Guest Editorial submission: Response to Jon Campbell "No difference in public's fracking opinion" 7-28-2012

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Editor--

I am simultaneously sending this to the following papers for consideration as a Guest Editorial.

• Binghamton Press & Sun Bulletin
• Elmira Star Gazette
• Ithaca Journal
• Lower Hudson Journal News

It is 593 words. Would appreciate including the graphics if possible.

Thanks!
William Huston, WilliamAHuston@gmail.com
607-321-7846

Head shot: http://www.blogger.com/profile/15288627254805985954
Bio at the end.

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In response to Jon Campbell's report 28 July 2012 "No difference in public's fracking opinion"

http://www.pressconnects.com/comments/article/20120728/NEWS10/307280018/Plenty-ads-rallies-no-difference-public-s-fracking-opinion

The recent Quinnipiac poll supposedly concludes in one year,
the opposition to hydrofracking "has barely budged", and that it "remains at 44%".

While this might be a fair reporting of the conclusions of the poll,
this does not represent the reality of the Anti-fracking movement in NY.

This is the largest grassroots environmental movement I have ever seen!
In fact, I have recent data which shows
the opposition to Fracking in NY is actually more like 80%.
I can demonstrate this FIVE WAYS, the first four are empirical.
The last is based in reason, a thought experiment.


1: SUPER-MAJORITIES SUPPORT LOCAL BANS
THROUGHOUT AFFECTED AREAS

In May, I did a statewide survey of local groups who are taking ban petitions door to door.
About 30 groups responded, and I was consistently hearing that

OF THE PEOPLE ASKED, consistent super-majorities (2/3) would sign for a ban.
In some places, it's as high as 90% (9/10)
with 80% (4/5) being around the average reported.

Source: http://williamahuston.blogspot.com/2012/07/majorities-oppose-shale-gas-throughout.html


2: COMMENTS AT DEC HEARINGS WERE 81% AGAINST FRACKING

This was also reflected in the comments at the DEC hearings.
I attended and recorded all 11 sessions.
(Oneonta, 2x Dansville, 2x Binghamton, 2x Loch Sheldrake, 2x NYC, Ithaca, Delhi)

Again, of the people who bothered to show up and give a comment,
OVERALL these comments were (drum roll) 81% against fracking.
The audio/video is online.You can see for yourself!

Source: http://tinyurl.com/2011NYSGEISCompleteRecord


3: GANNETT REPORTS DEC COMMENTS WERE 10 -TO- 1 AGAINST FRACKING

Jan 7 2012, Press and Sun Bulletin reported preliminary results based on a FOIL request:
Source: http://www.pressconnects.com/article/20120107/NEWS01/201070339/More-than-18-000-comment-fracking


4: LOCAL BANS UP NEARLY 400%,
MORATORIA UP 900% IN ONE YEAR

According to Fractracker, the number of local bans have quadrupled in one year
(from 8 to 31), and the number moratoria are up a whopping 9x! (from 10 to 90).
And since each ban is based on many local petition signatures, this is hard evidence
of the size of this massive AND GROWING environmental movement sweeping through NY.

One Year Growth in NY Municipal Bans & Moratoria July-2011 to 2012

Source: http://www.fractracker.org/fractracker-maps/ny-moratoria/


5: DO THE MATH

In reality, only about 3-5% of the people will get very rich from this, maybe another 10%
in service industries will get moderate benefit. Call it 15%

FOR EVERYONE ELSE, there is only a threat, to water, to air, to food, to quality of life,
a THREAT TO LIFE ITSELF!

So here's a little thought-experiment:

Why you be FOR something that threatens your LIFE and gives you no benefit???

Of course the people are against fracking!

This threat is beyond an intellectual "understanding".

Our bodies are 80% water. This threat to water is FELT IN THE BODY.

Summary:

A super-majority is generally considered to be 2/3, or 67%.
The data above indicate the size of the anti-fracking movement
is at this, or beyond.

The 2/3rds super-majority is the highest standard mentioned in the law,
which is required for a constitutional amendment
or a legislative override of either a Supreme Court decision,
or an executive veto.

It is political suicide for any elected official to act
in opposition to a super majority.

We all know that "polls" can be manipulated, and the pollsters sometimes have motives, as do the newspaper publishers which print the results.

This is a very critical time to get the reporting of the facts correctly,
especially with Cuomo's plan to begin fracking in 5 counties,
mine being one of them.

William Huston
Binghamton NY

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William Huston is a volunteer producer for ShaleshockMedia.org,
and has been documenting the Shale Gas Invasion for over 2 years.