By Cheryl Norrad
The anti-shale gas drilling lobby in New Brunswick seems to be picking up steam with more public information sessions taking place this week around the Southwest Miramichi. A meeting on shale gas drilling, or fracking as it's more commonly known, was held in Boiestown on Tuesday evening, adding to the many that have already been held around the province on the issue over the past month.
Dozens of citizens came out to the adhoc gathering in Boiestown organized by local physician Dr. Tanya Wood and her husband, Bradley Wood. The documentary Gasland was presented along with speaker Maxime Daigle, an ex-hydrofracking technician who worked in the shale gas industry throughout Canada and the United States.
"We're a group of concerned citizens," said Bradley Wood. "We contacted the Conservation Council of New Brunswick (CCNB) for information [on shale gas fracking] and they asked us if we'd like to have a public meeting and put on the documentary for them," he said.
Along with the meeting and movie, a petition was circulated on behalf of CCNB to ban shale gas in New Brunswick. A notice announcing upcoming meetings in the area was also sent around.
Shane Clowater, a local businessman, went to the meeting for concrete information since he perceives a disconnect between what the government and drilling company Southwestern Energy (SWE) are saying publicly on the topic.
"I think a lot of people are coming out to these meetings because there's conflicting information from the Ministers, Southwestern Energy and the MLA's, who are especially uninformed," said Clowater.
During the Gasland screening in Boiestown, several audible gasps could be heard coming from those in attendance during a particularly powerful scene showing a man setting running water from his household tap on fire. Learning how the ground water of private homeowners was contaminated by nearby shale natural gas fracking left an impression on many.
"It's scary," said Noreen Norrad, a local resident from nearby Bloomfield Ridge.
Stephanie Merrill of CCNB was scheduled to attend the Boiestown meeting, but asked Daigle to go in her stead as she had been on the road for meetings about the topic and couldn't make it. Daigle drove from Moncton and arrived on crutches having had an operation recently on a torn tendon injured while running. Although a full-time electrical engineering student at NBCC and independent of any environmental agencies, Daigle helps out CCNB on this issue since he's had experience in the fracking industry.
"I got involved because people don't know; government and business are not telling them. To me, that's not democracy," he said.
Besides conventional meetings, social media is also being employed to get the word out on the fracking industry in New Brunswick. The Facebook group New Brunswickers Concerned about Shale Gas, which was set up by CCNB, has 719 people and organizations liking it as of Wednesday evening. Ban Hydraulic Fracturing (hydro-fracking) in New Brunswick, Canada, another Facebook group, has as of this date, 567 people and organizations who like the site. It also has an internet website at BanFrackingNB.ca, which has among other features, a forum for discussion and donations. The group can be found in the Twitter-verse at twitter.com/BanFrackingNB.
The Purple Violet Press made inquires to speak to both groups, however, as of deadline, there was no response.
Further meetings are being held in the Stanley, Doaktown and Chipman areas as this week progresses and throughout the month of June. For more information, go to the CCNB site at the following link:
http://www.conservationcouncil.ca/Freshwater_Protection/Current_Threats_to_Water.aspx
Thank you for your coverage of our meeting and our concerns.
ReplyDeleteShane & Wendy Clowater
“The Miramichi…Our River…Our Way of Life…Don’t Lose It”
It will be a one-term government if they go through with this.
ReplyDeleteHello, just wanted to mention, I enjoyed this blog post.
ReplyDeleteIt was practical. Keep on posting!
Here is my web site Cadbury World Vouchers
Wow, incredible blog layout! How long have you ever been blogging for?
ReplyDeleteyou make running a blog glance easy. The total glance of your web
site is wonderful, as smartly as the content!
Review my web site Food freebies
Wow, this post is good, my younger sister is analyzing these kinds of things, therefore I am going to let know her.
ReplyDeleteMy web page: care home improvement
Excellent blog right here! Also your web site a lot up very fast!
ReplyDeleteWhat host are you the usage of? Can I am getting
your affiliate hyperlink for your host? I desire my web site loaded up as
fast as yours lol
Also visit my web page - quirky Jewellery
Excellent blog right here! Also your web site a lot up very
ReplyDeletefast! What host are you the usage of? Can I am getting your affiliate hyperlink for your host?
I desire my web site loaded up as fast as yours lol
my page - quirky Jewellery
It's fantastic that you are getting thoughts from this post as well as from our dialogue made at this place.
ReplyDeleteAlso visit my web blog :: staff accountant salary
great points altogether, you simply gained a logo new reader.
ReplyDeleteWhat may you suggest in regards to your put up that
you just made some days ago? Any sure?
Visit my web blog; cost accountant salary
I every time spent my half an hour to read this website's articles every day along with a cup of coffee.
ReplyDeleteLook at my web-site; Cost Accountant Salary
Informative article, just what I wanted to find.
ReplyDeleteFeel free to visit my weblog Lochcarrongarage.com
each time i used to read smaller articles or reviews which
ReplyDeleteas well clear their motive, and that is also happening with this piece of writing which I am
reading at this place.
Here is my webpage ... www.vaccineeducationonline.Org
Incredible points. Great arguments. Keep up the great spirit.
ReplyDeletemy weblog :: Dominos Vouchers Codes
Heya i am for the first time here. I found this board and I find It
ReplyDeletetruly useful & it helped me out a lot. I hope to give something back and help others like you helped me.
My web page :: Local freebies
Great beat ! I wish to apprentice even as you amend your site,
ReplyDeletehow could i subscribe for a blog website? The account helped me a
appropriate deal. I were a little bit acquainted of this your broadcast offered brilliant transparent concept
Look at my web blog - Certified public accountant Salary
If some one desires expert view on the topic of blogging after that i suggest him/her to
ReplyDeletego to see this website, Keep up the good job.
my weblog: dominos 2 For 1 vouchers
If some one desires expert view on the topic of blogging after that i suggest him/her
ReplyDeleteto go to see this website, Keep up the good job.
My site dominos 2 For 1 vouchers
Attractive section of content. I simply stumbled upon your website and in accession capital to assert that I
ReplyDeleteacquire actually loved account your blog posts.
Anyway I will be subscribing on your feeds or even I fulfillment
you get right of entry to consistently fast.
My web site :: online market Research Companies
Very good write-up. I absolutely appreciate this site.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
Also visit my web-site - cars Insurance calculators
Wonderful blog! I found it while browsing
ReplyDeleteon Yahoo News. Do you have any suggestions on how to get listed in Yahoo News?
I've been trying for a while but I never seem to get there! Thank you
Feel free to visit my homepage - African Mango Nutra Burn
Nice post. I used to be checking constantly this weblog and I am impressed!
ReplyDeleteVery helpful information particularly the remaining section :
) I maintain such information much. I used to be seeking this certain info for
a long time. Thank you and best of luck.
Also visit my web site; 365 day laons review
I am really inspired along with your writing skills
ReplyDeleteas smartly as with the structure for your blog.
Is this a paid subject or did you customize it yourself?
Anyway stay up the nice high quality writing, it is rare to
look a great blog like this one nowadays.
.
Have a look at my blog post :: Max Robust REviews
You actually explained this terrifically!
ReplyDeleteTry to check my webpage :: 오피