Posted at Common Ground United from msn money/Associated Press:
"FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) - Holding "Just say, Whoa!" signs, about 300 people rallied Thursday to urge Fort Worth leaders to stop natural gas drilling permits and pipeline easements in the city...."
"...We expect the city to put a moratorium for as long as it takes to address these issues," said Cathy Hirt, a former City Council member who helped form the Coalition for a Reformed Drilling Ordinance. "With such a large, diverse group of people here from all walks of life, it speaks to the fact that this is not a small group of naysayers — it's a cross-section of the community who have a lot of concerns...."
"...They are also concerned about companies using eminent domain to acquire property for pipeline easements.
Last week Chesapeake Energy's subsidiary, Texas Midstream Gas Services, started condemnation proceedings against a 72-year-old woman who refused the company's offer of nearly $13,000 for a 20-foot strip across the front of her 100-foot-wide lot.
The pipeline, which would be 10 to 20 feet underground and connect two well sites along an interstate, requires easements under the front yards of nearly 50 homes and vacant lots." More>>>>
Related Story: "Urban Gas Drilling Causes Backlash In Boomtown "
"Chesapeake Energy's CEO, Aubrey McClendon, is a big believer in aggressive media campaigns. He was a major backer of the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, the group that attacked Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry's military record when he ran for president in 2004, and other right-wing causes.
The comany's stock market value tops $28 billion, and last year McClendon's compensation and stock options totaled nearly $19 million.
In the wake of Chesapeake's infomercial comes Shale TV, a daily talk show about the Barnett Shale set to air this fall. The company has hired three award-winning Dallas broadcast journalists to produce the show.
Julie Wilson, Chesapeake vice president for corporate development, says she understands there's skepticism about the objectivity of Shale TV, but she insists it's no different than the rest of corporate media.
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"Well, I think we pay those journalists — whether on Channel 8 or Channel 11 or the Star-Telegram — in terms of advertising support," Wilson says. "We see this as pretty much instead of running the ads on the program, we're just writing the check direct."
ReplyDeleteNOW Ms WILSON ACTUALLY SPEAKS THE TRUTH She actually admits that they CHESAPEAKE BUYS OUT the media through their advertising dollars No real difference except NOW we have our own station control. The fact that THEIR propoganda is the message BIASED as any advertising can be. WE will see again that Shale TV will be No different averall than Children of The Shale. Directed toward the propaganda benefits ANLY side dismissing rather than addressing the concerns of the Issues of Barnett Shale drilling.I continue to hope they will really set the GOLD standard yet I see them really looking after their GOLD interest when it comes to true actions.