Fracking Opponents to Meet in Buffalo on Saturday

Coming up on Saturday, Sept. 22, Food & Water Watch, WNY Drilling Defense, the Western New York Peace Center, and other community organizations will convene in Buffalo for "Western New York Stands Up to Cuomo: Ban Fracking Now!" The action is one of more than 100 taking place around the world as part of the Global Frackdown, an international day of action to ban hydraulic fracturing (fracking). The Global Frackdown will highlight the environmental and public health risks said to be associated with this controversial energy extraction method. Fracking—the process of blasting water and chemicals underground to release natural gas and oil from tight rock formations, has been linked to water contamination, earthquakes, and climate change. To date, more than 250 communities around the world have taken action against fracking. As reported in this newspaper, radioactive wastewater disposal in Niagara Falls will be one of the topics covered. The event will take place at Niagara Square in downtown Buffalo on Saturday beginning at 2 p.m. For more info contact: Rita Yelda, ryelda@gmail.com, 716-507-2077