Relay For Life, fracked

[madamesilverspurs]

We just had our annual Relay For Life. Well and vigorously attended, with local groups raising almost 250K. As a cancer survivor I'm overwhelmed with gratitude.

But. And who'd have thought there could ever be a "but" in such a deal? Well, it turns out that a few thousand dollars were donated to the event by a couple of the oil companies who are fracking the hell out of our city and county. In other words, first they dump tons of carcinogens into our air and water, then they get gushing PR and likely a tax write-off for donating to a cancer charity. In my book, that’s just a little too much like running somebody down with your car and then accepting a reward for scraping them off the pavement.

[MineralMan]

1. So, return the donations and issue a press release about

the reasons for doing that. It's an opportunity to make a point. Be aware, though, that you may lose donations from other people who benefit from the economic activities. Still, if you want to make your point, publicly returning the donations and getting press for doing that is a good way to do it.

[madamesilverspurs]

2. Would that we could!

Unfortunately, this is a very red part of Colorado. Our county commission and city council are in deep thrall to the extractive industries, along with our newspaper. Thus far, neither body is even remotely responsive to citizens' concerns about the negative impacts of fracking. The local cancer groups aren't going to turn back any donations.

Adding insult to injury, they derive billions of dollars from their activities, then drip a measly few thousand on those most horribly affected. Those of us who take umbrage at the bitter irony are very much a minority; were it otherwise, we would have delighted in publicly tearing up their checks.

[MineralMan]

3. Well, that's a real problem.

I suppose their money will be used well, anyhow.

[shenmue]

4. Oy oy oy

The fracking part, that's not good.