EXTRACTION: Fracking and Drilling for Plastic Dreams – Plastic Plague Pt 1

The Plastic Plague all starts with fracking and drilling, which fouls air and water, and industrializes landscapes. This is PART ONE of a special seven-part series on EcoJustice Radio, called, “The Plastic Plague: Connecting the Dots between Extraction, Inequity, and Pollution.” Check out Part 2 – Part 3 – Part 4 — Part 5 – Part 6 – Part 7

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Sharon Wilson speaks on risks to oil and gas workers and the surrounding communities from drilling.

Plastic originates from oil and fracked natural gas. In order to limit the flow of plastic, we must look to the well from which it came, before it ever becomes waste.

The rapid growth of cheap fracked gas in the past decade has led to accelerating methane emissions, a potent greenhouse gas planet warmer. Drilling and fracking leads to serious public health and safety impacts, poisoning and destroying public lands and wildlife, and contaminating our air and water.

The fight against the expansion of new oil development and the fight to reduce plastics pollution are inseparable. To stop the flow of plastic, you have to go to its beginning.

On today’s episode (part 1 of a 7-part series), we tackle the beginnings of plastic at the source of its initial social and environmental impacts.

“The creation of new petrochemical plants is not driven by an increase in consumer demand. It is driven by this oil and gas industry that have recognized demand for fossil fuels is about to plummet.”  — Jane Patton, Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL)

Jane Patton is the Senior Campaigner, Environmental Health Program – Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL). Jane has been a campaigner, coordinator, and organizer for many years with global movements and organizations working to stop plastic pollution at the source, including in her home state of Louisiana.
Social Media: https://twitter.com/ciel_tweets, http://www.ciel.org/, http://www.stopformosa.org/

Sharon Wilson the Senior Organizer, for Earthworks is a 5th generation Texan who pursued her dream of living in the country with her two sons surrounded by her animals. Her beautiful country farm turned into a fracking sacrifice zone and Sharon became @TXsharon (https://twitter.com/TexasSharon), a leading activist fighting against oil and gas. Blog: http://www.texassharon.com/

Ethan Buckner the Energy Campaigner of Earthworks is a longtime social movement organizer and singer/songwriter living in Los Angeles. As Earthworks’ Energy Campaigner, Ethan works alongside communities directly impacted by oil, gas, and petrochemical companies to fight for a fossil-free future.
Social Media: Twitter https://twitter.com/ethanbuckner & Facebook https://www.facebook.com/earthworksaction/IG: @earthworksaction

Hosted by Jessica Aldridge from SoCal 350 and Adventures in Waste
Engineer: Blake Lampkin
Executive Producer: Jack Eidt
Producer: Georgia Tunioli
Show Created by Mark and JP Morris
Music: Javier Kadry
Episode 54

Updated 8 September 2020