at such great depths leaks, poisoning drinking water with gases and toxic chemicals.

   You can join the calls for Gov. Cuomo to "Imagine There's No Fracking" by signing and spreading the petition urging him to ban fracking in New...

   …

   HAVE YOU SEEN TODAY'S NEW YORK TIMES AD? Yoko Ono and Sean Lennon placed a full-page ad in the Dec. 10 New York Times, calling on Governor Cuomo to "Imagine There's No Fracking… and give clean energy a chance." The ad illustrates and describes how cement in wells at such great depths leaks, poisoning drinking water with gases and toxic chemicals.

   You can join the calls for Gov. Cuomo to "Imagine There's No Fracking" by signing and spreading the petition urging him to ban fracking in New York.

   "No amount of regulation can ever make fracking safe," the ad reads. "No one can be sent thousands of feet under the earth to make repairs once the cement fails – and it will. The enormous pressure and temperature changes at those depths guarantee it." The ad continues, "Fracked gas is not climate friendly. Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas that leaks from the failed wells, fractured rock and pipelines…. New York can become the Clean Energy Empire State. With an economy bolstered by insulating all buildings. This way we could save far more energy and create FAR more jobs than fracking, plus save consumers money forever. And let's scale up solar and wind power with a smart grid for truly clean, economical energy."