“Making the Darkness Conscious”—Being in right relationship with others may require us to pay attention to our shadow selves.

Kathy Rickey came to Unitarian Universalism in 1996 as an agnostic with young children.  She was an active lay leader in two UU congregations before experiencing a call to ministry in 2005.  In 2007 she enrolled in the Master of Divinity program at Meadville Lombard in Chicago.  She is currently doing her internship with First Unitarian Church of Rochester.  Kathy finds her ministerial passion in practicing radical hospitality, engaging in multicultural justice work and providing pastoral care.

Kathy Rickey and friends visited us from the Rochester church.

http://www.amazon.com/Marriage-Street-Corners-Tehran-Temporary/dp/0615351891/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1295806578&sr=1-1

flyer-feb20

Natural Gas Wells – What you don’t know could hurt you.

There could be a toxic site in your community right now, but not the EPA, DEC or your town officials know the effects of all the involved chemicals. These sites are “frack pits”; they contain the flowback fluid from the controversial natural gas extraction technique known as hydraulic-fracturing, hydrofracking, or fracking.

Alarmed Wales residents recently formed Wales POWR (Protecting Our Water Rights). They have been extensively researching natural gas extraction and its effects- as well as working with their town board to decide how to protect their community from the potential damage from fracking.

As part of POWR’s efforts to educate fellow residents and neighboring communities, they, along with representatives from surrounding towns, will be hosting an educational event about Hydrofracking at the Aurora Town Hall Auditorium, 300 Gleed Avenue, on February 20^th at 2pm.  This event will include Binghamton scientist, Chris Burger, speaking on the effects of hydrofracking, a short documentary film excerpt, and options for protecting your property and water supply.

Hydrofracking involves driving “frack fluid” down into the rock under high pressure in order to drive out the gas trapped there.  The frack fluid contains water, a proppant such as sand, and hundreds of chemicals components.  Among these chemicals, some are known to be carcinogenic.  To frack a traditional vertical well, it takes about 30,000 to 80,000 gallons of frack fluid, while fracking a horizontal well with high-volume slickwater requires 2 to 7 million gallons. 

Where horizontal high volume hydrofracking has already taken place, such as in Wyoming, Colorado, Texas and Pennsylvania, there have been numerous reports of illnesses, water contamination, ignitable water, and large animal and fish kills.

The vast amount of water necessary for the fracking jobs is often sourced locally, depleting waterways and aquifers. Also the flowback fluids require extremely specialized treatment facilities, of which there are few. Estimates by local gas companies on the amount of the fluid returned to the surface is 25%, leaving 75% to migrate unpredictably.

The Marcellus Shale, a potential “gold mine” of natural gas lies under parts of WNY, and the best way to exploit it is through high volume horizontal hydrofracking.  A significant amount of land in this area has already been leased to gas companies.  While horizontal high volume slickwater drilling has not yet taken place in NYS on a large scale, there are many vertically fracked wells in WNY and the plans are already in place to move forward with horizontal drilling once the moratorium is up this summer.

The natural gas companies ready to exploit the Marcellus Shale in NY assure us it is a bonanza of economic growth, job creation, and a clean energy alternative, but fracking has a darker side that opponents say must be brought to light. 

Fracking is not only something to come in the future as the Marcellus Shale begins to be exploited, but has been a part of the more recent increase in gas drilling over the last few years in WNY. Vertical fracking has already been associated with water well contamination, potential health threats and damage to agricultural fields. Due to the concerns about water and health, some towns in NYS have taken action to protect themselves. 

To learn more about the effects of hydrofracking and how to protect your land and community, attend the Feburary 20^th event at the Town Hall Auditorium at 300 Gleed Avenue, East Aurora, NY at 2pm.

We are hosting a social con called Con Together on February 25th - 27th at the UU Church of Amherst in Williamsville NY.

I have attached a flyer with the important information. Please forward this information to interested youth in your congregation.

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask.

Thanks!

–Scott

Scott Harrigan

harrigan@me.com
Coordinating Advisor
Senior Youth Group
http://www.uuamherst.org

amherstuu-con_flyer-2011-02-25