The debate over fracking in New York has been raging for more than four years now. Both sides have fought to achieve their goals and many have made sacrifices. It's time to recognize this is an opening exchange in the larger war against climate change and it's about more than our water and our communities. This is a war for survival.
Our fellow humans around the globe are looking to New York to see whether a group of determined citizens can defeat the most powerful industry in the world, an industry that has been willing to sacrifice democracy, sanity and lives to fulfill its ambitions. They look to our governor to see whether he will stand up to the corporations or whether he has already made his deals with his eyes on the presidency.
People are watching our fight as we experience many of the signs that climate change is accelerating — the meltdown and first ice-free summer of the Arctic, melting of the permafrost and release of ancient methane trapped beneath, record-breaking temperatures, droughts and extreme weather events. All of these signs point to a looming climate disaster.
As we sort out this whole fracking debate, we need to remember we are not just fighting for our ourselves and our children, but we also are fighting for our democracy, our species and our future.
Joshua Dolan
Ithaca