• Ban Fracked Gas in Mass
    Published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, a Harvard study estimated that 15 billion cubic feet of natural gas, worth some $90 million, escapes the regional delivery system each year, which is about 2.7 percent of the gas delivered to the Boston region. "The scientists said the steady release of natural gas negatively impacts the region's economy, health and environment." It is an issue that our Department of Public Health must address. We cannot afford to pollute our commonwealth!
    13 of 100 Signatures
    Created by Laurel F.
  • Ban Fracking and fracked gas pipelines in New England Now
    Governor Cuomo of New York has declared a statewide ban on fracking. Local citizen-led initiatives have helped ban fracking in Mendocino and San Benito counties in California; Athens, Ohio; Mora, New Mexico; Denton, Texas and throughout Massachusetts and New York. Communities across the United States and world are saying NO to this environmentally disastrous method of extracting fossil fuels from the land. Not only does fracking cause horrific damage to the water, air and ground of areas surrounding the excavations, but releases of terrible toxins and methane threaten the vast areas where the fracked gas pipelines invade adversely impacting the health and well being of all. Gas is in no way a clean energy source and growth of its infrastructure would be wasteful for our economy and ridiculously damaging to our nation. In fact, it requires releases of methane along the pipelines, for a variety of reasons, one of which is to release the pressure so that it doesn't explode. Nevertheless, explosions happen frequently, usually due human error. Massachusetts Senator Edward J. Markey, has been quoted to say.... "Gas distribution companies in 2011 reported releasing 69 billion cubic feet of natural gas to the atmosphere, almost enough to meet the state of Maine’s gas needs for a year and equal to the annual carbon dioxide emissions of about 6 million cars." Natural gas itself consists primarily of methane, a greenhouse gas over 86 times more powerful than CO2 in the first 20 years that it hits the atmosphere, 24 times more over a 100 year period. Please refer to information for some more specifics about the dangers to our health and environment by searching the websites of citizen.org/TPP, exposethetpp.org, connecticut.sierraclub.org/home/gaspipelines, foodandwaterwatch.org/water/fracking/why-fracking-is-dangerous/ including documents.foodandwaterwatch.org/doc/NatGasPipelines. It is time for to take action and ban fracking in now throughout New England and our nation.
    96 of 100 Signatures
    Created by miriam k.
  • Diga NO al FRACKING en COLOMBIA
    Qué es el FRACKING? La fracturación hidráulica es un polémico método de extracción de gas de esquisto que causa daños al medioambiente y a la salud de aquellas personas que viven alrededor de las explotaciones, en cuyo entorno, el agua y el aire se han convertido en venenosos, mientras su existencia se asemeja cada vez más a un infierno. Incluso el derecho a quejarse les ha sido arrebatado en pos de un supuesto bien común que no han experimentado. Governor Cuomo de Nueva York ha declarado una probibición contra el fracking al nivel estatal. Iniciativas de ciudadanos locales han ayudado prohibir el fracking en los condados de Mendocino y San Benito en California; Athens, Ohio; Mora, New Mexico; y Denton, Texas. Comunidades a traves de los Estados Unidos y el mundo entero estan diciendo NO a este método ecológicamente desastroso que busca extraer hidrocarburos de la tierra. Es tiempo que los colombianos digan a sus gobernantes: NO AL FRACKING EN COLOMBIA
    33 of 100 Signatures
    Created by James W.
  • Ban Fracking in Albemarle County VA Now
    Governor Cuomo of New York has declared a statewide ban on fracking. Local citizen-led initiatives have helped ban fracking in Mendocino and San Benito counties in California; Athens, Ohio; Mora, New Mexico; and Denton, Texas. Communities across the United States and world are saying NO to this environmentally disastrous method of extracting fossil fuels from the land. It is time for our County Supervisors to take action and ban fracking in Albemarle County now.
    50 of 100 Signatures
    Created by David S.
  • Ban Fracking in Sacramento County Now
    Governor Cuomo of New York has declared a statewide ban on fracking. Local citizen-led initiatives have helped ban fracking in Mendocino and San Benito counties in California; Athens, Ohio; Mora, New Mexico; and Denton, Texas. Communities across the United States and world are saying NO to this environmentally disastrous method of extracting fossil fuels from the land. In California we have the added problem of drought conditions. The millions of gallons of water used in fracking is an incredible waste of this precious resource. It is time for The Sacramento County Board of Supervisors to take action and ban fracking in Sacramento County now.
    242 of 300 Signatures
    Created by Bill L.
  • Governor Brown: Ban Fracking in California Now
    Governor Cuomo of New York just declared a ban on fracking. Howard Zucker, the acting New York State Health Commissioner, said a recently released scientific study found that there were "significant public health risks" associated with fracking, including water contamination and air pollution. In California we have the added problem of drought conditions. The millions of gallons of water used in fracking is an incredible waste of this precious resource. It is time for Governor Jerry Brown to take action and ban fracking in California now.
    4,469 of 5,000 Signatures
    Created by Pat J.
  • American Lung Association: Cut Fossil Fuel Ties and Come Clean!
    The negative health impacts of fracking are scientifically proven. The ALA acknowledged that hydraulic fracturing for "natural" gas trapped in shale (fracking) causes cancer-causing air pollution. But after receiving hefty donations from a fracking corporation, it now promotes gas as "cleaner than other fossil fuels." Those supporting ALA campaigns deserve to know the shameful truth: The ALA has partnered with the fossil fuel industry — which contributes greatly to air pollution and respiratory diseases. The ALA in 2012: "We have seen irrefutable evidence of serious threats to human health from air pollutants emitted during oil and natural gas production. These pollutants can worsen asthma, cause heart attacks, and harm the circulatory, respiratory, [and] nervous . . . systems. They are also linked to cancer, developmental disorders, and even premature death.” The ALA reversed course when it received a big donation from Canadian corporation Encana Oil & Gas in support of its “Fighting for Air” campaign against coal (and supporting gas as a “cleaner” fuel). From the ALA statement supporting “natural” gas: The ALA "supports the increased use of natural gas as a transitional fuel for the production of electricity. . . ." Wimmer and the national board of the ALA make a mockery of the thousands of dedicated local chapter leaders, staff, and volunteers, whose efforts on various campaigns have saved untold numbers of lives. The ALA should not play politics or partner with fossil-fuel pushers. The only logical remedy is for the ALA to come clean — by denouncing fracking as the intolerable lung health-destroying corporate activity it is; severing all ties with board members, advisers, and volunteers from within the fossil fuel industry; and living up to its own mission.
    1,719 of 2,000 Signatures
    Created by Ron S.
  • Sign the United Nations General Assembly Resolution on Depleted Uranium
    I served in the Parachute Regiment and the Special Air Service for eight years. I have spoken out about the reality of the war in Iraq on numerous occasions since I left the army but only recently have I learned about another of its cruel legacies; chemically toxic and radioactive depleted uranium (DU). I was not surprised last week when I heard the UK and US had voted against a United Nations General Assembly Resolution that asked states to provide help to Iraq in dealing with DU contamination and for UN agencies to carry out more research into its potential negative effects on public health and the environment. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has long argued that DU weapons are effective and necessary to save soldiers’ lives, but they refuse to take into account the effect on civilian populations that especially as they can continue long after a war has ended. When it is fired it creates a DU dust which, if breathed in, has the potential to mutate DNA and cause cancers and birth defects. In Iraq, the battles took place in towns and cities full of people. The Iraqi government knows of 300 contaminated sites today – hundreds more are unidentified. This contamination poses a threat to the Iraqi people, particularly pregnant women and children who are especially susceptible to exposure from toxic materials. The MoD claims that there is no evidence that DU has caused health problems in Iraq. However, there is no evidence because there have been no health studies carried out specifically on civilians living in contaminated areas. Last year, the former director of the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Iraq programme, Dr Neel Mani, said that the organisation knew of abnormal rates of health problems as far back as 2001. However, cynicism from ‘certain member states’ and a politicised funding structure had left them unable to do anything about it. He is not the first person to speak out but the denial and the political power of the offending states means that this public health crisis continues. Within Iraq, many people continue to speak out about this. The International Committee of the Red Cross have reports of being approached by tribal leaders who say that clean-up of DU ‘exceeded any other humanitarian concerns’. As the father to three beautiful, healthy children I found it so distressing when I heard Dr Samira Alaani, an Iraqi paediatrician report: ‘The first question I am asked when a child is born is not ‘is it a boy or a girl?’ but ‘is my child healthy?’ It makes me so angry that, for all of our promises of freeing Iraq, what we have left them is a toxic legacy that will last for generations to come. As a former soldier who fought in Iraq, I can safely say that this is not why I joined the British Army. Nor do I believe that many other soldiers are happy with the fact that they are being made complicit with these acts. Doctors across Iraq have been reporting much higher than normal incidences of cancer and birth defects for years now. It has been estimated that cleaning up the 300 known contamination sites would cost between US$30-45 million. To people like me and you that is a lot of money but to governments that have spent billions on war, it is a drop in the ocean. If they cannot afford to clean it up, they should not have made us use it in the first place. In December the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) will take a second vote on a draft resolution on DU weapons. It will be the fifth one of its kind and will no doubt, once more, see a majority of the states vote in favour of it – 155 did last time. The UNGA draft resolution asks states that have fired DU to provide firing locations. It asks international organisations to carry out further research. It asks any states with the means to do so to provide assistance to countries affected by DU. It is not a lot to ask, so why do the UK and US persistently vote against these resolutions? Just last month the Iraqi government joined the doctors and people of Iraq in asking for help to clean up this mess and to conduct research into the problems their country is facing. They know they cannot do it alone; this will take an international effort and it needs to be done sooner rather than later. We must support the people of Iraq, which is why I am demanding that the UK and US support the current UN resolution. Please add your voice to this campaign and demand that the US and UK take responsibility for their actions.
    16 of 100 Signatures
    Created by Ben G.
  • Legalize Solar Panels
    Florida advertises itself as the Sunshine State; but, power company executives and regulators have worked successfully to keep most Floridians from using that sunshine to generate their own power. Typical business models, like leasing, plus tax rebates, have made solar systems affordable for millions of homeowners around the country. These practices are largely illegal in Florida. Agencies like JEA have a monopoly on electricity and are gouging rate-payers. Please sign the petition and urge the governor to introduce legislation that would make leasing solar panels legal in Florida and allow residents to sell back any excess power the systems generate on their homes any other properties.
    42 of 100 Signatures
    Created by Tony L.
  • Pass SB 1132 California Fracking Moratorium
    Last year, under pressure from the oil industry, the California Legislature failed to pass a moratorium on fracking. Since then, fracking has continued to expand in California, putting our communities, our water supply and the climate at risk. Now we have another chance to pass a fracking moratorium bill. State Senators Holly Mitchell and Mark Leno introduced SB 1132, a strong moratorium bill that, if passed, will protect California from fracking and other well stimulation techniques. SB 1132 just got a yes vote at the first committee hearing. The next vote is on April 30. We have a real opportunity to pass a fracking moratorium in California this year. The oil industry will spend huge amounts of money and political capital fighting this bill. We need your help before the next vote on April 30. Please sign the petition to urge our California State Legislators to vote yes on SB 1132 for a fracking moratorium now.
    4,805 of 5,000 Signatures
    Created by Pat J.
  • U.S. House of Representatives must immediately pass the Green New Deal and Medicare For All
    Americans, who mostly support these two bills, need assurance from our Congress members that the future is toward care of the Earth, its people and life itself. The 2020 Democratic Party Platform ahead of Nov. 3rd will be greatly enhanced in its power if the House takes action now on these two sweeping policy programs.
    11 of 100 Signatures
    Created by Sidney M.
  • Climate Change is KILLING our Planet. Politicians & Corporations MUST take IMMEDIATE ACTION
    Climate Change is a reality. ACTION to stop man-made carbon dioxide is an EMERGENCY and the timeline is MOST URGENT now. Deniers are operating in the interests of fossil-carbon-based industries. Fixing the man-made contributions of carbon dioxide and methane in the atmosphere is far more URGENT than politicians and multi-national corporations realize. The deniers scoff at the conclusions of The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the guidelines they provided in 2006. The IPCC was founded in 1988. It took 18 years just to produce agreed-upon guidelines acceptable to all the nations that were part of the IPCC. Even with the massive effort needed to transform the American (and the rest of the world's) economy to a wholly renewable, sustainable carbon-neutral fuel system with best efforts and total support from government and corporate policies, even with enthusiasm and all haste in supporting the efforts it will take several years to accomplish this kind of change. Setting timeline goals of 2030 and 2050 is no guarantee that these measures will be effective enough to avoid billions (yes, billions!) of deaths as a result of Climate Change. Some scientists even claim that we may reach a point, very soon, that the effects of Climate Change will accelerate, feeding on the current effects themselves to continue in a self-sustaining way. We have arrived at a point that politicians have noticed that Climate Change requires attention. We need to make them (and corporate CEOs) aware just how URGENT an EMERGENCY this is, and to take massive and IMMEDIATE action to address this global problem. This is no time to spend another 18 years of debate to produce nothing but more guidelines. As one politician has said, we need to put ourselves, "On a war footing" as we did in gearing up for WWII. The USA reacted with fast-paced and transformative changes. We need immediate results on that scale and we need it NOW. Despite critticism of the cost, there is also huge economic opportunity in this transition. There is no one to fight here, no bombs or guns can defeat it. It cannot be condensed into the single face of an enemy but it is the world's problem, and we must unite to defeat this common foe. We must hold our politicians and corporate leaders responsible to take IMMEDIATE and MASSIVE WORLDWIDE ACTION to create worldwide infrastructure in support of sustainable, renewable fuel that does not put fossil carbon into an atmosphere already overloaded with climate changing elements. Contact your local politician. Demand change!
    2 of 100 Signatures
    Created by Stafford W.