FRACKING: THE L.A. STORY
A Seminar on Hydraulic Fracturing & Democratic Process

Saturday, March 23rd  
Registration: 9:30 AM 
Seminar: 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM
at
West Los Angeles College
9000 Overland Avenue, Culver City 90230
Fine Arts Auditorium (FA 100)

PARKING:
FREE parking—South Parking Structure only
Enter on Albert Vera Drive [map]
SEMINAR COST:
FREE—Includes Coffee
Local democracy activists & environmental groups and West Los Angeles College are combining forces to present an action-oriented seminar about fracking and the democratic process. This FREE half-day event features knowledgeable panelists and interactive opportunities to get involved with viable empowering solutions!
LINK TO AGENDA & SPEAKERS >> http://makeccsafe.com/fracking-event/
Seeking ways to squeeze a yield from depleted oil fields, producers of natural gas and oil across the nation are using a controversial extraction method called hydraulic fracturing (aka “FRACKING”) which forces a mixture of water and various chemicals underground under very high pressure to access hidden pockets of oil and gas. Despite sketchy regulations, ambiguous safety reports and public outrage, corporate interests continue to drive the current fracking and drilling boom.
What does this have to do with Southern California?


The Inglewood Oil Fields which hunker on the hills above WLA College is the largest contiguous urban oil field in America and is bi-sected by the active Newport-Inglewood fault line. Despite protests from concerned citizens about various health and safety issues—from air quality & noise pollution to cracks in their foundations—the 2012 Baldwin Hills Fracking Study reveals that the field has already been fracked, and that the sentous shale deep underground is a good candidate for more of the same unless the people unite to find their voice. The LA Times ran this article about the study >>
Come learn about your community rights and how to successfully mobilize.

•    Fracking & Democratic Process: Risks, Costs, Benefits
•    • Learn about local oil/gas extraction and fracking (hydraulic fracturing) and who benefits.
•    • Understand the health impacts and risks associated with fracking: are you at risk or paying the costs?
•    • Understand your options and how to ¬exercise your democratic muscle…use it or lose it! How to take effective action on important issues.
•    • Create an action plan: sign up for direct action that will make a difference

Speakers & Agenda to include:
• Introduction: WLAC President Abu-Ghazaleh, plus staff & students
• History & Terminology: C. Tom Williams, Ph.D., retired geologist, Sierra Club CalFrac representative
• Earthquakes, Air & Water Quality Control: Paul Ferrazzi, executive director, Citizens Coalition for a Safe Community
• History of Fracking in Pennsylvania & “the Yoko Ono Video”: Lance Simmens, Special Asst. to Governmental Affairds to PA Governor Ed Rendell
• Health Hazards of Fracking Chemicals: Dr. James Dahlgren, Envirotoxocology and Internal Medicine, UCLA Dept of Medicine
• Regulatory Framework & Why Sometimes Regulations Don’t Offer Enough Protection: Culver City Council Member Meghan Sahli-Wells
• Proposal for a Ballot Initiatie and Charter Amendment: Culver City Mayor Emeritus Gary Silbiger, J.D.
• Closing Remarks: Olga Shewfelt, WLAC Professor of International Relations
• Adjourn to Action Plan Center!
-----
Transition Culver City teams up with Citizens Coalition for a Safe Community, Baldwin Hills Oil Watch, Make Culver City Safe, and our hosts at WLA College and their Work Environment Committee for this important awareness-raising forum and opportunity to learn about the democratic process.