Earth First! Protests Hydrofracking with Guerrilla Theater "Dump-in"

Imagine what would happen if you dumped a barrel of toxic chemicals in or around the drinking supply for hundreds of thousands of people. Of course, you'd be arrested, heavily fined, and prosecuted. In addition, the government and corporate media would likely mark you as a domestic terrorist. Now imagine what would happen if a natural gas corporation were to pump thousands gallons of toxic chemicals into the ground and dump thousands of gallons of toxic sludge in and around people's water supply across the country. The result would be a gas industry turning over billions in profits with complete impunity and without accountability to the affected communities. There's really no need to imagine this second nightmarish scenario as this is the everyday reality of the communities that experience hydraulic fracturing (or "fracking")—a method natural gas extraction involving the high-pressure injection of water, sand and toxic chemicals underground to break up shale rock formations.

Genesee Valley Earth First! dramatized this hypocrisy Tuesday with a guerrilla theater action at Cobbs Hill Reservoir in Rochester, NY. The action was billed as a “Public Chemical Dump-in: Celebrating 5 Profitable Years of the Halliburton Loophole” where executives from the natural gas industry celebrated the lack of governmental regulation of the oil and gas industry and record profits. Executives from Chesapeake Energy Corporation and Halliburton Corporation gave exalted speeches about the importance of the free market and sought to dump toxic chemicals found in their fracking fluids into the Rochester-area water supply in order to brazenly celebrate their freedom to pollute the commons (not to worry,the actual liquid the protesters dumped was pure tap water). The corporate executives were aided by assistants in hazmat suits and respirators who transported the chemicals around kept the executives clean and safe from their own industry. The guerrilla theather also had some uninvited characters in attendance such as a firetruck, aggressive park security, and four police cars. Even the Executive Deputy Police Chief paid Earth First! a visit.

The natural gas industry has zeroed in on New York State as the next phase in their assault on the land. The industry could begin large-scale hydrofracking operations in New York in a matter of months. New York has held out longer than any state to date but we must continue to organize and stop hydrofracking before it starts in New York State and beat back the tide where fracking is already under way from Pennsylvania to Colorado. Even if disconnected, the resistance is everywhere. If we link arms in solidarity we can take back what is ours and what is of the earth.

No Drilling! No Compromise!
Genesee Valley Earth First!