Binghamton students connect the dots between fracking and the need to divest

Written by Bethany Eagan and Joe Morales, student leaders with Divest Binghamton, a project of I.D.E.A.S. for Binghamton

Divest Binghamton Kick-off Rally in April 2013

We at Divest Binghamton are part of a larger organization called “I.D.E.A.S. (Intellectual Decisions on Environmental Awareness Solutions) for Binghamton” which recently participated in a double-feature event on our SUNY Binghamton campus: we co-sponsored a talk by Jannette M. Barth, Ph.D. on the economics of hydraulic fracturing and then hosted a screening of “Do the Math”. Both proved powerful ways of getting out the message about the severe risks of continuing with a fossil fuel-based economy, both at a local and global level.

The Binghamton community is particularly aware of the connection between dirty energy and climate change. In 2011, we experienced unprecedented flooding, which followed upon floods in 2005 and 2006 that were suppose to occur only every 100 and 500 years, respectively. As hydrofracking companies try to to extract nonrenewable resources in our area, the Southern Tier of New York– and in ways that are economically, socially, and environmentally costly– the juxtaposition between the human-induced causes and the human-felt effects of climate change are starkly apparent.

The screening of “Do the Math” and the NYPIRG-sponsored talk by economist Dr. Barth were the culmination of a semester of support-building on campus, giving us the boost we needed before our first meeting with a subcommittee of the Binghamton Foundation Board of Trustees. We’ve worked hard and have high hopes for our meeting, which will take place this Tuesday, December 3rd.

Student leaders with Divest Binghamton: Jacob Robison, Florence Nash, Joe Morales, and Bethany Eagan.

After beginning our divestment movement in January of 2013, Divest Binghamton has reached out to many faith, cultural, political, and other environment students groups on campus as well as activist organizations in our community. Our collaboration has made it possible to efficiently and effectively spread the word about divestment as well as get ideas, insights, and experience from many others. Our first rally, held in April, benefitted from working with local anti-fracking expert and activist Isaac Silberman-Gorn (’11) of Citizen Action, Binghamton. SUNY Binghamton professors and alumni also proved great resources and eager participants in our rally, lending our movement further credibility. Additionally, Vestal Residents for Safe Energy (VeRSE), which is a local organization committed to protecting the community from fracking, signed on as co-sponsors of our November talk and movie showing.

Following the screening of “Do the Math”, we were able to generate a helpful discussion with members of College Democrats, Democracy Matters, Hillel Jewish Student Union (all who co-sponsored) and others present on how to move our campaign forward pending the results of Tuesday’s meeting. Whatever the outcome may be, we feel we’re in a much stronger position in our Divest Binghamton campaign with such a broad base of allies backing us.