Fall 2024 ISSUE FOOD & WATER WATCH MISSION Our food, water, and climate are under constant assault by corporations who put profit over the survival of humanity. They have seized control of the very institutions that were built to protect us. We mobilize people to reclaim their political power, hold our elected officials accountable, and resist corporate control — ensuring we all have the essential resources we need to thrive. This is a fight we must win because this planet is the only one we get.
Thank You For Fighting Like You Live Here!
HOW THE NEW YORK FRACKING BAN CHANGED THE CLIMATE DEBATE
FALL 2024 ISSUE The New York Fracking
Are You Curious About Heat Pumps?
Matthew O’Neill Cares for the Land and Water by Giving
Ban Turns 10 — Thanks to You!
A MESSAGE FOR YOU I can’t believe it’s been 10 years since the historic ban on fracking in New York! I clearly remember the day former Governor Cuomo announced the ban. After years of hard work by so many, I felt overwhelming joy. Our strategic and unrelenting grassroots movement overcame all odds to defeat the oil and gas industry! This incredible accomplishment in New York energized movements around the world to ban fracking and keep fossil fuels in the ground. It showed we can fight against a powerful industry and win. It changed the political dynamic, leading to many more victories, including banning fracking in Mary- land, Washington, and California (which will join this list very soon) and stopping dozens of pipelines, power plants, and other fossil fuel projects. As we celebrate the 10th anniversary of the New York fracking ban, I want to thank you for your commitment to protecting our planet and our communities. Together, we’ll continue building on these wins and, against all odds, defeat the fossil fuel industry and build a livable future for all!
THE NEW YORK FRACKING BAN TURNS 10 — THANKS TO YOU! Over a decade ago, Dimock, a small town in Pennsylvania, became the focal point for the anti-fracking movement. It was featured in Gasland , a documen- tary about the fracking industry and its harmful impacts on communities — footage of contaminated water caused by fracking shocked the nation. Fracking’s Broken Promises In the late 2000s, fracking was hailed as a techno- logical breakthrough that would supply the country with plentiful fuel with less environmental harm than coal. The public and private sectors, including some major environmental organizations, hailed fracked gas as a “bridge fuel” to a renewable future. But as fracking swept through the country, it became increasingly clear — fracking is dangerous and destructive. As frontline communities like Dimock watched their once clean water become brown and undrinkable, their loved ones and animals come down with strange illnesses; the industry eyed its next big target, New York state.
Emily Wurth Managing Director of Organizing
Cover, clockwise from top left: 1. Mark Ruffalo at the benefit concert rally, by Jessica Riehl/ 2. Fracking ban celebration/ 3. Yoko Ono delivers petitions to the Governor/ 4. Activists at the People’s Climate March, by Simon Russell Photography/ 5. Pete Seeger at the State of the State rally/ 6, 9, & 11. Activists at the State of the State rally/ 7. Alex Beauchamp carrying signs for a D.C. rally/ 8. Jennifer Kolarsick at the People’s Climate March, by Simon Russell Photography/ 10. Activist with a New Yorkers Against Fracking (NYAF) sign.
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Left: Food & Water Watch show up in force at 2014's People’s Climate March in New York City, the biggest climate march to date with 400,000 in atten- dance. Photo by Simon Russell Photography Right, top: In 2012, soon after NYAF’s launch, actors Mark Ruffalo and Melissa Leo hosted a benefit concert and rally. It was a star-studded affair featuring musicians like Natalie Merchant, Joan Osborne, and the Ahkwasanse Women’s Choir. Photo by Jessica Riehl
Right, bottom: Mark Ruffalo speaks to the press ahead of the concert. Photo by Jessica Riehl
The Anti-fracking Movement Ignites
In 2012, we joined with partners to launch New Yorkers Against Fracking (NYAF), a coalition with the singular purpose of moving then-Governor Cuomo to ban fracking statewide. New Yorkers Band Together Against Fracking Powered by passionate people like you, the New York campaign to ban fracking was mighty and relentless. Thousands from across the state, from farmers, to medical doctors, to students, and so many more, joined the movement in a years- long, uphill battle. We held massive rallies, passed resolutions in hundreds of communities, and generated thousands of phone calls and messages to Governor Cuomo. We shed light on the growing science showing that fracking
could not be done safely. And, we hounded Cuomo wherever he went, calling for one thing — “Ban Fracking Now!” The people of Dimock, who experienced firsthand fracking’s devastation, played a critical role. Busloads of New Yorkers, decision-makers, and reporters toured Dimock and spoke with community members. Dimock residents also traveled to New York bringing their jugs of brown, polluted water with
By 2009, it was clear that the fracking industry wanted to expand into New York. Many New Yorkers knew that fracking would endanger not only communities around fracking operations but also the state’s famously clean drinking water. Food & Water Watch listened to these voices and dove into the fracking fight. In 2010, we released our “Not So Fast, Natural Gas” report, which found that fracking was unregulated and posed great threats to groundwater. It flew off the shelves and required several rounds of reprints. A year later, we released “A Case for a Ban on Fracking,” making Food & Water Watch the first national organization to call for a ban on fracking.
Fun Fact In 2011, Food & Water Watch became the first national environmental organization to call for a ban on fracking.
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Above, left: Dimock residents traveled around the country and the world to warn others that fracking posed severe risks to their water, health, and way of life. They carried jugs of their brown contaminated water, giving people a glimpse of the consequences of fracking. The anti-fracking movement is forever grateful for their courage. Photo by Susan Wozny Above, right: We knew Governor Cuomo held the power to ban fracking. We followed him everywhere — to fundraisers, his polling place, the state fair, his book launch event in Manhattan, where protestors outnumbered attendees, a retreat deep in the Adirondacks. We made sure fracking was a top issue for him. Pictured here, a 2012 anti-fracking rally in D.C.
Your Generosity Makes Sure This Win Keeps On Giving The New York fracking ban injected incredible momentum into our movement, leading to more victories in the state. Together, we stopped over a dozen pipelines, power plants, and other fossil fuel projects. The ban also changed the conversation nationwide — for the first time, people saw that with people power, a fracking ban was possible. We still have a long way to go, including in Pennsylvania, where the frack- ing industry holds considerable power and continues to poison communities. But, in the years since, Maryland and Washing- ton have banned fracking, and California, a major oil-produc- ing state, is poised to finalize its own ban this year. Thank you for powering the incredible progress towards a livable future!
a stark warning: fracking will threaten your water, health, and way of life . Together, We Beat the Odds When we launched the New York campaign to ban fracking, it was called an “unwinnable fight.” Despite the doubters and the fossil fuel industry’s power, we organized and demanded the change we needed. Our work paid off! At a cabinet meeting in December of 2014, New York Health Commissioner Howard Zucker said, “'Would I let my family live in a communi- ty with fracking?' The answer is no. I, therefore, cannot recom- mend anyone else's family to live in such a community either." With those words, fracking was effectively banned in New York. Because of people like you who are dedicated to protecting our water and the health of our communities, we won the “unwinnable.”
Above: We celebrate the fracking ban at the New York State Capitol!
Be the First to See! Our upcoming e-book, 10 Years Later: Lessons from the Fight to Ban Fracking in New York and Beyond , dives deep into the campaign that successfully banned fracking in New York. Be the first to get an invite to the e-book! Scan this QR code to sign up for our emails. fwwat.ch/intheloop
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ON THE GROUND Remembering Anti-Fracking Leader David Braun York. He helped organize
Early this year, the anti-fracking movement lost a monumen- tal figure with David Braun’s
& Water Watch and others to build a network of grassroots anti-fracking organizations. But beyond all those accom- plishments, David was a steadfast, giving, and loving friend to the many people who knew him. He had a special superpower of relating to people. With David, you felt heard, and you felt his passion.
and emcee rallies — his bold, jovial, righteous, and boom- ing voice was a staple at actions large and small. David was relentless — a workhorse in the pursuit of justice. He was also a major presence in the fight to ban fracking in California and in the national movement. He co-founded Americans Against Fracking, working closely with Food
passing. As a co-founder of United for Action, he helped launch New Yorkers Against Fracking and was a key leader in the fight to ban fracking in New
He always believed that together, we could win.
Are You Curious About Heat Pumps? Electric heat pumps have become a hot topic for those of us who want to electrify our homes, lower our energy costs and consumption, and reduce our fossil fuel usage.
Our bedroom is upstairs, and it gets very hot at the end of the day no matter how hard we try to insulate it. Ten or fifteen years ago, we could open the windows at night to cool down the room with the help of a window fan, but not anymore. Summers are getting longer and hotter — air conditioning is a must. Our heat pump keeps us comfortable. I definitely recommend it! — Cheng-hua, heat pump owner in New York State
As more and more people are considering the switch, Livable Future NOW wondered… What is it like to install an electric heat pump and do they work as well as advertised? We asked some of your fellow Food & Water Watch members for their thoughts!
What are Heat Pumps? Heat Pumps are like air conditioners that can heat and cool your home much more efficiently than a traditional furnace, boiler, electric radiator, or central AC unit. When it's cold outside it pulls heat from the outside air, warms it to the desired temperature, and sends the warmed air into your home. When it's hot outside the process reverses to cool your home.
My clients’ homes are much quieter and cleaner, indoor air temperatures are consistent
summer and winter, and operating and maintenance costs are lower. I think that as electrification becomes the norm, these homes will have higher resale values. No one wants to buy a problem or a bunch of equipment they’ll need to replace in the future, especially if it costs more to operate. — Jon, a contractor who has installed electric heat pumps for clients
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DONOR SPOTLIGHT Matthew O’Neill Cares for the Land and Water by Giving Please introduce yourself to our readers. I’m Matthew O’Neill. I’m a musical artist whose life and creative practice are rooted in Indigenous values. I’m a father, activist, educa- tor, and music label runner, and I’m engaged in land restoration projects. I live in the Catskill Mountains of New York. How long have you been interested in environmental causes? I’ve been interested since I was old enough to learn there was a need to protect what seemed so obviously worthy of our deepest respect. In the 7th grade, I spearheaded the return of “Earth Day” to our middle school and have been active ever since. This year is the 10th anniversary of Food & Water Watch’s successful campaign to ban fracking in New York State. What does this fracking ban mean to you personally? I’m completely against fracking. When I saw what Food & Water Watch was doing to fight against this horrendous practice, I took notice and began making gifts. I love the water and am grateful every day for the many blessings the waters here in the Catskills offer us all. These waters are protected from fracking largely because of the work of Food & Water Watch, so the impact of the organization is very real to me. What do you hope to accomplish with your philanthropy? Water connects us all, and we must contin- ue to protect it. This takes organization and community engagement. Community that’s in an actively respectful relationship with life is key to positive futures. If you were talking to someone about giving to and getting involved with Food & Water Watch / Action, what would you tell them?
You can check out Matthew’s music at matthew-oneill.com. He’s pictured here tending a food forest in Kingston, New York.
Food & Water Watch engages people to take action and gives voice to the basic needs and rights of all beings. As humans, we have a responsibility to care for and love the land and water. Food & Water Watch does a great job fulfilling important aspects of these responsibil- ities. They’re passionate, smart, and committed. Their strategies are effective and impactful. I’m grateful for all the work they do and very happy to contribute. What gives you hope for the future? Hope is too passive. I believe in Indigenous women-led solutions. Mainstream society is becoming more aware that we need to return to respectful, relational, egalitarian ways of being. The human exceptionalism mindset that has objectified the web of life for its own greedy self-interests is on its way out. I’m happy to see we’re restoring our relationships with our kin, human and non-human. These waters are protected from fracking largely because of the work of Food & Water Watch, so the impact of the organization is very real to me.
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YOUR FOOD & WATER WATCH AT WORK ACTION SHOT!
Food & Water Watch’s Pennsylvania State Director, Megan McDonough, took on the fracking industry in a fiery speech at a press conference at the Pennsylva- nia State Capitol in Harrisburg this past April. I stand here as a mother who is filled with rage and sorrow for the countless families torn apart by the insidious practice of fracking…Those of us living in these communities have been watching children falling ill with a multitude of health impacts for years now… my own being one of them…It is time The press conference at the Pennsylvania State Capitol included discussions about the public health impacts of hazardous waste exposure and findings from Justin Nobel’s latest book, Petroleum-238: Big Oil’s Dangerous Secret and the Grassroots Fight to Stop It . for us to rise up, to raise our voices in anger and defiance, and to demand justice for all who have been harmed by the horrors of fracking.
Watch Megan's Video
Scan this QR code to watch this 6-minute video. fwwat.ch/megan
FEATURED VICTORY Together, we successfully
pressured Governor Newsom to phase out fracking in California! Back in 2021, Governor Newsom declared his intention to ban frack- ing, and his agencies haven’t issued a fracking permit since. After this three-year de facto ban, in February, California’s Geologic Energy Manage- ment Division released its plan to formally phase out this polluting practice by prohibiting the state from issuing new fracking permits. We celebrate this announcement which came after over a decade of advocacy from Food & Water Watch and allied groups across the state and country. We now need to stop the state from extracting oil from existing wells. Thank you for making this positive step towards a clean energy future possible!
Food & Water Watch joined Ventura, California residents and organizations to protest a SoCalGas compressor station expansion, as well as California’s continued extraction and use of fossil fuels (2021).
See More of Your Generosity at Work!
Scan this QR code to read your fall quarterly victories update and see more of your impact.
fwwat.ch/fall24wins
FOOD & WATER WATCH / ACTION — LIVABLE FUTURE NOW | 6
UPCOMING EVENTS
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JOIN US FOR Livable Future LIVE! Livable Future LIVE! is our monthly virtual education series featuring the latest environmental news and sharing what you can do to protect our food, water, and climate.
SEPTEMBER 18 From New York to California: The Fight to Ban Fracking NOVEMBER 20 Post-Election: The Path Ahead Save Your Seat Visit fwwat.ch/live or scan this QR code
Liv knows that voting is one of the most powerful ways to stand up for what matters to
T
you and your community. She went door-to-door with Food & Water Action to encourage voters to the polls because “I wanted to do everything I could to have an impact.” Become a Food & Water Action Partner to empower people like Liv and Get Out The Vote! Make a monthly gift before October 2 and your generosity will be matched $3-to-$1 — making 4X the impact this election season!
OCTOBER CANDIDATE SERIES With only weeks to go before Election Day, join Food & Water Action for a weekly Q&A with our endorsed candidates . Stay after the discussion to make calls to get out the vote! See the Schedule: fwaction.us/candidate
To donate online, visit fwaction.us/Fall24LFN or scan this QR code.
foodandwaterwatch.org Food & Water Watch is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that educates and advocates for safe food, clean water, and a livable climate. Gifts to Food & Water Watch are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. Combined Federal Campaign #17460 foodandwateraction.org Food & Water Action is our affiliated 501(c)4 nonprofit that mobilizes people to win campaigns that builds political power. Gifts to Food & Water Action Fund are not tax deductible.
MISSION Our food, water, and climate are under constant assault by corporations who put profit over the survival of humanity. They have seized control of the very institutions that were built to protect us. We mobilize people to reclaim their political power, hold our elected officials accountable, and resist corporate control — ensuring we all have the essential resources we need to thrive. This is a fight we must win because this planet is the only one we get.
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