Recent Comments
Re: “What the frak is fracking?”
If you would like more information on natural gas production and the impacts already exprienced by areas with the "fracking" method of extraction, please go to:
TEDX (The Endocrine Disruption Exchange) and Dr. Theo Colburn will send you a free DVD (47 minutes) showing impact of this process. Because of the 2005 secret energy meetings that exempt all proceses from our Clean Water Act, the Clean Drinking Water Act, the Clean Air Act, the industries are free to use as many chemicals as they wish. Studies conducted have identified up to 900 different chemicals and most of them are toxic to humans. The intent is to use surfactants to make the water injected under pressure "slick" so that fractures can more easily be made in the underground rock and subsurfaces. To see more you can go directly to www.endocrinedisruption.org
and see videos and gather further information as well as request the DVD. Don't count on the EPA stopping this method of natural gas extraction. The industry is too powerful and Halliburton (remember Dick Cheney?) has refused to cooperate with the EPA and now the EPA has had to subpoena their data (good luck!).
Current NC laws prevent "fracking"--but watch out---that may change rapidly.
Re: “Nine sites eyed for new Chatham County landfill”
The EPA confirms that eventually all landfills leak "garbage juice" or leachate into groundwater. Landfills are just another way of creating more future environmental and health problems.
If there were no alternatives, it would be different. There are viable and working alternatives to landfills. Europe, Asia, Australia, and Africa seem to be interested in turning their waste into energy and to income for the county or municipality. What is wrong with the US? Almost every country recovers the energy from garbage and sewage sludge from waste water treatment plants except us. Why? This is an ever growing, always available renewable energy resource to produce electricity and synthetic fuel (syngas) as well as some systems recover phosphorus and metals.
The usual arguments against waste to energy and toxic emissions will no longer hold water because the European Union has stricter emission standards than the US-EPA, and their recycling rate is higher than any city/area in the US.
Last week, while talking to a waste management engineer in Germany about the many small and community waste to energy facilities they have in operation--he asked me if any were underway in the good ole US of A.
I know of St. Lucie, FL, and another four under consideration. That's it. Then he asked, "Why doesn't America care about the health of its citizens?"
Good question, and one Chatham County should consider--and save the cost of 400 acres of landfill space to contaminate a beautiful section of our state. I will be glad to share 6 years of research into alternatives if anyone is interested. Contact me at brucie424@gmail.com Nancy Holt
Re: “As goes the Dole-Hagan race, so goes the nation”
Elizabeth Dole has been totally disconnected from NC citizens until it was time for reelection.
Her refusal to vote for funds to help Katrina Hurricane victims was not a surprise. She refused to help the people in Western NC when the area dealt with the ravages of Hurricanes Jeannie and Ivan. She refused all requests for assistance for over 200 areas with damages or destruction to old (1930 CCC built) bridges and culverts.
Enough of lapdog politicians who march to the tune of the "Party", vote for someone who understands what the oath to protect the US Constitution means!
Re: “Indy garners seven awards”
Perhaps this quote by Martin Luther King, Jr. says what the Indy's tenacity and persistence means to all loyal readers: "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter." Congratulations!
Re: “The elephants in the room”
I agree with everything in this article and would add this: Republicans act as if they have to have someone tell them what to do, what to believe, where to go, how to vote, or how high to jump. In fact, over the last 7 years, they have exhibited sheep-like qualities (especially in Congress) and we see it today--fear based followers--with no independent critical thoughts or actions. I have two quotes appropriate for Republicans to think about: "The people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders....All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism." Neurenburg Trials: Herman Goering, Nazi Gestapo "When the government fears the people, you have liberty. When the people fear the government, you have tyranny." Thomas Jefferson
Re: “Banned books, blank minds”
Lisa is correct that we must never ban choice of books in schools. It is a parent's responsibility to review what their kids read, and if they find it offensive; return the book to the library. For a school administration to cave in to a group of people who find offense with one book is to open the door to even more restrictions of literary choice. So many people have forgotten the US Constitution and Bill of Rights. They also seem to have forgotten lessons we could learn from history as well. A quote from Herman Goering, of Hitler's Nazi Gestapo: "The people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders....All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism." Or more recently: At a Texas State House press conference on May 21, 1999, George W. Bush said, "There ought to be limits to freedom."
Re: “Re: Move to Amend; Adios, N.C.”
If you think for one moment that the radical changes in NC are the result of politicians, think again! To further this statement, why don't you watch the documentary called "Ethos." I think you will see that our local, state and national government does the will of corporations. We the people have absolutely no power anymore--and we do not have a democracy. No longer is this a government for and by the people---it is a government operating under the industrial-military complex as predicted by President Eisenhour as he left office. We have arrived---and only WE can change our future!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGlu4Xlrkvc