Episode 012: What is Hydraulic Fracturing?

Shana sat down this week with Karen Feridun. Karen is the founder of Berks Gas Truth and the co-founder of The Better Path Coalition. She has been working for the last 10 years fighting for a better future and a healthy environment for all Pennsylvanians against the fracking also know as the gas drilling industry. During that time she has worked with a breadth of environmental organization here in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, across the Mid-Atlantic region, and beyond! Karen has also organized major campaigns and demonstrations like Stop the Frack Attack, which has attracted the attention of key environmentalists of our time. Environmental figures and champions like Bill McKibben, founder of 350.org and actor Mark Ruffalo.

Together Shana and Karen had a very informative discussion about hydraulic fracturing or fracking, which is an unconventional form of gas drilling here in Pennsylvania. Karen dove into great detail about the complexities of fracking. She emphasized how Pennsylvania’s history, geography, and politics are all key factors in the existence of this dirty destructive industry here. Karen paints the picture of how our Commonwealth's political leadership from both parties continuously puts the economy and their own self-interests above the health and safety of all of its citizens and the environment. Shana also discussed with Karen why this upcoming election is crucially important not just here in Pennsylvania but across the country, especially when so much is at stake with the wellbeing of the climate and the environment.

If you would like to learn more about the work Berks Gas Truth (BGT) and The Better Path Coalition (BPC) are doing you can visit their websites. You can also like and follow BGT and BPC on Facebook.

We all need to vote in this very important election on November 3rd! Here in Pennsylvania, you have until October 19th to register to vote, October 27th is the last day to request your mail-in ballot and must be postmarked before November 3rd to count. Don’t forget if you decide to vote in person, Election Day is November 3rd. Polls in Pennsylvania are open from 7 am-8 pm. If you would like to register to vote or request your mail-in ballot, please go to votespa.com.

“We all need to use our voice and vote for the environment in election, especially this November!”