We’ve lived so long under the spell of hierarchy—from god-kings to feudal lords to party bosses—that only recently have we awakened to see not only that “regular” citizens have the capacity for self-governance, but that without their engagement our huge global crises cannot be addressed. The changes needed for human society simply to survive, let alone thrive, are so profound that the only way we will move toward them is if we ourselves, regular citizens, feel meaningful ownership of solutions through direct engagement. Our problems are too big, interrelated, and pervasive to yield to directives from on high.
—Frances Moore Lappé, excerpt from Time for Progressives to Grow Up

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Shale Gas: a review of PBS coverage of “Gasland”

from the Energy Bulletin. 
[Josh] Fox pointed out one important detail which may help explain the surge in shale gas production during the past half-decade: the 2005 energy bill suddenly exempted the natural gas industry from the Safe Water Drinking Act. According to Fox, “The EPA was totally 100% taken off the job” and state inspectors are overwhelmed.
Once again, it is clear that the US ruling class places it top priority, above all other considerations, on securing more energy to fuel the voracious appetite of the capitalist system--the system that lays their golden eggs of power and wealth.
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