unitarian universalist association
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Unitarian Universalist Association. Fracking: States in Emergency: UUs & Other Faith Communities Respond. Reports from the St. Lawrence District, the Joseph Priestly District and the Ohio-Meadville District. St. Lawrence District - 34 Congregations in northern and western New York State. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Unitarian Universalist Association
Reports from the St. Lawrence District, the Joseph Priestly District
and the Ohio-Meadville District
Fracking: States in Emergency:UUs & Other Faith Communities Respond
St. Lawrence District - 34 Congregations in northern and western New York State
The Rev. Dick Gilbert
Joseph Priestly District - 67 Congregations in eastern Pennsylvania, D.C. area, Delaware,
New Jersey, Maryland, & N. Virginia
The Rev. Nate Walker - UUPLAN
Ohio Meadville District - 44 Congregations in eastern 2/3 of Ohio, Western Pensylvania, and West Virginia
Vanessa Pesec, NEOGAP
+ Ron Prosek- East Shore, Kirtland, OH
Running the Tech for this Webinar:
The Rev. Joan Van Becelaere, Ohio-Meadville District
Executive
Facilitator for this Webinar
Ron Prosek, East Shore UU Church, Kirtland, OH
&Convener, Faith
Communities Anti-Fracking Network (Ohio)
Topics To Be Covered
Each district will present:
• The Status of Fracking in the district.
• Activists’ Responses & what has worked and what hasn’t.
• UU & Other Faith Community Responses & what has worked and what hasn’t.
Discussion & Questions
• Discussion among the Presenters
• Questions from the Audience
Wrap-UpBrief closing comments from the
presenters
St. Lawrence District - 34 Congregations in northern and western New York State
The Rev. Dick Gilbert
Joseph Priestly District - 67 Congregations in eastern Pennsylvania, D.C. area, Delaware,
New Jersey, Maryland, & N. Virginia
The Rev. Nate Walker - UUPLAN
UU State Advocacy NetworksEleven states organizing 82,911 Unitarian Universalists in the U.S.
1. Membership Growth: Our state networks bring new members to Unitarian Universalist congregations.
1. Moral & Spiritual Growth: Our advocacy programs deepen congregants’ spirituality and identity and deploy Unitarian Universalist values to measurably impact states and federal legislation.
1. Partnership: We are proud to provide a cumulative structure for deepening individual and congregation collaboration.
Unitarian Universalist Pennsylvania Legislative Advocacy Network
Serving 6,000 UUs in 40 congregations throughout the state
Unitarian Universalist Pennsylvania Legislative Advocacy Network
Northwest5
Southwest8
Central3
Capital6
Northeast6
Southeast11
105 Erie19 Girard124 Meadville0 Reno32 Ginger Hill
157 N. Hills103 Allegheny446 Pittsburgh197 S. Hills50 E. Surburban12 Smithton49 Ligonier71 Indiana
225 State Cllg28 J. Priestley113 Northumbld
53 Gettysburg155 Boiling Sp407 Harrisburg248 York520 Lancaster175 Reading
59 Poconos52 Wyoming93 Brooklyn7 Towanda44 Athens229 Lehigh Valy
47 Pottstown143 Wellsprings181 West Chestr104 Thms Paine614 Mainline278 Media206 BuxMont67 Lower Bucks78 Restoration297 Germantwn218 1stU Philly
280 Members
1085 Members
366 Members
1558 Members
484 Members
2233 Members
Serving 6,000 UUs in 40 congregations throughout the state
(1) Print (2) Sign (3) Send
National Constitution Center
Unitarian Universalist Pennsylvania Legislative Advocacy Network
One More Step…
One More Step…
One More Step…
One More Step…
Regular educationRegular witnessingImpact on legislationRegular mediaDeepening spiritualityGrowth
Ohio-Meadville DistrictOhio-Meadville District
Ohio-Meadville District
State of Fracking in OhioState of Fracking in Ohio
Ohio-Meadville District
How Have Activists Responded?How Have Activists Responded?
State Level Efforts / Actions:State Level Efforts / Actions:
Proposed SB 196 (NEOGAP and Grendell) Proposed SB 196 (NEOGAP and Grendell) - - Would have been Would have been RealReal Reform Reform
But, Legislature But, Legislature adoptedadopted SB 165 SB 165 - - A ShamA Sham
Legislature passed HB 133, drilling nowLegislature passed HB 133, drilling now allowed in state parks – allowed in state parks – A disgrace!A disgrace!
Ohio-Meadville District
How Have Activists Responded?How Have Activists Responded? Organizing LocallyOrganizing Locally
Ohio-Meadville District
How Have Activists Responded ?How Have Activists Responded ?
Local Strategies:Local Strategies: Educate landowners NOT to sign any leases.Educate landowners NOT to sign any leases.
Help citizens work with local elected leaders to Help citizens work with local elected leaders to implement ORDINANCES and/or implement ORDINANCES and/or RESOLUTIONS to say “No” to Fracking.RESOLUTIONS to say “No” to Fracking.
Work with local elected leaders to TAKE BACK Work with local elected leaders to TAKE BACK local control over ZONING through legal local control over ZONING through legal challenges.challenges.
Ohio-Meadville District
How Have Activists Responded ?How Have Activists Responded ?
Scores of local meetings - showings of Scores of local meetings - showings of GaslandGasland and “Leasing Meetings” around the state. and “Leasing Meetings” around the state.
Significant increase in media coverage & more Significant increase in media coverage & more general awareness of the issue.general awareness of the issue.
Yellow Springs, OH educated neighbors, pushed Yellow Springs, OH educated neighbors, pushed out seismic testing / drilling company.out seismic testing / drilling company.
Bans on Township and Village property in three Bans on Township and Village property in three locations.locations.
Ohio-Meadville District
How Have Activists Responded ?How Have Activists Responded ?
Evolving Strategy:Evolving Strategy:
Move toward community-rights-based Move toward community-rights-based ordinances to ban fracking.ordinances to ban fracking.
Includes the concept that Nature itself has Includes the concept that Nature itself has rights.rights.
www.celdf.orgwww.celdf.org
How Have Faith How Have Faith Communities Responded?Communities Responded?
Ohio-Meadville District
Establishment (in Ohio) of FACT-Faith Communities Together -
4 Frack Awareness
•Initiated by UUs & UCCs in N.E. Ohio & joined by Catholics, Methodists, Presbyterians, and others
•Meeting monthly since June, 2011
•Includes 15 faith communities
Continued-->
How Have Faith How Have Faith Communities Responded?Communities Responded?
Ohio-Meadville District
Establishment (in Ohio) of FACT-Faith Communities Together -
4 Frack Awareness
•Now includes 6 different faith traditions
•Now includes 6 eastern Ohio counties
FACT-Faith Communities Together - 4 Frack Awareness
Ohio-Meadville District
MISSION
1. Educate faith communities not to lease parish lands for fracking
2. Educate members of faith communities NOT to lease their own personal land for fracking
3. Educate the general public
Continued-->
FACT-Faith Communities Together - 4 Frack Awareness
Ohio-Meadville District
MISSION (Cont’d)
5. Work to promote water, air, and soil protection, energy conservation, and a rapid transition to renewables
4. Work to end the exploitation of workers and landowners, many of whom are disadvantaged and impoverished