Earth Day

The Yonk remembers the first Earth Day when he was in High School and I also recall the festivities at the Dan Flood Elementary School. With another rape of the environment going on in these parts even Markie has turned into a tree hugger and Another Monkey is getting all activist.

When it comes to protecting the Susquehanna River and the waters that feed it our online and in person leader is Don Williams, also known as Kayak Dude, who will be busy today.


*** PA Statewide Earth Day Protest ***




On Thursday April 22nd, we will be gathering outside the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s regional offices - as one - to call for:

an immediate moratorium on all horizontal hydrofracturing in the Commonwealth, including in our state forests and on floodplains,

an immediate freeze on all new Marcellus Shale drilling permits throughout Pennsylvania,
the immediate suspension of the Delaware and Susquehanna River Basin Commissions’ authority to approve drilling-related water withdrawals anywhere in their respective watersheds, and, if necessary,

the immediate resignation of DEP Secretary John Hanger.


*** Keynote speakers and scheduled activities will commence at noon at the following DEP Regional Offices: Norristown / Wilkes-Barre / Pittsburgh / Williamsport / Meadville / Harrisburg ***


DEP Regional Office locations can be found at:


http://www.depweb.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/regional_resources/13769


This April 22nd marks the 40th anniversary of the first Earth Day. In 1970, almost 20 million people gathered across the nation to celebrate, educate and demonstrate. It was a nationwide grassroots teach-in that gave rise to the modern day environmental movement.


The 1970s saw passage of the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, and the creation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Beginning in the 80s, large Earth Day events have been dominated by corporations with little grassroots input and limited involvement.


Today, drilling for natural gas in the Marcellus Shale formation - utilizing horizontal hydrofracturing - is a serious and growing threat to our Commonwealth's precious clean waters and majestic state forests.

Pennsylvania’s Constitution states that "All power is inherent in the people". This April 22nd, it is time to come together - as one - to protect our Commonwealth's public natural resources and to renew the promise of the first Earth Day for generations yet to come.


The local Green Party will also be out in force:



Green Parties of Northeastern Pennsylvania to join citizen groups for Earth Day press conference/rally/protest regarding gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale region. Events are part of statewide events on drilling scheduled throughout Pennsylvania.

On Earth Day, Thursday, April 22, 2010; groups from all over Northeastern Pennsylvania will come together on Public Square, Wilkes-Barre; beginning at 11 AM; for a press conference on the environmental threats of gas drilling in Pennsylvania. The event is being coordinated by the Green Parties of the northeastern section of the state. Greens from Luzerne, Lackawanna, Wyoming, Wayne and Susquehanna counties participated in the planning of the event, along with members of various citizen groups concerned about this issue.

Among the activist groups supporting the Earth Day protests are: The Sierra Club, Gas Drilling Awareness Coalition (GDAC), Citizens for Clean Water, No Drill NEPA, Energy Justice; to name a few. Speakers will include Dr. Gere Reisinger of GDAC, Dr. Richard Aston of the Green Party, Atty. Frank J. Muraca from the PA Sierra Club and Jay Sweeney of the Wyoming County Green Party and candidate for State Representative in the 111th District.

Speakers will address the unified demands of environmentalists concerning drilling issues, which include:

* an immediate moratorium on all horizontal hydrofracturing in the Commonwealth, including in our state forests and on floodplains,
* an immediate freeze on all new Marcellus Shale drilling permits throughout Pennsylvania,
* the immediate suspension of the Delaware and Susquehanna River Basin Commissions’ authority to approve drilling-related water withdrawals anywhere in their respective watersheds, and, if necessary,
* the immediate resignation of DEP Secretary John Hanger.

Similar protests and rallies will be held throughout Pennsylvania on Thursday. They are planned for Norristown, Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, Meadville, and Williamsport. Speakers will be available to answer questions for the media from 11:00 to noon. Speakers and activities commence at 12:00 noon.