Contemplative Resistance Marks End of Boulder Fracking Moratorium this Sunday
Press Release For Immediate Release
April 26, 2017
(Updated on April 29th to reflect postponement of Sunday event due to snowstorm)
Contemplative Resistance Marks End of Boulder Fracking Moratorium this Sunday
As the voter-approved moratorium on fracking in Boulder County comes to its end on May 1, the occasion will be marked by spiritually-rooted protests. Bowing to the deep contemplative traditions that make their home in Boulder county, a partnering of groups led by Boulder EcoDharma Sangha, will start their resistance by holding two actions.
On May 1st and May 7th, members of EcoDharma Sangha, a Boulder environmentally-focused Buddhist group, and many collaborators, will dress in black–some wearing gas masks–and engage in silent meditation in peaceful protest and prayer, while others inform people of the details and how to get involved to stop fracking. People of all spiritual traditions are invited to join. There will be signs, banners, and informational flyers to help transform anger and frustration into meaningful personal and community level actions.
The first event takes place on Monday, May 1, where meditators and prayer-makers will gather from noon-1:30 p.m. in front of the Boulder County Courthouse, 1325 Pearl Street. The second event will be on Sunday, May 7 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon at Chautauqua Park (rain or shine, hot or cold), one of our most popular access points to open space. The location is intended to remind residents that open space, an investment of more than $100 million in taxes that the Boulder County charter maintains is to be used only for agriculture, passive recreation, and environmental conservation, is now subject to claims that will be filed by drillers, whose rights at the moment trump those of localities.
The end of the moratorium places public and private property in the cross hairs for fracking wells–an expected 1800-2400 of them. New regulations established in March 2017 by the Boulder County Commissioners will not be enough to provide complete protection from the dangers of fracking, let alone prevent drilling, and may expose the county to legal challenges. Boulder county residents feel angry at Governor Hickenlooper, state legislature, state Democratic party and state Attorney General who have collectively shut down ways for public to prevent fracking in their communities. They also want to understand why Boulder county commissioners can or can not use the funds collected in taxes to protect county open space.
The events are organized by Boulder EcoDharma Sangha, and supported by Moms Clean Air Force, Naropa Peace Studies and several faith-based and grassroots organizations in Boulder County. For more details and to complete the free registration for the events, please visit this page.
Contact:
Sensei Kritee Kanko, Ph.D.
Climate Scientist and Zen priest,
Steering group member of Boulder Ecodharma Sangha
(Please note that Boulder Ecodharma Sangha doesn’t endorse any actions/approach of professional organizations that employ individual steering committee members including EDF. Similarly, none of the organizations that employ individual steering committee members endorse actions/approach of Boulder Ecodharma Sangha).