This relates to ocean health because the greenhouse gases and ground water pollution associated with natural gas fracking impact the oceans. GHGs increase CO2 in the atmosphere, which is causing ocean acidification. Sharon Wilson has fought the gas companies tirelessly and is now dragged into court and facing possible jail. She has been subpoenaed in a Texas lawsuit in a way that sets a very
dangerous precedent for anyone opposing irresponsible drilling
practices.
Range Resources is suing a
landowner, Steve Lipsky and an environmental consultant he hired for $3
million for "conspirancy to harm its reputation." In 2010, Lipsky hired
Alisa Rich to test his slick, foamy tapwater; she notified the EPA of the
methane, benzene and other contaminants that she found.
And then Lipsky sent Sharon
Wilson a video of flames shooting from a garden hose attached to his
wellhead, which she posted on her blog. It's what she does: since 2003,
she's shot pictures and video and posted them, along with other
evidence, on her blog and on YouTube to document pollution and harm
caused by drilling for natural gas. She also calls 911, local health
departments, elected officials, the Texas Commission on
Environmental Quality (TCEQ), the EPA, and alerts the newspapers to push
for greater
government oversight as she advocated for & helps the people who are
the collateral
damage of the growing “gas rush.” Her work has extended beyond the
Barnett Shale to become national in scope.
Now Wilson needs OUR help.
Wilson
has been a thorn in Range's side for years, and Range has retaliated.
In a subpoena, the company has demanded that Wilson turn over every
email she has with the word "range" in it dating back to 2005 (five
years before this case even began). “That
would include emails about free range chickens,” she notes. “But it
would also include emails from people who have
been harmed by Range or those opposed to irresponsible gas development. I
will
give them the emails that pertain to this case—but I will not turn over
emails
from people who are innocent victims. I will go to jail first.”
The
Rick Perry-appointed judge in the case threw out her request to be
removed from a case she has nothing to do with--and demands that she
turn over all emails by this coming Friday 5/25. His decision mimicked
(almost verbatim) Range's Powerpoint evidence that was presented in
court last week by a team of SEVEN lawyers.
Wilson
shouldn't have to go to jail--she's done nothing wrong. But there's
also a broader issue here: the gas industry can't get away with this
level of intimidation or be allowed to add to their databases of
targeted "opponents" in this way.
Wilson needs:
1. Money for her legal defense fund: https://salsa.
2. Publicity! If you have any media connections, please send this email to them!
3. THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT WILSON NEEDS IS A PROMINENT PRO-BONO LAWYER WITH A LICENSE TO PRACTICE IN TEXAS.
PLEASE
HELP in any way you can, and PLEASE forward this on to anyone you know
who might be able to help. With a high-profile lawyer and national
attention, it wil be much harder for Range and the heavily-influenced
Texas judge in the case to push this through.
For more info on the case and Wilson's work:
http://www.earthworksaction.
Thank you!
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