On Thursday at rush hour at five New York State store locations of the cosmetics

giant, Aveda, customers were greeted by more than the smiling make-up-caked faces

of customer service representatives. On that summer day, environmentalists rallied to

challenge the corporation’s support of Environmental Advocates of New York (EANY),

an Albany-tied organization that has taken an increasingly prominent role in the widely

disparaged industrial practice of fracking. Activists drew attention to EANY’s support for

regulated fracking (or ‘safe fracking’, as the industry has called it). EANY’s Washington,

D.C.-based parent organization, the National Wildlife Federation, also came in for some

bruising criticism for their support of this polluting practice.

“Aveda should know that consumers of its goods are being informed about their

partnering non-profit, Environmental Advocates of New York. EANY sits on Governor

Cuomo’s Hydrofracking Advisory Panel,” said Robert Jereski, an environmental

activist handing out literature outside Aveda’s swanky Flatiron District salon in New

York City. “This panel includes other promoters of ‘safe fracking’ such as the Natural

Resources Defense Council and Riverkeeper. It does not represent the vast majority of

environmentalists who oppose fracking and want it banned and criminalized.”

Activists listed the following demands on flyers they distributed:

Environmental activists rallied outside of Aveda stores in 5 locations across New York

State including in New York City and issued the following demands to Aveda:

•

Demand that EANY resign from and publicly denounce Governor Cuomo’s ‘safe

fracking’ Advisory Panel, which is tasked with “developing proper regulations”

(for ‘safe fracking’);

•

Do not support any of the organizations which have participated in and refuse to

publicly denounce the Hydrofracking Advisory Panel, an anti-democratic charade

to promote ‘safe fracking’ in our state;

•

Tell EANY that you don’t buy and won’t provide support for their fake outrage

against fracking. The smoke and mirrors by this ‘environmental’ organization

serves to facilitate ‘safe fracking’ in our state, which all true environmentalists

oppose;

•

Stop supporting EANY’s promotion of ‘safe fracking’. Cosmetics made from

water used in ‘safe fracking’ are not safe. You can’t put lipstick on a pig.

Although EANY has couched its position on fracking in politic phrases declaring

most recently to the New York Times that New York State is “not (yet) ready to move

forward with fracking”, the underlying message of this group and other members of the

Governor’s Hydrofracking Advisory Panel is clear: with proper oversight and regulation,

fracking is possible and acceptable. Such a betrayal of the environmental movement

is not new to professional environmental organizations. Yet despite pro-fracking

propaganda by the gas industry or industry-funded foundations and non-profits (including

the national Sierra Club and New York Water Rangers), a majority of informed New

Yorkers remain adamantly opposed to any fracking.

Stay tuned: some of the erstwhile promoters of ‘safe fracking’ and fracking as

a ‘transitional’ fuel are further muddying the waters, sponsoring a rally on July 28th

dubbed “Stop the Frack Attack” which will take place in Washington, D.C. But endorsing

organizations include not only EANY but such notorious purveyors of the ‘transitional’

fuel’ myth as the Natural Resources Defense Council.

Grassroots activists have vowed to expose and oppose ‘safe fracking’ groups that attempt

to hide behind a banner of false unity while using their considerable funds and leverage

to regulate an industry that environmentalists only want banned. Alliances with groups

like these would result in ‘safe fracking’. But New Yorkers and people around the world

are demanding these groups take effective actions to ban it.

Handing out literature and dealing with Aveda's pr flack.

Handing out literature and dealing with Aveda's pr flack. (Please don't spend tons of $ on PR! We just want you to support the demands of frontline communities, climate scientists, and grassroots activists: BAN FRACKING!)