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GOP Uses “McCarthysim” To Stop Fracktivists?

By Theodora Filis



NOTE: The original post was in 2012

Josh Fox, writer, and director of Gasland, a documentary that focuses on American communities that have been impacted by the increase in natural gas drilling, specifically hydraulic fracturing or fracking, was arrested when he tried to film a hearing on fracking, in the House Energy and Environment subcommittee examining the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) findings that hydraulic fracturing fluids had contaminated groundwater in the town of Pavillion, Wyoming.

During the McCarthy era, lasting roughly from the late 1940s to the late 1950s, thousands of Americans were accused of being Communists or communist sympathizers and became the subject of aggressive investigations, questioning, and arrests. McCarthyism is the practice of making accusations of disloyalty, subversion, or treason without proper regard for evidence.


                                                     “McCarthyism”

After his arrest on Wednesday, February 1, 2012, Josh Fox issued the following statement to the press:

I was arrested today for exercising my First Amendment rights to freedom of the press on Capitol Hill. I was not expecting to be arrested for practicing journalism.

Today's hearing in the House Energy and Environment subcommittee was called to examine EPAs findings that hydraulic fracturing fluids had contaminated groundwater in the town of Pavillion, Wyoming. I have a long history with the town of Pavillion and its residents who have maintained since 2008 that fracking has contaminated their water supply. I featured the stories of residents John Fenton, Louis Meeks, and Jeff Locker in GASLAND and I have continued to document the catastrophic water contamination in Pavillion for the upcoming sequel GASLAND 2.

It would seem that the Republican leadership was using this hearing to attack the three-year Region 8 EPA investigation involving hundreds of samples and extensive water testing which ruled that Pavillion's groundwater was a health hazard, contaminated by benzene at 50x the safe level and numerous other contaminants associated with gas drilling. Most importantly, EPA stated in this case that fracking was the likely cause.

As a filmmaker and journalist, I have covered hundreds of public hearings, including Congressional hearings. It is my understanding that public speech is allowed to be filmed. Congress should be no exception. No one on Capitol Hill should regard themselves as exempt from the Constitution. The First Amendment to the Constitution states explicitly "Congress shall make no law...that infringes on the Freedom of the Press". This means that no subcommittee rule or regulation should prohibit a respectful journalist or citizen from recording a public hearing.

This was an act of civil disobedience, yes done in an impromptu fashion, but at the moment when they told me to turn off the cameras, I could not. I know my rights and I felt it was imperative to exercise them.

When I was led out of the hearing room in handcuffs, John Boehner's pledge of transparency in Congress was taken out with me.

The people of Pavillion deserve better. The thousands across the US who have documented cases of water contamination in fracking areas deserve their own hearing on Capitol Hill. They deserve the chance to testify before Congress. The truth that fracking contaminates groundwater is out, and no amount of intimidation tactics --either outright challenges to science or the arrest of journalists --will put the genie back in the bottle. Such a brazen attempt to discredit and silence the EPA, the citizens of Pavillion and documentary filmmaking will ultimately fail and it is an affront to the health and integrity of Americans.

Lastly, in defense of my profession, I will state that many many Americans get their news from independent documentaries. The Hill should immediately move to make hearings and meetings accessible to independent journalists and not further obstruct the truth from being reported in the vivid and in-depth manner that is only achievable through long-form documentary filmmaking.

I will be thinking about this event further and will post further thoughts and developments.
I have been charged with "unlawful entry" and my court date is February 15.

Josh Fox
Washington D.C.
2/1/12

In December. of last year, five college students and a former student were arrested in Youngstown while protesting fracking in their area. Among those cited with disorderly conduct was former Oberlin College student Benjamin Shapiro of Cleveland, a 26-year-old organic farmer. 

The Youngstown injection well has caused eight nearby earthquakes since March of 2011, seven of these with an epicenter located at the well.

Shapiro said, “Well casings and cement break and degrade in the best of circumstances leaking highly toxic chemicals, it’s far more dangerous at the epicenter of these earthquakes. How in the world can V&M Star and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources think this can be safe anywhere for our drinking water?”

Mass mobilizations against fracking around the world are bringing thousands of people out onto the streets to protest against the plans to bring the practice of hydraulic fracturing for shale gas to their towns and country. Solidarity demonstrations are being held in European cities including Paris, Copenhagen, and London.

Citizens of the world are sending out a clear message – we don't want you fracking around with our land and contaminating our water.

Oil and gas companies are sending out an even clearer message – we don't care what you want!

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