Friday, May 3, 2024 Public News Service Article by Mark Richardson, Producer
A new film documents the 2018 battle between Colorado environmentalists and the oil and gas industry over proposed fracking regulations.
The film also documents a grassroots effort by Colorado Rising to pass a ballot initiative which would create a 2,500-foot setback for all hydraulic fracturing wells in the state, particularly in disadvantaged neighborhoods.
Sarah Schulte, organizing committee member of GreenFaith Boulder County, which recently previewed the film for about 100 members, said the film has a strong message.
“What probably makes the film pretty dramatic and kind of shocking is the length to which oil and natural gas industries in Colorado set out to thwart them,” Schulte pointed out. “Not only with some of the tactics you might expect, but also some kind of more nefarious tactics sabotaging their signature gathering, for example.”
In the end, the petroleum industry defeated the measure after a $50 million campaign opposing it. Schulte acknowledged Colorado Rising raised only $1 million for its campaign. After the election, the state adopted a 1,000-foot drilling setback from schools and residential property lines.
Hydraulic fracturing, commonly called fracking, involves drillers injecting a mixture of chemicals underground to break up the shale and free the oil. The chemicals used in the process, which are sometimes toxic, can pollute groundwater and make the surrounding land unstable.
Schulte emphasized the movie had a powerful effect on the group’s members.
“I think most people were pretty angry and maybe even a little sad after seeing how these kinds of politics play out in Colorado,” Schulte observed. “They asked questions like what can we do next? How do you keep going when it’s so difficult to fight such a big and powerful industry?”
The film, Fracking the System: Colorado’s Oil and Gas Wars, is currently being previewed by select audiences. It has won the “Spirit of Activism” award at the Colorado Environmental Film Festival and the “Environmental Award” at the 2024 DOCUTAH International Film Festival.
Disclosure: GreenFaith contributes to the Public News Service fund for reporting on Climate Change/Air Quality, Energy Policy, and Environmental Justice. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.
On April 25, 2024, the newly-released, award-winning documentary, Fracking the System: Colorado’s Oil and Gas Wars — a political thriller documentary from the front lines of climate justice activism in Colorado, was presented by Community United Church of Christ in partnership with First Congregational United Church of Christ, Naropa University’s Joanna Macy Center for Resilience and Regeneration, and GreenFaith Boulder County.
And check out the photos below from the screening — what a beautiful gathering with a full sanctuary of 100 people!
Reverend Nicole LeMarche, senior pastor at Community United Church of Christ, opened and closed the event calling us to loving action.
Sarah Schulte, First Congregational Church and GreenFaith Boulder County Organizing Committee member, moderated an excellent panel discussion with local activists from the film — Patricia Nelson, Suzanne Spiegel, and Russell Mendell — along with director Brian Hedden, Thomas Weiler from Together Colorado and Micah Parkin from 350CO.
When a mega-fracking site gets moved from a White neighborhood to a BIPOC neighborhood, a mother fights to try and stop it. She joins the state-wide effort to change the law but the powerful oil and gas industry fights back with lawsuits, harassment, sabotage, and $50 million. Check out the trailer here
Fracking the System: Colorado’s Oil and Gas Wars Thursday October 19th 6:30-9pp Naropa University Performing Arts Center, 2130 Arapahoe Ave
Doors open 6:00 p.m | Film at 6:30 p.m. Q&A with director and guests 8:00 p.m.
The Phase Out Fracking ballot initiative will require a gradual decrease in the number of new fracking permits each year starting in 2026 and ending with no more new permits after 2030!
The ballot initiative requires permits to decrease in disproportionately impacted areas first, and includes support for a just transition, training, and reskilling for affected workers.
Oil and gas fracking is the #1 source of pollution in Colorado causing the climate crisis and the ‘severe’ ozone air quality issues along Colorado’s front range. Phasing Out Fracking is necessary for Colorado to meet our environmental justice and climate goals.
To win this groundbreaking and necessary ballot initiative and Phase Out Fracking in Colorado for good, we need YOU! To win it, we need an army of people to step up and pitch in. Join us!
Join the upcoming volunteer Action Hour and get in on the action to Phase Out Fracking in Colorado!Monday Sept. 25th, 5-6pm. Register here and bring a friend!The Volunteer Action Hour will be every other Monday at 5pm. Join us for a short, sweet, and impactful hour of action!
Onward,
Bobbie Mooney
Beyond Oil & Gas Campaign Coordinator, 350 Colorado
P.S. Can’t join the Action Hour but want to take action right now!? You can:
Pledge to Sign the Fracking Phase Out Ballot Initiative!
Use this One Click Letter to ask your city, county, and state elected leaders to endorse the ballot initiative!
The Phase Out Fracking Action Party hosted by 350 Colorado in support of the Safe & Healthy Colorado ballot initiative at the Boulder County Courthouse on Saturday, June 10th was a big success! Attached and here are some photos and below are next steps to continue to take action to protect Colorado’s land, air, water, public health, AND help keep fossil fuels in the ground.
It was great to see so many of you from the GreenFaith Boulder County Circle there, joining more than 100 other supporters who engaged with hundreds of people walking on Pearl St during the 5-hour event.
Here’s how you can continue to help reach the 5000 pledges goal to put the fracking phase out on the Colorado 2024 statewide ballot. From Bobbie Mooney, 350CO Beyond Oil & Gas Campaign Coordinator:
Help reach our 5,000 Pledges to Sign goal and enter to win PRIZES from Patagonia and LUSH!
1. If you haven’t already, Pledge to Sign the ballot initiative right now!
2. SPREAD THE WORD! Share the pledge to sign through one or more of these methods: social media posts, social media direct messages, emails, phone calls, texts, etc.
—> post to Facebook/Instagram (sample text below photos)
2. Send an email to friends (sample email below photos)
3. Win a prize from Patagonia or Lush! Tell 350 Colorado how you helped spread the word via this quick submission form here and be entered to win once for each “spread the word” action item you complete. As a thanks for taking action, we have hundreds of prizes to share! Prize draw will be Monday June 19th.More info about the prizes & drawing here.
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Thank you again to all the grassroots activists and organizers who turned out this weekend. We are excited to kickoff a summer of action!
