Unitarian Universalist Association Reports from the St. Lawrence District, the Joseph Priestly...

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