Join Big Idea and the Shadbush Collective for this reading and discussion with author, Stephen Hren.

Wed April 18 7-9PM

Big Idea Bookstore and Cafe

4812 Liberty Ave

Marcellus Infrastructure Counter Summit: Stop the Pipelines, Stop Fracking!

On March 20, join Marcellus Protest for an inspiring evening of dinner, action, education and organizing to build the movement against shale gas development.

We are already witnessing the devastating impacts of fracking throughout our region: poisoned water, polluted air, dead animals, and many sick people. But the impacts don’t stop at the well site.  The infrastructure needed to transport and process the gas – pipelines, compressor stations, and gas processing facilities – comes with its own set of hazards including heavy air pollution, explosions and other accidents, and the fragmentation of farms and forests.  Many pipeline companies are gaining public utility status to acquire right-of-ways through private property using eminent domain.  Meanwhile, much of the pipeline development is completely exempt from regulation by federal and state agencies.

From March 19 – 21,  oil and gas industry executives and their wall street investors will convene at the Marcellus Midstream conference in downtown Pittsburgh to make plans for these infrastructure developments.  Marcellus Protest is planning a summit of our own for residents and organizations across the region concerned about or impacted by this growing aspect of the industry.

On March 20th we will gather at Smithfield United Church of Christ (620 Smithfield St, downtown Pittsburgh), march on the convention center, then reconvene at Smithfield Church for dinner, a panel discussion about pipelines and infrastructure, and an organizing strategy session.  We are calling on all of our friends and allies to join us and build our movement against all aspects of shale gas development.

Full schedule and list of speakers to be announced in the coming weeks!

We recommend that anyone interested in taking nonviolent action in defense of the land, water, and people of Ohio meet at 11am at Occupy Youngstown, preceding the march at 12:15 and rally at 1pm.

Groups from around the country are welcome to join us, not just in Youngstown, but for an entire day of action.
We encourage groups to do their own actions including, but not limited to:

• Meeting with local officials to discuss a ban ordinance in your town (see the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund for more examples).
• Doing actions at fracking sites near you! See Ohio Marcellus and Utica permits here.
• Drop banners from overpasses, buildings, cliffs, and trees in view of the public that day, so that no one in Youngstown or where you live misses our message that fracking is not welcome.
• Do educational events in your town or campus including screenings of Gasland, teach-ins, and street theatre like frack fluid lemonade stands.

Thank you for your support!

In the spirit of movements across the country against corporate power, local organizers, activists, and occupiers are calling for an occupation of the Developing Unconventional Gas conference in Pittsburgh.

Tuesday, November 15

5:15pm – March on the conference, meet at Occupy Pittsburgh/Mellon Green, 6th and Grant downtown

6:00pm – People’s Reception and Occupation begins, David Lawrence Convention Center

On November 15^th, Halliburton is hosting a reception for the rest of the oil and gas industry to kick off the Developing Unconventional Gas conference.  At 5:15pm, we will march from Occupy Pittsburgh to the David Lawrence Convention Center and kick off our occupation of the conference with a people’s reception for economic and environmental justice.

The gas industry is poisoning our air and water and hijacking our so-called democracy. They say they are bringing economic opportunity but all we see is exploitation. Stand with us to resist corporate power – join the people’s reception or organize your own creative action to disrupt the conference!

** Sign-making and flash mob practice!

Friday, November 11, 7pm,

@ the T-station at 6^th St. and Ross Ave, below Occupy Pittsburgh