Dear Guardian,

It’s not just our public lands that are at risk from fracking, now it’s our fundamental rights as Americans.

Speak out today and defend western Colorado from the oil and gas industry. Let’s stand together to protect our public lands and safeguard our democracy.

You may have heard in the western Colorado town of Paonia, an area called the North Fork Valley, the oil and gas industry is now taking aim at those who are daring to speak out for their clean air, pure water, health, and community.

The latest assault, a frivolous lawsuit filed against Paonia-resident, long-time advocate, and friend, Pete Kolbenschlag. In Pete’s own words:

I am an activist who cares about, and have made it my life's work, protecting public lands, public health, clean air, clean water and a livable climate. I have been doing this work for nearly 20 years in Colorado, based out of a small rural community.

It’s not a coincidence that at the same time Pete is being sued, industry is pushing to frack nearly 35,000 acres just upstream from Paonia.

These lands include the headwaters of the North Fork Valley, the source of irrigation and drinking water for thousands of people. They also include thousands of acres of National Forest, lands that provide vital wildlife habitat.

Now, more than ever, we have to speak out. These latest fracking plans in western Colorado are a danger to our public lands and they’re an affront to our rights as Americans.

Industry is clearly trying to harass and silence its opponents so it can get its hands on the North Fork Valley. If they can do it here, they can do it anywhere in the American West. As Pete says, “They’re trying to silence a community.”

We’re all a part of Pete’s community. Let’s stand together and stand strong as we push back against fracking our public lands and the oil and gas industry’s attacks on our democracy.

These are our rights. These are our lands. This is our future. Let’s defend it.

For the wild,

 

Jeremy Nichols
Climate and Energy Program Director
WildEarth Guardians
jnichols@wildearthguardians.org

P.S. Read more about the oil and gas industry’s lawsuit against Pete Kolbenschlag and if you can, lend a hand to help his legal defense!

P.P.S. Our friends and allies at Citizens for a Healthy Community have been working tirelessly to defend the North Fork Valley from fracking, check out their website and learn more about the issue.