State of Our Food and Water: President Obama’s Energy Plan Trades Water for Energy

[G_j]

http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2012/01/25

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 25, 2012
10:51 AM
CONTACT: Food & Water Watch

Darcey Rakestraw, 202-683-2467; [e-mail]


State of Our Food and Water: President Obama’s Energy Plan Trades Water for Energy

Statement by Wenonah Hauter, Executive Director, Food & Water Watch


WASHINGTON - January 25 - “The president’s energy vision is troubling for our water resources. His speech touted the development of so-called ‘clean energy,’ but it may as well have been written by the oil and gas industry. His plan to open up more than 75 percent of our potential offshore oil and gas resources and to support shale gas development trades clean water for energy.

“President Obama should not confuse offshore oil and onshore shale gas development for clean energy. Although gas companies should absolutely be made to disclose the chemicals they use simply disclosing chemicals does not prevent shale gas development from harming our essential water resources. To keep water safe and rural communities strong, we should ban fracking.

“Furthermore, the oil and gas industry’s job claims for shale gas development are grossly overestimated due to methodological flaws and reliance on economic modeling, rather than looking at the actual number of jobs created in communities with fracking. The only certainty about the expansion of the destructive oil and gas fracking is that it will bring profits to the multinational oil and gas companies. President Obama should look at the facts on how many jobs the oil and gas industry creates rather than writing federal energy policy based on the claims of the industry.

“When it comes to food, the President claimed he will not back down from making sure that our food is safe. But recent actions by his Administration make that claim hard to believe. Just last week, the USDA announced its plan to deregulate the poultry industry by eliminating government inspectors and shifting to privatized inspection in many poultry plants. This is the opposite of making sure consumers are protected from unsafe food.”


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Food & Water Watch is a nonprofit consumer organization that works to ensure clean water and safe food. We challenge the corporate control and abuse of our food and water resources by empowering people to take action and by transforming the public consciousness about what we eat and drink.

[proverbialwisdom]

1. Definitely a subject the public needs to continue to monitor.

During CNN's focus group last night, the commentator highlighted that independents and republicans were particularly satisfied with the energy policy proposals.
Glad I just donated to the nonpartisan http://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/ .

[G_j]

2. good observation

and cause...