Topics: Brief Coverage of Tri-County Farmer's Market; Main Topic -- Oil and Gas Industry
Participants: Tri-County Farmer's Market Guests Daniel Hern, Lia Obragon, and Mark May; Special Guests Debra Anderson ("Split Estate" filmmaker) and Gilbert Armenta de Largo (San Juan County, NM rancher featured in "Split Estate")
Co-Hosts: Pat Leahan, Dennis Lopez, Fiona Whitten
Summary: We begin the show with some local farmers announcing that today is opening day for our Tri-County Farmer's Market. Yay! (See more details below under "Pat's Extra Notes.")
We then move into the maintopic -- the Oil & Gas Industry. We interview DebraAnderson (filmmaker for "Split Estate") as she shares why she made this powerful documentary. She is glad to hear that we're working at the city and county level to strengthen ordinances, as this is an effective strategy to protect our communities from the negative effects of the oil and gas industry. She noted that O&G drilling does occur in urban areas, including Los Angeles (!), where they're putting the rigs inside large buildings that have no windows. And they're putting wells "just a few yards from some people's front doors" (e.g., Farmington, NM; Rifle, CO; Ft. Worth, TX...). We share information from an O&G whistleblower who says the industry shortcuts safety tests, which may have been one cause of the BP-leased oil rig explosion and leak in the Gulf of Mexico on April 20th. Debra says that, while making her film, she learned about illegal dumping of chemical-laden water, contamination of water in communities, and more. Santa Fe County is mentioned as having the strongest county-level ordinance in the country, and could be used as a model for other communities.
GilbertArmentade Largo is our guest for the second half of the show. Gilbert is a rancher from San Juan County, NM who is featured in the documentary "Split Estate." His life has been devastated by the O&G Industry. His father and 4 other family members were killed. His father was killed in a gas line explosion. The destruction to his ranch, the loss of his private property rights, the economic impact, the legal struggles, the illusion of getting rich from royalties, the millions of gallons of water used per well, the potential health hazards, and other issues are discussed.
If you are thinking of signing a lease with O&G or have already signed a lease, if you are an elected official or property owner, if you are a steward of the land, or if you just want to learn more about this topic, please listen to Gilbert's story during the second half of this radio show. (Also see his recent letter to the Las Vegas Optic editor, included below.)
Letter: Wake up, Mora, before it's too late Remember, la gente de Mora, that the oil and gas that lies beneath your land is worth hundreds of billions of dollars to the greedy oil companies. The oil representatives will come to you with their mentiras about how much good they are going to do for you. You must understand que por los poquito centavos you receive you will be giving away tu salud, la amistad, y sus tierras. When all the money you have received is gone, your kids, your grandkids, and possibly yourselves van andar por las calles. Remember, citizens de Mora, que las companies de la aceite are not your friends and will never be your friends. Don’t let the destruction que le paso al condado de San Juan que le suceder a Mora. Unirse for your own protection.
People of Mora, the land that you now possess has been handed down for many generations. It has been placed in your trust to be a good steward. And when you are gone these lands will pass on to your future generations. The earth will give you subsistence and provide for your needs. Take care of the land that has been entrusted to you so that all that come after you will remember you as a caring and devoted good steward of the land.
The oil and gas companies will come with their heavy equipment and dejaran una cicatriz en la tierra and this scar will be left forever.
by Gilbert Armenta de Largo, San Juan County, NM
Copyright 2010. All rights reserved.
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Resources: http://www.SplitEstate.com/ http://www.ogap.org/ (Oil & Gas Accountability Project) http://www.commongroundunited.org/ http://www.drillingsantafe.blogspot.com/ (for Santa Fe Co. ordinance) http://northernnewmexicoconservationproject.blogspot.com/
Pat'sExtraNotes: Today is opening day for our Tri-County Farmer's Market -- Every Sat. in May, 7AM-sellout Every Wed. and Sat., starting in June Corner of 6th St. and University Ave.
Wed. 19 May 2010 Public Hearing on proposed O&G moratorium for Las Vegas during regular 6:00PM City Council meeting City Council Chambers 1700 N. Grand Ave. (across from Rec. Center) Please attend and speak on-the-record re: the moratorium
Fri. 11 June 2010, 6:30 -- 8:30PM Free screening of O&G documentary "Split Estate" @ Traveler's Cafe (Tapetes de Lana) located on the Plaza, Las Vegas, NM
Thank you, David, for our CPR intro music: http://www.DavidRovics.com/
