Musings after attending the county commissioner meeting last nite about fracking in boulder county: Fracking seems short-sighted, dangerous, even insane. Why would anyone want to inject toxic chemicals into the ground to extract natural gas when the risks to the environment and human health are so high and well-documented? One of the central practices of my life is “getting someone else’s world,” endeavoring to stand in their shoes and see through their eyes. I do this in order to better understand myself (thru the contrast), to cultivate compassion, and to generate rich and rewarding relationships. I don’t want to abandon this practice even in the face of the most seemingly egregious behavior. So I find myself with a few answers to my question above of why: 1. There is apparently a huge amount of domestic natural gas that can be increasingly accessed thru fracking technology. Some people see this natural gas as a way to achieve energy independence and/or as an intermediary step toward more green energy. 2. Expansion of fracking (like any large-scale industry) seems to be a boon to the economy in terms of creating jobs. 3. There is huge profit available (especially since most of us are still not much into conservation of our energy resources) and many thousands of stockholders who understandably desire to receive money. 4. Humans can often distance themselves from the pain and suffering of others when it’s not their close family or friends. None of these answers alters my view that fracking has no place in an energy production strategy if we value our ecosystems and human health. Last nite I listened and watched as dozens of people stepped up to the mic to implore the county commissioners (2 of 3 of whom have so far voted to lift the moratorium) to reinstate the moratorium. Danya River got the ball rolling with, for me, the most powerful and heartfelt words of the night. Several people presented documented facts about the dangers of fracking. A few told of 1st and 2nd hand stories of poor health in surrounding communities where fracking has occurred. One man spoke with seething anger directly at one of the commissioners who had voted to lift the moratorium, accusing her of not caring, of betrayal, of failing in her most important duty of keeping us safe. One of them broke the rule and continued to speak after his time was up. He went back to his seat just as the cops at the corners of the room began to move towards him. The commissioner he had been talking to told him to please respect the process. He countered, “Respect us!” Much of what he said seemed right on to me, and yet I found myself sick to my stomach at his hurling rageful accusations at her. Another man asked her point-blank: “Why did you do this?” One of the most baffling parts of this whole political process to me is that apparently she hasn’t stated (nor needed to yet state) why she voted as she did. In that moment she replied to him that she would answer that question tomorrow (at today’s meeting at 330). Earlier in the night, before things were under way, I asked a woman in the back of the room where people would go if there was overflow. She listened to me closely and answered me well. I felt warm inside. I thanked her, and we smiled genuinely at each other. Turns out she was one of the “evil” commissioner, the villain in this courtroom drama, who sat front and center facing the angry and accusatory crowd all night. I found myself hoping that this decent woman hadn’t been bought by the gas companies, or fearfully triggered by the possibility of a lawsuit, or somehow turned evil and insane from some bizarre and unholy influence. I found myself hoping that this life-long resident of boulder county, this mother of a young girl, this woman with a degree in environmental science, somehow had a trick up her sleeve, a good reason why she voted as she did, a strategic path that was only discernible at this point from behind the scenes. Perhaps that’s naïve of me, perhaps inappropriately hopeful. We’ll find out more today…
Posted on: Thu, 06 Jun 2013 15:48:19 +0000
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