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.
New York Ban - continue on Page 3 >
FOOD & WATER WATCH / ACTION — LIVABLE FUTURE NOW | 2
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